5 Ways to Optimize Your Home for Better Mental Health
By: Nicole Achbach
Photo Courtesy of Rawpixel.com
Color
It is useful to keep color psychology, aka the study of how color can impact mood, in mind when designing your living space, especially your bedroom. This is because studies have shown that certain colors can have positive effects on the mind whereas others are known for having negative ones. For example, blue, particularly light blue, is known for its ability to create a peaceful, calming environment which lowers stress levels. Similarly, green is known for promoting a soothing atmosphere which is good for relieving stress and anxiety. Conversely, red is overstimulating which makes it more difficult to relax. On the same note, bright yellow causes irritability. Overall, soft colors like light blues and greens are great options when painting your living space, but bright colors like red and yellow should be avoided.
Lighting
Good lighting, especially natural light, is extremely important for your mental health. When possible, be sure to open up your curtains and let the sunshine into your home! This is hugely beneficial because natural light triggers the release of serotonin, a chemical which plays a key role in mood, emotions, and sleep. However, if natural light is not an option there are other things you can do to improve the relationship between light and mood in your house. Firstly, opt for blue lights during the daytime as they help regulate your circadian rhythm when natural light is not present which helps you become energized. This is especially helpful for elevating your energy levels, daytime productivity, and even combating seasonal depression. During evenings and nights, opt for warm tone lights like red or orange as studies show they promote relaxation. By switching between light colors you can help your body understand when it should be working and when it should be resting. Consider using color changing light bulbs which you can adjust on your phone to implement this into your life. As a general rule of thumb, aim to keep your home bright during the daytime and warm during the night.
Plants
Whether you have a green thumb or not, it is beneficial to have plants inside your home! Studies have shown that tending to plants can help ease anxiety, stress, and depression by lowering your blood pressure and nervous system activity. Implement a tiny garden of your own into your home and you will be sure to reap the benefits. A few easy plants for beginners include pothos, spider plant, and aloe.
Separate Your Work Space
Though it might seem easier or more comforting to work in your bedroom, or even your bed, this is not a great idea. By working in a space where you should be relaxing, you begin to strip away the emotional comfort of your bedroom and turn it into an environment you associate with work and stress. This is detrimental to your mental health because it eliminates your safe space and creates an unhealthy link between work and rest. To avoid this, try to designate a space for work and school outside of your bedroom. Additionally, store your work materials in your desk or a storage tub once you have finished working for the day. By doing this, you can create a clear separation between your work/school life and home life. Out of sight, out of mind!
Declutter!
Excessive clutter is known for increasing stress levels, inhibiting your ability to concentrate, and decreasing your life satisfaction. Therefore, t is important to fill your home with things you consciously want and need, not things that weigh you down. Decreasing the amount of clutter in your home directly benefits your mental well-being by making your space more livable and positive. That being said, decluttering your space is often easier said than done. Here are a few tips to help you get started. Firstly, take it one step at a time. Set specific goals for addressing problem areas in your home. For example, you might want to spend one day decluttering your dresser and the next decluttering a corner in your office. Secondly, stay organized as you declutter. You may find it helpful to have separate trash, donate, and keep piles. Lastly, try to create new habits to maintain your space. For example, maybe you always kick your shoes off at the door even though you have a shoe rack in the closet. Well, it's time to start using the shoe rack! Making small habits like these will make keeping your space clutter-free a more manageable task.
Works Cited
Lee, Min-Sun, et al. “Interaction with Indoor Plants May Reduce Psychological and Physiological Stress by Suppressing Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Young Adults: A Randomized Crossover Study.” Journal of Physiological Anthropology, BioMed Central, 28 Apr. 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/.
Page, Danielle. “Here's What Working out of Your Bedroom Does to Your Mental Health.” Ladders, Ladders, 13 Sept. 2020, https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/heres-what-working-out-of-your-bedroom-does-to-your-mental-health/amp.
Sander, Libby. “What Does Clutter Do to Your Brain and Body?” NewsGP, https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-and-body#:~:text=Clutter%20can%20affect%20our%20anxiety,other%20people%20decluttering%20their%20lives).
“The Psychological Impact of Light & Color: TCP Lighting Solutions.” TCP Lighting, 18 Mar. 2022, https://www.tcpi.com/psychological-impact-light-color/#:~:text=It%20can%20improve%20mood%20and,as%20reaction%20time%20and%20activation.
