A balanced approach to mental wellbeing helps us get the most out of life, and we believe that starts at home. A home space for our headspace.
After a challenging 12 months, in which 27% of people say their mental health has suffered, our homes and our mental wellbeing have become more intimately connected than ever.
In fact, people now find it hard to talk about one without the other. Through our research, we learned that a home you love can help protect your mental wellbeing. But there’s a flipside. When people are unhappy at home, they are more likely to experience negative mental health impacts.
Over the past 12 months, people’s experiences and needs have changed in different ways around the world.
France
28%of people in France say they wish they could spend more time socialising and entertaining at home.
USA
47%of people in the USA who live with parents or siblings say their relationships with immediate family have improved in the last 12 months.
Czech Republic
88%of people in the Czech Republic spent more time in their neighbourhoods over the past 12 months – the highest percentage of any country.
Japan
88%of people in Japan say it’s important that their home makes them feel content and at ease.
Australia
38%of people in Australia say having a home that is easy to keep clutter-free has become more important to them over the last 12 months, making the country one of the world’s decluttering hotspots.
UK
53%of people in the UK say access to a private garden or balcony has grown in importance over the last year when thinking about their ideal home – making the UK one of the countries where this has grown the most in importance.
Finland
72%of people in Finland say sleeping is most important in achieving mental wellbeing, putting the country near the very top of the sleep-loving charts.
South Korea
48%of people in South Korea are feeling more positive about their homes compared to before the pandemic. This is much higher than the global average of 35%.
The pandemic has brought many of us closer together — especially families and the people we live with. It has also made us choosier about the friendships we keep. For our mental wellbeing, it’s quality not quantity that matters.
Summary
Families have grown closer over the last 12 months, with 42% of people saying their relationships with immediate family have improved.
While some friendships have also flourished, others have not fared so well. One in five people we surveyed around the world say their friendships have been negatively impacted.
Relationships are vital to our mental wellbeing, especially relationships at home. When discussing our mental health and wellbeing, many of us turn to people we live with. On average, half say they speak to their partner, 22% to a parent and 21% to a sibling.
42%
of the people we spoke to said their relationships with direct family have grown stronger over the last 12 months
31%
say proximity to friends and family is one of the things that increased most in importance over the last 12 months
41%
say they turn to their friends to talk about their mental health
1 in 5
people have seen their friendships suffer over the last 12 months
The pandemic has forced many of us to spend more time at home with family and loved ones. Over two-fifths (42%) of the people we spoke to said their relationships with direct family have grown stronger over the last 12 months. This was especially true for people in India (62%), Slovenia (66%) and China (68%). Much less so for those in Sweden (29%), Finland (24%) and Japan (15%).
The variations between countries show how different the experience of living together can be. For some, closer proximity creates new frictions. (Who’s in charge of the cooking now? Is this a kitchen or an office? When does the workday begin and end?) But it has also given people greater insight into each other, allowing them to build stronger family relationships with better communication and deeper connections.
We see this reflected in people’s changing priorities. When asked what they look for in their ideal home, 31% say proximity to friends and family is one of the things that increased most in importance over the last 12 months.
“Lockdown was a little challenging in the beginning, just because we weren’t so used to being in each other’s space. I was working remote even before the pandemic, but my husband didn’t come home to work until everything shut down. It was kind of a learning curve with us being both here in the space, and we had to do a lot of things to get us to the place we are now. It’s been like a roller coaster.”
Who do you talk to about your mental health and wellbeing? Many people (41%) say they turn to their friends. But in a year of restrictions, meeting up and socialising has been harder than usual.
Oscar in China speaks for many of us when he says that video is no substitute for real life. “When you have no way to meet friends offline, it’s an alternative,” he tells us. But: “Face-to-face communication is definitely better because you can see their entire body language. When you are… joking with your friends, you can give them a little kick or hold their shoulders. There are some physical movements [you can do].”
Given these challenges, it’s no surprise that one in five people has seen their friendships suffer over the last 12 months. But those we spoke to did not always see losing friends as a bad thing. The pandemic has helped people focus on what really matters. Many are now looking for quality not quantity in their relationships, and actively choosing between the friendships they want to maintain and those they are happy to let slip.
“The [friends] I stayed in touch with through COVID, I feel like we became a lot closer together, whereas… if we didn’t really speak through COVID, that relationship kind of… disappeared a bit.”
“Lockdown has changed my friendship needs. I think our relationships are deeper now. When we see each other, we really spend good nights, we take more time, we spend entire weekends together because it might not happen again… so we organise weekends and see each other for two or three days and we have a good time, we get fresh air together, we do each other good and we tell ourselves that we’re good together and if something happens, everything’s fine, we’re still here.”
