Advertorial How to optimize your home and workspace for your mental health

[ASEAN NOW Sales]

 

Our environment influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Most of us wish for good health, and since our homes and workspace are the environments we are often in, working towards a healthy life starts there. Do you desire days that are full of joy and mindfulness? Or do you long to handle stress and anxiety in a healthier way? Making changes to the space you are in can make a huge difference to your overall mental wellbeing. Our friends from Pacific Prime Thailand are here to offer tips on 5 ways to optimize your workspace and home. 

 

Let there be light 

Picture spending time outside on a sunny day and how good the sun feels on your skin. After just a few minutes, you feel calm and serene. The science behind this is that being in the sunlight increases your vitamin D and serotonin production, thereby naturally enhancing your mood. Not getting enough sun, on the other hand, can cause psychological issues, depressive symptoms, and impact your sleep. You can bring sunlight into your space by: 

 

• Positioning your workplace as close to the window as you can
• Reflecting the sunlight with a strategically placed mirror
• Opening the curtains during the day and using blinds or drapes that allow more light in

 

If your space doesn’t have windows or access to natural light is hard to come by, bright lighting from halogen, fluorescent, or LED bulbs can also do the trick. 

 

Keep it neat and tidy 

Unless you’re one of the rare people who do well amongst mess, clearing clutter is one of the easiest ways to clear your mind too. Clutter can actually negatively impact our mental health in more ways than one. For example, untidy spaces can: 

 

• Make it difficult to find something you need in a hurry
• Make you feel embarrassed
• Be distracting
• Cause you to feel overburdened

 

When designing for wellness, it’s important for everything to have its place. This might sound like an overwhelming task, but a system will help make it easier to tackle. Work section by section, such as drawers or your wardrobe, and take out everything. Go through your belongings and only put back the items that you need. Organizational supplies can really come in handy for workspace optimization and keeping things in order. 

 

Bring in nature 

A quick hack to making your living space healthy is to add some plants. Walking through the park and admiring beautiful flowers can elevate your mood, and adding plants can bring that feeling into your space. Aside from looking good, plants can also keep the air fresh, help you feel calmer, and reduce stress levels. Looking at greenery can also help you concentrate and focus better, which can enhance your productivity - making it one of the top tips to promote workplace wellness.

 

If you’re worried about taking care of living plants, you can start with indoor plants that are easy to look after, such as aloe vera, snake plants, bamboo palms, and succulents. There are other ways you can incorporate nature into your space as well, including organic materials like gemstones, wood, and crystals. 

 

Add some art 

It’s important to choose decor pieces that make you feel good. Finding the items that speak to you is a very personal thing, so there isn’t a right or wrong way to about it. For instance, if you’re easily stressed out then you might want to look for a print or painting that makes you feel calm. Nature scenes have been found to have a positive effect on your mental health and help you to de-stress. Whether it’s a picture of your favorite park or beach, looking at the photo allows you to reminisce about it, thereby sparking joy. 

 

Family pictures or a quote that you love are other good options to help you feel grounded. Consider adding a few of these items into the areas where you spend the most time for the optimal effect. 

 

Play with scents 

Lighting a candle, burning incense, or running a diffuser are ways you can use scent to create a calm environment. Smells don’t just make our environment feel more inviting, they can also enhance our mood and productivity. Essential oils in particular can be used to create the right mood in your home. Plus, there are so many oils to choose from, ranging from calming lavender and relaxing ylang ylang to invigorating peppermint and uplifting orange. You can even create your own diffuser blends by combining different oils. 

 

Your home and workspace are likely the places where you spend the most time. Making positive changes to these spaces will have a positive impact on your overall mood and health. Take the time to incorporate the aforementioned tweaks to your spaces and enjoy the benefits it brings. 

 

As a leading insurance broker, Pacific Prime Thailand offers individual health insurance plans in Thailand and globally. Pacific Prime can compare health insurance to help you find the ideal policy for your needs and budget. Contact Pacific Prime Thailand for expert advice or a free plan comparison and quote today.