What makes for a Great Day?

Summary

While the concept of what constitutes a great day is unique to the individual, research suggests that aligning personal goals with external environments can help create harmonious life experiences. We can build a more fulfilling day by prioritising activities and experiences that bring joy, satisfaction, and better connections. This includes designing spaces that help us perform our preferred activities and enhance both our personal and social experiences.

Key Takeaways

What Makes a Great Day: An Overview

The crux of a great day lies in the ability to align personal goals with our external environment. We do this by prioritising and engaging in activities that bring joy, satisfaction, and better connections with others.

While the concept of what makes a great day will be unique to the individual, common factors are shown to help foster a positive mindset that promotes productivity and relaxation while also enhancing personal growth.

Optimising Daily Life Tasks

We have all heard the phrase, “Begin as you mean to go on.” A positive mindset starts from the moment you wake up, helping you visualise and set the tone for the day ahead. From physical activity and a healthy breakfast to meditation and mindfulness, laying the foundation for a consistent daily routine is proven to help invigorate the body and improve overall well-being.

How we choose to operate day-to-day can have a lasting impact on both physical and mental well-being. Establishing a consistent routine and setting healthy boundaries around screen time, exercise, and diet can help enhance overall health and general satisfaction with life.

Environmental Factors

The environment in which we live and work can greatly impact both our physical and mental well-being. Going outside and experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural environment can help improve our focus and lead to increased performance. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that individuals who spent time in green spaces reported a 12% increase in overall well-being and a 15% reduction in stress levels.

Additionally, exposure to natural environments has been linked to enhanced cognitive function and creativity, according to research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Great Design for a Great Day

Within the design world, something as simple as colour can impact the quality of your day. While red is the most effective for enhancing our attention to detail, blue is the best for boosting our creative thinking.

A 2017 study published in the Journal of Environmental Design revealed that spaces designed with natural elements, such as indoor plants and natural light, improved occupants’ mood and productivity by 15%.

Lighting is also an important factor. Exposure to natural vs. artificial lighting can affect several of our metabolic functions including sleep patterns, metabolism, hormone production, and other physiological processes critical to human health.

Space for Connection

A great day includes connecting with people who share common interests, purpose, and goals. Our ability to form meaningful connections can lead to a decrease in levels of anxiety, loneliness, and isolation while also improving creativity, empathy, and self-esteem.

Environments that encourage social interaction, such as open-plan layouts and communal areas, have been shown to boost feelings of community and reduce feelings of isolation, according to research from The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Thoughtful design and attention to detail can enhance our ability to make connections where community is at the heart of great experiences. This could include access to interest-based groups, gaming rooms, lounges, and outdoor spaces.

Enhancing Personal Fulfilment

Communities developed with research-based principles, related to environmental and social factors, can lead to greater self-actualisation. They can enable us to establish practices of self-care and mindfulness, improving our productivity and overall satisfaction with life.

Meaningful design, inspired by nature, can help create private spaces for reflection and restoration, while incorporating elements of leisure, play, and self-care can lead to greater personal fulfilment and relaxation throughout the day.

Conclusion

Routines and rituals play a crucial role in shaping our daily experiences. The environment in which we live has a major impact on our overall satisfaction with life. Therefore it is vital to consider elements that inspire joy, productivity, and meaningful connections.