www.womanthismonth.com March 2016 59 HEALTHY HUES Colour is a powerful tool that can be used to inspire emotions, create space illusions or simply set the mood and atmosphere for any particular room. Proponents of colour psychology believe the colours you use to decorate your home can have a profound effect on the emotional well-being of you and your family. Although there are only three primary colours, they can be combined in different proportions to create a vast galaxy of wonderful shades. If you know what to look for, some of these hues can help you relax and add to your general wellbeing. Red and orange are associated with passion and vigour, and can lift your spirit instantly. Pink, on the other hand, is soft and tranquil and promotes a general balance of energy in a space. Yellow brightens up the mood and has a cheery vibe and green has a soothing effect that invites harmonious feelings and diffuses anxiety. Blue has a tremendous stress management quality that encourages calmness and decorating with violet can give your space a peaceful feeling that relieves stress. Symbolic of clarity and freshness, white can prove to be quite versatile as well; however it needs to be a clean, bright white. Dull whites can lead to dull emotions. GO GREEN Indoor plants are a great way to bring nature into your home or office space or add much needed colour to a room. But houseplants can more than beautify a space. Research shows that indoor plants offer a host of physical and mental health benefits. They can reduce stress and lower blood pressure, alleviate headaches, fight colds, and, believe it or not, even make you happy. Plants such as English ivy, golden pothos, florist’s chrysanthemum and peace lily pack a powerful air-cleaning punch, ridding the atmosphere in your house of pollutants and toxic airborne chemicals. Not only can plants clean the air, they can create a more relaxing, restful ambience in any room. Studies show that the mere presence of plants in an office can boost an individual’s ability to concentrate longer. According to a 1998 study at the University of Agriculture in Norway, indoor plants can even reduce the incidence of colds, sore throats and dry coughs by more than 30 per cent, partially by increasing humidity levels and reducing dust. The right indoor plants can also help you unwind and enjoy a restful night’s sleep. While most plants give out carbon dioxide at night, gerbera daisies continue to release oxygen which helps you breath and sleep better. Odours have a significant effect on the nervous system and a sweet-scented jasmine plant in your bedroom can lead to a better quality of sleep, reduced sleep movement and lower anxiety levels the next day. disarray. Research shows that clutter affects your brain’s ability to concentrate and process information. UCLA’s Centre on Everyday Lives and Families, after a detailed study, concluded that clutter has a strong effect on mood and self-esteem. Clearing up does not just get your house in order but sets your head in order, too. You feel fresh, calmer and happier. Ridding clutter from your life can make you more focused, relaxed and productive. Some cultures believe unwanted and unused items give negative energy a comfortable resting place. Try this out – in an untidy room, you’ll find it hard to even read a book. You clean up the place and instantly the energy shifts. Another thing that clutter does is waste your time, since you are often looking for things, which also leads to frustration. ‘Clear as you go’ is an attitude that may take some time to become a habit. Enable quick clearing in your living space so organising doesn’t seem like a giant task every time. Establish designated spots for items like mail, newspapers and magazines, keys, bags, jackets etc. Make ‘clutter preserves’ – well-concealed nooks where you can collect things over some time and sort them out later. The ‘one in, one out’ policy keeps you away from hoarding and also results in refreshing the look of your home from time to time.
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