When most of us think about health and wellness, our minds often jump to our physical health, exercise level, or nutrition quality. Occasionally we might even think about the state of our mental health. Fewer of us, however, think of the environment that surrounds us even though this plays a crucial role in our mental and physical wellbeing. While many of us meticulously tend to our bodies and sometimes even our minds, our immediate and global environments hold powerful keys to our overall well-being. Let’s explore how cultivating a mindful relationship with our surroundings can enhance our mental health and foster a sense of balance and harmony in our lives.
Our immediate environment: Our reflection of self
Creating a space
Our immediate environment, our home, is where we feel safe, develop our identities, and find comfort. Our homes are an expression of ourselves in many ways. Our home is somewhere where we can claim our identity, somewhere to display things like personal photos, chosen books, and travel mementos, all of which help us surround ourselves with our values and what we hold dear. Our homes are also somewhere that we can arrange to inspire specific thoughts and emotions—like creating a welcoming living room or a calming bedroom—while keeping personal mementos, or “social snacks”, that can provide us with comfort and connection in private moments. Lastly, our homes can be a place of growth, a place that reflects our evolving priorities, goals, and aspirations, capturing a timeline of our identity and the shifts we have undergone and are yet to undergo.
Through all these elements, our homes not only provide comfort and security but also subtly narrate our journey, revealing the changes that shape us.
Yet, for many, especially expats, homes can become transient spaces, reflecting neither our values nor our personalities. Some might furnish their homes hastily, with little connection to space, while others focus too heavily on outward appearances, hiring designers to create magazine-worthy rooms that are left uninhabited.
Your home should reflect who you are, regardless of your budget. If you don’t have the budget to create mood filled spaces, even simple touches, like family photos or favorite trinkets, can make a space feel more personal and grounded.
Decluttering our space
Research from Princeton University indicates that a cluttered environment can negatively affect our ability to focus, while a study from the University of Connecticut shows that reducing clutter can alleviate stress and anxiety. If the physical space around us feels scattered, it’s likely our mental
space will feel the same whilst regular tidying routines can boost productivity, relieve anxiety, and even improve mood by creating a sense of accomplishment.
Decluttering our immediate environment has many mental health benefits, including boosting our mood, sharpening our focus, energizing us into productivity, as well as relieving anxiety.
Our immediate environment should be a place where we can find peace, be inspired, and foster a sense of balance and harmony
Also Read: The power of group therapy: Why connecting with others can heal
Our outer environment- our happiness
Our outer environment, otherwise known as our community, extends well beyond our immediate family to the people we choose to surround ourselves with. We’ve all heard the saying that we are shaped by the five individuals we surround ourselves with every day. By extension, we are shaped by the five people connected to each of them – creating a network of 25 people who influence our environment. When we actively engage with a community that shares our values and beliefs, we foster a sense of safety and support, allowing us to forge friendships and connect with mentors who can guide us on our journey forward. These connections help us feel supported, boost our resilience, and contribute to our overall happiness. If you need further proof, Harvard’s 75-year study on happiness revealed that our relationships, not material possessions, are the primary source of happiness.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/
Interestingly, those with strong community ties in the Harvard experiment experienced lower incidences of middle-age diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and again lower incidences of old-age diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dimension. Equally, in-person interactions with people we like release the same endorphins as exercising.
Happiness, therefore, from a well-chosen community, otherwise known as our outer environment has a direct impact not only on our mental wellbeing but equally on our physical wellbeing.
In summary, engaging with a community gives us the courage to take risks, helps us stay grounded and encourages us to pursue fulfilling lives.
Our Global Environmental: Our nurture through nature
Lastly, not only does incorporating nature into our lives offer a myriad of physical health benefits, but nature has a unique way of boosting our mental health. Being surrounded by green spaces can lower heart rate, reduce stress, and increase our pain threshold. Studies have shown that time spent in nature improves mood, decreases symptoms of depression, and enhances cognitive function. Trees and green spaces not only calm us but also foster a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves. Regular time spent in nature provides solace from daily stressors, allows us to reconnect with our inner selves and helps us find tranquillity in the beauty of the natural world. That’s why caring for our global environment is essential to maintaining personal wellbeing.
In conclusion, by embracing all aspects of environmental wellness—immediate, communal, and global—we can foster a more balanced, joyful life. Environmental consciousness is not only about protecting our planet but also about nurturing our mental wellbeing, one mindful choice at a time.
