Mindspace: The importance of physical space with mental health

We all know about that acute experience of anxiety around exams. It’s that awful feeling that time is constantly running out, that we know nothing, that we shouldn’t even be here or just head-in-my-hands, gut wrenching nerves. Recently, I found that while undergoing this gruelling procedure, setting up the physical space I study in made a huge difference in how I felt about my progress and potential. I started to think the same could be applied for how we work on our mental health.

Make it real

Bringing our process into physical space can also legitimate the experience of learning and progressing. While there are so many fantastic apps and online journals focusing on mental health, sometimes we need to be able to see and touch our task in the physical environment to make it feel real. Many people do this by journaling but why not extend this a little further and actually put our story on the walls of our bedroom or locker? For me it’s like the difference between having contact with friends on social media and the assuring comfort of real, physical contact. There’s just no comparison.

Chart your progress

Seeing our journey represented in physical space also reminds us of our progress which helps to keep going. For some of us, when we need encouragement, abstractions such as ‘’you’re doing great’’ or ‘’look how far you’ve come’’ are too vague and therefore are not very helpful. If, like me, your mind responds better to concrete evidence with specific measurements, then charting details of the milestones you’ve passed can turn things from lost at sea to halfway there. Simple things like ‘attended friends birthday’ or ‘exercised for 7 days in a row’ can represent commitment and courage. I used a large A00 (person sized) hand drawn calendar with key dates and milestones filled in. Not only did it lower my anxiety levels but also was a fun project.

One added benefit of charting our progress is that we get the benefit of that ‘only a little more to go’ feeling. I find it easier when there is an end in sight, at least to this goal or section of the journey. It’s the same comfort I get when reading a physical book in which I can feel how many pages are left, as opposed to the seemingly endless abyss when using a kindle. No wonder people continue to buy physical books.

Don’t forget the why

In any task, our reasons for doing it can keep us going. Add to the progress chart a list of the reasons why it is possible to succeed; a list of the reasons it matters to succeed; and, if it would help, a list of things to avoid. It can be something as simple as the people you’re doing this for,

Heroes

There’s plenty of room within that space to include things that inspire you. This can be a further boost when you need it. I like quotes by Martin Luther King as his struggle in the face of almost omnipotent oppression shows me the value of belief and perseverance even when things seem hopeless. It also presses home for me how our efforts can have value for the people around us. Harry Potter and Munster Rugby make an appearance as are things which inspired me as a child and still resonate with me emotionally. It’s much easier to keep my head up and strive when the space around me is filled with people who have strived and achieved.

It’s a cliché, I know, but as well as my heroes I stuck up a few photos of people who believed in me and wanted me to succeed. That provided comfort and inspiration during the long hours stuck at my desk.

Lastly, keep it clean.

I noticed a real difference in my productivity by just clearing the desk every evening so that I arrived to a fresh, tidy room in the morning. Somehow my mind felt cleaner and tidier too.

It works for exams. Why can’t it work for mental health? Set up your space today and give it a try.