How to Improve Your Flagstaff Home and Your Health

How to Improve Your Home and Your Health

by Lynda Chan

How to Improve Your Home and Your Health

Ever find yourself getting so wrapped up in the little things that you forget the big picture? Take the layout of the typical Flagstaff home for example. Each room is designed with a specific activity in mind, like preparing food, eating meals, watching TV, or sleeping. But when it comes to making improvements to your home, try to consider the entire house and not just each room.

In this post, we'll offer three ideas that can help you get more satisfaction out of your home. While this may not change your life, it will help you to create healthier, more nurturing surroundings for you and your family, and that's a great start.

Idea #1: Air Things Out

According to ImproveNet, most homeowners spend between $211 and $6,298 nationally to address home safety concerns related to lead and asbestos removal and improved air quality. Is this wasted money? Not at all, especially when you consider that poor air quality contributes to health problems like eye irritation, scratchy/sore throats, and even some forms of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are a few ways to make every breath you take healthier:

Use a quality air purifier.
Vacuum and dust often.
Change HVAC filters at recommended intervals.
Remove or replace old carpeting, which can harbor all sorts of toxins, according to The New York Times.
Use paints and stains with low volatile organic compound (VOC) ratings.

Idea #2: Unhook and Unwind

Why do you work? To provide yourself with the things you want and need, of course. But sometimes we get so caught up in the buy/spend/work cycle that we forget the simple pleasures of peace and quiet. This can not only wreck our mood, it can harm our health. Here are some tips for creating a little less noise and a bit more serenity in your home surroundings:

Commit to a daily quiet time of at least five minutes. Don't watch TV, listen to music, or fidget with your phone. Just sit and let yourself be.
Convert a part of your home into a place of refreshment and reflection. Use it for activities like reading, sewing, knitting, or meditating.
Consider having a media-free evening each week for your family. Leave the TV off, set aside all your devices, and spend the time playing board games, working on a puzzle, or just talking.

Idea #3: Practice Sound Stewardship

Our lives are richer when we spend some time giving back to the earth that sustains and nurtures us. Here are some steps you can take:

When you landscape your Flagstaff property, consider using plants with low water requirements. Oleander, poppy, and sage are all excellent varieties.
Turn food wastes like uneaten vegetables, coffee grounds, and potato peelings into valuable fertilizer by composting.
Look for ways to reduce your carbon footprint by recycling and buying in bulk to avoid needless packaging.
Cultivate the love for nature, both in yourself and your family members, by going for a walk, visiting your local park, and looking up at the stars on a clear night.

You work hard to put a roof over your head. Now use these ideas to get the best possible return on your investment. Every part of your life will be richer as a result.

About our Blog Contributor Lydia Chan

After her Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Lydia Chan struggled to balance the responsibilities of caregiving and her own life. She founded AlzheimersCaregiver.net as an online resource for fellow caregivers and seniors. In her spare time, Lydia writes articles about a range of caregiving topics.

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