Feeling Stressed? Science Says You Should Try Wearing Green

Looking to lower your anxiety without meditating on a mountaintop or adopting another houseplant? You might just need to rethink your wardrobe. According to color psychology experts, the simple act of wearing green could give your mood a serious boost.

While color psychology doesn’t have the deepest stack of peer-reviewed studies behind it, plenty of artists, designers, and therapists agree that color affects how we feel. And green, in particular, might be your new go-to.

“Green is the psychological primary color that balances the others—red, yellow, and blue,” one expert explained. “If you’re too stressed, it calms you. Feeling low? It picks you up.”

Consider it the yoga teacher of colors.

There’s real science to back it up, too. Studies have shown that just being around the color green—say, walking past a park or looking at houseplants—can reduce stress levels, lower your blood pressure, and even ease anxiety. So it makes sense that wearing green might create a similar effect, kind of like tricking your brain into thinking it’s on a nature hike.

Another psychologist (who also happens to be a Reiki master, so you know they’re serious about good vibes) chimed in: “Green tends to be soothing. So wearing it may make you feel more relaxed and less anxious.”

So if you’re spiraling about deadlines, dinner plans, or the general state of the world, maybe start small: grab a green sweater, or throw on that minty T-shirt that’s been hiding in your drawer. It might not solve everything, but it could make your day a little easier to handle.

This should work for everyone except New York Jets fans.