As we move into a new year, many of us are thinking about how we can pare down, live more simply, and reduce stress. Today’s post is a guest post from Rose Burke about how the Tiny House Movement can help us do all that and more.
Choosing tiny living is more than simply deciding on a house to live in. It’s a complete lifestyle change that impacts many aspects of your life in a positive way. Everything from your utility bills to your carbon footprint will change drastically. While some people can’t imagine living in a home as small as 500 square feet, sustainable living is important enough for them to give it a go. For many, this is the key to their happiness and success. Here’s a look at how this unique lifestyle and your well-being are linked.
Tiny Living Is A Huge Money Saver
We all know the expression money can’t buy happiness, but anyone who has had to support themselves financially knows that money can certainly help to reduce stress. Tiny living frees you from the chains of a life-long mortgage bill, significantly reduces your utility bills, and can even be designed to run on solar energy.
The dread you’re used to feeling as the first of the month approaches and you don’t have the money to pay your rent will no longer be an issue. Likely the only major bill you’ll need to even think about is the one associated with the land your tiny house is parked on at that moment.
Save time and money by knowing the regulations for parking your tiny house in your area, as it varies throughout Australia. For the most part, they follow the same restrictions as caravans or RVs but a few building specifications are required. This includes:
- A length of 12.5 metres or less
- A height of 4.3 metres or less
- A width of 2.5 metres or less
- An overall weight under 4.5 tonnes
As the popularity of the off-grid living grows though, more and more landowners are offering space for rent on their property for people to park their tiny homes.
You’ll Earn A Sense Of Accomplishment
Having a purpose is an essential part of being happy as no one wants to feel like they’re not contributing to the world in one way or another. Choosing to join the tiny house community often means building your own home. While the task might sound intimidating, practically anyone can do it these days with the amount of support you’ll receive from other members of the community online.
Not only does building the structure and designing the interior give you a sense of accomplishment, but maintaining your home over the years will as well. No one will know how to fix a leak in your roof better than you do because you built it yourself. From there your sense of accomplishment will likely grow as members of the tiny house community tend to adjust their habits toward those similar to sustainable living. For example, you might gain a sense of accomplishment by:
- Growing your own fruits and vegetables
- Installing solar panels
- Helping others build their tiny homes
- Starting a community garden
The sky is the limit when it comes to finding happiness through your accomplishments.
Simplicity Offers Tranquility
When you live in a tiny house, clutter is pretty much impossible to accumulate. Everything you own has its own designated place and purpose in your home. Old habits like holding onto old magazines you’ve already read twice and allowing the laundry to pile up in the corner of your room are no longer possible, as you just don’t have the space.
You’re more likely to clean up after yourself, a task that is a breeze when you live in a tiny house. This new habit will leave your home consistently organized, which is known to create a sense of tranquility and happiness.
You’ll Gain The Freedom To Travel
Portability is one of the biggest draws to the tiny house community. For many people, having the freedom to travel has a significant impact on their happiness. Too often in our society people get stuck in a routine of work, eat, sleep, and repeat. Tiny living takes us away from the mundane day to day activities and adds a bit of adventure back into our lives.
With minimal bills to pay, you won’t find yourself tethered to a desk all day, staring blankly at a computer screen as the caffeine withdrawals start to kick in. Opting for a tiny house doesn’t just save you money, but it gives you more free time, and we all know how valuable our time is. Since remote work has become more mainstream these days, you can still make the money you need for your travel expenses from the road.
Smaller Homes Are Calming
According to Alice Boyes, Ph.D., small spaces have a soothing effect on people. In her piece for Psychology Today, she explains that this is why children will often create small “nests” such as forts and treehouses to play in. Boyes explains this theory by saying, “Small, enclosed spaces feel calming because the walls form a defined world. Making a small world within our larger one is very calming.”
This instinct is shared among a number of mammals, and it certainly makes sense. We feel protected when we can see our entire enclosure, creating a far more peaceful environment than any five bedroom ranch would be able to provide us with.
Summary
While the things that bring us the most happiness may be different for each and every one of us, there is still a universal perception that it always seems just out of reach. Tiny living can change that. The impact of living in a small home is one that is difficult to achieve otherwise, motivating many in search of content to find happiness by means of a minimalistic lifestyle. It allows you to focus on the things that bring you joy instead of putting all of your time into a job that gives you a false sense of fulfillment. As a member of the tiny house community, you’ll no longer see happiness and success as a distant goal, but as a daily realization.
Freelance writer and art enthusiast, Rose Burke often writes humorous essays inspired by awkward dating experiences and life’s cruel sense of humor. When she’s not doing that, she’s typically writing entertainment articles on women’s issues, politics, feminism, and other trending topics her readers love.
