Reasons Your Home Environment May Be Making You Unwell
Your home should be a sanctuary, a haven of rest and tranquillity, where you feel safe and nurtured. However, certain aspects of your living environment might be quietly undermining your health and wellbeing.
Clutter, toxic cleaning products, unhealthy relationships, and even the physical condition of your home can all contribute to stress, anxiety, and various health issues.
By understanding these hidden hazards, you can become more aware of their impacts, empowering yourself to make informed changes that transform your home into a healthier, more supportive space for you and your wellness. You have no control over the environment outside your home but you have full autonomy for the health of your home environment.
Awareness is the first step in any change so let’s become aware of what may be impacting your health and how you can start creating an environment that truly promotes rest, relaxation, and overall well being.
Excess Clutter can Affect Your Health and Wellness
Clutter isn’t just an eyesore; it can have significant implications for your mental and physical health. A cluttered environment can create a chaotic atmosphere, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
- Health Impacts:
- Increased blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Obesity
The constant visual reminder of disorganisation can overwhelm your mind and reduce your ability to focus, relax, and be productive. Excessive stuff or ‘dust collectors,’ as I like to call them, can make cleaning difficult and time-consuming.
The added dust accumulation and poor indoor air quality can exacerbate allergies and respiratory issues, making it harder to breathe or sleep comfortably.
The heightened cortisol levels also impact our physical health by holding onto and storing fat, increasing body weight and inflammation in the body. So believe it or not, decluttering your home can help you lose weight.
Toxic Cleaning Products – Your Health and Wellness
Many conventional cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can pose health risks and a study carried out over 20 years in Norway’s University of Bergen concluded using harsh cleaning products has a similar effect on the lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day!
Products with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, and bleach can release fumes that irritate your respiratory system, leading to:
- coughing,
- sneezing and
- shortness of breath.
Direct contact with these chemicals can also cause:
- skin irritation,
- rashes, and
- allergic reactions.
Some chemicals in cleaning products are now proven to be linked to chronic health issues, including hormone disruption (irregular periods, PCOS, endometriosis and infertility) and increased risk of cancer.
*If you would like to learn more about Hormone Disruption and the effects on Fertility: CLICK HERE
Personal Care Products
The items you use daily for personal hygiene, washing your face, your body, sanitary products and even creams and makeup can contain harmful chemicals just like your cleaning products.
Chemicals such as parabens and phthalates found in shampoos, soaps, and lotions can disrupt your endocrine system, affecting your hormone balance and potentially leading to reproductive health issues.
Synthetic fragrances and other additives can cause skin problems, ranging from mild irritation to severe allergic reactions. These products can also strip your skin of natural oils, leading to dryness and sensitivity.
The strong smells from these and cleaning products can also cause headaches, migraines, brain fog and impair your cognitive function over time due to their toxic effects on your neuro pathways.
Unhealthy Relationships
It’s not just the physical things in your home that impact your health but the emotional climate of your home plays a crucial role in your overall well-being too. These relationships will show up in your mental and physical health.
A home filled with conflict, tension, and negative interactions can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. The lack of a supportive environment can exacerbate mental health issues.
This stress and anxiety from unhealthy relationships can then manifest physically, leading to issues such as headaches, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system and often lead people to self soothe through emotional eating or other unhealthy habits.
Building Health
The physical condition of your home may also be an area you aren’t aware of but one that can significantly impact your health. Mould growth and damp conditions can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and even cognitive difficulties.
Mould spores can be particularly harmful to individuals with asthma or an already weakened immune system. Insufficient ventilation can lead to the buildup of indoor pollutants and moisture, creating an unhealthy living environment.
Poor air circulation can result in stale air, making it harder to breathe and increasing the risk of mould growth.
Our indoor environment is also exacerbated by the chemical cleaning and personal care products that are sprayed inside especially if the rooms are never ventilated properly.
Remember if it’s sprayed in the air you are breathing it into your lungs!
Problems with old or damaged pipework (especially water systems) can cause rust which increases the risk of lead in your water. This can have both physical and mental health concerns such as fatigue, headaches or abdominal complaints.
By identifying these potential hazards in your home, you can take proactive steps to mitigate their effects and create a healthier, more supportive living environment for you, your family and your pets.
Make sure to read: 5 Simple Changes You Can Make in Your Home to Improve Your Health and Well-Being by Emma Ebdon
Emma Ebdon
Simplicity Lifestyle Coach and Declutter Consultant
Connect with Emma
Website: Loving Life With Less
Instagram: @Lovinglifewithless
Linkedin: Emma Ebdon – Simplicity Coach
