Chinese New Year is one of the most important festivals for Singaporeans. As we soak up in the festivity that lasts for 15 days, it is always a time to reunite with our families, honour deities and ancestors, and welcome the new lunar calendar with much hope in our hearts.
With the festive vibe that is felt in the atmosphere, the new year also brings with it a renewed opportunity to change. Don’t have a heart yet for big changes? Here are a few ways how to make little changes in your own home:
1) Reduce your plastic use
As anti-waste groups aim to cut down use of plastic in Singapore, you can help the campaign by minimising, and eventually cutting down, the use of plastic in your home. Use reusable containers for waste. You can bring your own eco-bags and containers when grocery shopping. Also, you can use natural products like wood and bamboo to replace your plastic utensils and other kitchen materials which can have terrible long-term effects, especially for children.
Tip: Inject some vintage vibe into your abode by repurposing old mason jars. Here are 21 amazing ways you can use this little piece of glass.
2) Get into the habit of recycling
Instill the habit of recycling in your kids by starting it at home. Much of your waste at home can be recycled so use this opportunity to be creative and make these wastes useable. Start by having a recycling plan at home by using separate containers for paper, aluminium, glass, plastic as well as other wastes that can be reused and recycled.
3) Schedule maintenance at home
Keep your home in good condition by scheduling maintenance. Start by setting a schedule to go around the house to check if there are gaps and cracks that you can seal up. By spotting these cracks and gaps at an early stage, you can save time and money for costly repairs. Remember that a good maintenance can add value to your home. (Read: 9 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home)
4) Turn off the AC and let natural air in
Help save the environment by turning your air conditioning unit off. Allot a specific time when you can use your AC and open the windows more to let natural air in. Aside from saving energy, you also cut down on your electrical bills when you practice this at home.
5) Change your lights
Illuminate your space better by changing the lights. Compared to traditional light, energy-efficient light bulbs such as LEDs typically use 25% to 80% less energy and can last for 3 to 25 times longer, making you more efficient at home by saving on money and energy. There are a lot of energy-efficient light bulbs that you can choose from to match with your personality as well as the theme of your home.
6) Make your home pleasant-smelling.
They say that aromatherapy can reduce stress and anxiety at home. These kind of scents are a great way to enhance happiness at home. Start using essential oils and diffuser and allow the smell to flourish in your home and make it more inviting to your visitors. Incense and scented candles are nice options, too. There are a lot of scents to choose from but go with what your nose tells you! (Read: 10 Aromatherapy Oils For Your Home)
7) Go green!
A luscious green nook inside your home brings a lot of improvement to your space. Bring the outdoors inside your home and instantly feel revitalised and refreshed by seeing plants and flowers in your abode.
This article was first published on Cromly.com