Wellbeing & Wellness
Accommodation For Key Workers Can Feel Like Home Too! Here’s How:
Accommodation for key workers can feel unfamiliar and too professional, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
These days, key workers may be seeking ways to temporarily live closer to work. It’s inadvisable to travel frequently, and advisable to seek alternatives in order to stem the spread of COVID-19. This can bring up a lot of feelings. Anxiety, unease, fear. These feelings can be abated by the cosiness of home. However, how can we bring this feeling into accommodation for key workers?
PICK A FEW FAVOURITE ITEMS
A lot of accommodation for key workers comes fully furnished. There may seem to be little practical reason to bring much of your own furniture. However, it does come with its benefits.
For example, if you’re feeling anxious or worn down after work, it may benefit you to bring your favourite hot water bottle. Or blanket. Or teddy bear, even! We’ve all been there. Sometimes that inner child just needs a cuddle, right? Bringing familiar items will help to ground and soothe you in times of worry. It also might just help to see a familiar face around your accommodation, even if it’s a fluffy one!
You can also bring photographs. Keeping framed images of your loved ones or family will help give your serviced accommodation more of a homely, familiar feel.
BRING YOUR OWN STORAGE
If you have a certain way of storing or organizing things back home, bring it with you! Accommodation for key workers can sometimes seem a bit basic in terms of storage and decoration. They might not even have much storage at all.
To keep stress levels maintained, it’s crucial to keep your space clear. Clear of mess, mainly. Having your own storage around can help this massively. Even if you can only work in organized chaos – having your own bits and bobs to keep it at least marginally in order will be a huge help.
It also might be easy to forget what is where when the storage compartments aren’t your own. If you’re not keen on carting storage boxes or containers around, consider detachable labels to help you keep tabs on what is where in your serviced apartment.
BRIGHTEN UP THE PLACE
As stated earlier, accommodation for key workers can sometimes seem a bit bland. Often they’re kept bare to be compatible with everyone’s tastes, as tenants cycle through serviced apartments fairly often. They also come from different walks of life, favouring different decoration styles for different reasons.
To counter this, perhaps you could bring some rugs or carpets from home. Small, accent pieces. Tiny bits and bobs that could brighten up a hallway or your bedroom. Try colours in yellow, or bright pinks, to have a greater mood-boosting effect. It may seem small, but can make a startling amount of difference.
You could also bring lamps! Or even lampshades. Certain lampshades change the hue of the light, dramatically changing the mood of the room. You can even bring sensory-friendly lights. These can be very soothing and comforting — essentially to make accommodation for key workers feel more homely! Home is where you feel safest. Warm, gentle lighting can really encourage this feeling.
STAY ON TOP OF UP-KEEP
Don’t overdo yourself, but remember to keep on top of things. Not only will cleaning keep your space open and tidy, but chores can also ground you in their own way.
First off, unpack as soon as you arrive. Arrange everything similarly to how you would at home and keep them organized. This will help you get back into your ‘home’ routine whilst staying in your serviced apartment. Speaking of: simple acts like chores can root and soothe you and encourage that ‘home away from home’ feeling.
Make a routine of things. Do the dishes and have a little clean up at a similar time every night if you can. Listen to your favourite songs or your favourite podcast. If you make an event of it, it may strangely give you something to look forward to!
BAKE YOUR FAVOURITE TREAT
Home-baking has the incredible ability to fill your property with delightful scents. Pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, soft pretzels, oh my! The possibilities are endless.
Consider baking something with vanilla or cinnamon to really ramp up those snug vibes. Studies have found that vanilla even increases feelings of joy and relaxation. Not to mention the fact that it tastes delightful!
Even tinier tidbits, like making your favourite coffee in the morning and letting the pleasant smell fill the kitchen as you read your morning paper. Or stand around listening to the news. Scents and smells, especially ones we relate to home, can do wonders in boosting your mood. It will also help associate happy memories with your temporary home.
SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Just because you’re in an unfamiliar environment doesn’t mean that it has to stay that way! You can familiarize yourself with your surroundings and, additionally, your neighbours. They may be locals, who can direct you to amenities and local favourite restaurants et cetera.
It’s also never enjoyable to feel isolated. In times like these, where sometimes it’s safest to stay in accommodation for key workers alone, it’s impossible to avoid. You can lessen loneliness even with something as small as a socially distanced ‘good morning’ to your neighbours as you leave for work. Don’t underestimate the power of something as simple as a smile, either!
The most important thing out of all of these tips is to be kind to yourself. Kindness and patience will go a long way in providing yourself with that cosy, homely feeling. Remember that times are tough and it’s okay to feel low and anxious, but with the right adjustments and some self-love, you can ease the burden of those feelings a little. Even if it’s just by singing along to some tunes while making dinner!
Ready to find that perfect serviced apartment? Let Clooper take the hassle out of your search here.
