How Does the Place You Live in Affect Your Well-Being?

12.01.2020 WELLNESS 0.0 0

well-being

Studies have shown that where you live can have a small but significant effect on your well-being. So, things like greenery, population density, average household income in the area, average temperature, and similar neighborhood-related factors can affect your physical and mental health. Moreover, there is also your home’s interior design and overall appearance that matters.

So, if you’d like to know how your environment affects you, or if you happen to be looking for a new home that would suit you, here are a few things to think about.

Set a temperature that works for you

We all react differently to changes in temperature, which can affect our hormones and bodily functions. So, for example, if you can’t handle sudden and extreme changes that well, living in a place where those changes happen often can affect everything - from your metabolism to your mood.

Moreover, some of us function better in warmer climates, while some are not really that fond of the sun. Of course, you may not be able to move to the place that has the climate you’d enjoy, but you can always adjust your indoor temperature to reflect your needs. Plus, this gives you one more reason to perhaps add a bit more traveling to your yearly schedule.

A bad neighborhood can affect your parenting

Living in a neighborhood that is dangerous, chaotic, not maintained, and simply neglected can affect your parenting skills. Such a neighborhood would inevitably come with a lot of stress and strain, which would affect your mood and parenting style. Consequently, it would also affect your kids.

This is why it’s important for you to live in a place that offers comfort and safety. So, for example, if you’re looking for a new home to start your family life, you can find great house and land packages in Austral, a Sydney suburb. Living in a well-organized place, like one of those, would help you feel more relaxed, and it would make it easier for you to focus on your family’s needs.

well-being

Greenery is important

Searching for better life opportunities, many people are forced to move to more urban areas, which often lack greenery. If you happen to love nature, not having enough of it in your life can affect your well-being. In this case, what you can do is decorate your home with natural elements – add more plants, introduce some water and fire elements, install an aquarium, etc. Plus, if you happen to have a big yard, your decorating options are endless. This way, you’d still be surrounded by nature where you need it the most. Speaking of greenery, being as eco-friendly as possible can make you feel much better about your lifestyle too. This is why living in a place that is green – both in terms of plants and sustainability – could boost your health.

Being surrounded by too many people can make you anxious

Research has shown that people living in densely populated areas are much more anxious than those living in less populated areas. When it comes to population density, there are other factors related to it that can make you unhappy - noise, traffic, and pollution, for example - and can affect your mood and health too. That being said, the effect this can have on you does depend on your personality, whether you actually like being surrounded by many people on a daily basis or you prefer having fewer social interactions.

Adjust the artificial light

Our body is predisposed to react to light in a certain way – it helps us regulate our sleep pattern, eating schedule, sexuality, and other hormonal functions. With that in mind, too much artificial light can harm your health by disrupting your habits. For example, blue light, which is common in office environments, can make you feel lethargic. Yellow light, on the other hand, can make you feel more awake. So, you should try to design your home in a way that would allow you to absorb as much natural light as possible. For instance, you can use lighter curtains in summer, or you can even opt for larger windows if you can afford such an investment. Similarly, you should adjust the artificial lighting in your home – layering your lights and choosing the right light bulbs can help you set the right ambiance depending on your needs at the time.

To sum up, where you live can affect your levels of anxiety, mood, health, and overall well-being. So, think about things that matter to you, and if you cannot change your city or neighborhood, try to adjust the interior of your home to your needs. This way, you’re bound to feel much better about your lifestyle, and you’re more likely to reach your full potential without any additional stress that comes from living in a place that doesn’t suit you.

Written by Lilly Miller

About the Author

Lilly Miller is a Sydney-based graphic designer and a passionate writer. Loves everything about home decor, art history and baking. Shares home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney.