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It\u2019s no secret that an unhealthy environment can quickly lead to the deterioration of your physical and mental health. From toxic people to literal toxins, such as mold, where you spend your time matters!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Creating a healthy environment in which you can thrive is critical to your happiness and success. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Like <\/span>Marie Kondo <\/span><\/a>has said, \u201cThe objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Your mental health and environment have undeniable links.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n In this article, we\u2019re going to explore those associations in more detail, as well as provide tips on how you can improve your surroundings \u2014 leading to enhanced health and happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Inevitably, obvious factors, such as air quality and dust, impact how we feel. Yet, the lesser known side of things is that your environment, including how clean it is, can significantly alter your mental state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While there is a lot of weight put on the fact that we control our thoughts, it\u2019s undeniable that external factors <\/span>still<\/span><\/i> have influence. For instance, if your apartment is located in a basement and it\u2019s the dead of winter, you probably aren\u2019t getting enough sunshine. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In turn, this can drastically impact your mood, along with your sleep-wake cycle.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n And if you\u2019re living in a mess and struggling with anxiety, you might also notice your anxiety increase. Your <\/span>mental health and environment<\/span><\/a> are very intricately linked. We\u2019ll dive more into this in the sections below. But first\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We also know that our physical health and mental health are connected to one another. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When one takes a hit, so does the other. For instance, if you\u2019re living in a <\/span>home with mold<\/span>, you might experience:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our mental health and physical health don\u2019t exist in entirely separate bubbles. So, let\u2019s explore how your home environment might be impacting your mental health a bit more (and in turn, maybe your physical health as well!).<\/span><\/p>\n Your home environment can impact your mental health in a variety of ways \u2014 some of which you may not have thought of before. <\/span><\/p>\n So, what might be getting you down in the dumps? <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n And how can you improve it?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Your mental and<\/em> physical health both rely on natural light from the sun. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In fact, more than 90% of our vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure<\/a><\/span>. If you\u2019re only getting exposed to artificial light (such as <\/span>blue light<\/span><\/a> which can actually lead to depression symptoms), you aren\u2019t getting those light rays your body needs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While moving might be out of the question, getting outside for even just 30 minutes a day<\/strong> can help enhance your mental health. Alternatively, you may want to consider opening your blinds during the day. <\/span><\/p>\n Or if you work from home, perhaps you might want to sit closer to a window where sunshine is streaming in.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Surprisingly, the color your choose to paint your wall has a huuuuge affect on your mood. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Room color psychology<\/span><\/a> is a real thing! For more calming and content colors, go for blue, lavender, white, or a neutral beige.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n How to Benefit From Color Psychology: Influence Your Emotions & Behavior<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The idea of going through your clutter might stress you out. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> going through those areas and getting them de-cluttered could actually be doing much more harm than good. When <\/span>clutter takes up our environment<\/span><\/a>, it also takes up space in our mind. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It can lead to low energy and increased stress and anxiety.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n So, instead of simply allowing clutter to pile up, we recommend planning a time to get to it! Start small with a drawer or a small closet and build up as you go. Regularly plan cleaning sessions to maintain tidiness, especially in your living space.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Toxic mold syndrome<\/span><\/a> can lead to insomnia, memory loss, anxiety, depression, confusion, and more. But it\u2019s not just about mold and your mental health. There\u2019s even research linking <\/span>dust to mental health<\/span><\/a> disturbances and difficulties in the workplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In fact, it\u2019s recommended to dust <\/span>at least<\/span><\/i> once a month to ensure your mental and physical health don\u2019t get impacted.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to mold prevention, you want to ensure you keep moisture out and air flow free! If you have found mold, it\u2019s essential to take care of it or hire the pros to do their job.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If your couch is in the way of walking straight from your kitchen to your front door, maybe it\u2019s not the best place for it. And maybe these small little inefficiencies are adding up, leading to increased irritation and annoyance. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Think about it. Is there a piece of furniture in your home that continues to cause you angst and frustration? This is your sign to move things around!<\/span><\/p>\n Related Article: 4 Reasons Why Rearranging Your Furniture is Good For You<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Your air quality might not be something you think of all that often. <\/span><\/p>\n You breathe it in and breathe it out, all is good! Well, it might not be.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Many toxins accumulate in our environment, especially if they aren\u2019t being filtered properly. You\u2019ll want to check the air filters in your home around every 6-12 months. On top of this, you might want to consider adding certain entities, such as <\/span>detoxifying plants<\/span>, to amp up the filtration in your home.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Air purifiers<\/a> might also help, they remove some pollutants, and at the end of the day, every little bit counts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Related Article: How Having Houseplants Lowers Your Stress & Improves Your Mental Health<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We already talked about furniture in relation to this, but what about everything else in your home? <\/span><\/p>\n These are just a few things you want to think about when it comes to your home environment and mental health. Again, those minor irritations add up, potentially taking away from where your mental health could<\/em> be. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to take note and fix these small and minor mishaps for a better life.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Okay, so we couldn\u2019t talk about your environment without referring to who you surround yourself with. <\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to stress, environment factors don\u2019t just include objects, dust, mold, lighting, color, or furniture. They also involve your relationships.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Relationships provide an abundant amount of meaning to our lives. Thus, the quality of these relationships matter more than you might think. And a person who is eating away at your self-esteem or spouting abusive comments isn\u2019t someone you need in your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Examine your current relationships and cut out the toxic ones<\/a>! The truth is you and your mental health don\u2019t need them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A healthy environment further includes a comfortable temperature. <\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re sweating buckets without air conditioning or you\u2019re waiting to turn on the heat (which we totally get with the cost of electricity these days!), your mental health is probably suffering as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While you might not be able to necessarily change your home\u2019s temperature, you can layer it up or take off some layers. Finding that ideal temperature where your body doesn\u2019t have to work so hard to maintain it can do wonders for your mood.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This is all about removing triggers in your environment. If looking at that decor your ex-partner bought brings you feelings of sadness, get rid of it! (And maybe start doing some reading on <\/span>Marie Kondo<\/span><\/a>\u2019s philosophy).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Basically, if an object doesn\u2019t bring you joy, get rid of it. If all an object does is remind you of bad times and sadness, throw it away, sell it or give it away!<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n These small triggers are likely causing you angst you don\u2019t need to re-feel. Purging your environment of them is a must.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Untangling the Link Between Your Environment & Wellness<\/span><\/h2>\n
How Does the Environment Affect Well-Being?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\nHow Do Environmental Factors Affect Your Health?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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How Your Home Affects Your Mental Health<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\n1. Natural vs Artificial Light<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Room Colors<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Clutter<\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Dust and Mold<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n5. Furniture Set-Up<\/span><\/h3>\n
6. Air Purity<\/span><\/h3>\n
7. Ease of Use<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/p>\n8. People<\/span><\/h3>\n
9. Temperature<\/span><\/h3>\n
10. Familiarity\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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How Does Your Personal Environment Impact Your Health & Happiness?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n