Redesigning your home usually consists of looking into what style, what colour scheme and what new furniture you want. However, if you are redecorating your home then have you considered how these changes can impact your mental state? More specifically, how this can impact yours and your families mindfulness.
We are here to help with this and guide you through just how significant mindfulness is and how to implement it in your home. Mental Health within the UK has never been more important than it is right now. If you wish to find out more about UK Mental Health then click below to jump to our “11 Facts About UK Mental Health that Will Surprise You” infographic.
We took it upon ourselves to talk to many different interior experts in order to find out how to improve mindfulness at home. But before we did this, we wanted to know what exactly mindfulness means..
So, what is mindfulness? Well, the NHS defines this as –
“Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you which can improve your mental well-being.”
It is the practice of being able to manage thoughts and feelings in a positive and profound way. According to The Mental Health Foundation, anxiety and depression are the two most common mental health issues within the UK and our busy, modern lives could be contributing to this.
Through the practicing of mindfulness you can become more aware of what is happening in your life in the present moment. It can help you to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings and body sensations which can then help you to stop being so overwhelmed by them, and instead manage them efficiently.
Most people think that to improve mindfulness you need to meditate, take yoga classes and go for long walks, and although these all do help, they aren’t the only way you can improve mental health. What a lot of us don’t realise is that you can actually make small changes to your home to help with this too. Interior design, be it new furniture, colour schemes or windows and doors, can have a truly large impact on mindfulness.
Whether you live alone or with your families and friends, there are many different things you can do to help turn your home into a calmer and more serene environment. One of the most popular ways in which to improve this at home is by increasing the amount of natural light that floods each room. Whether you invest in new double glazing windows and add more light or look at your homes colour scheme, there are many different ways you can make your home a place of calm, relaxation able to improve yours and your families mindfulness.
In order to cover all of the ways in which you can turn your home into a place of calm and happy mindfulness.
We got in touch with 13 experts in different industries and asked for their thoughts. Here is what they had to say:
11 Facts about UK Mental Health that will surprise you.
Through implementing small changes in your home, such as double glazed windows or just a quiet room to relax, you can improve mental health for you, your family and your friends. To find out more about mental health in the UK please check out the infographic below:
Share this Image On Your Site
11 Facts About UK Mental Health that WIll Surprise You
Below you can find our infographic highlighting “11 Facts About UK Mental Health”, or you can find a complete write-up of the infographic below here.
Infographic Write-Up
Plus facts on how mindfulness can help improve mental health and how you don’t have to leave your home to practice it.
Before we Talk about Mindfulness
It’s important to know how mental health is affecting people all across the country… Up to 10% of the UK adult population will experience symptoms of depression in any given week. 16 million people in the UK experience a mental illness.
The estimated cost of depression will rise to £2.96 billion a year in lost earnings alone, with an extra £9.19 billion in annual service costs.
The leading cause of sickness in the UK is ill mental health
Nearly half (43.4%) of adults think that they have had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life. There has also been a 24% rise in the number of sick days taken in the UK relating to stress, depression and anxiety since 2009.
“Don’t believe everything you think, thoughts are just that - thoughts.
Some studies show that almost 1 in 4 young people will experience depression before they are 19
Three in four mental illnesses start in childhood: 75% of mental illnesses start before a child reaches their 18th birthday.
1 in 4 people will experience depression before they are 19 according to some studies.
32.6% of people who self-identified as having a mental health problem in the 2014 APMS have never been diagnosed by a professional.
£8 billion is the estimated cost of the effect of poor mental health on physical illnesses to the NHS.
Out of the 130 million sick days a year, 75 million of them are caused by mental health and illness.
There are now more than 15 million people living with a long-term mental health condition.
75% of young people with a mental health problem are not receiving treatment
So what can we do about it?
If you think you are suffering from poor mental health then you may wish to look into mindfulness.
What exactly is mindfulness?
Definition of Mindfulness – “A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
Did You Know?
Studies have shown that mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) leads to a 70% reduction in anxiety.
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg, Mindfulness Teacher
Mindfulness can:
- Lower blood pressure without pills
- Physically rebuild your brain
- Improve brain plasticity
- Improve your sleep
The good news is that you don’t have to go to classes to help with this, there are plenty of things you can do at home!
Let There Be Light
Natural Light has a wonderful impact on mood
Make sure a room has lots of natural light by ensuring your windows are clean and curtains are open. This will make the room feel more airy and less cramped which can then improve your mood and help to ease any stress or anxiety.
Tidy Home Tidy Mind
Your home is often a representation of yourself
When your home is messy and cluttered this can cause you to feel the same way. To prevent this always ensure you have plenty of storage options to put things away quickly and easily, thus allowing for a tidy home and tidy mind.
Colour in the Calm
Colours have a large impact on mood and emotion
Try and keep a calm colour scheme throughout each room to ensure your home is a place of relaxation and tranquillity. Colours that are known to be the most calming are blue, turquoise and green.
Peaceful Portraits
The right piece of art can bring happiness and calm
Choosing the right artwork for your home is crucial for keeping a peaceful and serene mood throughout each room. Choosing a sea/lake or forest painting can help reduce anxiety and provide a relaxing image to look upon when you feel stressed.