Congratulations on moving into your new home! Being a homeowner is a major milestone that comes with great responsibility – and freedom! Our homes can significantly impact our moods, well-being, and overall quality of life. Making some simple changes can put your family on the road to a healthier, happier home life in no time…
Ever thought about how your household environment can influence your quality of life? It’s true! And this is not just about looks or ease; a home can affect your well-being, including your mind and body. The air you breathe, the space you live in, everything inside your house is designed to contribute to your comfort.
The good news is that creating a healthier home environment doesn’t have to be complicated—a series of small changes can make a big difference. Attorney Ben Weaver is here with some practical lifestyle tips for making your new house a place that can help you grow and be happy. Let’s dive in!
Does Our Home Environment Really Affect Our Well-Being?
The effects that our homes have on our mental and physical well-being cannot be emphasized enough. Recent studies indicate that the home environment has significant impacts on mood state, mentality, allergies, and well-being. For example, in one published research conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they noted that indoor air is two to five times more dangerous than outdoor air and this may worsen allergies and breathe related illnesses. Furthermore, the American Psychological Association has compiled a report that points out that being surrounded by clutter is actually stressful, which puts people in a state of anxiety or depression.
Moreover, the National Sleep Foundation’s sleep poll stated that conditions that surround our sleep, such as temperature, noise, and light have a significant impact on the quality of the sleep we get. Lack of sleep can cause other diseases such as weakened immunity, poor concentration, and increased susceptibility to other diseases like heart diseases and diabetes. These statistics highlight the need we have in order to provide a healthy environment in the homes we build.
Benefits of Creating a Healthier Home Environment
Transforming your home into a healthier environment offers numerous benefits that extend beyond just physical health. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Improved Mental Health: Having a clean and well-arranged home also has the benefit of having a positive effect on stress levels and anxiety. This can help to improve their mental state, increase focus on life, and have a more positive attitude.
- Better Sleep Quality: Additionally, simple improvements in your home such as using blackout curtains, a good quality mattress, and noise reduction all aid in improving sleep quality which is essential for good health.
- Reduced Allergies and Respiratory Issues: Fresh air and filter changes mean that you can reduce dust, common allergens and make your home a safer place for asthmatics and people who suffer from allergies.
- Enhanced Physical Health: The development of spaces for other activities, including yoga or regular workouts, ensures people engage in physical activities, which are essential for healthy living.
- Increased Productivity and Creativity: An improved working environment due to the reduction of clutter and increased lighting would enhance productivity in working and hobbies.
- Greater Family Bonding: A home environment that is comfortable allows family members to spend more time together.
23 Legal’s Expert Tips for Homeowners: 9 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life at Home
Here are some specific ideas to help you create a healthier, happier home environment:
Improve Indoor Air Quality
There is no doubt that the quality of air inside our homes has a close correlation to our well-being. First and foremost, use a high-efficiency air filter, for example, HEPA filters that filter out dust, dander, and mold spores. For a systematic approach, you may opt for a whole-house air purification system to ensure all the rooms in your home are protected. Fresh and clean air in the home should be taken as an important value since it can help prevent different respiratory problems at the same time maintaining the health condition of the population.
Reduce Dust and Common Allergens
House cleaning is also highly recommended to ensure that dust, pet dander, and allergens do not accumulate on the furniture and other household items. Wipe the furniture often with a damp cloth, vacuum carpets and sofas with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter, and wash all bedding with hot water to kill other parasites such as dust mites. Furthermore, you should limit the use of carpets as they collect dust and allergens.
Add Some Greenery Around the House
Indoor plants are not only good for the looks but also for the quality of the air people breathe in their houses. Some of the common indoor plants include snake plants, spider plants, peace lilies and these are recognized to remove gasses from the air. Introducing natural elements into your homes also helps to improve your mood and lower your stress levels to make the environment relaxed and welcoming.
