Every parent wants to learn the secrets of improving their home life, but they quickly discover there is no magic formula that will transform their home overnight. No, much like many other things in life, improving your home life takes effort. It’s about the choices you make. One of the most effective choices is embracing a healthier home environment so you, your partner, and your kids can grow up feeling great.
So what are these healthy choices? Here are ten great choices you can make today to help your home become the place you’ve always envisioned.
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality
Your home’s air quality might be one of the last things you think about because it’s more difficult to notice compared to other issues. However, you can still identify the signs of unhealthy indoor air and take action to solve the problem. Common air quality issues include mold and mildew as well as pet hair or dander, while carbon monoxide could also pose a problem. You can solve these problems easily with the right approach, such as regular cleaning and proper ventilation. If you need to repair or upgrade your HVAC system, do that too.
Give Everyone A Great Night’s Sleep
Good health is built upon a good night’s sleep. Therefore, it makes sense that you should do everything possible to ensure everyone sleeps easily through the night. You can start by improving their bedroom atmosphere by finding the optimal temperature, either too hot or too cold. Season-specific comforters are also helpful if your family sleeps differently. You can also consider upgrading their mattresses to ensure they get all the comfort they need to sleep well.
Stop Tracking Mud Through the House
When the weather turns, and your kids come home from school or soccer practice caked in mud, they might not realize how much they track through the house. Not only is this frustrating, especially if you’ve only just cleaned, but it can also bring in germs and bacteria. If you have a porch, make sure they wipe their shoes before coming into the house. If you don’t, a robust doormat and a mud brush are essential. You should also remind them not to wear their shoes in the house even if they’ve only run back to pick up something they forgot.
Cook Healthy Dishes
Healthy eating is a core component of a healthier home, yet many people don’t have the time to whip up something nutritious and delicious. It;’s much easier to switch the oven on and make frozen pizzas. However, this will not contribute to healthy eating habits, so try making a month of healthy meals for your kids to see how things change. They will be healthier and more energetic, and might even realize that nuggets or pizza rolls are not the be-all and end-all of cuisine.
Keep The House Tidy
A tidy home will immediately make you feel better. But if you’re the only one cleaning, it can feel like an insurmountable task, especially if it’s just hours before guests come over. One way to solve this is to improve your organization options. Purchase storage boxes and build shelving systems that make it easier to put away clothes, toys, and everyday essentials so you can access them easily next time you need them.
Make the Entrance Welcoming
The more welcoming your home, the less stressed you’ll be as soon as you walk through the door. While you expect a little stress around the house, you also want to feel good about getting back after a long day at work. Creating an inviting entryway is the first step towards this. You need soft lighting, tidiness, and somewhere to put your coat and shoes so they aren’t simply thrown over any bare surface.
Transform Your Yard
Although you might not be able to use your yard all year round, you can still make it a place to relax or entertain when the weather permits. Overground yards will only get worse, so you should mow your lawn regularly as soon as you’re able to spend time outside. You can also gradually add new features, such as patio furniture, a BBQ, and a space for the kids to play so everyone can get the most out of your backyard.
Be Strict With Your Cleaning Schedule
A strong and strict cleaning schedule is the foundation of a healthy home. Without it, you might never find the time to vacuum or dust. You can find an easy weekly cleaning schedule to build from, which includes plenty of sections and ideas about the right time to focus on specific parts of the house. If you work full-time, it can be challenging to squeeze everything into one evening, but you don’t have to. Instead, focus on one thing at a time since this won’t take as long as a full house clean but still get results.
Deep Clean (At Least) Once A Year
You should also deep clean your house as often as you can. For most people, this is once a year, but you might prefer to do it twice (once in spring and again during the fall) to stay on top of everything. Dedicate a weekend to cleaning every inch of the house and take the opportunity to declutter anything you know you will never use again. Do not just put things in the attic because this will build up.
Encourage Calm Zones
A healthy home is not just about how clean it is or how many vegetables you eat. You also need to focus on the mental aspect. Creating calm and quiet zones can help you relax over the weekend or in the evenings. Here, you should put your phone away and instead read a book, listen to music, or work on your hobbies.
The Right Choice
Everyone should strive to make choices that make their home and lives healthier. However, it’s often challenging to introduce these changes all in one go. Still, if you know the most effective choices you can make, your home will become the healthy haven you need, enabling you and everyone else there to thrive and feel good.