Human beings unconsciously seek out environments that offer a significant amount of safety, security, and comfort. Environments that lack any of these become a significant stressor in a person’s life and can negatively affect their mental health and well-being. This is why it’s important to optimize one’s surroundings in such a way that it is conducive to relaxation, calm, and peace. The following are simple yet effective changes you can make to your environment that will boost your mood considerably.
Spruce up your surroundings
Your home will benefit from decor and accents that make you feel close to nature. Plants and flowers add a breath of fresh air and life into any environment. While you’re decorating the interiors of your house, don’t forget to do some exterior decorating as well, especially since it will be the first thing you see when you arrive home. A well-manicured lawn or a charming porch can instantly perk you up after a long day at work or school. Regular lawn landscape maintenance will help keep your lawn in top shape, while some elegant outdoor furniture pieces can be used to create a small oasis on your porch.
Opt for natural hues and colors
Certain colors induce certain moods. Take, for example, a natural color palette with hues of blue, green, turquoise, and beige. These colors invoke calming memories of the sea, forest, and sky, and encourage tranquility and serenity. Meanwhile, the color red may agitate people and cause anxiety. Similarly, the color of your lights can affect your mood. Warm-toned lighting promotes a more soothing and comfortable atmosphere, whereas blue-toned lighting can be glaring and harsh on the eyes.
Clean and declutter your house
A clean and uncluttered house is the most inexpensive change you can make, but it also has the biggest impact on your well-being. Clutter and disorder in your surroundings can often negatively influence your mental state, disrupting your flow and ability to move and think clearly. Make sure to declutter regularly and only keep your essentials around with you. Keep pathways clear and make sure everything has its place. A home that is simple and easy to navigate, where each item has its own purpose and location, will greatly decrease your stress.
Make use of aromatherapy
Your sense of smell is a powerful influence on brain activity and mood. Olfactory bulbs are connected to the limbic system which is then directly connected to the parts of the brain that process emotion and learning. If you’ve ever smelled something that triggers a vivid memory in your mind or reminds you of something or someone, that’s why. Incorporating aromatherapy into your space can do wonders for your mental health. A scent like lemon helps with concentration and has calming and clarifying properties. This is especially beneficial if you’re feeling angry, anxious, or exhausted. Meanwhile, lavender has a soothing effect that calms nerves and relieves tension and depression, helping with emotional stress.
Let natural light in
Natural light makes your home feel bright and airy. Sunlight contains Vitamin D which prevents various diseases, regulates sleep patterns, and wards off depression. Human beings are incredibly dependent on sunlight, and proof of this is in the existence of a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This term is used to describe the sadness that people feel, particularly in the winter, when they’re forced to spend time indoors with little exposure to natural light. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that your windows allow light to pour into your surroundings.
These small changes will have a significant positive effect on your mood.
