12 Ways to Make Your Home Healthier

Your home affects your health. In fact, research shows that when your surroundings are appealing to you, they are more healing to you as well. So when you make improvements to your home’s environment, those changes improve your well-being and affect your frame of mind, immune system, and physical health in beneficial ways. Here are a dozen simple, positive changes to make to and in your home that can improve your health and quality of life.

6 Steps to a Better Home Atmosphere

Let this stat sink in before you read on: according to the EPA, "the average American spends 93% of their life indoors." On its face, that’s a scary stat, and while it’s likely that percentage will vary for you, your home will be where you spend most of your time. So it makes sense to do everything possible then to make your home your sanctuary, right? Here’s what can help:

1. Reduce clutter. Start simple by keeping your home’s entryway clutter-free. Just a regular upkeep of the front porch and the area when you step inside the front door can improve how you feel about coming home and being at home.

   Next, add a morning pickup routine of items like shoes, backpacks (get the kids involved), and bags. When you return later, you’ll feel a welcome sense of harmony rather than disarray.

   Finally, if needed, create new storage areas, so you and your family have enough space to have everything in its place. This declutter checklist has more great ideas for making your home clutter-free.

2. Bring the outside in. Greening up your home with plants can freshen the air, remove certain toxins from the air, and enhance feelings of calm and happiness. These five houseplants that help provide all of those benefits. 

3. Enhance indoor lighting. Adding more natural daylight in your home, which we need, can improve mood and even help regulate biological rhythms. It is recommended that the lighting in your home, whether artificial or natural, reach a minimum of 1,000 lux to provide healthful benefits.

4. Change your colors. Did you know that colors can either perk you up or weigh you down? Color is powerful. It can affect how you feel, alter your mood, and impact your health. Do a quick internet search for advice on the effects of color, so you choose paint for walls and ceilings in your home that best suits you but also helps you feel content.

5. Create retreat space. A peaceful retreat space should be clutter-free and ideally include some natural plants and lighting. Add a few special items or personal decor to the space, comfortable seating and pillows, treasured pieces on walls, and so on. Include candles or essentials oils, and find ways to reduce noise or add subtle white noise to make the retreat meditative and quiet.

6. Get a pet. Having a pet can benefit your health. Studies show that pets can, for example, relieve stress and lower blood pressure.

6 Changes at Home to Improve Physical Health

Here's another stunning EPA stat from a recent study. It found that “concentrations of some [indoor] pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.” Removing toxins and other pollutants from inside your home can keep you healthier. So it makes sense to do everything possible then to avoid an indoor environment in your home that makes you sick, right? Here’s what can help

1. Use air purifier. These products may be expensive, but they can be very effective at cleaning inside air of dust, pollen, mold, and more. Shop around for the most highly rated air purifier. Can't buy one just yet? Simply opening windows in your home on a regular/frequent basis, weather permitting, can help freshen stale indoor air.

2. Denounce chemicals. Use natural cleaners, like vinegar, for many household cleaning chores. 

3. Vacuum often. It is recommended that you vacuum once per week at a minimum to control dust mites, and reduce allergens.

4. Choose candles wisely. Many candles contain chemicals that can be toxic. Worse still, some wicks actually contain metal. Netiher ingredient is a healthy idea to burn inside your home. Choose beeswax or vegetable-based candles with all-cotton wicks. 

5. Use glass not plastic. Invest in glass containers for storing food and leftovers to reduce the potential for plastic to leech into foods from plastic containers. Use stainless steel water bottles. And eliminate plastic straws from your life. Use stainless steel or paper straws instead. 

6. Make use of exhaust fans. The exhaust fan in your bathroom is your friend -- use it for showering and bathing every time!