FOR more than a decade, I have used color to positively affect my mood. Whether choosing the color of pens or the shirt I wear on this day or that, I always “wear my desired mood on my sleeve.”
Later on, I learned about color therapy. From the article The Mood-Boosting Benefits of Color Therapy by Simone M. Scully, reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH, on Healthline.com: “Also known as chromotherapy, color therapy is based on the idea that color and colored lights can help treat physical or mental health.
According to this idea, they cause subtle changes in our moods and biology.” It further states that today, it is largely seen as complimentary or alternative to medicine therapy. Arttherapyblog.com shares the common psychological effects of various colors.
Below are some of them:
- WHITE: purity, innocence, cleanliness, sense of space, neutrality, mourning
- BLACK: authority, power, strength, evil, intelligence, thinning /slimming, death or mourning
- RED: love, romance, gentle, warmth, comfort, energy, excitement, intensity, life, blood
- ORANGE: happy, energetic, excitement, enthusiasm, warmth, wealth, prosperity, sophistication, change, stimulation
- YELLOW: happiness, laughter, cheery, warmth, optimism, hunger, intensity, frustration, anger, attention-getting
- GREEN: natural, cool, growth, money, health, envy, tranquility, harmony, calmness, fertility
- BLUE: calmness, serenity, cold, uncaring, wisdom, loyalty, truth, focused, unappetizing
- PURPLE: royalty, wealth, sophistication, wisdom, exotic, spiritual, prosperity, respect, mystery
- PINK: romance, love, gentle, calming, agitation
- BROWN: reliability, stability, friendship, sadness, warmth, comfort, security
I am glad that top insurer AXA uses the science of color as it launches an Asia-wide campaign encouraging everyone to “Make Time For Me Time.” This is in line with normalizing the importance of making time for oneself because health care starts with self-care.
The campaign was inspired by the needs of Asia’s sandwich generation who are caught between caring for their elderly parents and their children, meaning they find themselves spending their waking hours caring for others.
When they do find a few minutes to devote to themselves, they can often feel guilty or ashamed—especially if it means telling someone “no.”
This insight reflects AXA’s continued focus on promoting positive mind health both in and out of the workplace. This includes raising awareness of its importance to overall health and breaking down stigma through initiatives, like its annual Mind Health and Wellbeing Study, as well as equipping individuals with the tools to improve their own mental well-being, such as through its recent Fit to Flourish series that has provided a path to developing the 10 skills that underpin good mental health.
“For the sandwich generation in Asia, cultural expectations mean it is normal to spend your waking hours caring for others, whether at home or at work. Yet AXA’s own research and experience in serving our customers shows that self-care is critical to well-being and the more you care for yourself, the more you can care for others,” says Gordon Watson, CEO of AXA Asia and Africa.
“We therefore want to normalize the importance of taking time out for yourself, free from guilt, as a necessary part of what it means to be well.” For a better understanding, check out youtu.be/ 0YrZm0CQl7U.
The new integrated campaign is steeped in the science of color: soft blues help with mental fatigue, red is associated with energy and improving blood circulation, and yellows create a sense of warmth.
To bring this to life, AXA has also collaborated with renowned artist Yoshirotten to create an “Art Care Series.” This is a specially created series of eye, breathing and stretching exercises that aim to soothe the body and mind using the science of shape, color and sound. Ranging from 30 seconds to 15 minutes in length, the outdoor activations will be placed in high-traffic areas to remind people to take time out for themselves. Families and indviduals can watch Art Care Eye and Breathing at youtu.be/T39kZcLCpZ0 and youtu.be/boCUlQWoBaU, respectively.
