How Your Environment Might Be Impacting Your Health
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
Updated: May 15
How Your Environment Might Be Impacting Your Health – Part 1: Your Home
Healthy habits don’t rely on willpower alone. They grow from the environment you live in every day.
When we talk about environment, we mean, your home, your social world, and your digital space.
Each one quietly influences how you feel, what you do, and which choices come more easily.
Let’s start with the most immediate layer: your home.
Modern homes often contain more chemical exposure than we realise. Cleaning sprays, plastics, furnishings, dust, and even air fresheners all add to what your body has to process. The good news?
Small changes can make a noticeable difference.
Here are a few simple ways to make your home feel lighter and healthier:
Small home swaps that matter:
• Ventilate daily
Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air. Open windows for even a few minutes
each day to refresh the space.
• Leave shoes at the door
Shoes bring in pesticides, dirt, and pollutants. Keeping them by the entrance reduces what
enters your living area.
• Rethink cleaning products
Many standard cleaners release irritants into the air. Eco alternatives or simple options like
bicarbonate of soda can work just as well.
• Watch fragrances
Synthetic air fresheners often contain undisclosed chemicals, listed as fragrance or
parfum. If you use scented products, look for products labelled 100% essential oils,
usually listed by botanical names like Lavandula angustifolia (lavender). Or try making your
own greener alternatives.
Be mindful if you have pets, as fragrances, even natural oils can affect cats and small
animals.
• Reduce plastics in food storage
Microplastics are now being found in the body and are considered to be harmful.
Switching to glass or stainless steel for food prep and storage is a straightforward step.
Keep dust and damp under control
Dust carries unwanted particles. Regular wiping and vacuuming (ideally with a HEPA filter)
helps. If you notice damp or musty smells, a dehumidifier can reduce mould risk.
• Choose your bedding with care, if you can
New mattresses and bedding often carry chemical residues. Organic cotton sheets or a
mattress topper can reduce skin exposure.
None of this needs to be perfect. One or two changes are
enough to start.
This month’s small action:
Pick just one home change to try this week. Was it opening windows more? Swapping a cleaner? Leaving shoes at the door?
Next month, we’ll look at your social environment — the people and spaces that shape your energy more than you might realise.
Carrie Cannon Health Coach
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