3 Critical Ways Our Environment Affects Mental Health
Published By Justin Baksh, LMHC, MCAP
August 23, 2024
Our surroundings, the spaces where we live, work, and relax, play a pivotal role in shaping our mental health. This relationship goes both ways: Just as our mental state can influence how we perceive and interact with our environment—perhaps leading us to seek solitude in nature or accumulate clutter in times of stress—so, too, can our surroundings reflect and significantly affect our mental state.
This speaks to a critical aspect of mental health that is often overlooked: the power of our environments to serve as both a mirror and a mold. Spaces cluttered with unattended items might signify a busy mind but it can also worsen any feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. On the other hand, a well-ordered, personalized space can not only reflect a sense of inner calm but also foster it, creating a sanctuary from the stresses of the outside world.
Environmental Psychology and Mental Wellbeing
Environmental psychology is the study of individuals and their surroundings, offering insights into how our physical environment influences our mood, behavior, and overall mental health. This field of study recognizes that not only do we affect our surroundings, but our surroundings also significantly affect us.
At the core of environmental psychology is the understanding that the spaces we inhabit—from the natural landscapes we stroll through to the designed interiors where we spend our days—can either bolster our mental wellness or detract from it. This can manifest in various ways, such as the calming effect of green spaces on our stress levels or the anxiety that cluttered and chaotic environments can induce.
The influence of physical spaces on mental health extends beyond the confines of our homes. Architectural designs, the layout of our workplaces, even the presence of natural elements within urban settings, can influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in profound ways. Light, color, air quality, and noise levels—all these elements of our environments engage with our senses, subtly shaping our moods and mental states over time.
In essence, the spaces we inhabit are far from passive backdrops to our lives; they are active participants in our mental health journey. By fostering an awareness of this dynamic relationship, we can unlock the potential of our environments to support and sustain our psychological wellbeing.
3 Critical Ways Our Environment Influences Our Mental Health
Nature Boosts Our Mood… and More
Research tells us that being in natural settings or even viewing scenes of nature can lead to improved mood and reduced anger, stress, and fear. Nature has a unique capacity to grab our attention in a gentle way, allowing our minds to rest, rejuvenate, and restore themselves, a concept known as “attention restoration theory.”
Similarly, the design and layout of our built environments, from the architecture of our homes to the planning of our cities, have been found to significantly impact our social interactions, feelings of belonging, and even our physical activity levels. Natural elements and green spaces in our environment have a therapeutic effect.
Studies have highlighted that patients with views of nature from their hospital windows tend to recover faster and require less pain medication compared to those facing a brick wall. This phenomenon, often referred to as “biophilic design,” emphasizes the importance of incorporating elements of nature into our living and working spaces to promote health and wellbeing.
Clean Spaces Calm Our Minds
Disorganization, and the clutter that springs from it, can cause and worsen feelings of stress and anxiety. This isn’t just anecdotal—numerous studies have highlighted the psychological impact of disarray in our living and working environments. Clutter bombards the brain with excessive stimuli, forcing our sensory systems to process a lot of unnecessary information. This overstimulation can diminish our ability to concentrate and boost feelings of frustration, adversely affecting our mental health.
On the flip side, organized spaces have the opposite effect, promoting feelings of control and calm. An organized environment allows for more streamlined thinking and productivity, reducing the time and energy spent searching for items or navigating chaos. It also fosters a sense of tranquility, as clean and orderly spaces are typically easier to relax in and enjoy. The process of organizing and decluttering our spaces can be immensely therapeutic as well, providing us with a sense of mastery and order.
As a mindful exercise, decluttering helps individuals to engage with their surroundings consciously and intentionally. Choosing what to keep and what to part with encourages us to consider what is truly important to us and what adds value to our lives. Decluttering and organization are not just about creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment. They’re about cultivating a space that supports mental clarity and wellbeing. By taking control of our surroundings, we can create a sanctuary that reflects and nurtures our mental state, paving the way for a more focused, calm, and contented existence.
Personalized Spaces Sooth Our Soul
Creating a space that feels personally comforting and reflective of one’s identity is more than just an aesthetic choice. It is a fundamental aspect of supporting mental wellbeing. Personalizing our living and working areas helps to create an environment where we feel secure, understood, and at ease. This sense of comfort is essential for our psychological health, providing a safe haven where we can relax, recharge, and express ourselves freely.
Personalization can take many forms, from the colors we paint our walls to the photos and mementos we display. These choices allow us to infuse our spaces with memories, inspirations, and aspirations that resonate with our personal journey. Such environments act as a mirror of our inner selves, reinforcing our sense of identity and providing a constant reminder of what we value and who we aspire to be.
The psychological benefits of a personalized space are substantial. Being surrounded by objects and colors that have personal significance can bolster our mood and improve emotional wellbeing. This becomes especially critical during stressful periods or when seeking a haven from external pressures. A space that reflects our personality can also enhance creativity, motivation, and overall satisfaction with our environment. It even helps relieve some of the stress that being in an open office causes.
The principles of environmental psychology can guide us in making informed choices about our personal spaces and advocating for public spaces that promote mental well-being. This knowledge empowers us to create environments that not only meet our physical needs but also nurture our psychological health, enhancing our quality of life.
Empowerment Through Environmental Awareness
Recognizing and leveraging the profound impact our surroundings have on our mental health offers a powerful avenue for personal empowerment. This awareness equips us with the knowledge to make deliberate choices about our environment, turning it into a catalyst for mental wellness and resilience. By understanding how aspects like natural light, organized spaces, and personal touches influence our psychological state, we can transform our living and working areas into havens of wellbeing.
Encouraging proactive steps to crafting supportive environments means advocating for a life where our spaces work for us, not against us. It’s about creating a backdrop for our daily lives that fosters productivity, tranquility, and happiness. This empowerment comes from making informed decisions—
choosing the right colors for our walls, the layout of our furniture, or even the type of plants we keep. As individuals, we hold the power to mold our environments in ways that bolster our mental health.
This journey of creating mentally healthy spaces invites us to share our knowledge, experiences, and successes with others, building communities that prioritize wellbeing through thoughtful environmental design. Environmental awareness in relation to mental health is not just about personal benefit—it’s a societal good. As we each take steps to enhance our surroundings, we contribute to a broader culture of mental health awareness and advocacy, paving the way for environments that nurture mind, body, and soul for everyone.
-
Being Able to Personalize Your Workspace May Have Psychological Benefits. (n.d.). Association for Psychological Science – APS.
-
Creating a healthy home environment. (n.d.). Mental Health America.
-
Weir, K. (2020, April 1). Nurtured by nature. American Psychological Association, 51(3), 50.
