The Ways Your Everyday Environment Can Affect Your Inner Peace and How to Improve It
Humans are perceptive beings and we can’t simply detach from the outside world or not let it affect the way we feel. Whenever we are hit with stressful situations or find ourselves in stressful environments, it certainly shapes our thoughts and emotions. When it comes to our external environments, everything from visual images and sounds to colors, scents and people can affect our inner peace.
It’s clear that our everyday environment does have an impact on how we feel. For instance, imagine sitting in a dark room with all sorts of things on the floor. Now imagine yourself in a bright, airy and clean room. Which one made you feel more at ease? This is just our immediate reaction, but the impact of our environments goes deeper than that. According to studies, spending day after day in a cluttered and ill-designed home can permanently boost the production of stress hormones. And many of us spend years living in these places—the impact can be irreversible. Are you worried that your everyday environment is negatively affecting your life? Here is the damage that you might notice and all the ways you can fix the problem.
The negative effect of clutter
Clutter is the number one killer of inner peace. According to studies, clutter can lead to impaired judgment, impulsive decisions and poor food choices—for instance, buying an inflatable pool for your apartment while snacking on Cheetos. Reckless decisions can leave serious marks on your budget and too much junk food can ruin your health and fitness. Make sure to invest more time into decluttering your space and more money into proper storage for your necessities—you’ll instantly feel better after cleaning.
Colors to lift your mood
You might have heard about a study that involved prisoners living in pink cells. According to wardens, the inmates surrounded by pink color were calmer, quieter and less violent and abusive. This experiment tells us that colors have a strong effect on how we feel and behave. If you want to boost inner peace and relaxation, you don’t have to paint your entire house pink, but adding a few of these details like fluffy pink rugs can do a lot of good for your mind and emotions. This design element will not only add a calming and gentle color to your environment but also boost softness and warmth—both of which do wonders for relaxation.
And pink is not the only relaxing color. If you require a more masculine color, all shades of blue are very peaceful, calm and gentle. If you opt for a soft and neutral shade of blue, it will show an unbelievable power to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Green is a truly neutral color for any environment. Since it reminds us of Mother Nature, it evokes the feeling of comfort, freshness, beauty and harmony.
Light and shade for relaxation
Every person is different. While some people are relaxed and laidback, others are naturally a little more neurotic. If you belong to the first category, design your space in a way that will light up your life and make it more vibrant and energized. Therefore, open the windows to let plenty of natural light inside and paint the space with bold colors in bright tones. On the other hand, if you crave relaxation, dimmer spaces might allow you to experience deeper relaxation. Make sure to add curtains to your windows and opt for earthy tones in your color palette to reduce nervous energy.
Impact of the environment of social connections
Socialization is very healthy for humans, so if your environment is not designed in a way that promotes social connection, your inner peace might suffer. If your living room is cluttered or not supplied with enough seating, you’re less likely to spend time with family and friends there or you might feel uncomfortable while doing so. Creating an inviting, clean and comfortable environment with proper seating that promoted communication and quality time can reduce isolation and boost balance and happiness.
Lack of sleep
One of the worst things for your mental health is sleep deprivation, and it strongly depends on your environment. Things like clutter, certain smells, strong noises, inner temperature, all of these factors can contribute to an improper sleep cycle. Therefore, invest more time into designing a relaxing and peaceful bedroom without too many distractions. If you need something to occupy your mind before bed, add a book to your nightstand or turn on a white noise machine.
Energy and mood are everything
If you happen to suffer from conditions like depression and anxiety, you know how certain places can worsen the symptoms. Usually, improved warmth and coziness can make people feel safe and relaxed. If you use meditation, yoga or online therapy to improve your mental health, safe space will help you find your inner peace as you practice self-care.
Toxic interactions
Throughout the day, pay good attention to your energy levels, thoughts and feelings. Do you feel drained after talking to certain coworkers? Do you feel nervous after spending time with your roommates? Do your best to limit interactions with people in your everyday environment who radiate toxic energy and pollute your inner peace. You can boost your peace by installing space dividers, curtains or small private nooks.
Unconsciously or consciously, your immediate environment has a strong effect on your life, especially when it comes to your balance, harmony and inner peace. By learning about all the ways your environment can affect your equilibrium, you can employ a few hacks to fix the issue and return to your Zen existence.