How to update your home to promote improved health

How to update your home to promote improved healthcredit

Nothing in this life is more important than your health. Given that you spend more time at home than any other location, ensuring that it’s designed to support your well-being should be a priority at all times.

So, how can you update the property to promote improved health for all the family? Here’s all that you need to know.

Collection of houseplants

Improve the air quality

Good air quality is vital for protecting your family against chronic breathing problems as well as seasonal issues. Introducing house plants can be a particularly useful step. Their calming influence and ability to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen will have a telling impact.

However, the air quality should also be improved by keeping the home clean. Crucially, any HVAC systems and vents must be cleared on a regular basis. Otherwise, you’ll soon be left to breathe in dust. When you opt for a less cluttered interior design, keeping the home organised and clean should be easier. Choosing chemical-free cleaners will also work wonders.

Feet of a person asleep in bed

Encourage a better night’s sleep

There are many aspects of your working day that may require attention. However, it’s what you do at night that can have the biggest influence on your health. It consumes one-third of your life and is, additionally, the time for your muscles to recuperate. A good night’s sleep will improve your appearance, energy levels and general mood. You’d be a fool to miss out.

You can take several steps to gain a better night’s sleep. A new mattress and duvet will provide a platform to build upon. Decluttering the bedroom and investing in blackout curtains or blinds will help. For the best results, leave your smart-phone out of reach when going to bed.

Woman lying on a mat exercising

Promote healthy lifestyles

Living a healthy lifestyle is largely about forming good habits. Still, we are hugely influenced by our surroundings and should never underestimate this fact. Creating a space for exercise, even if it’s just a few minutes each day, can lead you to a much better future.

The human body is a machine that must be fuelled in the right way. Choosing a water softener can be great for your health as well as the ongoing health of home appliances. As well as hydration, selecting steamers and air fryers can give you healthier options when cooking. You don’t have to follow a perfect eating plan but must look to establish balance.

Hammock in a garden

Establish improved mental wellness

Physical wellness isn’t the only key ingredient in the recipe for good health. If you have a garden space, finding ways to spend more time outside will aid your mindset. Selecting rattan furniture, gardening tools, and entertainment features will serve you well. It also creates the perfect outlet for hosting friends and family with a BBQ or garden gathering.

Modern life is stressful, so it also pays to have a place to relax. A reading nook, a spa-like bathroom or a conservatory free of modern tech are all good solutions. When supported by measures taken to promote improved health, you can feel more relaxed around the home. Perfect!

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6 annoying home factors to avoid

6 annoying home factors to avoid

There’s no such thing as a perfect home. However, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to make our homes as close to perfect as possible. There are many things you can do that’ll push your home in the right direction. However, an arguably even more effective plan is to limit the number of annoying aspects of a property. In the end, the effectiveness of your positive additions won’t be anywhere near as profound if there are still things dragging your home down.

In this post, we’re going to run through some of the most annoying factors that can affect a property. We’ll also outline some useful advice that’ll take care of them. If your home is guilty of any of them, it’s time to take action!

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Crowded spaces

You need to have space to breathe in your home. If you can’t, then it’ll be normal to find that it’s harder to relax than it should be! While there are many things that can compromise the enjoyment of a home, the easiest one to fall into is an overly cluttered space. After all, as home-owners, we’re pretty good at collecting items, less good at throwing them away. So take a look at your home. Does it feel like there are just slightly more belongings there than there should be? In that case, it’ll probably be time to have a clear-out.

If you need to keep the belongings that are cluttering up your home, then you can look at investing in an off-site storage unit. Alternatively, you could look at adding some smart storage solutions to your home. You’ll feel much better when your home is light and airy!

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Noisy neighbours

You can choose where you live. But you can’t choose your neighbours. If you get unlucky on that front, then you might find that you’re constantly having to battle with a level of noise that you could really do without. This problem can be a little trickier to manage than other problems, but you do have some tools at your disposal.

The first is communication. Why not speak to them? They might not be aware that they’re making a lot of noise. Often, it’s only when someone else points out an annoying trait that we notice it for ourselves! Of course, this won’t always work. Some people don’t care that they’re negatively impacting upon others. In that case, it’ll be best to just do what you can in your home. There are plenty of effective soundproofing tactics that’ll keep the noise from filtering through into your home.

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Loud appliances

Your home appliances are intended to make your life easier; and, by and large, they will be. However, depending on the quality of your appliances, that may not be perfect. One issue that many people run into is appliances that make too much noise. This usually happens with older washing machines and fridges. In that case, it might be time to upgrade! You’ll have to outlay some cash to get a modern appliance, but it’ll be worth the investment. Not only will it be quieter and more conducive to a peaceful home, it’ll also save you money, too – newer models are much more energy-efficient than older ones, which means you’ll have lower energy bills.

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Leaky taps

In order to feel like we have a well-functioning home, it’s important that our infrastructure is on point. We all know how frustrating it can be when you have a leak somewhere in your home. Even if you know that it’s not causing any major problems (such as flooding), it’s still frustrating. And, of course, it’s even worse if you can hear the leak. It’s not just frustrating, either – it’s wasteful and it can cost you money, since water isn’t free. If you notice that you have a leak issue with your toilet or tap, then hire a specialist in toilet tap repairs. You’ll find that you’re able to relax much better once you know that your home’s infrastructure is working as it should!

