How Ocean Art Can Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety in the Workplace
Nearly all of us will have experienced stress or anxiety at one time or another in our lives. Whether personal or work-related, these can be unpleasant and unhelpful emotions when trying to be present and productive in the workplace.
Feelings of stress and anxiety can actually impact our ability to react rationally to situations, and also make day-to-day activities more difficult. However, with the help of ocean art stress and anxiety can be reduced in favour of creating a calm, creative and focused environment.
It may be obvious to say, but experiencing stress and anxiety is never pleasant. But did you know that one of the biggest factors which can negatively impact our mental health is actually our environment?
It’s said that if our surrounding space is not calming or comfortable, it can heighten feelings of stress to the point where these emotions or sensations become completely overwhelming. Obviously, this will not be conducive to a welcoming, constructive or productive work environment.
Luckily, there are things we can do to create a more tranquil and easy workplace for ourselves. One of the most effective ways to do this is through the decor and aesthetic of a room or workspace, such as good lighting, colour choices and, of course, calming wall artwork.
Finding calming prints for your office can be a great start to battling those weekday bouts of anxiety. And what better artwork to create a soothing environment than ocean photography?
How art can positively impact our mental health
For hundreds of years, art has been a form of expression, sharing vision and inspiration. Studies have shown links between certain colours or types of images and positive mental health effects.
Surrounding yourself with images of loved ones, natural scenes, or just your favourite things can make you feel more at home in a space. By bringing artwork and photography of your loved ones, most cherished memories, or indeed your favourite things into your workplace, this can help to emulate the way you feel about these things; soothed, supported and secure in your place in the world.
Artwork is good for the soul. It can remind us of our place in the world, that the stresses or anxieties we feel are a single drop in the immense ocean of life. And, sometimes, putting our pressures into this context can actually help us to realise that they are much more manageable than we first imagined.
Indeed, wall art can offer a myriad emotional benefits. It can inspire, uplift and enlighten; it can remind us of happier moments in our lives, or spark our imagination for future adventures.
Just take Blue Dream as an example. The ethereal interplay between light and water, the unhurried pace of this dolphin pod meandering through the ocean, and the soothing shades of blue in the background are all qualities that combine to transport any viewer in a workplace to a more restful, meditative mental space.
The effect of ocean art on stress and anxiety reduction
It has often been found that one of the most calming and grounding forms of imagery to have displayed in the workplace is ocean art.
Ocean art can reduce stress by bringing an element of the natural world into an often noisy and fast-paced work environment. Nature doesn’t follow schedules or deadlines, it simply exists and goes with the flow, an attitude which humans should often take note of. Natural images can remind us to slow down, take a breath, and to not worry about things that are out of our control. What will be will be, and we can only do the best we can.
Ocean life is especially tranquil. Blue is a colour frequently found in the natural world - the sea, the sky, in flowers and animals - which makes it unsurprising, then, that over time it has developed the reputation of being the most serene and calming colour.
The constant flow and movement of water, in particular, can calm our internal rhythms. And the creatures that inhabit the water likewise demonstrate an ease and acceptance of life that reminds us to pause and reflect; they follow their own natural rhythms, floating with the tide, letting their instincts guide them to where they need to be.
All these things make calming ocean wall art a firm favourite when it comes to workplace decor. Ocean art helps to reduce anxiety and softens the stresses of human life, reminding us that moments of calm and tranquillity are just as vital as the daily hustle.
Where can I find ocean art?
My mission through Pure Underwater Imaging is to bring ethereal images of our amazing marine life and coral reefs into our terrestrial spaces.
I have had the wonderful opportunity to get close to some of the ocean’s most beautiful creatures and reef environments, capturing them in their natural habitat. All in the hopes of inspiring others and offering a glimpse into this amazing world that deserves respect and conservation.
There’s a whole range of creatures, colours and themes for you to discover. With everything from dolphins and sharks to turtles and whales - available in various sizes and styles to suit your workspace.
If you’re interested in selecting a print or even multiple prints for your workspace, I’m always more than happy to offer my expertise in what colours and sizes will best suit your office. Book in for a complimentary consultation and pick a day and time that suits you.
In the meantime, here’s to releasing stress and anxiety, and inviting feelings of peace, calm and focus into our everyday spaces.
