When I think about my Whole Health, what is involved in “Surroundings”?

The term "Surroundings" covers a lot of things. It involves everything around you that can affect your health and well-being. This handout will help you think about

1. Your home—page 1
2. Your workplace—page 2
3. Your neighborhood—page 3
4. Experiences that affect your emotions—page 3
5. Climate and the environment—page 4.

You can choose to review all five areas or one or more areas that especially interest you.

How much can surroundings impact my health?

Your surroundings can have a major effect on your health. Even when you are not thinking about it, your surroundings are impacting your health. Your surroundings can affect how happy or sad you feel. They can give you feelings of confidence and hope or help cause you to feel depressed. They can also encourage or discourage bad habits. Identical twins have the same genes. Yet, one can get a chronic (long-lasting) disease and the other may not. Why? The answer in part is their surroundings.¹ (Other reasons may include other areas of self-care, such as food and drink, movement, and sleep). One twin may spend more time in the sun or smoke-filled places. Maybe one lives or works where chemicals or asbestos have been used. Perhaps one has had much more stress than the other or has been better able to manage stress. This information learned from twins is good news. It means that you can give yourself a better chance of being healthier if you pay attention to your surroundings.

What should I pay attention to in my surroundings?

Nobody has perfect surroundings for themselves all of the time. But you may be able to improve your health or prevent accidents by making adjustments to some of your surroundings, as you are able. You might want to think about one or more of the five areas listed below. As you read through the questions in these sections, see if there are any that you want to focus on to be happier, healthier, and safer.

1. Your home

Examples of questions to think about: (There are many more.)

• Where do you live?  Do you own your home?  Are you homeless?  If so, where do you spend your time?  Where would you like to live?