Take a look around your home, office, or wherever you’re currently standing while reading this article.
What are you noticing?
Does your area feel cramped, or do you have room to breathe?
Verywell / Julie Bang
Really take a look at thecolorsaround you.
Are the walls sky blue, or are they vanilla white?
Maybe you’re surrounded by pets, kids, or a bunch of people.
Soak it all in for a couple of minutes or so.
theme song*
Welcome back!
Now that you’regroundedand presenthow do you feel?
Do you feel like a caged animal or feel pretty chill?
This exercise was meant to help you see how your environment influences your mood.
“As a psychology intern, I did a lot of home visits.
We can accomplish this by being strategic about our home’s color palette, decor, and lighting fixtures.
And, keeping our homes free of clutter can keep our stress levels down.
People living in the United States spend approximately 90% of their time inside man-made spaces.
Studies even show that our physical environment can trigger or reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions.
Maybe the color you found yourself drawn to then was a brightpink.
Instead, you’ll see shades of zen-inducing blues and greys.
Most People Are Drawn to Cooler-Toned Rooms
Remember that spa from a sentence ago?
There’s a reason why people feel at ease at spas.
Cooler-toned interiors were shown to provoke feelings ofrestfulnessand convey a more spacious vibe.
We think of trees and grass both of which act as symbols of life.
Anita Yokota, Therapist-Turned-Interior Designer
Having a little plant by your desk is so amazing.
It’s like a subconscious way of being productive without you even knowing it!
The great thing is that there are so many shades of green to choose from.
Yokota also says that adding green plants to your living space works too.
“So having a little plant by your desk is so amazing.
It’s like a subconscious way of being productive without you even knowing it!”
Pretty big difference, right?
Direct sunlight feels amazing because the light from that big yellow star in the sky can actually decrease anxiety.
Even indirect sunlight shining through a window can reduce feelings of depression.
Natural light and brighter spaces can instantly lift our mood.
So, lighting in homes is really important.
To make our home spaces more work-friendly, Yokota recommends “ample lighting.”
And too much stuff lying around can increase stress and make us feel unhappy about life.So, get cleaning!
Yokota emphasizes the importance of organization and says that tidiness can set us up for success.
We want to be high from serotonin anddopamine[and]…lower thatcortisollevel as much as possible.
If you want to feel good, your home should look just the way you like it.
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Environmental Protection Agency.Indoor air quality.
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Bertani DE, De Novellis AMP, Farina R, et al.
2020;58(4):16-18. doi:10.3928/02793695-20200316-02
