Create a Healthy Home Environment. Now that the vaccine is becoming more than a distant memory (and not a very good one at that), we can all start to make future plans. However, even in the best-case scenario, we will be spending more time at home than ever over the next months.
At the same time, we have all spent almost a year within our four walls, and the situation has started to weigh on our health and mental well-being.
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Lockdown Health: 9 Tips to Create a Healthy Home Environment
While the prospect of having to deal with another lockdown can be frustrating, it is also important to evaluate our environment and make the best out of it.
If you wish to breathe new life into your home and turn it into a comfortable, healthy place for your whole family, check out the tips below.
Invest in High-Quality Furniture
First, it is time to upgrade your furniture and invest in items that are long-lasting and can help you look after your own health. If you have a dedicated home office, make sure you are investing in an ergonomic chair and standing desk that can help you protect your joints and muscles while also encouraging proper blood circulation.
If you have a personal or dedicated area in your home where you can relax and read, you should consider investing in the best chairs for back pain.
We won’t be going to the movies or to the theater for many months to come, but you can turn your home into a comfortable place to enhance your home life. Just make sure you are not doing so at the expense of your health!
Open the Windows: Create a Healthy Home Environment
Opening the windows can seem such a small detail that we often don’t think about. However, they can significantly make a difference in your indoor environment.
By opening the windows, you are facilitating air exchange and regulating the humidity levels. In turn, this can prevent the formation of mold and mildew, which can be threatening to the health of your respiratory system.
If your windows are dressed with heavy drapes, make sure to swap them for light curtains that can let as much sunlight in as possible.
Especially during winter, we all lack the vitamin D we need to remain healthy and happy. Letting the sunshine in allows you to get as much as possible while also staying safe!
Decorate with Plants and Natural Elements
When it comes down to decorating, minimalism is key. The more decorations and unnecessary objects you bring into your home, the more difficult your house is to clean. Yet, it is important to create an environment that feels healthy and personal, so adding touches of color is crucial.
You can do all this by investing in houseplants. These are perfect as eco-friendly decorations that bring color and life into any of your rooms – just make sure they are adequate for where you want to place them!
Get Rid of Clutter
Decorating with some houseplants is a great way to keep clutter to a minimum. However, it is also important to keep your home clean and free of clutter.
Clutter has been seen to have significant effects on the brain. By creating a cumulative effect, clutter acts as a screen between our brain and what we need to focus on.
Indeed, when we see clutter, our brain is forced to process it, which can take time and energy. In turn, this can make you feel more tired and less energized.
And, of course, clutter can increase stress and anxiety, which might stop you from being able to relax, unwind, and calm down after a day at work. Even if you don’t enjoy cleaning so much, you should consider the benefits that this can bring into your life.
Create a Dedicated Space for Workouts
If there is something that can truly help you maintain your health and energy level during the lockdown, it is exercise. Exercise can help you increase your heart rate, encourage blood circulation, improve your breathing, and allow you to strengthen your muscles.
By moving your body, you can also start to regain your healthy weight and vitality. And, of course, exercise causes our body to release endorphins, the hormone that decreases pain and inflammation and causes a feeling of well-being. So, if you are feeling low and you need to look after your health this winter, get moving!
If you have never been into picking up weights and pull-ups, there are other forms of exercise that can be just as beneficial.
For example, you could start running and set healthy goals for yourself. Or, some mindful practices such as yoga and pilates can help you move your body in a different way.
Make Sure You Can Have Some Time for Yourself
When the whole family is closed indoors for entire weeks, it is normal to experience issues and frustrations. And, the chances are that if you are frustrated, your family members are too!
So, instead of pointing the finger, make sure you have a safe space where you can retreat – everybody needs some space every once in a while!
Whether this is your bedroom, bathroom, or garden, make sure you can escape to your sanctuary regularly. Use your space to relax and gather your thoughts, or make a space to explore your creativity with paints, paper, yarn, or embroidery.
You can find a range of free svg designs here to get you started. You will enjoy the company of your family much more after your break!
Make Your Home More Comfortable
Aside from creating a healthy space in your home, it is also important not to skimp on comfort. These are hard times for everybody, and it is not easy to remain indoors with your whole household at all times. Therefore, make sure you create spaces where the whole family can gather.
For example, you might consider investing in a new sofa or pillows, so to turn the living room that you normally barely use into a home cinema to enjoy your favorite series.
You should consider investing in technological appliances that can make your life easier. For example, virtual personal assistants and home assistants can help you regulate lights and internal temperatures without having to move a finger! Even if these devices were not on your shopping list before, this is the time to reconsider what will make your life better!
Rethink Your Outside Space
If there is a space where you can retreat during sunny days, that is your garden or patio. Even if you have been too busy to look after it in the past properly, now you have the time and energy necessary to breathe new life into it finally. Start by clearing it up and getting rid of any rubbish and old items that might have started to accumulate there.
Once you are done, you can consider professional landscape services or learning the basics of gardening. While the first option will give you the chance to enjoy your new garden in no time, the second one is a great opportunity to take up a new hobby and spend time outdoors! Choose a portable pellet grill so you can enjoy cooking outside too! It makes a world of difference, trust me!
If you are renovating your patio area, don’t miss out on the chance to add some furniture to welcome your family once summer comes around – you can even make them yourself!
Spend Time Outside
Your garden or patio might help you enjoy some sunshine and spend valuable time with your family, but it is also important to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Start running or jogging to combine exercise and time outdoors. Alternatively, if you are currently working from your home office, you should consider spending your breaks at a nearby park where you can stretch your legs and breathe in some fresh air.
While being at home can be a much safer alternative, don’t forget that once the pandemic is over, we all need to be in full power to put our lives back together.
So, look after your health now and find your best self when you need it the most! How do you Create a Healthy Home Environment? Tell me, in the comments below!