It’s -20c degrees outside right now.
And yet, every morning, each girl in this house opens their bedroom windows and air out their bedrooms. I open the kitchen windows slightly and have fresh air creeping in as I wash the breakfast dishes. Our bedroom window is opened, allowing beautiful clean air in to replace the stuffy feeling of a too-warm room in the winter. Yes, airing out our home is a morning ritual … and it must run in the family because I have noticed my sister does the same thing in her home.
I have visited some homes where I feel I can barely breathe – the house is kept so very warm and everything is shut up tightly. It does not take long for one to feel sleepy and lethargic in such a room!
I have read studies that suggest opening your window for at least one hour a day to exchange the bad air in your home for fresh, beautiful air. With 11 people breathing the air of this house, we must make sure our air is fresh and clean – especially in the winter months when windows are shut tighter.
This is something I feel very passionate about – airing out the home, letting fresh air in and breathing clean air … it sounds strange, but I cannot even fathom being in a room without some fresh air trickling in slightly.
And so we send out the bad air and bring in the good air – every day, we opens the windows, despite the temperature, and air out our rooms. Have you ever noticed how beautiful winter fresh air smells? You cannot even explain it … but I do know, in general, rooms inside houses definitely need refreshing – especially in the winter months when everything tends to shut up tightly to combat the cold winter outdoors.
Have you tried opening your windows for at least 10-15 minutes per day to exchange your old air for good, clean air? Try airing out your home two or three times a day. I have read that air inside your home is 2-5 more times polluted that the air outside your window. It’s so important to freshen your home and bring in that fresh air!
“Overheated houses waste energy, make us drowsy and become too dry for optimal health and comfort.
Airtight houses are unhealthy, and cold air will not make you catch a cold. Open the windows and let in the sun.”
– The Air in Your Castle, Home Comforts/The Art and Science of Keeping House
Many years ago, I was visiting my Dutch friend at her mother’s house. My friend and I were both young mothers, with new babies and a fresh start and clean slate on motherhood. Around 2 p.m., I watched the Dutch grandmother wrap up her grandson in nice homemade blankets and tuck him in gently into an old baby carriage, nestled up against the country house on the porch. It was winter, but that did not matter – she said the baby would sleep just fine and it would be good for him.
“That’s the way we’ve always done it,” she said, proudly, as she turned the kettle on for afternoon tea.
That little scene was so foreign to me – putting a baby to sleep outside in the fresh, cold winter air? While it may sound extreme, it actually does make sense. (Of course, modern parenting and professional advice would probably have a lot to say against this advice, but I do see the benefits in it, if done properly – and obviously, this grandma knew what she was doing.)
“Many people, especially those in European countries with mild summers, swear by keeping the window open for better night’s sleep, even in the winter. Proponents of this practice claim that soothing outdoor sounds, cool night air,
and fresh oxygen all contribute to a more restful bedtime.”
Do you sleep with your window open? I do – if at all possible! Yes, even in the winter … I would encourage you to try it one night.
“When you get adequate sleep, and you are sleeping in a room with an average temperature in the mid to high 60s, you are encouraging your body to produce more melatonin, the sleep hormone. Evidence links increased melatonin levels to brain health, cancer-fighting capabilities, and lowered diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s risk. Keeping light distraction to a minimum and stopping screen use a few hours before bed can also improve melatonin production. ”
-UpWelness, Dr. Josh
Can you smell that crisp, beautiful winter fresh air? There’s nothing like it …
Lo
by Gigi
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