How to create a Physical Space that supports your Headspace
Our environment and everyday surroundings can have a big impact on our mental health. We often don’t realize how something like a cluttered home or fluorescent lighting can affect our mood and well-being. When we are in a physical space that looks or feels stressful, it is most likely going to lead us to feel this way in our headspace. Here are some strategies if you’re looking to create an environment to support your mental health:
Increase natural light in your space by opening blinds or windows during the day. You can also add more mirrors to reflect light and add brightness to a room. Another technique you can try is swapping overhead lighting with warmly lit lamps to create a more relaxed feel.
Use aromatherapy or candles to make the environment smell good and promote a calm feeling. Some relaxing scents that are great to use are lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint.
Color can really impact our mood and make a difference. Painting can be something to consider if you are able to do that in your space. When looking at colors, try choosing a light, bright color. Soft shades of white can also help reflect light in a room.
Prioritize organizing and decluttering your space. A good place to start is going through items you no longer need and getting rid of or donating them. Try focusing on one space at a time and starting small so you don’t feel overwhelmed. You can start with cleaning a space for 10 minutes every day and gradually increase it over time.
Being around nature can be calming and grounding. If you aren’t able to look at nature through your window, try bringing plants or flowers into the home. You can even try to incorporate pictures of nature in the space.
Designate work or school tasks to one area and try avoiding it in your bedroom or on your bed if possible. This can sometimes lead us to associate these tasks with that specific area which can make it more difficult to wind down at night.
These strategies are a good place to start if you believe your physical space is impacting your well-being. Although working on your space can be helpful for your mental health, it can’t address underlying anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.If you’d like to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can reach me at (410) 936-4096 or via email: mandy@mindfultherapycollective.com.