It has been 8 months since Malaysians started staying home as part of nationwide efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. This includes many of us who have transformed our home into our working spaces. Fast forward 8 months later to today, while some of us have returned to our physical workspaces, many are still working from home. And now, since we’ve been asked to stay home for an extended period of time, it’s understandable that you’d become a little uninspired or demotivated – perhaps due to restricted movement and the monotonous routine at home.

Hence in this article, we want to show you some easy ways to make the most out of staying home. After all, it’s uncertain how long more we might have to stay home, right? So, why not make the best out of it. Even better? You will also get to save electricity and subsequently your money.

Read on to find out how!

1. Spend Quality Time With Your Loved Ones

If you’ve ever wondered whether you have spent enough time with your loved ones at home or not, surely the pandemic has given us the chance to do so. But staying home together doesn’t automatically translate to spending quality time together — especially if you have your work or your gadgets taking over your attention from them. Here’s what you can do:

• Allocate a gadget-free time with your family to really connect
• Plan an activity that everyone can participate together
• E.g.: A family-only party where you learn to cook new recipes together
• Also shut down your machines such as computer, television, or PS4 because just like us humans, machines too need a time out so they can operate more efficiently

2. Have the “Self-Care” You Needed

Before the pandemic, it seemed that we were always in a rush to either get ready for work or too tired to properly get ready for bed. Since we’re staying home most of the time, why not take the time for some much-needed self-care?

• Have a cold morning shower for 1 – 2 minutes. It helps to “jump-start” your body and keep you energised throughout the day
• Dim the bedroom lights 2 hours before bed to help wind down your brain. This will help to improve your sleep quality

3. Clean Your Space, Clear Your Mind

From the words of Marie Kondo, “The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment”, clearing and cleaning your home can help you spring clean your mind of mental clutter thus allowing you to relax and enjoy the time at home.

Start small by cleaning your electric kettles to get rid of hard water stains, washing air filters for better air circulation, or decluttering your fridge for longer lasting produce. For fresher and crispier clothes, hang your laundry in the sun; make it a family affair and get the kids to help out too!

4. Upgrade Your Home Appliances

Even though a part of our electricity bills is being subsidised during these trying times, taking the time to examine your home and electrical appliances could help you save even more on electricity. Plus, if you are going to spend more time at home – it’s always better to use home appliances that will last you a long time, while still being environmentally and economically friendly.

• Replace regular bulbs with cost-efficient and sustainable LED bulbs
• Choose 5-star energy efficient appliances which are better value for money and last longer
• Instal spotlights with motion sensors – it saves electricity, and it keeps you and your loved ones safe from stumbling in the dark

5. Time to Kick-Start The Eco-Friendly Habits You’ve Always Been Thinking About

If you have been thinking about stepping up your eco-game further than just bringing reusable shopping bags to buy groceries – now could be the best time to level up. Staying home has given us ample opportunities to start thinking about how we consume electricity at home.

And here are a few small acts of eco-friendly habits that you can start to cultivate from home.

• Forget the microwave, thaw your frozen food naturally to save more electricity
• Switch off lights during the day (besides, natural lighting is always the best)
• Set your air conditioner’s timer before you sleep so it switches off automatically without overuse
• Fold clothes immediately after wash so it stays wrinkle-free and you can skip the ironing
• Close all doors and windows when using air conditioner so you can optimise the use of electricity

And there you have it – 5 ways you can make the most out of staying home. What’s more, if you turn them into habits, that’s even better because you’ll save money not just during this restricted movement period, but also in the long term.

In light of this, be an energy efficient warrior at home and remember that the Prihatin Stimulus Package discount of up to 50% (based on electricity usage) for your monthly electricity bill is still in effect, until 31 December 2020.

Additionally, if you’d like to know more information on how to save and use electricity efficiently, visit www.mytnb.com.my

• TAGS:
• Bantuan Prihatin Elektrik
• Electricity
• Electricity Bill Discounts
• TNB