Does My Environment Affect My Mental Health?
- Dec 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
A gentle exploration of space, energy, and emotional well-being
The Rooms We Live In, and the Rooms Within Us
For a long time, I didn’t understand how deeply my environment shaped the way I felt. Back then, my room was a mess... piles of clothes everywhere, drawers filled with things I didn’t need, random objects I kept “just in case.” I never opened my blinds, I barely cleaned, and everything around me felt heavy. I used to tell myself it didn’t matter. “It’s just a room.” But my life at the time was chaotic too... mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Looking back now, I see the connection so clearly.
Our environment is not separate from us. It speaks to us. It influences us. It mirrors what’s happening inside.
Today, my home is decorated with crystals, fresh flowers, plants, and visual affirmations, little anchors of calm and intention. And every single one of these choices has helped me heal, breathe easier, and feel grounded.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the question:
Does my environment affect my mental health? - through science, lived experience, and simple changes that can elevate the energy of your space (and your wellbeing).
Does My Environment Affect My Mental Health? (Science Says Yes)
The short answer is: absolutely.
A growing body of research in psychology and environmental science shows that our surroundings can influence:
stress levels
mood
cognitive function
creativity
emotional regulation
sleep quality
Here are a few key insights:
Clutter increases cortisol
Studies from UCLA’s Centre on Everyday Lives and Families found that people living in highly cluttered homes had significantly higher levels of cortisol - the body’s primary stress hormone.
Natural elements reduce anxiety
Research in environmental psychology shows that adding plants, natural light, and organic colours can reduce anxious feelings and support a calmer mind.
Visual cues influence behaviour
What we see every day impacts how we think and feel. This is why reminders like affirmation art, gentle colours, or symbolic decor can help break negative patterns and reinforce positive emotional states.
Order supports emotional stability
Even small forms of organisation have been shown to support emotional regulation and executive function, providing the brain with a sense of structure and safety.
So when someone asks, “Does my environment affect my mental health?” Science, lived experience, and intuition all say: yes, profoundly.
My Personal Story - From Chaos to Calm
I remember a time when walking into my bedroom instantly drained me. Instead of feeling safe, I felt overwhelmed. Instead of resting, I spiralled.
I hoarded things because I didn’t know how to let go. I left piles on the floor because I didn’t have the energy to deal with them. I kept items connected to memories that hurt me because I didn’t believe I deserved better.
My space was a reflection of my mind back then: messy, tangled, overstimulated, and exhausted.
But healing has a way of nudging us toward softness. Slowly, I started clearing things out, not because I wanted a “pretty home,” but because I wanted a peaceful life.
I added plants. I put crystals on my shelves. I began creating affirmation art, at first just for myself, because I needed visual reminders of hope, softness, and strength.
Now, my environment feels like a sanctuary. It holds me. It nurtures me. And every piece in it is chosen with intention.
Your space can do the same for you.
The Power of Visual Affirmations in Your Environment
Affirmations don’t only work when spoken, they can work when seen.
Every time you look at:
a symbol of peace
a calming colour
a gentle affirmation
a crystal with grounding energy
art that reflects who you’re becoming
…you reinforce messages of safety, healing, and emotional balance.
This is why I create affirmation art: because our homes should support the life we’re rebuilding, not drain it.
Visual cues shape emotions. And emotions shape behaviour. And behaviour shapes your entire life.
5 Ways to Improve Your Living Space to Support Your Mental Health
Here are simple, accessible shifts, all connected to emotional well-being and supported by research.
1. Add Intention With Visual Affirmations
Hang an artwork or place a card somewhere you’ll see it daily - your desk, bedside table, or hallway. Visual repetition helps the brain absorb the emotional truth behind the words. Choose affirmations that speak directly to the season you’re in - peace, courage, resilience, softness, harmony.
2. Bring Nature Indoors
Plants, flowers, natural light, and earthy tones have been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. Even one plant can soften a room's atmosphere. Flowers add life. Natural light regulates your circadian rhythm. All of it supports your nervous system.
3. Clear What Doesn’t Support You
You don’t need a full declutter in one day. Start with one shelf, one drawer, one corner of a desk. Let go of items that drain you or carry emotions you’ve outgrown. When the environment becomes lighter, you become lighter.
4. Create a Small Sanctuary Corner
A corner with:
a plant
a crystal
a candle
an affirmation
a symbol meaningful to you
…can completely shift the emotional tone of your home. This mini sanctuary becomes a grounding point during stressful moments.
5. Choose Colours That Support Your Energy
Colour psychology plays a real role in emotional well-being:
Blues & celestite tones → calm, clarity, peace
Greens → renewal, grounding
Pinks & rose quartz tones → compassion, softness, healing
Warm neutrals → safety, stability
This is why I choose crystal-inspired palettes for my art - colours communicate emotion faster than words.
Closing Reflection
Your home doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t need to look like Pinterest. It just needs to feel like a space that supports your healing.
Take a moment now to ask yourself:
What’s one small change I can make to my environment that would bring me more peace today?
Because when your space feels calm, your mind finally has room to breathe.
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