A healthy home is a place that is conducive to one’s well-being. It promotes good health, both physically and mentally.
Often, people don’t think much about the state of their home. Many feel like it’s automatically healthy. When they go home, they feel safe, especially in the middle of a pandemic.
But any home isn’t automatically healthy. This can only be achieved through the conscious effort of the people who live in it. And maintaining a healthy home isn’t that difficult. There are some simple steps you can take to improve your home wellness:
Take Shoes Off Inside Your Home
In the western world, taking off shoes when entering a home is uncommon. People might take off their shoes if they’re weathered, such as when they get dirty due to rain. But on a clear day, people don’t often take their shoes off when they enter their homes.
But even the habit of taking your outdoor shoes inside your home can make it unhealthy. The exterior of shoes can carry more than 140 times more bacteria than the interior. One study also found that shoes can carry the 2019 novel coronavirus. Thus, by using your outdoor shoes at home, you deliberately let bacteria inside.
That said, one simple thing you can do to keep your home healthy is by leaving your outdoor shoes at the entryway. Consider going barefoot inside your home. Walking barefoot has benefits as well, such as having better balance and stronger leg muscles. If you’re not fond of walking barefoot, then use indoor slippers instead.
Buy Indoor Plants
Good air quality is important to achieve a healthy home. Clean air can also help you avoid health hazards, such as asthma and lung inflammation.
You can improve the air quality of your home by buying indoor plants. Plants are natural air purifiers. According to NASA, indoor plants can remove air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke and organic solvents.
There’s also an added mental health benefit to having plants around. One study found that active interaction with plants can help in reducing stress. This can be very helpful, especially during a pandemic. Say someone just got back from a clinic after a private ultrasound session or a check-up. They may experience stress after that clinic visit. The sight of plants at home can help boost their mood and lower their stress levels.
Given these benefits, adding indoor plants to some parts of your home, such as your living room and bedroom, will make it more healthy and balanced.
Regularly Replace Filters in Your Home
On the subject of air quality, you also need to replace filters in your home to keep the air clean and fresh. These include your air conditioning filter, kitchen exhaust filter, and so on.
Filters trap air particles and contaminants. But they aren’t completely invincible. In time, they accumulate dirt. And when they do, your HVAC system will have to work harder and use up more energy. Also, allergens can get through dirty air filters. These allergens can cause headaches, skin inflammation, and other unpleasant conditions.
Thus, regular replacement of filters is important. It will not just help you save money on your utility bills. It will also ensure your good health.
Implement No-buy Periods
If you’re a frequent online shopper, you’ll want to be mindful of the things you buy to maintain a healthy home. When you buy many things, especially online, you accumulate a lot of clutter at home. And it can affect your mental health. Seeing clutter can be distracting and therefore affect your productivity levels. It can also affect your anxiety levels.
Implementing no-buy periods once in a while will help you avoid clutter and keep your anxiety and productivity levels at bay. A no-buy period doesn’t have to be strict. You can write a list of things you can’t buy for a month or so. This period will also help you manage your finances.
Filter Your Water
As of 2017, around 63 million Americans were exposed to unsafe, tainted water more than once. Contaminated water can result in severe health conditions. Some common examples include cholera and diarrhoea. So it’s a good idea to filter your water instead of drinking directly from the tap. Consider buying a water filter that can be attached to your faucet. You can also buy a pitcher or a dispenser with a water filter.
A safe and healthy home is key in achieving overall wellness. Thus, people need to put more effort into making their homes as healthy as possible. Even the simplest acts of maintaining cleanliness at home will help.