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Part 1 of our 3-part series “Happy Home”:
What do you think of when you think of your home? And what feelings arise? Pride? Comfort? Safety? Happiness?
Since today we spend an average of 90% of our time indoors especially right now – during times of Covid-19 – as we get particularly connected to our home, this topic is actually more relevant than ever. For this reason during the coming weeks, we will provide you with some unexpected insights about the location, which, in short, is primarily our personal retreat. What is there to know? Quite a lot!
In June 2019, the Danish Happiness Research Institute published The Good Home Report. For this purpose, around 13,500 people were interviewed online in ten European countries. In addition, 78 expert interviews with 20 questions each were part of the study. One of the key results: 73% of those who are happy with their home are also generally happy in life. In addition, a “happy home” makes a significant contribution of 15% to the fact that we generally call ourselves happy in life. To be able to classify this number better: The salary pays just 6% into the general happiness account. For a happy life, your own home is almost three times more important than your own income.
“A home is not only a place, it’s a feeling”, is one of the statements in the study mentioned. More specifically, five emotions determine whether or how happy we are with our home:
Those of us who are proud of it are particularly happy with and in their home. Pride leads for example to people receiving visitors more frequently – because furnishings are particularly cozy, their own DIY skills have been brought in, or other special features can be admired. Investments around the house and yard, in whatever form, obviously pay off. You benefit yourself – that’s exactly how it should be!
Another study from 2016 with a total of around 12,000 people, which was carried out by the most well-known Swedish furniture store, says: feelings that we particularly strongly associate with the home are relaxation, familiarity, security and freedom. Is it the same with you?
Much doesn’t necessarily help a lot when it comes to your own four walls – a large home does not automatically make you feel happier. In this context, the basis of our “home pyramid of needs” is the general condition of the accommodation. This means that e.g. a solid roof or good sanitary facilities are much more important than many rooms and floors. It is similarly irrelevant whether the house or apartment is occupied for rent or owned.
Ranking of material conditions for a happy home
The former British Prime Minister once put it quite appropriately: “first we shape our homes and then our homes shape us”.
So what needs to be done so that you feel as comfortable as possible at home, recognize yourself in it, feel safe and, above all, feel proud of it? We will provide you with the right answers in the coming weeks.
Until then, try to see the current circumstances as an opportunity – connect more with your home, your retreat. Go on a kind of journey of discovery: what makes your home your home? What could possibly be changed? What do you particularly like? And are you happy with it?
We look forward to hearing from you: #happyhome #likenoother #westayathome
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