IT’S A NEW year, and while coming up with a whole ‘new you’ might be a bit too much pressure, there are handy ways you can update your home to help you with your health goals.

In this week’s edition of the Allianz Home Magazine, we’re looking at changes you can make in your home to help you feel better in yourself.

Get your steps in

Nobody likes running or travelling to the gym during the cold months, so why not get your steps in from the comfort of your home?

There really are so many advantages to installing a walking treadmill in your home, particularly when paired with a standing desk. A standing desk on its own is a huge leap forward for your health and can reduce back problems as well as the risk of cardiovascular disease, the risk of which can potentially increase if you spend too long in sedentary positions, such as sitting in front of a computer.

The walking treadmill is something you can simply place at the foot of your standing desk and switch it on at different times during the day, keeping your mind and body active and contributing to your overall health without much exertion. 

Grow your own

Shifting away from processed foods can be a boon for your health, and one sustainable way to do this is to start your own herb garden. Even if you haven’t grown anything before, herbs are a great place to start because many of them can survive beginner’s mistakes.

To start a herb garden, choose a windowsill in your home that gets a lot of light, at least six hours per day. Thyme, chives, parsley and mint are a great place to start as they are quite resilient. If you’re only starting off, buy nursery plants rather than seeds, so you have an idea of what healthy growth looks like.

Use small containers with drainage holes in the bottom so water can escape, and fill the container with potting mix before planting. While growing, make sure that there is airflow from either an open window or a small fan placed nearby. See how you get on with your herbs, and as you grow in confidence, so too will your repertoire of homegrown ingredients. Check out this beginner’s guide for more tips.

Fridge refresher

In addition to growing your own garden, there are other choices you can make at the start of the year to set the tone. While you don’t necessarily need to overhaul your whole diet, stocking your fridge and pantry with some healthy staples will help you start the new year on the right foot.

Make sure to fill some tupperware containers with high-fibre staples such as oats for porridge, brown rice and whole-grain pasta for evening meals, and versatile grains like quinoa that can be used to make any meal more healthful. Keeping your fridge loaded with fresh veg is also important, and finding ways to incorporate superfoods such as kale, spinach and broccoli into your lunch or dinner will give you simple and sustainable ways to improve your diet. 

Clear the air

If you catch yourself suffering from allergies in your home, or coughing and sneezing more than you’d like, you can improve the air quality of your home with an air purifier. Air purifiers can reduce the level of allergens, viruses, bacteria, and smoke in the atmosphere, and are especially important if there are rooms in your home that aren’t well ventilated. They’re also beneficial in winter, when we might be less likely to keep our windows open. 

By improving your respiratory health, an air purifier can result in you sleeping better, having more energy, and also contribute to the comfort of your home by reducing things like odours. Air purifiers vary in price, but you don’t have to break the bank to get a decent one that could change your lifestyle for the better.

Screening it out 

The key to cutting down on your screentime is to find alternatives that make you feel fulfilled and productive. There are many steps you can take to reduce your screentime while keeping your brain stimulated. Make sure to keep books, puzzlebooks or newspapers on your coffee tables and bedside lockers so that you always have a non-screen option to hand when you need some entertainment. 

If you really want to cut down on your screentime, you could even invest in a timed lockbox that you can keep your devices in for a set amount of time. Maybe stash them away a few evenings a week while you play a board game, work on an arts and crafts project or make dinner together as a family.