Can you recall the time that you felt the most relaxed? Was it in your home?
Well, if it wasn’t — then it should be.
As soon as we cross the threshold from the outside, we’re supposed to rid ourselves of all the negativity from the outside world. Work, school, friendships and even family life aside, as a Black woman, you’re probably carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, so you should be able to take a few moments each day in your home to just be. That’s why the more energy we put into our homes, the more we’ll get from it in the long run.
In fact, it’s medically proven that our moods, behaviors and physical and mental health are all influenced greatly by the home environment in which we live.
You don’t need to go to the spa to practice self-care. Our homes provide the same, if not more, wellness opportunities to calm our mind, body, and spirit. They can detach us from the stresses of urban living (or even suburban living) and allow us to feel positive and calm.
It’s time to give your home the attention it deserves. Here are a few key tips in transforming your home into a wellness sanctuary.
Clear the air.
Literally and figuratively. The air inside your home is actually 2 to 5 times more polluted and toxic than the air you breathe outdoors. So for starters, open a window — let some fresh air in occasionally to release some of those toxins that have built up in and around your home. Poor air quality can threaten your family’s health, so it’s important to keep things out of your home that cause pollution, and ensure that your house is well-ventilated. Also, consider adding an air purifier or water purifier such as Coway to clear out some of each room’s natural toxins. For example, the Coway Aquamega home water purifier reduces up to 99.9 percent of contaminants such as lead, VOCs, turbidity, mercury, cyst, chloramine, and aesthetic chlorine.
Go green.
Not only do plants make your space beautiful, there are actually a lot of other benefits. Houseplants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, helping you as you pause and breathe deeply during those moments of meditation. Not to mention, studies have also shown that plants can speed recovery time for certain conditions, sharpen focus, reduce stress, and contribute to a variety of other health benefits.
Invest in a quality mattress + linens.
Listen, choosing the right bedding and mattresses can be life-changing. Let me repeat that: life-changing. We all know good sleep is the key to quality living, and your overall well-being. For mattresses, consider Casper’s Wave mattress, which is five layers of premium foam & targeted ergonomic support (specifically designed for you), or the Tempur Breeze, which helps to manage the microclimate between your mattress and your covers for a cooler, deeper sleep all night long. Splendid Home has all your comforter and linen needs, while Cariloha offers eco-friendly bedding, apparel and bath products made from bamboo – softer than you can even imagine.
Make space for relaxation and meditation.
Do you find yourself doing work in your bed, or on your couch often? If so, these should not be the areas where you also practice your meditation. Whether you have a nook somewhere in your living room, or designate a full room for relaxation and meditation, make space to pause for a few moments everyday. This can be where you pray, where you think, where you meditate — wherever! But the space has to evoke feelings of positivity and calm.
Invest in crystals.
Crystals have healing powers — and they’ll revitalize your home as well. “Even if you don’t believe in the healing powers of crystals, filling your home with beautiful, sparkling, rocks from the earth can be beneficial to your mental state and give you something beautiful to look at,” says Alessandra Wood, VP of Style at Modsy.
Invest in wellness products.
No, we don’t want you to break the bank, but a few essential items in your home will make a world of difference. Candles, essential oils, incense, books on wellbeing — all of these things can do the trick in no time. A few essentials needs include:
A few good cleaning products: With tons of products on the market it can be hard to choose. But CleanWell HandSoap, Grove Collaborative and JR Watkins are great all natural recommendations. For instance, Grove is the sustainable, home and personal care service that delivers eco-friendly essentials right to your door. They carry everything from cleaning accessories and laundry products to sexual wellness and essential oils, and act as a one-stop shop for everything you need to make your home — and life — greener. And JR Watkins is an amazing line of high quality, natural, plant based home and body care products that will not only leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed after every use (sans an expensive spa day), but will have your home looking (and smelling) amazing.
A collection of good scents: The scent provides the vibe, and Scentered provides 100 percent natural and portable aromatherapy balms and candles to turn your home into a wellness sanctuary. Choose from the De-Stress Aromatherapy Candle, Escape Aromatherapy Candle, or Sleep Well Aromatherapy Candle for all your wellness needs. Or opt for the Moodoo, the tech savvy approach to aromatherapy. You can mix fragrance capsules & create your own ambience at home — and it’s the diffuser that allows you to customize scents according to your taste, mood and lifestyle.
And some all natural toilet paper for when you’ve got to “go”: No.2 is made from 100% bamboo and also a stylish twist on any bathroom.
Creating a healthy home environment involves much more than giving your home a good cleaning — it also means a commitment to a whole new (and improved) way of living. So for the rest of 2019 (and 2020), don’t just make a commitment to your home, make a commitment to yourself as well! Black women, the world needs us, but above all, we need ourselves.