Healthy Home, Healthy Body: Home Improvement Ideas for Your Well-being

Your home is your sanctuary, which is why every detail of it affects your health and well-being. Environmental psychologist Bonnie Sanborn points out that the colour of your room and even your living spaces can stimulate different responses in your brain. Your white wall may seem like a minor detail, but Sanborn points out that white can actually be quite distracting due to the lack of details. Thus, while aesthetics are important, you also have to make sure that your space is good for your day-to-day life. So, if you want to boost your health and well-being, here are some home improvement tips that you can try! 

Create a home garden
Seeing a bit of greenery can already be refreshing, especially during stressful times like lockdowns. But you can experience greater improvements in your well-being by caring for a garden. A research study revealed that individuals who garden every day have significantly better well-being scores and lower stress levels. In fact, gardening two to three times a week can boost your health! This activity can give you a lot of pleasure and enjoyment. Plus, it also serves as an effortless form of exercise. Even better, you can opt to plant fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption.

Invest in ergonomic furniture
Feeling aches and pains all over your body? You can improve your physical health and get rid of body aches by investing in ergonomic furniture. And you can use these whether you're working or resting. Case in point: ergonomic chairs are designed to support your spine, shoulders, and even your bones. This helps you maintain the proper posture and alleviate any source of tension in the body. Those working from home can also invest in other ergonomic furniture. For instance, if you’re experiencing pain in your wrist area, an ergonomic wrist rest can get rid of the chronic pain. A standing desk can also help you work more comfortably. Keep your specific needs in mind so that you can invest in the right furniture item for your condition.

Dedicate enough space for a workout
The benefits of physical activity cannot be overemphasised. However, it truly is difficult to stick to a regular exercise routine, especially when you don’t have access to the gym. But Charlie Meredith, an exercise mentor at Barry’s, states that working out from a living room can be just as effective. You don’t even have to buy dumbbells, resistance bands, or kettlebells! You can improvise by using household objects as weights. Body-weight workouts are also super effective. And all you need to do is clear a little space in your home. Then you can tune in to an exercise video and start right away.

Make your bedroom more conducive for sleep
After gardening, working, and exercising, you deserve a good night’s rest! However, you may find it hard to sleep, especially if there are a lot of factors that can be distracting. To make your bedroom more conducive for sleeping, you can start by assessing the items that are hindering your sleep. For instance, you can change your pillows or mattresses to improve your comfort. If you’re struggling because of light sources, you can place a curtain over your window or use dimmer light bulbs. You can even invest in a heater or an air conditioning unit if you often struggle with the temperature at night.

Your home environment greatly affects your overall health. So, make sure that you stay happy and healthy by trying these tips—whether it leads you to starting a home garden, investing in ergonomic furniture, dedicating a proper workout space, or making your bedroom cosier.

Specially written for holistia.com.au by Jessica Blake