It’s not just people we build relationships with at home. It’s everything we nurture and care for, whether it’s greenery, animals or prized possessions.
Anil in the USA sums up the benefits of having plants in your home when he says, “The reason why I keep plants is because it helps me be more responsible. I feel like some of these plants, they speak out to me – and the better the relationship I build with the plants, the more they grow. It’s a good feeling.”
Pets also give us opportunities to build meaningful relationships. Liliana, also in the USA, told us that her dogs have been the best thing for her mental health during the pandemic. “They are the centre of my world and I love being around them so much. I had a reason to get up every morning and feed them and take them for a walk. So they really grounded me during that time.”
Key takeaways for relationships
Whether it’s local neighbourhoods or WhatsApp groups, communities are important to us. They support our practical, social and emotional needs – and we have been turning to them more and more over the last 12 months.
Summary
Seventy-three percent of people around the world say they have spent more time in their neighbourhoods in the last 12 months.
Connecting with neighbours is important. It has practical benefits, especially when times are challenging, and supports our emotional needs. Sixty-two percent say their mental wellbeing has benefitted from having a sense of belonging in their neighbourhoods.
Community is not just about the houses and streets around us, though. It’s also about the communities we create for ourselves with likeminded people, whether online or in person.
62%
Sixty-two percent of people say their mental wellbeing has benefitted from a sense of belonging in their neighbourhood
73%
have spent more time in their neighbourhoods in the last 12 months
13%
globally say that, when thinking about their ideal home, connecting to people in their neighbourhood is more important now than it was 12 months ago
18%
of those aged 18-34 think gaming is one of the most important things for maintaining a sense of mental wellbeing at home
“Everybody comes together to help each other out. They [my neighbours] are super-talkative. They’re social. They just feel like your best friends pretty much. That’s what I like about this community. Everyone is so helpful to each other.”
The pandemic has shown us the practical importance of community. Local networks provided vital support.
It has also enabled us to get to know our local communities better. Almost three-quarters have spent more time in their neighbourhood over the past year and 69% have enjoyed socialising with people who live nearby.
Stronger community connections appear to have had a positive impact on mental wellbeing. Sixty-two percent of people say their mental wellbeing has benefitted from a sense of belonging in their neighbourhood. For those living in co-living facilities, the figure is over two-thirds (67%). For example, Abdul in the UK explained to us that several families in his building had experienced loss due to COVID, and that having a sense of community had been important. “The best thing you can have is people around you that care.”
How long will these connections last? We heard from some that the community relationships built up during the pandemic have already begun to wither. On the other hand, 13% globally say that, when thinking about their ideal home, connecting to people in their neighbourhood is more important now than it was 12 months ago.
What does community mean? Through our research, we learned that it’s not just about local neighbourhoods. Around the world, people are forming their own wider communities with others who share their interests, values and beliefs.
These communities, many of them enabled by technology, give people new opportunities to build meaningful connections. For example, Abdul in the UK told us how he got into gaming because it helped him work on the social skills he had lost over lockdown.
They also play an important role in mental wellbeing, especially for younger people. 18% of those aged 18-34 think gaming is one of the most important things for maintaining a sense of mental wellbeing at home. 1 in 10 of those living in university halls or flat shares say they would turn to virtual communities to talk about their mental health and wellbeing (more than twice the global average of 4%).
“It is possible to use the internet to make you feel that you are still connected to the world. For example… [when] everyone is watching a live broadcast… you feel that these people are connected in some way, even though you don’t know who they are.”
Key takeaways for community
How we use our spaces has altered over the past year. To achieve balance, many of us have adapted our spaces to match. Sixty percent say they’ve had to change the way their home is organised to do the activities they want or need to do at home.
Summary
Ninety-three percent of people globally say that it is important that their home provides them with a sense of comfort. But how do we find space for the comfort we need, when we’re having to use our homes as offices, schools and gyms?
This year, we have seen a major shift in the way everyone is using and thinking about their homes. In the past, there were some things people only did beyond their four walls. Now, life is more fluid – and our spaces are changing to reflect this.
Control is important. To ensure they can do everything they want and need to do at home, many people are choosing to organise their homes in new ways.
