Everyone is different, this is because of our biological makeup and the environment we grow up in. Certain things in our space can help our mental health or make it worse. Now, even negative aspects of your space can help you grow but that does not change the fact that it can give you a lot of stress.
The environment we live in is just one piece of the circle we call life, all aspects are intertwined and it also depends on how we use it to help us grow.
Let’s look at 5 factors that play a role in our mental health,
Lighting
We generally don’t think about the lighting in our houses and how important they are but the lighting can change your mood. The brighter the room is the more it can help uplift your mood. Natural light is the best, not only is it good for clicking pictures but it can help elevate your mood as well. Research has proven that natural lighting can help you be more productive, happier, healthier and calmer.
Having better lighting has proven to improve mood and energy levels. The amount of lighting in the room can affect your mood, concentration, appetite and many other aspects. This is one of the reasons offices have bright lightings, so the employees are in a better mood and will be more productive.
To have a better circadian rhythm (the natural body cycle of sleep, behaviour and mental changes) you must have brighter lights in the day and dimmer ones at night.
Cluttered spaces
Having too many things in a confined space can make you feel very claustrophobic. This is different from those who prefer to work in a ‘creative mess’ and like having the chaos around them. Having an unorganized/cluttered space can decrease your productivity as it will be difficult to relax. When your space is cluttered it stops you from being as creative and productive as you would with a clear and organized space.
One reason for this as studies have shown is that it gives us a sense that we have lost control of our surroundings and cannot do our best.
Comfortable living space
Ever wonder why the Starbucks environment is so inviting? The lighting, the coffee aroma and the calming colours in the room make up for a very peaceful environment. The environment is created to calm you and make you stay there longer. You want this same environment in your home and having designated places in your house that boost your productivity, keep you calm and help you relax are important. You can decorate the areas according to the vibe you want to get from it and make it personal to you.
The area you stay in
The place you grow up in majorly affects you, the country, society, locality all of these play a major role in our life. The area you live in will affect the way you think and act, the climate can affect your mood. If you stay in a place that does not receive much sunlight you may feel lethargic more often. Living in an urban area with fast food readily available and being so overpopulated may not promote outdoor exercise. Societies that have many outdoor activities or areas with nearby trekking and so on can not only promote a healthy lifestyle but also a healthy mind.
Financial stability
Whether you’re a student who gets an allowance or if you’re supporting yourself, everyone faces financial problems sometime or the other at different levels. The current conditions have made the lives of some very difficult as people are getting laid off their jobs or aren’t being paid. Stress levels are bound to be higher at a time like this. Not only this but the financial status is also pretty important, it can impact your lifestyle and other aspects.
These are just a few of the many things around us that have an impact on all aspects of our lives. Everyone will have a different take on some of these things, sometimes you may live in a positive environment but have a negative outlook on life and vice versa. How you use the positives and negatives in your environment is on you, you can learn from it or ignore it.
Summary
Brighter lighting can elevate your mood, help concentration and dimmer lights in the evening are better for your body's circadian rhythm.
A cluttered space may be too chaotic to work in and may make it tougher to relax.
Your home must make you feel calm and productive. Have separate areas in your house meant for your work and relaxing.
The area you stay in can have a big impact on your behaviour and outlook on life.
Money is a powerful factor and having too much or too little can change the way one looks at life.
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