Healthy Swaps Part 3: Home & Lifestyle
Simple ways to have a healthier and happier home
Happy Monday!
Today, I am wrapping up this little series of healthy swaps with home and lifestyle.
I said this in Part 2, but I think it is worth repeating. It is a daily challenge for me to work to be a good steward of the body God has given me while not thinking that I ultimately have control over my health. I do what I can, but I also trust that God made me and will sustain me.
It is a blessing to be able to learn about our health and make changes. However, we are also not sovereign or made to know everything.
So with that, let’s get into my last round of healthy swaps!
Branch Basics - We have been using them for cleaning supplies for over a year now. I love how simple it is to make the solutions for bathroom, glass, and all-purpose cleaners. They also have options for hand soap, laundry, and dish soap.
Air purifiers & open windows - Air quality is important, so I like to use a combination of both of these things to keep it fresh and clean. Especially in the winter, I feel like the air gets so dry and stale, and I cannot wait for that first day of spring-like weather to air out our home.
Cast iron / stainless steel cookware - Not all non-stick cookware is toxic; however, it has more risk than using things like cast iron and stainless steel. Our cookware does have a little more upkeep, but I think it is worth it!
Filtered water - Tap water can vary a ton based on where you live. This website can give you a general idea of what kind of contaminants might be present in the tap water in your area. I recommend looking into the specifics and then researching a filter that will specifically filter those contaminants. The dream for us is to get a Berkey one day!
Reduce or eliminate plastic - There have been countless studies that show tiny pieces of plastic break off from the larger whole in things like plastic packaging, bottles, etc. These tiny pieces of plastic end up on our food and drinks which then end up in our bodies. These pieces are small enough to cross the blood brain barrier and to get into our cells. In large quantities, this can cause all kinds of health issues!
No candles - The fragrance, chemicals, and additives in candles can be emitting all kinds of toxic things into your air. I cut out candles a couple of years ago, and now any scented candle I burn gives me a headache. There are some clean options out there, but I have found that I don’t miss them all that much!
No shoes in the house - Our shoes pick up all kinds of things as we walk - things we don’t really want in our homes. This quote comes from an article from last October in the Washington Post: “[He] discovered a grab bag of fecal matter when he conducted a study that entailed swabbing the bottom of 26 shoes. He found E. coli on more than a quarter of them and some kind of fecal bacteria on almost all. That bacteria transferred from the shoes to otherwise uncontaminated floor tiles more than nine out of 10 times, the study subsequently found.” That is enough information for me to put a little sign on the door that says, “Shoes off please!”
Lifestyle
Work with your Circadian Rhythm - Get out in the sunshine in the morning - even if it is just for a minute or two. Look at the sunset or the night sky to signal to your body that it is time for bed. Reduce blue light from screens at night with glasses or color changing light bulbs.
Yoga / stretching - Find a time in your routine for a short yoga flow or some stretching. Not only is it good time to clear your mind, but flexibility is also so important for our overall health and preventing injury.
Frequent declutters - There is a statistic that says, “There are 300,000 items in the average American home.” I don’t know exactly how many items are in your house, but chances are, there is at least something you own that you could declutter. I try to do this seasonally, and every time I do, both me and my space feel a lot lighter.
No work in the bedroom - This goes along with working with your circadian rhythm and promoting healthy sleep. If you work while laying in bed or have your desk in sight when you are trying to go to sleep at night, this can trigger your brain to think about work or be stressed when it should be winding down to sleep.
Read - Another tip for healthy sleep: read before bed - don’t scroll! Specifically, reading fiction helps our brains to slow down and reduces our mental chatter. I think everyone knows this, but not all of us are doing it. Let this time be the time you finally listen!
Turn down the air at night - Your body naturally cools down as you sleep, so turning down the air to around 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night gives your body a head start. I have noticed a difference when I forget to turn the air down. Higher temperatures, at least for me, seem to coincide with more random wake-ups in the middle of the night.
Cook at home - When you cook at home, you are in control of what ingredients go into your food. As I shared in Part 1, I have a sensitive stomach and some food intolerances. Knowing exactly what is going into our meals and being able to swap ingredients is very important to me!
Fight stress - When I was growing up, I would often go to my parents with random ailments. As I got older, I began taking my ailments to Google, and do you know what I learned? Almost every single disease or sickness or pain in our bodies can be caused by stress! Of course, we cannot avoid stress, but we can take proactive steps to fight it when we feel it coming. When I start to get stressed, I pause and take at least few minutes to do something to take my mind off of whatever was stressful. This could be dancing, walking, reading, journaling, going to the gym, etc. After, I can address whatever was stressing me out with a clearer mind and make a plan with actionable steps.
That is the end of my swaps! I hope you found at least one helpful swap or new idea to try out.
If you feel overwhelmed, focus on one thing you can do today. Don’t try to do it all at once. The stress of worrying or trying to change every little thing will be just as bad, if not worse, for your health.
Do a little at at time, and give yourself grace.
Thank you, as always, for reading. I look forward to talking to you next Monday!
Take care,
Caroline
I guess I’m done wearing shoes in the house!