36%
of people say that having a private garden or balcony is one of the things that has increased most in importance over the past 12 months
47%
of those who made significant efforts to reorganise their homes now feel more positive about them
28%
of people say that spaciousness is one of the things that has grown most in importance over the last 12 months
27%
say that their ideal home being ‘easy to clean’ and ‘kept clutter-free’ is more important to them than it was 12 months ago
When asked about their ideal homes, 28% of people say that spaciousness is one of the things that has grown most in importance over the last 12 months. But space, as we know, is not easy to come by. Many of the people we spoke to, particularly those who are young and living in urban areas, have adapted their homes to try and make their space work harder.
Some changes we heard about were for comfort or privacy. Some were about creating zones for different activities, so that people had the space they needed to do everything they wanted to do at home. One research participant, Liliana in the USA, told us how she and her partner had experimented with several different home office setups before arriving at an arrangement where both of them could work happily.
Changing our homes helps us feel better about them. Half of those (47%) who made significant efforts to reorganise their homes now feel more positive about them, compared to 1 in 3 (33%) of those who made very little effort or none at all.
Over the last year, we have seen a rise in the number of people who are keen to create simpler, more organised spaces in their homes.
When thinking about their ideal home, more than one in four (27%) say that being ‘easy to clean’ and ‘keep clutter-free’ is more important to them than it was 12 months ago.
Many of those we spoke to associated clean, decluttered spaces with a greater sense of calm. Clutter-free equals being in control, which is important for our mental wellbeing.
“I need my house to be clean more and more. It can’t be cluttered. During lockdown, I felt the need to get rid of the unnecessary, even if there wasn’t much already. I got rid of some books, I cleaned my basement and got rid of what I didn’t use. I felt this need during lockdown, maybe because I had some extra time… to clean, to clear the unnecessary out, to get rid of what I didn’t use. Now in my house I only have things I use in everyday life, I don’t have unnecessary things.”
“When I was in a room for a long time, the thoughts I was having were getting negative, negative, negative. When I started going on walks, my thought process changed. I was thinking more positive things. Getting fresh air just makes you feel like a different person.”
Another way to create a quiet space in the home is through access to the outdoors – something many are now yearning for.
When thinking about their ideal home, 36% of people say that having a private garden or balcony is one of the things that has increased most in importance over the past 12 months. This figure is even higher in countries that are densely populated and heavily urbanised such as Belgium and the UK.
People also want green space to be within easy reach. Thirty-five percent say living close to parks and nature has become more important to them when thinking about their ideal home.
“I just missed… green. I couldn’t go to the park and I missed that. I missed nature since we were stuck at home. So I’ve got a small courtyard where I put trees, so I could get some fresh air, I needed to breathe. It stuck, this need to breathe, to open windows, to see some green… I don’t know, I missed that.”
of people agree that they have had to significantly change the way their home is organised to do the activities they wanted to.
The country making the most changes to their homes is India, with 80% of people admitting to significantly changing the way their home is organised.
Key takeaways for space
Positive daily rituals are important. Being intentional about how we work, eat, socialise and relax can help us get the most out of our time at home.
“I feel happiest when I’m relaxed at home”
Summary
Throughout 2020 and 2021, the role of the home has been transformed. Now it is a place for activity and productivity as well as relaxation. Finding balance through good daily routines is key for our mental wellbeing.
This means being intentional about how we use our homes – and not just when we’re working or exercising. Sometimes it’s about choosing activities that help us relax, feel centred or achieve balance. Doing less but doing it better.
53%
of people in China say their home meets their needs for sleeping and 52% say it meets their needs for relaxing
24%
of women want to devote more time to self-care compared to 9% of men
41%
of people say their home is meeting their needs for working and studying
26%
globally say that doing hobbies or personal projects is important for helping them maintain a sense of mental wellbeing at home
Being productive has a positive impact on mental wellbeing. It gives us a sense of purpose. It provides opportunities for self-expression. It allows us to look back proudly on what we’ve achieved at the end of each day.
This year, homes have been critical in helping us remain productive. Some of the people we spoke with talked about creating new routines to support them to manage their domestic chores and work tasks. But it hasn’t been easy. In fact, only 41% of people say their home is meeting their needs for working and studying.
One problem is that we are now using our homes to be productive in so many different ways, whether we’re cooking dinner, keeping fit, pursuing a hobby, answering emails or learning a new skill. To maintain control, we need to draw clear spatial boundaries and make conscious choices about how we spend our time at home.
“Before the pandemic, the places where you work, live and entertain are separated. For example, you work in the office, then study in the library, and entertainment in the bedroom at home. Now, these things seem to be… lost.”
Home is an ideal place for caring and nurturing. But is it providing us with enough opportunities to look after ourselves?
