As the holidays draw closer, it is important to make sure you find ways to support and nurture you. With the holiday frenzy it is natural for your emotions and anxiety to be in a heightened state. This coupled with holiday celebrations that encourage an extra peppermint martini, scrumptious cheese buff or decadent chocolate cake have an impact on your waist line and psychological state. Your home environment plays a key role in supporting you during stressful times, or it can further deplete you on all levels.
Let’s look at ways to have your home help you during the holidays…
Colors have a tremendous influence on your psychological and physical state. Research has shown that color impacts your body chemistry including heart rate, hormone production and cortisol levels. These control your mood, energy level and weight. Psychological studies have demonstrated that color has an effect on your mental state. This has a direct bearing on your level of happiness and satisfaction in life. Understanding color and utilizing it to support you is important during every season but can be even more critical during the holidays.
During the holidays there is a palpable frenetic energy of excitement and anticipation. This can be, in part, attributed to the colors that surround us during this season of celebration. When I think of the holidays, pictures of red and green or silver and cobalt blue come to mind.
Now let’s look at the psychological & physiological impact of these colors…
Red: Red ribbons, ornaments and packages ‘deck the halls’. The question is how does red influence your overall mental and physical state. Research has shown that red is associated with power, passion and aggression. Power images that come to mind are the red power tie or the red carpet. Psychological studies have determined that red increases aggressive behavior and anxiety. Physiological studies have shown that red increases heart rate and hunger. Restaurants understand this phenomenon and use it to encourage their patrons to order and consume more than they might typically. It is no wonder that we tend to eat more and feel anxiety during the Christmas Season when we are surrounded by the color red.
Cobalt Blue: Blue candles, gifts and ornaments shimmer and shine. Blue tones have a variety of effects on your psychological or physiological state. Depending on the shade of blue you choose determines the impact on you. For this article let’s specifically look at the bright shade of cobalt blue that is displayed this time of year. Cobalt blue is associated with strength, power and superiority. These can be empowering colors if they are in alignment with your inner being. They can also have the reverse effect and be dis-empowering if you have negative associations to power or don’t truly own your own personal power. It also has a physiological impact on the body and the hormones associated with hunger. The good news (unless you are hosting a party where you are hoping your guests will eat your delicious dishes) is that blue sends messages to the brain to refrain from eating. This is a great color to incorporate if you are hoping to lose weight. Blue can also create feelings of aloofness, sadness, loneliness and depression. This is not a great color to use if you tend to become melancholy during the holidays. Becoming aware of the impact of blue can help you navigate this season.
One simple strategy to help you find harmony during the holidays is to have one or two spaces in your home that do not have holiday trimmings. This allows you to have a serene sanctuary to nurture your soul, and uplift your spirit during this beautiful but sometimes overwhelming season. Your bedroom might be a great space to ditch the holiday decorations so that they aren’t the first thing you see when you wake in the morning and last thing you are thinking about before you nod off to sleep. Creating soothing spaces will help you to create inner calm & peace and allow you to shine your magnificent light during this season of celebration.
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Happy Soaring!
XOXO
