90% That's how much time most people spend... indoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. 87% of their life is indoors, then another 6% of their life in car. That's only 7% of your entire life outdoors. That's only one half of one day per week outdoors. Ouch! So, if we're not getting much fresh air outside, our inside air is fresh, right? Maybe not so much. Indoor air pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. These are things like:
While most of use don't heat our homes with wood or use oil lamps anymore, most of us do turn on the AC in the summer, the heat in the winter. I'm pretty all of us clean our homes with something. Everyone uses at least one personal care product each day, and most of us use anywhere from 3-12! And don't get me started on candles or air fresheners! While one source probably isn't enough to make a significant health impact, most of our homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. Some things that can heighten the effects of this are poor ventilation, increased temperatures and higher humidity. What's a gal to do? Actually, there are a few great options to help you breathe easier, and more healthfully, in your home. 1. Take your shoes off before you come in the house. Shoes pick up all kinds of things in all kinds of places. Leave them outside, along with any bacteria, pesticides, or chemicals they may have collected during the day. 2. Green up your home. Some plants are perfect for purifying the air in your home, bringing the outside in, and providing a more relaxing atmosphere. The top 5 easy-to-care-for NASA-certified are:
3. Vacuum regularly. Dust mites can hold on to bacteria and not-so-nice smells. Get that vacuum running once or twice a week! Try sprinkling a mix of baking soda and essential oils first, letting it sit for 15-20 minutes, then vacuuming for extra stink-busting. 4. Change your air filter every 3 months. Seriously, write it on your calendar, put a reminder on your phone, whatever you need to do to remember this! Not only will this keep dust mites and bacteria away, if you've got pets your filter might get extra wear and tear and get so filled it could cause your furnace to switch off...in winter...I might have experience with this...just sayin...Add a few of Melaleuca to your filters to combat allergens too. 5. Switch out your cleaners for a greener version. So many commercial cleaners contain chemicals you do NOT want to be inhaling. If the bottle tells you to be in a well-ventilated area when using (and you never open a window when you clean) you want to ditch that stuff. It's not good for you or anyone in your home! You can find some easy DIY cleaner recipes on this blog. You can also find great ideas HERE. We also love doTERRA's On Guard Cleaner Concentrate. It's perfect for those who don't like to DIY, want to keep it simple and get great value for their dollar. 6. Diffuse essential oils. Yes, there are oils that can help purify the air in your home! Some of our favorites include:
7. Open up them windows. If you can't get outside due to work, illness, or other reasons, at least open up them windows and air out your home. Sure, certain times of the year that's easier than others, but when you can air out the house, make an effort to do so. 8. Get outside. If we spend 87-93% of our time inside a building or our cars, it's time we make it a priority to get outdoors! Working in an office or out of your home? Put time in your schedule to take a walk. Even 15-20 minutes can make a world of difference. Use your weekend to spend a larger chunk of time outside. Do you live within a mile of your school, library, grocery store or park? Walk there instead of driving. The average person walks a 15 minute mile. That's 15 minutes of fresh air PLUS exercise! Way better than a 3-5 minute car ride. Which is these suggestions is one you could put into practice today? Comment below and let us know!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Welcome!I'm Tonia, a Midwesterner transplanted to Colorado. I'm a mom of two lovely littles, a yoga instructor, DIY-er, teacher, stay at home mom, and a doTERRA Wellness Advocate. I blog about a little bit of all of these and everything in between! ![]() Are you looking for natural health options, but don't know where to start? Book a 1-on-1 appointment with me! We'll spend about 30 minutes getting to know your health goals and concerns, learn a bit about doTERRA, and go over the most commonly used oils that meet your needs. You don't have to buy anything, but if you see something you like, of course I can help you!
Categories
All
Archives
December 2019
|