The human mind and body are interconnected and can be effected by many things, including the environment you’re in.
I don’t think it’s a secret that everything from the house, city and the state you live to even the weather in your area, your social climate and work environment can have a huge affect on your mental health. These places you spend a lot of time in can certainly impact your well being in a variety of ways.
I’ve spent the past couple of months with things still in boxes as well as some things just sitting out because I couldn’t exactly find the best place for it. It felt a little chaotic to me. I finally took the initiative to find a place for all of the chaos. I even hunkered down and started decorating more and it lifted a weight off of me that I didn’t expect.
There have been many studies that have proven a peaceful and visually appealing home setting can create a greater sense of wellbeing than a cluttered, chaotic home. Even the color of your walls and furnishings can affect your mental health. They have found that color can affect a person’s mood, behavior, and even cognitive function.
I just want to share wit you some ideas on how to set up your environment to better serve your mental health!
1. Clear the Clutter
A cluttered room reflects a cluttered mind. My third bedroom is used to my “home office” but it looked more like a closet/box room/office. It was a mess. Which is the best way to increase your stress levels. Women who live in a cluttered home produce higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
You don’t need a study to know that the time it takes every day to find your missing set of keys, trip over items on the floor on the way out the door, or shuffle around looking for your wallet leads to frustration and anger. Getting rid of clutter and organizing your home can feel empowering. It can also keep you from dealing with harmful levels of stress.
2. Use Color to Lift Your Mood
We already touched on the idea of color enhancing your everyday mood. I actually read a really interesting study on the way color influences the way you feel. In the study it read that they painted the inside of prison cells pink to enhance calmness and quite surprisingly the report came back that the prisoners appeared to be less rowdy and more calm.
The research project doesn’t mean you should paint your whole house pink-unless you just love pink. But you can make changes to your environment to change your behavior.
Another example for this can be allowing more natural light into your room in order to boost your mood. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that normally happens in the fall or winter, when the days are shorter. It is also known as the “winter blues.” One of the most effective ways to treat the condition is light therapy. Which leads me to my next topic.
3. Use Light and Shade
A lighter, brighter living environment can improve your sense of well-being, which can improve your behavior. An example of this may be replacing heavy old curtains or blinds with window sheers or you could strategically place mirrors throughout a room to reflect the sunlight coming in from a window.
Consider painting your rooms a light and cheerful color if you’d like to radiate a happier you. Or choose a light shade of green if you’d like to feel more tranquil.
Some people are naturally high strung. Others are more lethargic. Bright lights and bold, vibrant colors might make you feel energized. Opening the windows and letting in fresh air may improve your energy levels, so you can get more done. Earthy neutral colors such as mocha or grey could make you feel more introverted and quiet. You may want to rest and restore in a darker, neutral room.
These are just a few ways that I have done to help improve my environment and make my mind and body feel more at ease.
Have you experienced this in some way? Let me know in the comments!
with love,
c.p
with love, c.p 