Mental Health Starts at Home: 3 Science-Backed Ways to Reduce Stress, Eat Well, and Feel Better

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and it’s the perfect time to reset, refocus, and reprioritize your emotional well-being, especially when considering ways to care for your mental health at home. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or out of sync lately, you’re not alone. The fast pace of modern life can chip away at even the most grounded among us.

Here’s the good news: science shows that small, intentional changes to your home environment and daily habits can make a big impact on your mental health. As a nurse practitioner and food-as-medicine researcher, I’ve seen how aligning your physical space and nutritional choices with emotional well-being can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more in control.

3 Evidence-Based Tips for Better Mental Health at Home

1. Create a Dedicated Calm Corner:
   According to the Journal of Environmental Psychology, having a specific space for relaxation helps train your brain to shift out of stress mode.
   • Choose a cozy chair, add soft lighting, calming colors, and sensory comforts like a throw blanket or your favorite candle. Just five minutes in this sanctuary can help lower cortisol levels and support emotional regulation.
2. Eat Foods That Support Brain Health:
   Nutrition directly impacts your mood and brain function. Harvard research highlights how omega-3-rich foods like salmon and chia seeds reduce anxiety.
   • Leafy greens high in magnesium help calm the nervous system.
   • Fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi support gut health—which influences mental health.
   • And berries? They fight inflammation and oxidative stress linked to depression and cognitive decline.
3. Declutter with a Personalized Plan:
   A 2009 study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that clutter increases cortisol and makes it harder to relax.
   • Start small and use Enneagram-based strategies to declutter in a way that feels natural to your personality. Personalized approaches reduce decision fatigue and make it easier to sustain progress over time.

Ready to Feel Better, Starting at Home?

Join me for a calming, community-centered evening designed to help you put these tips into action.

🗓️ Workshop: Mindful Home Reset — 3 Steps to Boost Your Emotional Health
📅 Date: Friday, May 30th
⏰ Time: 12-1 PM EST

You’ll learn:

• How to make small design changes that support mental clarity and calm
• Which foods regulate mood and how to incorporate them easily
• Enneagram-informed approaches to create and maintain a stress-reducing space

Whether you’re a busy caregiver, creative professional, or simply craving a fresh start, this workshop is designed to meet you where you are.

👉 [Learn More About the Workshop Here]

Ready to dive into other wellness topics? Read more on my blog here!