Have you ever walked into a room and felt an immediate sense of well-being? In contrast, some places make you want to leave as soon as possible.
For centuries, people in Asia have practiced the order-centric arts of Vastu and Feng Shui to enhance their lives. These arts help individuals improve their health by intentionally arranging their living spaces.
Similarly, “Home Shui” can help you create an environment that feels good and supports all aspects of your health. It blends ancient principles with the practical understanding that well-being thrives in a salubrious environment—one with clean air and a home that promotes healthy habits.
Most of us are familiar with using medication, supplements, diet, and exercise to maintain health, but we rarely consider how our surroundings affect our well-being. By incorporating environmental factors into the health equation, Home Shui provides the missing link to total wellness.
HOME SHUI ESSENTIALS
You can apply Home Shui in your home, car, or office. Start with these four categories:
1. CLEAR THE CLUTTER
Where would you feel more at home: in a bright, clean, airy room or in a dirty, cluttered one? Clearing clutter can boost your mood, energy, and clarity while increasing efficiency, leaving you with more time for what you love. Best of all, it helps you relax and focus on what truly matters—rather than a pile of papers in the corner.
TIPS:
- Walk through your house and list all the areas where clutter accumulates (closets, drawers, the dining table, the garage). Clutter takes many forms—old bills, expired medications, outdated spices, and clothes you no longer wear. Tackle one room at a time to make the process more manageable.
- For each cluttered space, create three piles—one to keep, one to recycle, and one to throw away. Ensure that recycled and discarded items are actually removed from your home.
- Be patient with yourself and stay focused on decluttering. Distractions are inevitable.
- If you struggle to let go of things, ask a friend or professional for help. An objective eye can make a difference.
- Set a time limit—decluttering for more than an hour can be overwhelming. Remember, you don’t have to finish everything in one day. Set realistic timelines, as it may take weeks or months to go through your entire home. Progress is progress, no matter how small.
2. SANITIZE YOUR SPACE
There’s nothing more inviting than a clean home. Plus, dust, dirt, and mold can aggravate common health conditions such as allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues.
TIPS:
- Vacuum carpets, wash floors, and dust surfaces regularly. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can help reduce dust.
- Eliminate mold and mildew from bathrooms and damp areas, as some molds are highly toxic.
- Empty garbage cans every few days.
- Wash bedding at least once a week. Replace pillows every two years, or put them in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes every two weeks to reduce dust mites.
Regular cleaning often removes triggers for poor health. However, the cleaning products you use matter, which brings us to our next point.
3. CLEAR THE AIR
Have you ever considered that the air in your home may be dirtier than the air outside? A study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that indoor air can be up to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. Many household cleaning products introduce toxins into our homes, exacerbating or even causing conditions such as asthma, allergies, headaches, and sinus issues. These toxic products also generate free radicals in our bodies, accelerating the aging process. By eliminating or replacing them with eco-friendly alternatives, we can improve our health.
TIPS:
- Eliminate air fresheners, non-beeswax candles, fabric softeners, and toxic cleaners. Replace them with environmentally friendly alternatives.
- Open windows regularly to allow fresh air to circulate, especially when cleaning.
- Use an air filter. While opinions vary on the best type, air filters can significantly improve air quality in poorly ventilated homes.
- Choose rugs over carpets. Newer carpets can emit harmful chemicals and trap dust mites.
- Use plants. Houseplants increase oxygen and help break down toxins. Research published in the Journal of Plant Physiology in 1994 showed that spider plants effectively reduce formaldehyde levels in the air.
- Opt for old or recycled building materials when constructing or renovating your home, as newer materials often release formaldehyde.
For more information, visit www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/hpguide.html.
4. ORGANIZE
Organization benefits us in many ways—it increases mental clarity and efficiency, reduces stress, and encourages healthy behaviors. For this article, we’ll focus on closet organization.
TIPS:
- Remove all the contents of your closet and follow the steps in “Clear the Clutter.”
- Use sturdy plastic or wooden hangers (choose one type) and organize clothes by category (e.g., dress shirts, pants, casual shirts) and color (from dark to light).
- Use a shoe organizer. These are available at most home stores and can be hung in your closet, placed over the door, or set on the floor.
- Store handbags and sweaters in clear containers.
- Hang hats, ties, and belts on hooks.
- Put seasonal clothing in storage. You won’t need your summer shorts in the middle of winter!
FINAL THOUGHTS
There you have it—Home Shui essentials. Tackle each step one at a time, and soon both you and your environment will be healthier and more harmonious.