How to Make Your Home Promote Wellness

When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, you probably think about the foods you eat, getting regular exercise and so on, but have you thought about how your home can promote wellness? There’s plenty of scientific evidence that our physical and mental health are tied to the environment of the home in which we live. University of Wisconsin’s health psychologist Shilagh Mirgain noted that one’s home (and work) environment are a significant influence on well-being.

Whether you’ve just purchased a home among Detroit real estate or have lived in your house for years, these tips can help you make it a place that promotes health and wellness. 

Bring Nature In

One of the best things you can do is to embrace nature. While lots of plants are great, go beyond that. Studies have found that even brief periods in contact with nature can dramatically reduce stress and anxiety while increasing more joyful feelings. You may want to arrange a comfortable chair in a place where you can view trees outside, add simple water features that mimic the sounds of a stream or waterfall, install an aquarium or decorate with nature, using items like seashells, driftwood and stones. 

Maximize Natural Light

Not everyone is lucky enough to have floor-to-ceiling windows to let the sunlight in. If you’re not one of them, try placing a mirror near a window to help direct it around the room and be sure that your furniture doesn’t block the windows you have. More light can help improve your mood and even reduce fatigue.

Clear Out the Clutter

Clutter increases stress – if you have a lot of junk lying around, piles of clothing, knickknacks, stacks of paper and so on, it can make you feel anxious or even depressed. If it seems overwhelming, start by de-cluttering one small area, perhaps a shelf or counter. Get rid of anything that doesn’t make you happy or serve a purpose. Once you’re finished, you’ll experience a sense of success that can be motivating to help you keep going, building on from there. 

Create Your Own Special Wellness Space

A big part of creating a home that promotes wellness is to make sure you have a space you can go to and de-stress, unwind and clear your head. It doesn’t have to be big – it can even be a corner of a room reserved for reading, yoga, or meditating. Think somewhere you can turn off the outside world, focusing inward to find inner peace.

Make Use of Essential Oils

Invest in an essential oil diffuser – they don’t cost much, and they can do everything from help you sleep better at night to fighting airborne germs. Some of the best germ fighters include tea tree oil, clove, eucalyptus, lemon and cinnamon. Place a few drops of lavender essential oil into a diffuser in your bedroom and it will help you relax, making it easier to fall asleep.  You can also make use of essential oils to create your own natural cleaning products, avoiding toxic chemical-filled cleaners. Lemon essential oil contains natural antibacterial properties that make it especially effective.