Why You Should Love Where You Live

Research shows that a big home doesn’t guarantee a broad smile. For some of us, a cosy abode is easier to like than a mansion. It’s what you do within the home – and the things that surround it – that counts. All that matters is that you love where you live. When you do, you’re more likely to be in a very good space, mentally.

Psychologist, author and the man widely known as “Chief Happiness Officer”, Dr Timothy Sharp, has said that a home’s location is as crucial as the property itself.

Having neighbours we get along with and being part of a community we enjoy living in have, as he puts it, “been shown to be vitally important for our health and wellbeing.” Dr Sharp says where we live also influences what activities we do, and determines how easy it is to access social and recreational activities. To quote the good doctor,

“So indirectly, the location in which we live affects our lifestyle, which not surprisingly is important for our mental health and happiness.”

It’s not always possible to find a home in the perfect location, but we can still do things to help us feel positive about the place in which we live. Decorating a home’s interior with our favourite colours is an instant mood improver. Or, if buying a new house, choosing a smaller home with fewer rooms to keep clean and tidy will leave more time for someone to do the things they love to do. On the other hand, a larger property can help someone avoid the clutter that annoys them in the house they’re currently living in.

Each to their own but whatever it is, our house shouldn’t be a space that we frequently criticize. It should serve the purpose we want it to and make us happy. We should love where we live! By doing so, we feel so much better about life.

When I work with people on their home buying journey, I encourage them to think about how the property they want will impact on their lifestyle. I also ask them to consider the property within the context of its street, neighbourhood and community. Fortunate are the people who can have both: the right home in the right spot. Location, location, location is not just a real estate cliché. It could be the key to your ongoing mental wellbeing!