Indoor Air Quality: Why Is It So Important?
- F.........S.............................................
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
We spend long hours at home or in the office. Well, have we ever stopped to think: How healthy is the air we breathe? Or why do we get headaches, dry eyes or feel bored even after staying in some rooms for a few minutes? The answer to these questions is actually quite simple but often overlooked: Air quality.
Dry Air Is an Enemy That Silently Tires the Body
I once lived in an old apartment. In the winter, the central heating would run, the windows wouldn’t open, and the air would feel “trapped”. In the mornings, my throat would burn, my lips would crack, my skin would itch… It turns out the reason was very simple: Low humidity.
Scientifically speaking, the ideal indoor humidity level should be between 40% and 60%. However, in combi or air-conditioned environments, this level can drop to 20%. This:
Dryness of the respiratory tract
Skin irritation
Burning eyes
It causes problems such as sleeping problems.
Prolonged exposure to dry air can also increase problems such as coughing and night waking in children.
There Is Such a Thing as Scent Memory – It Really Is
Think about it this way: Some scents can instantly take you back to your childhood, a summer vacation, or a certain person. Because scent is directly connected to the brain's limbic system, or the center of emotion and memory .
So here are some smells:
Relaxes: Like lavender, bergamot
Opens the mind: Mint, lemon
Creates nostalgia: Cinnamon, vanilla
Increases focus: Rosemary, eucalyptus
Having a pleasant scent at home or at work doesn’t just mean “making the environment nicer.” The brain is also affected chemically by these scents. For example, lavender oil can lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. A Japanese study found that people who slept with lavender and ylang-ylang essential oils had deeper sleep.
What Can Be Done?
Improving odor or humidity may not be possible with devices alone... Natural solutions are also quite effective:
Plants:
Plants such as peace lily, indoor ivy, and camel sole increase the humidity and add color to the environment. They balance dry air and also absorb some toxins from the air (some may remember NASA's famous indoor plant research).
Steam:
Even a bowl of water placed on the radiator in the winter can do wonders in a small room. Leaving the door open after a bath (especially after hot showers) provides a natural steam effect.
Natural Fragrance Sources:
Boiling orange peel and cinnamon in water instantly changes the air of the house. Lavender bunches, dried sage, mint or cloves can be stored in small jars. Mixtures such as vinegar + baking soda both absorb bad odors and provide a refreshing effect.
Psychological Effects: Not Just Fresh Air, Clean Mind
A good ambient air directly affects three things: Mood, Sleep quality, Mental focus
In a more spacious, pleasantly scented and humidity-balanced room: We are less irritable, work more comfortably, sleep easier, feel more positive. So this is not just an aesthetic issue. The phrase “breathing easy” is not just a metaphor; sometimes it is at the very heart of quality of life.
Small Habits, Big Effects
You don’t necessarily need expensive technology to improve indoor air. But with a few small touches made with awareness (a glass of water, a bunch of lavender, regular ventilation), we can seriously improve our quality of life. Maybe even starting today by just opening the window would be enough.