Tonight is a solar eclipse and second new moon in Aries, as well as Taurus season and Mercury Retrograde beginning, which means there is a lot of change in the air this week.

You know what else is in the air?

Pollen.

So. Much. Pollen.

Last week, NYC was blessed with several 80° summary days in a row which caused the cherry blossoms to burst open and the leaves to unfurl overnight.

I spent many luxurious hours in the park taking pictures, basking in the sun and enjoying wine.

That also means my seasonal allergies have been incredibly active.

Because we’ve been experiencing such mild winters recently, allergy season seems to be getting longer and more intense each year since there’s not much time of deep freeze throughout the winter that would reduce the pollen in the spring.

I can’t change the weather, and I’m certainly not going to stop enjoying all the benefits of spring, so I’ve been implementing tips to keep my home a pollen-free zone as well as using lots of holistic techniques to help relieve congestion and support my body as it does extra work to rid itself of all the inflammatory triggers.

Here are 5 Tips to Keep Your Home a Pollen-Free Zone

Keep your windows closed: this one for me is a benefit versus cost option. I love having the windows open and enjoying the smell of spring, but on especially windy days I find it’s better to keep the windows closed.
Use an air purifier: if you’ve had the windows open, or are choosing to keep them closed, having an air purifier can help to remove any pollen that might have gotten tracked in with you from outside, or indoor allergens, like dust, that might be adding to the issue.
Change your clothes: I have sets of indoor clothes and outdoor clothes and, especially during allergy season, will make sure I change from my outdoor clothes to my indoor clothes the moment I walk in the door so that I’m not tracking the pollen from my clothes, onto the couch, bed, etc.
Take a shower: washing the pollen off your body, and your hair is a game changer, especially before bed, or if you have long hair like I do. If you don’t want to wash your hair every day, I would recommend putting it up or covering it when you’re outside or, once inside, you can take a wet washcloth and run it over your hair to remove some of the pollen. It’s not quite as good as washing it, but in a pinch will definitely help.
Clear your nose: there’s plenty of pollen that can get in your nose so you can either wear a mask outside or use something to clear your sinuses, like a Neti pot or nasal spray. I like Xlear Nasal Spray.