A Healing Home?
“A beautiful bouquet or a long-lasting flowering plant is a traditional gift for women, but I have recommended that both men and women keep fresh flowers in the home for their beauty, fragrance, and the lift they give our spirits.”
— Andrew Weil
Can our living environments act as a healing home and help us live healthier, happier lives? Science suggests they just might.
A study of 46 patients who’d recently undergone surgery to remove their gallbladder found that those assigned to rooms with a view of nature had shorter postoperative stays in the hospital and required fewer painkillers than those whose windows had a view of a brick wall.1 Another study found that following a psychological stressor, exposure to nature sounds facilitated faster recovery from sympathetic activation than exposure to less pleasant unnatural sounds of lower, comparable and higher sound pressure levels.2
Several human and animal studies suggest anxiety-reducing, mood-stabilizing and neuroprotective properties for lavender,3 while exposure to sunlight has been associated with serotonin and melatonin levels for some individuals.4 Even household clutter has been implicated in everything from procrastination to increased cortisol (the stress hormone) levels.5
Studies such as these are not definitive, and effects may be moderated by a number of interpersonal variables. Also, it’s important not to try to self-treat serious medical or psychological conditions on your own, including depression and anxiety, with things like light, diet and supplements, exposure therapy or even something as seemingly innocuous as an essential oil. Always work with a doctor you trust.
But for those who simply want to see if small tweaks in the environment might help improve their mood or provide a more healing home, here are some ideas to consider:
- Orient furniture groupings toward a pleasant view of nature (as opposed to the TV).
- Get out in nature for a few minutes a day if possible, and listen to nature sounds when trying to relax.
- Minimize exposure to blue light frequencies from computer screens and TVs several hours before bed if you’re having difficulty sleeping.
- Deal with clutter for a more tranquil, relaxing environment.
Creating a welcoming home environment can also help facilitate social interaction — a beautiful great room that the entire family gravitates to, a kitchen that encourages lingering conversation or a dining room that encourages having friends over to share a meal more often. Creating a living environment that is supportive of health and other goals is what we call psycho-environmental design, and you can read more about it here.
Some say that loneliness and all the health consequences associated with it is our next great mental health epidemic. Having a home that helps you connect with family and friends might just be the healthiest thing you can do for yourself.
If you’re interested in more ideas to help you meet health and other goals, download Branches Productivity for free today. In it you’ll learn about a holistic life-balance system that can help you get your most important things done.
Help grow this idea.
What changes have you made in your home that have improved your mental or physical health? Please share them in the comments below.
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