Our home environment, the one in which we live, as well as those in which we learn, work and play have a major influence on our health.
I have just returned from a wonderful weekend spent at the Hawkhills Hotel, an elegant stately home in Easingwold, close to the historic City of York. Eating first class cuisine in the beautiful dining rooms, resting up in the luxurious bedroom, and breathing in fresh air while enjoying the magnificent landscaped gardens, woods and parkland. What a peaceful and charming environment. I felt energized and relaxed.
Now this has brought me to think about the environment in which we live, work and play. As well as how it affects our health. Have no doubts, your Health is impacted by the places that you live, work and play. If just a few days in such a nice setting could revitalize me, how does living in stressful and hazardous home environment impact us.
You couldn’t even imagine the horrors and troubles caused by living in a war-torn city. Tortured by fear and uncertainty. But this article is directed at just normal people in normal places, where we have a roof over our head, and how well we tend to what’s under the roof will very much determine our health, both physical and mental.
We know that good health depends on many things—including the food we eat, the amount of exercise we do, hours of sleep we get nightly, glasses of water we drink, but also the home environment in which we spend our time.
The environment’s influence on health starts in the home – the place fulfilling a raft of basic physical, social and emotional needs. Since the earliest times, humans have a strong need for safety and security in their home environment. Your home should be a haven: the one place where you will be protected from harm.
I could spend time going through many of the other environments that touch our lives every day. The degradation of the environment, through air pollution, noise, chemicals, poor quality water and loss of natural areas. But individually there’s very little you can do about these factors.
Your home environment, that is within your control.
He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It is important to create and surround yourself with a stress-free home environment. The physical environment that we create around ourselves is very often a direct demonstration of how we are feeling, where we are emotionally and mentally, a gauge of our state of mind. If we are stressed we become distracted, we seem to lose things (keys come to mind – now where did I put them?). If we are disorganized, the piles begin to gather (paperwork, clothes at the bottom of the bed, rubbish in the car). If we are feeling stressed, the emails in our inbox mount up, the voicemails remain unheard and mail unopened. Worse still, dirty clothes pile up on our bedroom floor, unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink, and dust collecting on all surfaces.
We all, I hope, know that keeping a good standard of hygiene helps to prevent the development and spread of infections, illnesses and bad odours. So, it is important to take care of the environment in which we live.
How comfortable and satisfied you are with your home environment?
Ask yourself these things.
- Are your personal papers, and receipts are neatly filed away?
- Is your home clean and tidy?
- Is your home Vacuumed?
- Are your wardrobes and drawers organized?
- Your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom in a good state?
- Windows clean?
- Furniture in good repair?
- Your appliances, machinery and equipment working well? (Fridge, toaster, lawn mower, water heater, hi-fi etc, computer, TV.).
- Your clothes are all ironed, clean and make you look good. (No creases, piles of washing, torn, or ill-fitting clothes).
- Your plants and animals are healthy?(Fed, watered, getting attention).
- Your bed/bedroom lets you have the best sleep possible? (Firm bed, light, air).
- You live in a house/flat that you love?
- You surround yourself with beautiful things?
- You live in the geographical location of my choice?
- There is ample and healthy lighting?
- People feel comfortable in your home?
- You have nothing around the house or in storage that you do not need
Maintaining a healthy home environment is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and the welfare of your family.
Your home environment is so important! Spend time and get yours right.
“If Home is where the heart is then may your Home be blessed” John McLeod
Score Your Way To Good Health - With Our Healthy Lifestyle Plan
Score your way to good health with our healthy lifestyle plan and it's unique 70 point weekly scorecard!
