Many of us who have one or multiple chronic illnesses spend a lot of time in our homes. So why not make your space a safer and more enjoyable place to be? Here are five tips to help you make your home chronically friendly!
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Make your home chronically friendly by minimalizing your home décor
I am not suggesting that your home be a cold and sterile space. But by limiting how many knickknacks, pictures, vases, etc., you have on display, you will have less to clean. Use that energy to do things with the ones you love.
Not ready to part with your treasures? Store them and trade them out with others throughout the year when you have the energy to do so. The purpose is to make cleaning easier, not to gut your home.
Put your wardrobe on a diet.
Is your dresser or closet bursting with clothing that you never wear? Get rid of them!
Go through your closets and dressers at least once a year. Then make a donation to your favorite charity or homeless shelter. Don’t have the energy to do a mass cleansing? Try pulling a few items out and place in a bag anytime you purchase new clothing. Plus, ridding your space of unused clothing will help you find your favorite pieces easier.
Make your home chronically friendly by creating clear paths
Is your home so packed full of furniture that maneuvering through it is like going through a corn maze?
If you are like me, balance is an issue when you are on your feet. To curb how often I fell, I created clear straight paths throughout my living areas.
Not having to zigzag through my home has reduced how often I fall. I have also strategically placed my furniture so I can easily grab onto it if I feel dizzy or start to topple over. Clear and open paths make it possible to get around my home with a mobility aid when necessary.
Reduce heavy lifting
I may only use my heavy mixer once a month, but I leave it out on my counter year-round. If I had to pull it out of a cabinet each time I wanted to use it, I would never use it. Leaving it out grants me one less opportunity to injure myself.
Create a comfy daytime space.
Many people with chronic illnesses spend a great deal of time in bed. The problem this created for me was that there was no separation between daily life and rest time. At the time, my living room furniture was only comfortable when I was experiencing a “good” day.
Replacing our furniture with pieces that didn’t add to my pain, I began spending more time out of bed. Over time my body finally caught on that bed was for sleeping or riding out a severe flare.
