03/30/2026
We often think of health in terms of our nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. However, your environment quietly shapes your health every single day, often more than you realize. Your environment influences your stress levels, your sleep quality, and your energy levels, which in turn effects your immune system. Do you surround yourself with people who lift you up or those that drain you? Is your home or office cluttered or clean? Being surrounded by clutter and people who drag you down can cause chronic stress which in turn leads to chronic inflammation. What about the indoor air that you breathe? Indoor pollution can affect your respiratory health, and chemicals found in the fragrances in your home products can influence your hormones and cause inflammation as well. Are you constantly battling sensory overload from the noise and demands of everyday life or from doomscrolling on your devices? Do you take time to get out in nature? This week let's focus on environmental wellness and its impact on your physical and mental health. Here are steps you can take to improve your environmental wellness.
1.) Surround yourself with people who lift you up and cheer you on. If you are constantly feeling drained or stressed after being with a certain group, learn to say no, and instead surround yourself with those who enhance your life.
2.) Declutter your home and office spaces. Each day choose one drawer or one space to declutter. Clutter can be overwhelming and lead to stress. Move towards being organized and in charge.
3.) Do your best to clean the air that you breathe. Once a day, open your windows for 10 minutes to recirculate air. Choose home products that are fragrance free to decrease your exposure to chemicals. Choose indoor plants that help clean the air.
4.) Get outside in nature and unplug. Take yourself away from the sensory overload of life and enjoy the quiet and beauty of nature. Even just a 10-minute walk in the park or down a quiet neighborhood street will do wonders for you.
This week be mindful of your environmental exposures such as the ones discussed above, and the ways in which they affect your health. Take steps to surround yourself with environments that enhance your quality of life and health.