Environments: Home
Learn how to cultivate a healing environment within your home by leveraging design and sensorial elements.
Zone Analysis and Prioritization
1 min
Zone Analysis and Prioritization
Identify and prioritize healing design based on various zones in your home.
Whether at home, at work, or elsewhere, the design of spaces we spend our time in impacts mental and physical health. A systemic review done by the journal HealthcarePapers suggests that exposure to beautiful interiors and abundance of light can help to improve mental health, enhance productivity, regulate your circadian rhythm, and more.Take that coupled with the fact that, with the rise of remote work, the average American spending almost 19 hours a day at home, it’s clear that your home environment is critical to your well-being.The Environments pillar is dedicated to helping you intentionally design each area of your home to support your health and happiness. Part of designing to heal includes knowing where in your home you spend most of your time—and how it affects you.Today, let’s explore how to analyze and prioritize the zones in your home.Segmenting Your HomeFor most of us, it’s not realistic to redesign our entire home all at once. That’s why we’re taking it on little by little, prioritizing various zones or rooms in the home based on time spent there and their impact on your health.In a journal, begin the following exercise:
- List all the zones in your home (for example: bedroom, kitchen, living room, office).
- Rank these zones based on the amount of time you spend in each.
- Identify the zone that is most crucial for your health—for example, you may select the bedroom to improve sleep quality—and start with improving this area.
Evaluating Your Cleaning Products
1 min
Evaluating Your Cleaning Products
Replace harmful chemical-filled products with ‘cleaner’ ones.
Our environmental well-being can be greatly affected by the cleaning products we use, even more than you may think. Traditional cleaning products are often chemical-laden—and many contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause respiratory issues, headaches, allergies, and more according to the American Lung Association.Today, we’re learning to assess and replace harmful chemical-based cleaning products with natural alternatives, ensuring a safer home environment.Making Safer SwapsFollow the steps below to evaluate your cleaning products.1. Assess Your InventoryCollect all cleaning products you regularly use in your home, from floor cleaners to countertop sprays. Carefully read the labels to identify the chemicals contained in each product.2. Conduct Your ResearchInvestigate the health impacts of the identified chemicals. Resources such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) guide can be helpful. Note which chemicals are considered harmful and could contribute to toxin accumulation in the body, and be sure to steer clear of those.3. Evaluate ProductsEvaluate which products contain harmful chemicals that could be absorbed through your skin or inhaled. Consider not just the immediate cleanliness but also the long-term health implications of using such products.4. Replace Harmful ProductsDispose of products containing harmful chemicals responsibly. Research and select all-natural cleaning alternatives. Many effective and eco-friendly options are available that use ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.Many products contain eco-certified labels, but we recommend closely reading the ingredient lists to ensure a product is genuinely good-for-you.If you’re curious to go deeper into the impacts of your cleaning products, do a toxicity blood panel prior to swapping your cleaning products, as well as a 6-month check-in after you’ve made the changes. Pay close attention to a decrease in indoor allergies, headaches, or any other side effects you might’ve been experiencing.Clean Home, Healthy HomeWhat you use to clean your spaces can directly impact your health in the short- and long-term. We often think that the stronger the scent of a product, the more effective it is, but that’s simply not true. Together, we can transform this narrative and make more conscious decisions.
Creating a Natural Aromatic Environment
1 min
Creating a Natural Aromatic Environment
Replace synthetic scents with better-for-you alternatives.
Many of us use scents in our home to create a relaxing, calm atmosphere. However, we don’t always think about what these scents might do to our health.A 2016 study found that almost 35% of the population experiences migraines, respiratory issues, and other health conditions associated with fragrance used in homes or public settings. Even if you’re not someone experiencing these negative effects, you never know what effect prolonged exposure to chemical-laden scents could have.Let’s explore some natural alternatives to synthetic scents that not only fragrance your home, but also positively impact your health.Fragrancing Your Home—NaturallyFirst, evaluate the scented products in your home. Typically speaking, candles, air fresheners, and plug-in wall scents are the most likely to contain harmful chemicals. Things to look out for include paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum that may contain carcinogens, and phthalates, chemicals used in scent that disrupt your hormones and endocrine system.Second, eliminate any harmful scents from your home. Be sure to responsibly dispose of or slowly phase out the products.The next step is exploring natural alternatives. Some of the best natural home products include:
- Essential oils and diffusers: A diffuser gently scents your home with essential oils of your choosing. Many essential oils have secondary health properties, such as lavender to promote relaxation or peppermint to energize you. Be sure to look at the ingredients and select a brand you trust, as some essential oil products contain additives.
- Natural woods, resins, and herbs: Perhaps the safest option out there is burning naturally potent wood or herb scents. Palo Santo, agarwood, and sandalwood all offer aromatic and therapeutic properties. Choose sustainable, wild-harvested, and raw materials to ensure ethical consumption and purity of the product.