Many of those we spoke to were looking for more ‘me’ time at home, although which specific activities they wanted to do varied according to gender. Women are more likely to want to devote more time to self-care (24% compared to 9% of men). Men are more likely to want more time for gaming (12% compared to 5% of women). They are also more keen to spend quality time with their partner or spouse (37% of men compared to 34% of women).
The activities we do for ourselves at home are particularly important for our wellbeing. They allow us to learn about ourselves, build our identities and engage in self-expression. Just over a quarter (26%) globally say that doing hobbies or personal projects is important for helping them maintain a sense of mental wellbeing at home. This is even more important for people aged over 55 (30%), those living in their parents’ home (29%) and those living alone (29%).
What are the most important activities for achieving a sense of wellbeing at home? While the answers to this question vary slightly from country to country, the two most common globally are sleeping (55%) and relaxing (53%), for example by reading, watching TV or listening to music.
Home has always been the centre of these activities – and always will be. But with everything else that’s going on within our four walls at the moment, we can’t afford to take them for granted. In China, just 53% of people say their home meets their needs for sleeping and 52% say it meets their needs for relaxing. We see a similar picture in Japan, where just 51% of people say their home meets their needs for sleeping and 49% say it meets their needs for relaxing.
For many people, the secret to finding time and space for relaxation is to treat it as a ritual rather than an activity. For example, Liliana in the USA told us about the one day each week when she puts on her headphones and goes out to work on her plants. It’s a weekly ritual that she says is critical for her mental wellbeing.
In most countries, sleeping and relaxing are seen as the two most important activities for mental wellbeing
Key takeaways for rituals
People are clearer than ever about what they want and need from where they live. Having a home that makes us happy will be critical in the future.
Summary
Life used to be predictable. Now we all have to be adaptable. There is no ‘new normal’ and the future is in a constantly evolving state.
This has led many people to reassess their relationship with home. Eighty-four percent now say it is important to have control over the place where they live. We know our needs are likely to change in the future and we want to be able to adapt our space accordingly.
At the same time, home will remain the one constant in our lives. A place to be calm and centred, whatever happens outside. This is reflected in what has grown in importance for people over the last 12 months when they think about their ideal home. Space for downtime. Space for nature. Space for doing the things they love.
28%
said having a spacious home increased the most in importance in the past 12 months
38%
globally say they feel the future will be better than today
32%
want to spend more time doing hobbies and personal projects
What is home for? Home is where we live. But it’s also where we do – work, exercise, hobbies, relaxation. And many of us are starting to pay closer attention to how our homes can support these varied needs.
We want work-from-home solutions that make us more efficient and productive. We want spaces where we can pursue hobbies and personal projects. We want opportunities to exercise, be entertained and relax. We want hybrid spaces for hybrid lifestyles.
As people become more conscious and intentional about wellbeing, it is important that home supports us in doing all the things we love.
“I can’t breathe properly until I’ve cleaned my house. It’s not dirty and no one has been in my house but I still need to clean and tidy everything and then I know it’s clean and I’m in control of everything again. I feel good.”
Opinions about what makes an ideal home are changing dramatically around the world.
Urban life and commuting distances are less important than they were. People are now thinking about a healthy, happier future – for themselves, their families and the world around them. They are looking for cleaner, greener, airier spaces where they can feel secure and in control.
When we asked our survey respondents to think about their ideal home, and tell us what factors had increased the most in importance in the past 12 months:
28%
said having a spacious home
27%
said a home that is easy to clean and keep clutter-free
36%
said access to a private garden or balcony
This has been a time when people have been asking themselves what really matters to them. Connecting with nature? Pursuing a passion? Performing at work? Increasingly, these are things we are all doing at home.
In part, it’s about prioritising our own needs and aspirations. Home reflects our identity, now more than ever. It’s a place where we can devote time to our interests, express ourselves and invest in our own wellbeing.
But it’s also a place where we can find meaning in our connections to others. In a year when many of us have grown closer to family and loved ones, there is a growing desire to put these relationships front and centre in the future.
“I find it very important to live near my family and friends, it’s vital. I’m single, I’m alone during the week and you need other people to feel good, to recharge your batteries, to share with, to be entertained and get stability. So it’s important to see your family and to live near them.”
“With everything being closed, I was pretty much stuck inside my house. But it was like a learning experience for me, you know? I was able to seek new passions and, kind of, practise and apply.”
Key takeaways for Future Home
The last 12 months have been challenging for many of us. More than 27% of the 34,000+ people we surveyed tell us that their mental health has suffered. At the same time, 40% who felt more positive towards their home also saw a positive impact on their mental health. So we know our homes can help protect our mental wellbeing. The key is achieving balance – in our relationships, our spaces, our communities and our rituals.
