If the past year has taught us anything, it is the importance of well-being at home. Since we had to spend more time at home than ever before, we finally realized the significance of making your home the safest and most comfortable place on Earth for you and your family. Sure, you will still travel and go to public parks and malls once the pandemic is truly over, but your home now and in the future should be a sanctuary. We all know this now.
Living in a safe and healthy environment isn’t a given. You have to create that for yourself. Your home is the perfect place to begin. Look around you. What do you need to change?
Air Quality
The priority of every homeowner should be the quality of indoor air in their homes. You need the air to circulate and make sure that all air filters are clean and working properly. Compare your process with your office. Doesn’t your office have regular local exhaust ventilation or LEV assessments? The purpose of these assessments is to control the presence of airborne contaminants at work and to recommend steps on how to achieve quality indoor air in the office.
You can achieve this by having access to outdoor air or by investing in quality air purifiers that will remove toxins from the air. Another great example is to put indoor plants because tending to them can lower blood pressure and heart rate. The use of natural materials such as wood will also create a healthy indoor environment.
Lighting
The combination of natural lights and artificial lights that can set different moods and ambiance make for a healthy home. Today’s LED lighting options can change color and support your mood. Do you want a spa-like atmosphere in the bathroom? Then, dim the lights and put on soft music. In the kitchen, make sure you let natural light enter and use bright lights, so you won’t accidentally cut yourself or put in too much salt in what you’re cooking. For a good night’s sleep, turn on the amber light to promote meditation and calmness.
Flow and Ergonomic Furniture
The flow of the home should be fluid. This means that there are no obstacles blocking your way when you want to move from one room to another. There should be enough space for you to move. If you live in a small house, remove furniture and design elements that block your pathways.
You should also make use of the right furniture. Ergonomic furniture molds to your body. Sure, they are more expensive than ordinary chairs and tables, but do you remember how it feels like to work eight hours on that chair? Do the right thing for your body and invest in the right furniture.
Thermal Control
Living in a home with a comfortable temperature is also part of your wellness. Technology can help you with this. Make sure that your thermostat is turned on to the most comfortable setting for everyone in the home. When the temperature is too cold outside, turn on the heater. It’s also great if you have heated floors and blankets.
If you are going to rely on technology, seal the gaps around the doors and windows to keep the right temperature in your home. Don’t allow the home to get too cold or too humid because you might suffer from respiratory problems. To know the comfortable temperature in your home, you need to assess what your body can take. If you feel hot or cold, then you are not using the right thermostat setting.
Acoustics
So you don’t need to have soundproofed walls, so you won’t hear the sounds outside. However, you do need to have space where you can a quiet time by yourself. You can use this time to read a book or meditate. You should also play music to match your mood. When you’re cooking in the kitchen, you might want soothing and calming music or you might even be into something hard and heavy. It depends on your mood and the activities you are doing.
It’s not easy to achieve wellness at home. You have to be deliberate about it. You need to make an effort to make your home the best place for you to unwind, relax, and just be yourself. But as the past year has taught everyone, the home is your sanctuary. There is no safer place for you to be in during the worst time in modern history than to be at home with your family.
