A Natural Environment is a Natural Stress-Reliever

Ever noticed how you feel so much better after cleaning your house? Whether that involves tackling cleaning projects you have put off for months, or simply washing the dishes and running a vacuum over the carpet, having a cleaner environment to spend time in really can have a positive effect on your mental health. And that, in turn, can have a positive effect on your physical health.

On a more molecular level, air quality can also have a positive effect on your health. Numerous studies have linked being outdoors with stress reduction, and that has a lot to do with both your exposure to the sun and the clean and natural air quality. So, naturally, improving the air quality inside your home, where you spend a lot of your time, can also help reduce stress.

Kick Out the Harmful Chemicals

The top way to create a more natural environment inside your home is to get rid of the harmful chemicals in the air. From cleaning products to bug repellants to that lovely-smelling Glade spray, the chemicals that are used to make these products float around in the air and get into your lungs, eventually causing chemicals imbalances inside your brain that foster the over-production of stress hormones. Instead of grabbing that apple-cinnamon air freshener next time you want to "freshen" the air, put some essential oil into a reed diffuser and get your fragrance fix the natural way.

Let in Some Sunshine

A brightly lit area is essential for stress reduction, and the best way to go is natural light. Sunlight increases the production of serotonin in your brain, one of the happy hormones that you get when you exercise. Throw open your curtains and let in some sunlight - not only will you experience a natural mood boost, you might even save some money on your energy bill!

Bring the Outdoors In

Houseplants are good for more than just their good looks. They help release oxygen into the air, and are particularly good at eliminating toxins such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. Check out this list of houseplants that are most effective at improving the air quality of your home. If you don't really have room for potted plants in your house, you can also try hanging plants in a free corner or even putting a few vases of fresh wildflowers on countertops or coffee tables. Keeping a fruit basket out can help too, and encourage your family to snack on apples and oranges rather than processed foods.

So, if you feel cramped, irritable, and stuck inside this winter, creating a more natural environment indoors can help relieve some of that stress and make the long winter indoors more tolerable.