With many of our lives having changed over the past couple of years, lots of us have re-evaluated our priorities and lifestyles. With working from home becoming more common place and the need to be close to the city or office becoming less important, the country living dream has become more desirable.
While the hustle and bustle of city life can be exciting, more of us have discovered that we have headed out less and when we do, we want to be surrounded by greenery and peaceful, open spaces rather than the high rises and noise of urban areas. We take a look at some of the reasons why people are leaving the cities to achieve their lifestyle dreams…
Better for your body and mind
Living in the country can provide many health benefits for you and your family. Perhaps most obviously is the fact that away from built up areas the air quality is better and you are exposed to less pollution from traffic and industry. Being surrounded by nature and plenty of places to explore also encourages you to head outside more, getting more exercise in the process. Rather than heading to the gym to hit the treadmill, you can simply head outside your front door and walk through the countryside. Not only can this lead to better physical health, but the calmness and quiet of the country can also benefit your mental health, with many people who make the move finding themselves less stressed and more relaxed as they settle into a new lifestyle of space and nature away from the fast pace of city life.
Sense of belonging and community
One concern some people have about making a move to a rural area is a sense of missing out or feeling isolated. In truth, this is a feeling that quickly dissipates! In smaller, country areas and towns you get to know the people around you, share interests and can get involved in local events. Everyone from shop owners to teachers are part of the community, and people who you’ll get to know, which leads to a real sense of being part of a collective. People tend to help each other out more and everyone pitches in – whereas in the city it’s not uncommon to not even know your neighbours!
Quality of life for you and your family
Some worry that a country lifestyle will mean the kids and family will struggle to find things to do away from the events of the city. But in reality, the country lifestyle can be a never-ending adventure playground for young and old! Kids will love the bigger back gardens and the space to explore woods and fields, as well as being able to ride bikes and visit friends without having to worry about traffic or other hazards. The tight knit community can also help encourage children and young adults to get involved in local projects, sports teams and events, something that they may not have the opportunity to do in the city. For parents and adults, the chance to get the dream garden and veggie patch is too good to be missed – allowing you to spend lazy afternoons growing food for the family, as well as providing plenty of fun activities to take on with the kids.
A dream home
Making the move to the country also provides you with the chance to build the home you’ve always dreamed of. Quite often in urban areas you either have to be lucky enough to find the perfect home that’s already been built and within budget, or deal with space restraints. In the countryside, this isn’t an issue! Once you’ve found your site you can build a home that suits your lifestyle and needs – from large family homes to holiday homes and more. You can make the most of the views as well as creating outdoor areas that really allow you to make the most of your surroundings.
At Swanbuild we can help you make the country living dream a reality. We’ll work with you to help design the home you want and need, and can customise our designs to suit you. If you’re after one less bedroom but would love a space for hobbies or study – no problem, just let us know! We can help you make the most of your budget and get your dream home that has all the features and styling that you’re after.
Why not get in touch with us today and have a chat about how Swanbuild can get you closer to living the rural lifestyle in a brand-new dream Swanbuild home. You can also take a look at our home designs here, find the one that suits you and let us know – you can be living in the country sooner than you think.