It has been said that certain colours can influence our behaviour and directly affect our productivity and mental abilities. But, is that true? Can you become smarter merely by changing the colours that surround you?
In this article, we’ll discuss this fascinating subject in detail, look at the different colours and their effects on the mind, and discuss tips for building a smarter environment with colours.
1. Do Colours Influence Our Thinking?
It’s no secret that certain colours evoke certain reactions from us, and this connection could have a profound effect on our cognitive processes. There are many studies that suggest the way colours make us feel can indeed stimulate or calm our minds and help optimize our thinking. To understand this connection better, it’s important to understand that our energy is dynamic, and colours also have specific energetic waves that can affect our neurotransmitters.
Our brains work in cycles, and every colour can calm or stimulate our neurological pathways depending on its innate energetic frequency. When a colour is in our environment and we look at it, its energy influence begins to affect our brain’s functions.
Different colours have different frequencies, and they can help us focus, feel inspired, create more confidence, and adversely affect our level of productivity. Ultimately, the ability to apply this knowledge in practice largely depends on personal factors and preferences.
Still, it’s important to remember that colours can help tweak or even adjust our brain’s functionality in different situations.
2. What Colour Makes You Smarter?
When it comes to improving mental functioning, there is a range of colours that can help us stay on top of our game. Research suggests that blues and greens, in particular, can help make us smarter. The colour blue is known to boost our levels of concentration and focus and increase productivity levels.
Its calming effect can help ease anxiety and stress, which are notoriously beneficial to creativity, imagination, and innovative thinking. On the other hand, green is known to have calming, balancing, and centring effects.
This colour has historically been associated with knowledge and is known to boost intelligence, understanding, and analytical thinking. It can help us become more productive and effective in our work, making us smarter overall.
These two colours, out of other hues, have been found in numerous research studies to help increase performance levels, productivity, and overall mental functioning. They are proven to provide the most significant cognitive enhancement.
3. Enhancing Mental Abilities with Colour
Colour is the easiest and most non-invasive way to induce a positive effect on our mental faculties. While there’s no single colour that works for everyone, studies suggest using combinations of blue and green be the most effective for a variety of purposes.
For example, if you need to focus, use blue in a bright or light-coloured shade to activate concentration and mental clarity. If you need to feel more relaxed and calm, go for darker shades or use a combination of green and blue. You can also incorporate other colours into the mix to create an overall atmosphere that boosts your cognitive functions.
Consider adding a bit of orange or yellow to create a balance and make your environment more stimulating. It’s important to remember that different shades of colour can influence our brains in different ways.
Therefore, if you’re looking to create a space that boosts your mental abilities, consider carefully which shades of colour you’re going to use and what effect you want to achieve.
4. Optimizing Your Workspace with Colour
It’s no secret that for long hours of work, it’s important to have a dedicated workspace and to create a balance between your work area and your home. And colour can play a significant role in that.
By combining the right shades of blue and green and adding some other hues, you can create an atmosphere conducive to productivity, regardless of whether you need to concentrate, relax, have creative ideas, or analyze something. To achieve the brightest and most enjoyable atmosphere, you should choose the right shades of colour for the right purpose. Darker shades, for example, are more suitable for relaxation and calming effects, while lighter hues can create a more stimulating and energizing environment.
5. Colour: Red, White, and Purple
Red is probably one of the most stimulating and energizing colours you can use in your space, as it’s known to increase enthusiasm and boost mental alertness. It’s known to improve performance levels, but it can be taxing for the eyes if used in the wrong doses. White is often used in minimalist design as its calming nature has a tendency to evoke focus and concentration.
It’s known to also help one better relax and recharge, making it an ideal colour for a workspace. Finally, a dash of purple can help give a space an inviting and unique atmosphere.
It’s known to have a nourishing effect on one’s mental abilities, boosting creative thinking and making one feel more inspired.
6. Applying Colours in Practice
Once you understand the psychology of colour and its influence on our brains, it’s time to apply it in practice. To create a space that’s ideal for improving mental faculties, it’s important to pay attention to the hue you’re using, as well as its position and its size. Consider painting the walls of your home office in different shades of blue and green.
