One very effective small habit is to use timers for lights or smart bulbs with schedules. Having a couple of lamps turn on in the evening and switch off at reasonable times makes the house look as if someone is moving around, even if you’re not there. A completely dark home night after night is a quiet signal that nobody’s inside.
Pair that with a few other details: don’t let mail pile up visibly in the letterbox, ask a neighbour to move your doormat or park occasionally in your driveway, and avoid leaving blinds in the exact same position for weeks. These tiny changes create “signs of life” that make casual observers less sure the place is empty.
None of this is about creating a fortress; it’s about avoiding looking like the easiest target on the street. Timers are cheap, simple to set up, and once you get into the habit of switching them on before trips, they quietly do their job in the background.