How to Create a Healthy Environment (Without Overwhelming Yourself)

If you’ve ever gone down a wellness rabbit hole (just me?), you know the feeling. Suddenly, everything in your house seems toxic. Your candles? Bad. Your mattress? Maybe poisoning you. The air you breathe? Questionable.

First of all—breathe. This is not about panicking or throwing everything away. Unless you want to, then go for it - just make sure you have the funds to replace it with the good stuff so you're not just living in an empty room.

Creating a healthy home doesn’t mean doing it all at once. Instead, pick one thing from this list that seems doable, and start there. Small swaps add up over time, and progress beats perfection every time.

🕯 1. Ditch the Toxic Air Fresheners & Candles

If you love your house smelling amazing, I get it—but a lot of air fresheners and candles are full of hormone-disrupting chemicals. I used to live off of Bath & Body Works candles, and now that we aren't allowed happiness, I've been trying to make the switch. My personal go-to is throwing some fruits and spices in a pot on the stove (bonus points if the fruit is about to go bad so you don't waste it).

🔥 What to Avoid:

• Paraffin wax candles (they release indoor air pollutants when burned).

• Synthetic air fresheners (contain phthalates, which mess with hormones).

• Strong artificial fragrances (can trigger headaches & allergies).

💡 Healthier Swaps:
✔ Beeswax or coconut wax candles (non-toxic, actually clean the air - did I learn this from With Love, Meghan? Yes.).
✔ Essential oil diffusers (customizable scents without sketchy ingredients).
✔ Simmer pots (boil water with orange peels & cinnamon = instant cozy vibes).

🔗 Get this cute lil Aromatherapy Diffuser and some essential oils and boom. Now your house smells good and looks cute.

💨 2. Improve Your Air Quality (It’s Easier Than You Think)

I recently learned that our indoor air can be 2-5x more polluted than outdoor air (lol - what). So off we go to freshen our air.

💡 Easy Air-Quality Fixes:
✔ Open your windows daily (even just 5 minutes).
✔ Add air-purifying plants (snake plant, aloe vera, or pothos = low maintenance).
✔ Use a HEPA air purifier (especially if you have pets or allergies).
✔ Ditch synthetic cleaning sprays (they release VOCs into the air).

🔥 Bonus Tip: Try Stoßlüften
Germans swear by Stoßlüften (Shock Ventilation)—the practice of opening windows completely for 5-10 minutes, even in winter, to quickly refresh indoor air without losing too much heat. It helps remove excess moisture, dust, and carbon dioxide buildup, leaving you feeling more alert, focused, and refreshed. I actually find this works best in the winter, it really makes a difference!

🔗 Invest in this Levoit HEPA Air Purifier, open some windows and off you go.

🛏 3. Upgrade Your Sleep Environment

If you’re not sleeping well, your whole body suffers. Your bedroom should be a sleep sanctuary. It's my favorite room in the house, and where I spend the most of my time and therefore where I invest the most resources.

💡 Easy Sleep Fixes:
✔ Ditch the blue light before bed (phones mess with melatonin—switch to a book!).
✔ Invest in a non-toxic pillow & mattress (ya - apparently this is a thing?).
✔ Keep your bedroom cool & dark (ideal sleep temp = 65°F/18°C).
✔ Switch to bamboo sheets (this is the game changer right here - the SHEER COMFINESS alone should dramatically improve your sleep let alone the lack of toxicity).

🔗 Snag this Buffy Eucalyptus Comforter and these Bamboo Sheets and get ready for the sleep of your LIFE. Bonus points - they currently have a coupon for 50% off!

🥑 4. Reduce Toxins in Your Kitchen

Your kitchen is where a LOT of hidden toxins live— but at the Healthy Pickle, we are all about small changes and taking it one step at a time. No need to be overwhelmed, here are a couple easy ones!

💡 Healthier Kitchen Swaps:
✔ Switch to glass storage containers (plastic leaches chemicals into food).
✔ Use cast iron or stainless steel pans (non-stick coatings = bad news).
✔ Filter your water (tap water can have heavy metals & chemicals).
✔ Grow your own food! Everyone says choose organic which is great, but who has money for that? If you're not sure how to or where to start, check out Container Gardening.

🔗 I recommend the Our Place Always Pan. It's unbeatable.

🛁 5. Make Your Bathroom a Clean Beauty Zone

Most skincare, shampoos, and body washes are packed with junk you don’t need. Actually, I recently threw my bodywash into the Yuka app and it got a rating of 0/100. ZERO. That is the same rating as freaking Coca Cola and I was washing my body with that! Needless to say I tossed it instantly and am on a journey to find one I love just as much that doesn't hate me in return.

You know the drill, look for things without parabens and sulfates, aluminum-free yadayada. This is going to be all about trial and error, and finding what works best for you.

🔗 I've been diving head first into Caudalie products and have yet to be disappointed.

🚪 6. Keep Clutter Under Control (Because Mess = Stress)

Yes, there’s actual science behind this: A cluttered home can increase cortisol (your stress hormone), contribute to anxiety, and make decision-making harder. Clearing just ONE small area can make a huge difference.

💡 Declutter Hacks That Don’t Feel Overwhelming:
✔ Tackle one small area at a time (junk drawer, fridge, nightstand).
✔ Use the "one in, one out" rule (if you buy something new, donate something old).
✔ Create an easy-to-maintain system (Don't organize your house in a Martha Stewart level way when you have lots of energy one day if it's not easy to keep up when you have a flaming bag of garbage level energy).

🥒 Pickled Perks: Why This Matters

✔ Cleaner air & fewer toxins = better health overall.
✔ A clutter-free space helps lower stress & anxiety.
✔ Healthy swaps don’t have to be expensive or extreme.
✔ Small changes in your home = big impact on how you feel every day.

This post may contain affiliate links (🔗). That means if you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally love and trust. Thank you for supporting The Healthy Pickle! 🥒😏

Pick ONE healthy home swap from this list and do it today. Then tell me—what’s the first thing you’re upgrading?