Believe it or not, colors have an extremely large subconscious impact on our emotions and perception in our daily lives. Understanding how certain colors affect us is important as it allows one to make wise and conscious decisions regarding what colors they surround themselves with. As more and more people spend more and more time in front of their computers it is important to make sure that you are providing yourself with a virtual environment that is beneficial to your mind set. Ensuring that you have things such as a proper screen saver is just as important as the color of your computer room walls in maintaining your desired feelings in that environment. Certain colors, such as red or yellow elicit extremely different responses than colors such as blue or pink. Knowing these differences and acting upon that knowledge to creat an ideal environment is an a great first step in helping yourself be happy and productive.

Here are some distiguishing color traits:

Blue is a color that:

• Produces measurable amounts of tranquilizing hormones.
• Slows the pulse rate and lowers body temperature.
• Depresses the appetite, which is why you seldom see it used by restaurants.
• Helps people be more productive.
• Has a high retentive power.

Green is a color that:

• Is perceived as a spacious color; making small areas appear larger.
• Is relaxing, refreshing and calming, which is why TV uses green rooms for guest waiting areas.
• Is used to imply high quality.
• Is the easiest color on the eye and can help improve vision.
• In dark shades is masculine and implies wealth.

Black is a color that:

• Represents sexuality, sophistication, formality, and wealth.
• Denotes elegance, mystery, and style.
• Causes physical fear in some humans while stimulating anger in others.
• Implies submission, which is why priests and nuns wear it (to indicate their submission to God).
• Is the color of remorse, mourning, and death.

And of course there are more. But Maintaining a computer workspace that facilitates your ends and creates your desired feelings can take place outside of your computer as well. Keeping files with labels is a great way to stay organized and therefore, feel calmer. Investing in a label printer for for this purpose is a fantastic idea- one that is even better if your labels are color coded (with complimenting colors of course). There is no limit to how far you can take this and whether your color planning is on your computer or in your bedroom, the effects of deciding how you want to feel in certain environments can be impressive and long lasting.