Believe it or not, your home can have a tremendous impact on your well-being. It’s more than just about having a beautiful property. It’s about looking after your health too!
I, for one, feel better when my home isn’t clean, but tidy and well decorated! And it’s only over the last few years of owning my own home that I’ve really come to appreciate how much my environment can impact my overall health.
Do you know what to look out for in your own home? Here are just some ways you can make things work for your home and your health.
8 Ways your home and your health align.
Your sleep environment.
One of the things within your home that can affect your health is where you are sleeping. You might not think much of your sleep environment, but it is essential you get this right. A poor sleep environment could mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and constantly waking up. If you have a lot going on in your bedroom then you are constantly going to be alert, this could be music or the television being on. Having a screen on in the bedroom when you go to sleep can impact how your brain relaxes. This could lead to a lack of REM sleep, this is one of the deepest sleep stages you can reach. If you aren’t getting enough sleep then you may find that you are more susceptible to colds and other immune conditions.
Your colour choices.
The colors you use throughout your home are something that require a lot of thought and planning. You may be wondering why you can’t just paint that wall bright red in the living room, well here’s the reason. The colors you use have everything to do with color psychology, so the way a color makes you feel and respond. You should steer clear from colors such as red, black, and dark colors as they can make you feel angry or bring on feelings of depression. Instead, think about the brighter pastel colors that you can use throughout your home. This will make it feel a lot more bright and airy, the light reflects better when you use brighter colors. Take a trip to the local DIY store and pick up some paint samples so you know which ones to use.
Clutter.
If you find yourself living with lots of clutter then it is time to change this, rather rapidly. Clutter is never good for your general health or mental health. If you are coming home to lots of things lying about the place then you may dread coming through the front door. If you have a lot of things that you cannot part with then you may be a compulsive hoarder. This is where you find it incredibly hard to get rid of your belongings and it takes over your life. It might be necessary to get interventions in the form of mental health treatment to overcome this condition. If you are trying to sort through your clutter then it might be worth starting small and working up to the bigger areas of your home.
Is your water safe to drink?
Worried about water woes in your home? You should be because it’s possible that the water out of your tap isn’t as safe to drink as you might assume. Indeed, it could be filled with countless chemicals that negatively impact your health. This could include fluoride. While fluoride is present in products such as toothpaste, it’s also the reason why you’re not encouraged to swallow toothpaste when you brush your teeth. The easiest way around problems here is to invest in a high quality water filter. That way you can control exactly what is coming out of your taps.
Your food choices.
You may also want to think about food choices in your home. This could include whether you regularly prepare a home cooked meal. If you don’t, then there’s always going to be a lot of unhealthy options present in your diet. One of the ways that you can deal with this is by making sure that you have a kitchen that you love spending time in. This is a great excuse to redecorate and remodel your kitchen if it does feel old, outdated, or even impractical. For instance, you might want to think about investing in impressive new features like a heat induction hob. These aren’t just a dream to use, they are eco-friendly and will help you prepare delicious food with ease.
Pest Control.
Next, you should make sure that you are thinking about issues with pests around your home. Pests are a nightmare because they can cause you anxiety and impact your health in a wide variety of ways. For instance, you might be unlucky enough to have a bedbug outbreak. This is always going to be a disaster and you’ll probably wake up with bites all over your body that are painful and unsightly. The best way to avoid a pest outbreak like this is to make sure you are striving to keep your house clean and tidy as much as you can.
Do you have relaxation areas?
It’s important to have areas around your home where you can easily relax, unwind, and let the stresses of the day melt away. These relaxation areas could include your bathroom. For instance, you might want to make your bathroom a little more luxurious with a large shower or a grand bath. There are also smaller features that can help compliment this idea such as candles that will make the room smell beautiful. Certain scents can be just what you need to sink into serenity.
Biophilic Design.
Finally, you need to think about whether your home is providing the right connection to nature. Various research studies demonstrate that a profound connection to nature is highly beneficial to our health and overall well-being. Why this is the case would be anyone’s guess. Although, there’s a strong possibility that it dates back to before we ever considered living and working in concrete monstrosities. Luckily, there’s lots of ways that you can incorporate nature in your home design. For instance, you might want to focus on using natural materials around your property. Or, you could bring the outside in, utilizing plants around your home. Don’t forget, this is just one more way that you can greatly improve the overall air quality.
That’s absolutely correct. All the points are notable however I would emphasize on right connection with nature. Trees, birds and animals, rain all have soothing effect. Nature can fill you lots of positive energy. Thanks for sharing this amazing post.
Great health insight tips. The home environment does help with your health. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent post! I’ve learned there is definitely a connection.
I have never heard of Biophilic Design, but I have lots of plants around my house because I love them. A natural home-health connection.
These are such insightful tips. I definitely agree there is a strong connection between your health and home environment.