Being healthy extends to more than just proper diet and exercise. It also includes things often overlooked, like getting better sleep and being empowered actually to be healthy. And since we spend a large percentage of our time at home, it’s important to find out how to improve our house’s atmosphere.
More often than not, we live in spaces that are less than ideal for us. We make minor adjustments, but when summed up, these small inconveniences end up negatively affecting our physical and mental health as well. Thankfully there are countless ways to improve your living conditions and make your home healthier for you.
Be Careful with Your Cleaning Agents
Cleaning your home is essential to prevent diseases and germs from spreading. Unfortunately, cleaning products usually include hazardous chemicals. From soaps to detergents, from bleaches to other cleaning chemicals, you need to be extra wary when choosing which one to use for your home.
There isn’t much we can do other than being very careful with what we choose. Make it a habit to read the label and the fine print on these products. Choose the ones with reduced amounts of fragrances, flammable ingredients, and highly toxic chemicals. As an alternative, you can use common household items such as vinegar and warm water to clean. Baking soda is useful for scrubbing as well. Consider choosing these safer options versus traditional store-bought chemicals.
Get Better Ventilation
Your home’s air quality greatly affects how healthy your home is. And not just that, it can also affect your mood as well. In 1986, the World Health Organization coined the term “sick building syndrome,” which pertains to symptoms commonly found in spaces with poor air quality. These symptoms include but are not limited to; terrible discomfort and irritability, dry cough and itchy skin, and sensitivity to different odors or scents.
Thankfully, for your home, you can open the window and let fresh air in. Keeping good airflow is important, but making sure your home has little dust is necessary as well. Look into getting your ducts cleaned, as it is often the prime suspect for spreading dust and other allergens around your house.
Start a Backyard Garden
We’re so used to buying our vegetables at the store that keeping a garden is often seen as outdated and archaic. But beyond the result of having produce for you to consume, gardening brings a lot more benefits to the table.
Gardening is a good way to get your exercise- all those lifting, squatting, and being under the sun will help you in the long run. Keeping one is sure to get you your daily dose of Vitamin D, which is crucial for your bones and teeth. Planting your own vegetables makes cooking and eating them more satisfying, too—it incentives you to eat vegetables more, as you’re directly responsible for growing them. The next thing you know, you’re consistently eating healthy food coming out of your garden.
Let the Lights In
Most of us probably use lamps and artificial light sources to fill our homes. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the use of artificial light, there’s a whole slew of benefits to natural light, besides making your home look way more beautiful. It helps you get more vitamin D, helps prevent seasonal depression, and even improves sleep. The benefits are there, but letting natural light in can be more difficult than expected.
One of the easiest ways to improve your lighting condition is not to block your windows. Allow natural light in by removing any furniture that blocks light from spreading and put a mirror near windows. This spreads the natural light to the whole room, giving it a more organic feeling.
Make Your Bedroom the Best for Sleeping
Lack of sleep leads to a generally sour mood and even worse health. We need at least 8 hours of sleep to fully re-energize, but besides the length, we also need to improve the quality of sleep. How many times have you found yourself feeling groggy because you keep waking up intermittently throughout the night? If this is the case, then you definitely need to improve your sleeping condition.
You can start by purchasing a good mattress that helps you sleep in your most comfortable position. Some people don’t sleep well on soft foam or hard foam; find out which setup works best for you. You can also use essential oils that promote good sleep. The sooner you can improve your quality of sleep, the sooner you’ll feel healthier and more energized.
