As we bring this series to a conclusion, our final Rainbow Fitness Flower petal is a healthy home environment, which actually refers to several different areas.
First of all, consider if your home is safe. I know that sounds sort of ridiculous. Most humans have a reasonable amount of common sense and know how to maintain a “safe” home. Maybe it’s just me, being the mother of a trouble-finding toddler and an inquisitive four-year-old, but there are plenty of things that come to mind that may not be safe in my home:
Outlet covers on all plugins? (Unlikely because the toddler pulls them out anyway).
Cracked upper window pane? (What are the odds someone will be near it when it finally breaks for real?)
Desks and dressers mounted to the walls? One read of this blog post and you’ll never question that again. (Go ahead… read it now… just have some Kleenex nearby…)
It won’t matter how strong you are or how nutritiously you eat if there are possibly dangerous areas within your home. So many of these things are on our “to-do” list, but we need to make them a priority and actually do something about them.
Similarly, a healthy home environment does (sadly to say) need to be cleaned. I grew up in a big old farmhouse where dust blew in the windows and mud came in on the boots. (My mom was a busy woman!) I’m not saying your house has to be spic and span, but for safety purposes, some amount of cleaning does need to take place in order for us to live out a healthy life.
Of course, there’s the dust and allergies connection to consider. But even more importantly, frequent cleaning helps control the spread of diseases. Living with a germophobic doctor, I’m well-versed in how rotovirus, salmonella or e. coli can spread. Believe me, experiencing hepatitis or sepsis resulting from uncleanliness would not allow you to be healthy and fit.
[Language lesson for the day: germophobic isn’t actually a real word, but I’m using it anyway. The correct term is mysophobic. Learn something new every day, right?…]
I’m sure I enjoy house-cleaning just as much as the next guy (or not), but it’s a necessary evil. However, some of the products on the market for people to use can be just as toxic and dangerous to the people in your home anyway! I have used some DIY cleaning recipes with vinegar and other eco-friendly ingredients. But even better….cleaning with Norwex (the company name, not an actual cleaning product).
You can seriously clean your entire house with just water and one of their “Enviro Cloths.” It’s a specially made microfiber towel with silver threads, which makes it anti-bacterial. My friend, Nicole, is a Norwex consultant here in North Carolina, or you can find one located near you. (I’m not affiliated with them, I just love the safe, green cleaning that can happen by using only water!)
Once your home is a) safe and b) clean, the last thing is to make sure it’s filled with love. Oh, how corny does that sound! 🙂 But really, don’t we all feel happier and healthier when people are kind, helpful, supportive, and understanding? Extend a little grace to the spouse. Calmly discipline the unruly child. Put on some music and bake a batch of cookies (there are healthy options! Stay tuned for a recipe!).
Creating a calming environment where stress is low and love is high benefits those involved, both physically and mentally. Amy Roberts, from Raising Arrows, has some really great ideas here about making your home a haven. What can you do today to make sure your family feels loved?
Bottom line: Make your home a safe, happy place where people long to linger, and you’ll see benefits in your own health and fitness as well.
Everyday Faith + Fitness 