Your apartment has a significant effect on your life. Your rent costs will eat up a good chunk of your budget, affecting your overall finances. You might get to show off your apartment to your friends and family members. Your choice in apartment could even lead you to different types of work opportunities.
But you may not have realized that your choice in apartment can have a significant effect on your health and wellbeing as well.
Reduction of Stress
Your apartment will seriously affect your stress levels, both positively and negatively, depending on your circumstances; the right apartment can actively lower your stress levels, while a bad one can make you feel more stressed constantly. And as we all know, stress has negative consequences for both mind and body.
You can turn the stress impact in your favor with the following qualities:
- The more comfortable your apartment is overall, the more you’ll be able to de-stress when you come home. If you can settle into a spacious room with a comfy couch and a peaceful environment, you’ll be able to decompress after a long day at work. If you’re worried about the condition of your apartment, or if you don’t like your surroundings, you’ll end up feeling more stressed.
- Even in safe neighborhoods, a spike in the local crime ratecan cause a rise in stress and blood pressure. If you don’t feel like you’re in a safe neighborhood, or if you feel particularly vulnerable, you’ll experience more stress over time.
- Peace of mind. It’s also important to have peace of mind with your apartment. You should feel confident in your apartments Adelaide strata management service and that they are keeping the block functional and well-attended. Additionally, if you do experience an issue like a leaky roof or a malfunctioning appliance, you should feel certain that it’s going to be fixed in a reasonable amount of time.
- What kind of activities does your apartment permit? If you live in a small apartment, with little room to move around and close neighbors, you might not feel free to listen to music at an ideal volume or conduct other important activities for your mental health.
Opportunities for Exercise
A good apartment complex could also be good for your health if you have more opportunities to exercise. For example, some luxury apartment complexes and living situations offer their own exercise equipment, or small gym setups. Others are within walking distance to local shops and marketplaces, which allows you to spend more time on physical activity. Physical exercise will reduce your stress, keep you in better shape, improve your mental wellbeing, give you more energy and enthusiasm, and can lower your risk for conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Lighting, Paint, Pets, and Plants
There are apartment factors that are more in your control than others, and these can have a significant effect on your wellbeing as well. For example, the quality and direction of the lighting in your apartment can help stave off depression, or make you feel more comfortable in your surroundings. Color psychology can make you feel different emotions depending on which colors surround you. And if your apartment is filled with houseplants or with pets, you might be more resistant to stress. Unfortunately, not all apartments permit these additions, so you may need to choose an apartment that’s more flexible on these points.
Noise and Sleep
The quality and quantity of your sleep can have a significant effect on your physical and mental health. Without a good night’s sleep, you’ll suffer cognitive decline, memory problems, and over time could be more susceptible to various illnesses, including the common cold.
Some of your sleep habits depend on you; drinking too much caffeine, staring at a digital screen before bed, and ignoring the importance of a sleep schedule can make you sleep worse. But the location and quality of your apartment can also affect your sleep; if there’s too much noise around you, you may not be able to relax.
Proximity to Work and Time
Finally, the proximity of your apartment to your place of work may play a role in your stress and wellbeing. For example, if you’re close to work and your commute time is low, you’ll be less stressed on a daily basis. If you’re close enough to walk to work regularly, you can squeeze in some exercise on your way to work each day.
Take your time when choosing an apartment. Not only is this going to represent one of your biggest monthly expenses and a major influence on your lifestyle, it’s also going to seriously influence your mental and physical health—for better or for worse. Do your research and evaluate your priorities carefully before moving in.