As summer months approach, it’s a great opportunity to put focus on maintaining positivity, balance and good mental health. This is a time of year when things are hopefully slowing down for you to a point where you can achieve more of a work life balance and carve pockets of time out for yourself. Without these three being in sync with each other, it makes it hard to thrive in these technological, fast-paced times. Now is a great time to check-in and ask yourself, “How do I feel? Do I need to pause?” You can also ask, “Have I Feng Shui-ed my environment lately? Do I feel in alignment?”
If not, Feng Shui can help improve your body, mind, and spirit energy. These simple questions offer the opportunity to reflect on what needs a recharge. What needs some extra care this month. The last thing you want to do is reach a point of burnout so before that can happen, take these steps to get back on track using Feng Shui. Having a positive mindset can be achieved in a way that’s responsive to your interests. Positive thinking is proven to improve stress, increase productivity, lower rates of depression, increase longevity and lower levels of distress or pain.
You can do this in a couple of different ways:
- Exercise regularly
- Do yoga or Tai Chi
- Practice Chi Gong (Qigong)
- Practice Meditation (even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes per day)
- Body work or a chakra reset with a massage or reiki
- Therapy if needed to process grief, resentments or anger
Soft tones like pastels transmit a sense of relaxation to our mind and body as well. In Feng Shui, blue tones helps with stress, anxiety and depression so this is a great way to transform a room for mindful practices like yoga, meditation, and tai chi. It might also be a good idea to avoid patterns in these rooms as it can be distracting as you wind down. The main goal in Feng Shui is a sense of order, cleanliness, and simplicity that allows energy to flow freely so you can live more harmoniously. Blue tones help achieving proper balance. For your relaxation space, avoid the use of too many mirrors as this can result in an unnecessary energy drain. You will want to leave this room feeling recharged versus sluggish.
When it comes to getting good, quality sleep this can be achieved with Feng Shui of your bedroom:
- Minimal to no electronics or screens
- Place your bed in a central, commanding position
- Avoid mirrors in the sight line of your bed
- Invest in a quality mattress tailored to your needs
- Maximize air flow to feel fresh and clean
- Achieve balance and symmetry using bedside tables on either side
- Soothing, muted color tones like soft blues
- Low-light, warm bulbs or night lights
- Minimize books to what you are currently reading
These can all affect your energy levels and will drain energy at times when you least expect it. Technology can especially disrupt our circadian rhythms – the physical, mental, and behavioral changes we experience over a 24-hour cycle. Think of it as our bodies internal clock. Light and dark have the biggest influence on circadian rhythms, but food intake, stress, physical activity, social environment, and temperature also affect them.
Studies show that sleep deficiency changes activity in some parts of the brain. If you’re sleep deficient, this may result in trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling emotions, and coping with change. A study published in the journal Indoor Air found that sleeping in well-ventilated rooms, whether through an open window or open door, led to enhanced sleep quality, reduced nighttime awakenings, and lower carbon dioxide levels. As the levels of carbon dioxide decreased, individuals experienced deeper and more uninterrupted sleep.
Graphic courtesy of Sleep Foundation
How the Feng Shui elements impact us psychologically:
Feng shui consists of five elements, each of which is said to have different impacts psychologically, ultimately affecting feelings of wellness and balance. This is great to keep in mind as you Feng Shui your space to achieve balance and harmony. You can easily tailor a space to be more creative, stable, balanced, etc. using elements like wood and earth as accents.
- Earth: Grounding, security, stability, balance
- Fire: Passion, enthusiasm, boldness, expressiveness
- Metal: Clarity, focus, logic, critical thinking
- Water: Abundance, prosperity, insightfulness, wisdom
- Wood: Creativity, new life, growth, intuition
For questions on how to make your space in alignment with Feng Shui practices for improved mental health, you can contact me anytime at 512-740-1251.
