Healing is a process that can only take place from within ourselves, but this process can be triggered and supported by people and actions outside us. Because of this, there have been studies of healing environments and the healing qualities of the environment.
The characteristic that most invades our lives, that causes stress and anxiety, is noise. Noise is an environmental pollutant and harmful to human health. We live in a noisy world and it affects us whether we are conscious of it or not. It has a physiological effect on us mentally and produces body fatigue. Street noise causes heart distress. Lower levels of noise can interfere with sleep, digestion, and thought. We have become so conditioned to low-level noise that we hardly notice it at all. However, we know it causes tension due to the great relief we feel when it suddenly stops.
There are different techniques that some psychologists and designers have come with to deal with this noise problem. Suggestions such as building distance (finding a place to build away from noisy areas) and emphasizing noise absorption (of walls, etc.) have been implemented. Interestingly, studies have shown that having many windows so that employees can actually see the noise makes the situation less stressful. Indoor noise can be reduced by altering room shapes, using sound absorbing materials, and controlling noise at its source.
Other environmental factors that affect our health include light, colors, and smell. Different consulting firms are dedicated to improving safety and health factors in the workplace. Often, a firm will be hired to go into a company to teach stress management techniques, training techniques, nutrition, communication, and other issues that affect us every day in ways linked to our health.
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