Home sweet home - this phrase arouses all sorts of images and feelings. The place you call home might be a house, an apartment, a tent or any of a countless variety of places. But did you know that the condition of your living space can have an impact on your emotions and even on your mental health? By controlling some of these variables, you can help to achieve a more peaceful life.

It goes without saying that the lighting in your room or in your house can affect your mood. If the lighting is too weak, it can have a negative effect on your emotions, and your mood may end up matching the dark atmosphere. Artificial light may not do the trick, however. It is better to open your curtains because natural sunlight makes your whole day brighter.

You have to do more than just remove poisonous substances from your home. To ensure good mental health, surround yourself with nature. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the presence of green plants in your home can improve your mood.

Let’s all admit it: We have trouble keeping our space clean. Somehow stuff just tends to pile up. But this problem involves more than just aesthetics (美感). It doesn’t just look terrible: it makes you feel terrible. A cluttered room both reveals stress and causes stress. Disorder can indicate that you’re too busy to keep things tidy, but then looking at a mess can lead to more stress. Straightening up doesn’t have to take all day - just take 10 or 15 minutes and put a few things away. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel.

The color palette (用色风格) of your environment does more than passively reflect your color preferences. It also has an active influence on your mood and even your mental health. Choosing colors that create a calm atmosphere can be a type of therapy.

The sky is the limit to ways you can make your environment beneficial to good mental health. You could put up photos of your family and friends or post encouraging notes from people that show how much they love you. Just remember: Your surroundings can make your “home sweet home” even sweeter.

Picture this: you’re out to dinner with a friend who you know makes a lot more money than you do. When you open the menu, your heart sinks. There’s not a dish in sight that is less than $35, and even a soup is going to run you $18. You probably vow (发誓) to stick to dollar pizza slices the rest of the month to balance out this dinner. However, this time, what if you just turned to your friend, closed the menu, and said, “Sorry, I have to be honest. I can’t afford this. Let’s go somewhere else?” That’s the idea behind “loud budgeting”, a trend that could not only relieve you of the financial burden, but help you deal with these sorts of stressful situations both mentally and emotionally.

The term was first introduced by TikTok (抖音) comedian Lukas Battle. Battle explained his concept in an interview: simply put, loud budgeting is being honest about what you do and don’t want to spend money on.

It’s not just a TikTok thing though. Even those in the financial services industry are on board with the trend. Nikolina Cuca, a financial advisor, says that she’s seen social media add pressure to her clients, causing them to spend beyond their means on luxury items. “There should be no shame about trying to match your spending to your means. This trend helps young people moderate spending by normalizing the idea of living within budgets.”

Beyond just saving money, loud budgeting is also bringing people closer. Honest money talks lead to greater respect among friends and family. By openly discussing money goals, people are creating stronger bonds based on mutual understanding for each other’s financial situations.

As more people adopt this approach, it is likely to stay a big part of how we handle money in the future.