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Wifi issues

The standards of what we can expect from our homes are rising all the time. When homes first became a thing, it was enough that they kept us protected from the elements. But now? We ask much more from them that than, and so we should, since properties aren’t cheap! In order to have a modern home, you’ll need to be connected to the internet, which is increasingly a presence in the home (think of entertainment, the ‘Internet of Things’ and so on). As such, there’s nothing worse than having to put up with bad internet. Indeed, this probably wins the ‘most annoying problem that isn’t really a problem’ award.

There are things you can do to improve this aspect of your home, however. At the top of the list is to simply call your internet service provider. If they can’t help, then look for a new provider. If there’s something about the layout of your home that’s causing the issue, then look at the best wifi extenders. They work!

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Work/life balance

We’ve all spent much more time at home than usual over the past year. In that time, they’ve become our go-to places for relaxation, entertainment and work. We can handle relaxation and entertainment just fine, but work? That’s a bit trickier to manage. The issue isn’t that we’re working from home (that can be fun). The issue is that it can be difficult to disconnect once the work day is over. If you must work from home, try to put a boundary between your working life and home life. Two good ways to do this are to have a cut-off time when you finish working (without exceptions) and to work in a designated spot, such as a home office.

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Conclusion

Your home should be restorative, joyful and all-around beneficial to your life. Anything that goes against that should be eliminated, if possible. Follow our tips above, and you’ll soon have a property that’s without the annoying aspects that can drag down your pleasure.

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Maintaining healthy habits is crucial

Maintaining healthy habits is crucial | H is for Home

Healthy habits have a huge impact on our lives. We feel better both physically & mentally – and of course need less medical care. They contribute to a real sense of well being and stability. And even when we experience personal hardships or illness, healthy habits help us bounce right back and return to our usual selves much faster than someone who is less prepared. Here are some things to consider when assessing your day to day habits and how healthy they are.

Messy living room

Maintain your belongings

Keeping personal property in shape is one key to supporting healthy habits. It may sound a bit weird but when your furniture is attractive, your bed is comfy, and your electronics work well, you’ll feel much better about your home and surroundings. The home is a safe haven, a place to relax. We physically and mentally need it to be clean and comforting at the same time. Take a look at your surroundings and notice if something needs upkeep or replacing. Furniture lines like Bernhardt Furniture are a great resource for replacing old furniture and sprucing up your living spaces. If your kitchen is messy, it’s time to clean it and keep it neat – you’ll find it beneficial in terms of practicality, safety and hygiene. If you have a lot of clutter, or redundant broken electronics, it’s time to clear it all up and recycle it.

fork wrapped in a blue tape measure

Eat nourishing foods and maintain an ideal weight

You truly are what you eat and eating healthily is the top way to take care of yourself. Whether you just want to avoid illness or you’re working at losing weight, your food is a top priority to consider. Avoiding processed foods is a good starting point. That way you really know exactly what you’re consuming. Secondly, eat as cleanly and as organically as possible. Read the labels on foodstuffs in order to avoid unnecessary additives, excess salt and sugar. The amount of sugar and salt added to many common foodstuffs can be quite surprising. When you eat well, your body feels well, and you mentally feel well. Many people speak about making dietary changes and suddenly they are less tired, more energetic and way more productive than before. Your body is a temple, worship it!

weight training equipment

Exercise and enjoy it

Exercise is often overlooked because we tell ourselves we’re too busy. Really, we can fit in light exercise each day. Consider taking a short 10-15 minute walk in the morning, on your lunch break or after dinner. If you still struggle to find the time for a short walk, include them in your everyday errands. Perhaps park a little further away from your work entrance, supermarket or shopping centre than you could do – those extra steps will give you a bit of light exercise or head space to think. If walking isn’t exciting enough for you, find out what is. Try yoga, pilates, a running group or even a spin class. It doesn’t matter what it is so long as you’re taking time to work your body.

Friends spelt out in Scrabble letters

Don’t be the hermit

Everyone needs solitary time, we have to recharge from our work lives and home lives. Too much time alone isn’t taking care of our mental health though. We need social interaction to bring us a sense of peace, belonging and experience a bit of joy. Make sure that you’re not working too much or always at home. Once every couple of weeks, have friends over for a pot luck dinner. Go out to the cinema with a friend, meet someone for coffee or have a lunch date with someone with whom you don’t spend all day at work. If you’re struggling to make connections with people, check out a site like Meetup in order to find people who have similar interests as you.

Healthy bodies and minds can stave off so many of the illnesses that can plague us. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever get sick or feel down. However, with healthy habits and good friends you’ll find that you recover much quicker.

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Alice About The House

'Alice About The House' blog post banner

Vintage Alice About The House book cover

We’ve just bought this great little book at the local market. Initially, it was the front cover that grabbed our attention – an eye-popping red & yellow – you couldn’t really miss it!!

Thompson Newspapers Ltd, publishers of Alice About The House

Before we opened it we guessed it must have dated from the 1950s/60s period. And so it turned out, being published by Thomson Newspapers Ltd in 1960.

'Eyebrow Pencils' and 'Eye Make-Up' from Alice About The House

It’s called ‘Alice about the House’ and as the name suggests, features Alice and all manner of domestic challenges.

'Lamb Leftovers' comic strip

Various scenarios spring up from the perfect sponge cake to electrocution!

'Cookery Nook' from Alice About The House

Much of it takes the form of comic strips.

'First Aid' from Alice About The House

The illustrations are fabulous – and so are some of the story lines.

'Bulbs, Bedding Plants and Seeds' from Alice About The House

As you might guess, it’s full of handy hints. Some are still relevant today, others belong to a bygone era. Both aspects make it a very entertaining read – the price is £10 including UK postage for anyone interested.