Create a Restful Bedroom
Your bedroom should be a special place where you can find comfort after a long day of work or study. For instance, begin by purchasing a good quality mattress and pillows that are ideal for your sleeping needs. Remove any unnecessary items which may disturb your sight and limit the use of electronic devices that emit artificial light that is not healthy for night time vision. Make sure you protect your bedroom from light, keep the noise level low, and maintain cool temperatures so that you can sleep comfortably and wake up energized in the morning.
Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
Research has shown that a well-organized kitchen can play a major role in encouraging proper diets. It is recommended to fill the pantry with fruits, vegetables and whole food products and perhaps use some special shelf space to store the food items. Meals planning and cooking are more fulfilling when you can get the necessary ingredients without much effort. If there is not enough space but you need it to store food and kitchenware consider adding a pantry or a storage space. This way you ensure that both you as well as your family consume healthier foods because they are within your easy reach.
Designate a Wellness Zone
Choose a corner in your house and make it a relaxation zone where you are free to practice activities like meditation, yoga, or exercise. It can be just a corner, where you have a yoga mat and some cushions or some really equipped home fitness zone. The presence of a wellness zone ensures that most people engage in some form of self-care practice by providing them with a boost after a hectic day at work.
Carve Out Spaces for Your Hobbies
It is very important to have fun, so when choosing a hobby, one needs to make sure the hobby is fun and helps ease stress while at the same time enhancing creativity. Regardless of whether your hobbies include painting, music, books, or crafting, take a room in your house and make it solely for that hobby. Having an organized and individual area for hobbies that is convenient to use will be helpful to reduce stress and enjoy time spent on hobbies.
Declutter to Keep Tidy and Organized
Most of the time, clutter can be a major source of stress because they make even the moment one wants to rest, tense. Clean your house on a routine basis and throw out things you do not use anymore. Design your home environment in such a way that would be comfortable for you; you can always use baskets, bins, or shelves. A clean home is not only visually appealing but also is peaceful, and being able to enjoy our living space more is therefore important.
Welcome to More Sunshine and Natural Lighting
Light is one of the most crucial factors that can greatly influence mood and levels of vitality in the interiors. Pull up the curtains during the daytime in order to allow as much daylight into the room as possible. It may be possible to add mirrors in areas to reflect light and bring light into those dusky areas. If there is not much natural light, choose warm artificial lighting in order to make the place more welcoming. Natural light exposure is also useful to keep your biological clock in check and enable proper sleep and wake cycles.
Install Water Filters for Cleaner Drinking Water
It is equally very important that people take clean water to drink at all times. Fixing water filters in the kitchen helps drinking water to be free from chemicals such as chlorine, lead, and bacteria and makes it safe for use by the family. There are many choices possible, ranging from a filter that connects beneath a kitchen faucet to a main water supply filter, among others.
Invest in Your Family’s Well-Being with a Healthier Home!
Becoming a homeowner comes with the responsibility of not only taking care of your house, but everyone in it. Investing in some small home improvements that will enhance your home environment can have a profound impact on everyone’s everyday well-being. A couple lifestyle tweaks and cleanliness hacks can go a long way!
23 Legal wishes you all the best on your homeownership journey! We hope you and your family make the most out of your new space. Attorney Ben Weaver loves to see clients really make their new house a home with personal touches. Have fun making your new home as unique as you are!
Cheers to making the most out of your new home!
Accomplish your real estate goals with 23 Legal: (847) 447-6004
Why Choose 23 Legal
23 Legal offers Real Estate and Estate Planning legal services to individuals, families, community associations and small business owners throughout Chicagoland. We know how intimidating “the law” can be. In fact, when most people think of law offices, they think of stuffy leather chairs, huge wooden desks and pompous lawyers who charge outrageous fees. That’s not us! We believe in 1-to-1; the same lawyer should work with you all the way through. Whether you have an estate planning issue, family trust concern, or you have a legal problem in regard to a new home, business, real estate or remodel, you need a lawyer who cares. That’s where Ben comes in! We are great listeners; more than that, we are lawyers who believe that our clients always come first.
