Sunday, 15 March 2009

• Five Colors That Help Boost Your Mood

  Feeling unhappy? Need to relax? Here are five colors that can help pull you out of a slump, and make you motivated and happy just by looking at them!
  

  
  Energizing
  Red and Purple
  
  Red is often associated with anger because of its energy causing characteristics. Being exposed to large quantities of red and purple (violet) causes you to pump out adrenaline, which raises your energy level and improves your mood. Small amounts of these colors have the same, just lower, effects, too. One color-research test showed that when evenly-matched Olympic athletes were given red or blue shirts to wear while they raced each other, the ones wearing red won more often than the ones wearing blue. A downside, however, is that along with giving you a boost of energy, these colors also boost appetite. McDonald's knew what they were doing when they chose red and yellow to be their "mascot" colors.
  
  Happiness
  Yellow
  
  Yellow reminds us of the sun, and being in the sunlight lifts our moods. Yellow also promotes concentration, and speeds up metabolism (though there seems to be little evidence as to why). We produce more serotonin in a yellow room than we do in a room painted brown. Though yellow is considered an optimistic color, studies have shown that babies will cry more often in a yellow room than in a room painted any other color. It is the most intense color for the eye to intake, and overuse tends to be too overwhelming for young eyes to handle. Just the right amount, however, can put a smile on your face.
  
  Calming
  Blue and Green
  
  Blue is the classic relaxing color; it is the hue of the sky on a clear day and water at its most serene state. Unlike red, blue causes us to produce calming chemicals. Although blue is so laid-back, studies have shown that people are more productive in a blue room; weight-lifters in a gym painted blue were able to lift more weight for longer than they were able to in a white gym. Green, in muted tones, has the same effect. This is why waiting rooms for guests on televisions shows wait in the "Green Room" so they can be relaxed before speaking in front of an audience. In addition to relaxation, green also improves vision since it is the easiest color for your eyes to intake, unlike yellow. Blue is relaxing, but when surrounded by dark blue walls, it loses this characteristic and promotes depression. The downside to green? Fashion designers claim (no joke) wearing green causes bad luck. Tell that to the Irish.
  
  Do you think colors really do have an effect on mood? Have you ever tried using colors to change how you were feeling?
  
  Ms. Avocado
  
  
  
  
  

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