You can also add some accent colours to the mix, such as orange and purple, to give your space an energy boost. To ensure your walls don’t overpower your mental processes, it’s important to limit the use of certain colours.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s important to add a dash of a bright and inspiring colour – such as red, yellow, or orange – so that it does not become too bland and boring.
7. Adding Colour to Your Workspace
If you want to take your workspace to the next level of performance, adding splashes of colour can help. Beatify and energize your space by adding colourful accents in the form of decorations, wall hangings, art pieces, or furniture.
Adding plants, flowers, and other foliage to your office can also help balance your environment and make it more pleasant. If you don’t have the necessary time, space, or resources to have a pet, adding a few plants to your office can make a great difference in your productivity and overall clarity. Using colour, you can boost your confidence and outlook.
A well-designed, aesthetically pleasing and colourful workspace can also help make you happier and more relaxed, making it even easier to stay productive and to stay sharp.
8. Different Kinds of Colours
Finally, it’s important to remember that different hues have different effects on our mental performance levels. For instance, blues, violets, and greens are known to stimulate intelligence and creativity, while yellow and orange can help energize and increase motivation.
In contrast, brown, beige, and white can help relax, inspire, and harmonize the mind. With grey, you can create an atmosphere of neutrality and calmness. It can be used in combination with other colours to balance their impact and to create a more pleasant atmosphere.
9. Applying Principles of Color Theory
The principles of colour theory can be applied in our workspaces to help us stay more focused and productive. Colors should be chosen according to the purpose they’re going to serve. For example, if you’re going to use blues and greens as the main colour scheme, it’s important to use shades that are comfortable to your eyes.
You don’t want to strain your eyes and become distracted when you’re trying to focus. It’s also important to pay attention to the flow and the contrast.
You should carefully plan the main colour and its combination to create a balanced, inviting atmosphere.
10. Additional Tips for Making a Smart Space
Creating a smart space with colour is something to take seriously. Here are some tips to help you on your journey to increased productivity and better cognition. Organization is key.
Make sure you have all your supplies and tools within arm’s reach, so you don’t have to waste time and energy searching for them every time you need them. Allow yourself plenty of natural light even if it’s just for an hour a day.
It will energize you and give you a much-needed mental boost. Place motivational reminders on the walls or on your desk to keep your enthusiasm up and make sure you feel inspired at all times.
11. Additional Tips for Making a Smart Space
In addition to the colour of your environment, it’s also important to pay attention to temperature and light. Without proper temperature, your productivity and mental functionality can plummet.
Also, it’s important to choose your lighting carefully – both natural and artificial – to create a homelike atmosphere. It’s important to find the right balance between each type to make your environment comfortable and inviting. Of course, it’s essential to make sure your work area is clutter-free and pleasant to the eye.
A simple background with minimal design details will help keep your workspace organized and leave your mind free to concentrate on the more important tasks.
12. Applying Themes to Your Workspace
Rethinking your workspace and applying a theme to it can help you focus and become more productive. Themes can range from colors to design elements, plants, or inspirational images. For instance, you can apply a monochromatic colour palette and use only shades of pink, blue, or yellow, or you could create a tropical-themed office and give your space a unique atmosphere.
It’s also beneficial to choose a theme based on the type of work you’re doing and the type of mood you want to be in. For example, if you need to concentrate and increase focus, a black-and-white theme might be most suitable.
13. Building Relaxation into Your Workspace
Studying and being productive can be taxing, so it’s important to also have moments and areas in your workspace where you can relax. Such a space can help you recharge and relax during breaks, boosting your concentration and productivity. Ideally, you’d have a designated room or even just a corner devoted to relaxation.
This can be a place where you can go to take a break and come back energized and mentally prepared. Here, you can meditate and focus on your breathing, do some light stretching, or just allow yourself to relax and unwind.
It’s important to take regular breaks from studying and work. During such breaks, it’s beneficial to rest and give your mind and body some treats, such as listening to your favourite music, taking a walk, or having a cup of herbal tea.
Conclusion
It is clear that colours, even if unconsciously, have an effect on the functioning of our brains. Employing colours can help you create a space that encourages and stimulates productivity and mental clarity.
By knowing which colours to use and combining them properly, you can build a workspace that makes you smarter overall. And while this is a process that should be tailored to your preferences, it’s important to pay attention to the powerful influence of colour on your productivity and cognitivity.