As we spend more time at home these days, it’s important to make our living spaces fresh and enjoyable! The addition of house plants can help you create a healthier environment for your home. Having a mentally healthier space to live, work, and play in, can increase your standard of living in a multitude of ways. We have put together three health benefits of growing plants in your home, so you can continue to boost your mental well-being from the comfort of your couch!
Indoor plants may help reduce stress levels
Indoor plants tend to make you feel more calm, comfortable, and soothed. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that indoor gardening lowered participant’s stress response, as well as lowering their blood pressure. Even something as small as just repotting a plant, or wiping the dust off some leaves can have this soothing effect on you. Active interaction with indoor plants has been proven it can also reduce physiological and psychological stress. According to an environmental health expert Danica-Lea Larcombe, "It has also been established that plants confer positive changes in the brain's electrical activity, muscle tension and heart activity,". Some plants to look into if you are wanting to reduce your stress levels are lavender, snake plants, and basil. To that we say the more plants the better! After all, it is for your mental health.
Plants may sharpen your attention
As shocking as it sounds, there are actually some plants that can sharpen your memory and your attention skills. Some of our favourites for improving memory and sharpness are peppermint, rosemary, and blueberries! Peppermint is known for being good at improving your memory just by smelling it, where rosemary is best used if ingested in some delicious cooking. Rosemary has been used for years to boost the brain's power, but more recently it has been studied to help one’s long term memory and increase one’s alertness. Blueberries are popular for their ease of growing, but more recently they are becoming more and more popular for their ability to boost decision making power in the brain. Blueberries can improve memory and reasoning abilities, so growing these in your edible garden is a must!
Plants may boost your productivity
Having plants around the office isn’t just a nice way to decorate, it can actually increase your productivity! A study in the UK found that productivity boosted 15% when plants and greenery were in the workspace. Adding a small potted plant to your desk is a great way to boost your focus and attention. A second study, taken place in the US, found that 10% of staff sick days could be traced back to lack of natural light or greenery in the workspace. Nature in the workspace can not only boost productivity, but also moods and energy levels. In an analysis of 10 UK studies, it can be noted that every single study saw an increase in mood when greenery was present. It also found that being around nature greatly increased self esteem levels in younger people. All signs point to nature in the workplace! What plant are you going to add to your desk?
We don’t need too many extra reasons to pick up an additional plant, but these health benefits have us running to our nearest plant shop! Take some time this weekend and head over to your local greenhouse. You won’t regret it!
Not sold yet? Here are a few extra resources to help convince you!
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