5 ways you can promote wellness in your home
Wellness has become big business, powering everything from plant-based diets to wearable technology. Now the movement is taking on the American home. And why not? We spend 90% of our time indoors, two-thirds of it at home. It makes sense to create the healthiest possible home environment, including clean air and water, plus a positive connection to nature.
Our five-step wellness plan will send you on your way.
1. Promote healthy habits. Diet and exercise are the cornerstones of healthy living, helping you and your family maintain optimal body weight and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Start by stocking up on heart-healthy small appliances: a blender for vitamin-packed smoothies and soups; a multicooker for easy, nutritious homecooked meals; a kitchen scale to help with portion control. As for large appliances, ovens with steam cooking make it easy to prepare lean fish and vegetables.
Next, carve out a quiet nook for reading, meditation and yoga, or another form of light exercise to bring balance to your day.
2. Clear the air. The air inside our homes is up to five times more polluted than outside air. Simple behavioral changes, like vacuuming regularly and opening windows to bring in fresh air, will eliminate many unwanted toxins and allergens.
Heating pros also recommend upgrading your furnace filter to capture more fine particulates, from the 1-inch-thick variety that most systems come with to a filter that’s up to 5 inches thick. You might also think about retrofitting your HVAC system with a whole-house air cleaner. The average cost is $1,800, but satisfaction rates are high, especially for homes with allergy sufferers.
3. Clean the water. If you get a water bill, you should receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report from the city, indicating the presence of contaminants. Homeowners on well water should have their water tested by a statecertified lab once a year.
If your water test detects the presence of contaminants, you need to install a point-of-use filtration system. There’s now a wide range of options, from undercounter filters that connect to the kitchen faucet ($100-$500) to whole-house reverseosmosis systems that require professional installation and servicing ($1,000 and up).
4. Control the climate. Fluctuating temperatures can lead to a host of health conditions, from asthma to poor sleep. Make the switch to a programmable thermostat, a smart device that will automatically adjust the temperature when you’re asleep or away, keeping the climate just right while slashing energy bills.
Next, eliminate drafts and lower energy costs further by sealing air leaks around windows and doors with caulk and weather stripping. Also check that there’s adequate insulation in the attic, especially if you live in an older home, since building codes didn’t used to require it.
5. Connect with nature. There’s increasing science around the benefits of biophilic design, or architecture that promotes a connection between people and nature. Simply adding a few potted plants to the home can help.