Plants are not just good for the environment. They can also be quite beneficial and help nurture self care amongst people. Studies show that surrounding oneself with plants provides immediate and long-term stress relief. The benefits of having plants in our homes go beyond the aesthetics and can impact our mental and physical health in various ways — from lowering blood pressure to boosting mood, improving circulation, and bringing peace of mind. Take a look at the other benefits of plants below.
1. Houseplants can help you concentrate
If you're like me, you might have a hard time concentrating sometimes. Maybe it's because you're sitting in a fluorescent-lit office all day, but whatever the reason, it's not uncommon to find yourself growing distracted and daydreaming away from your work.
Houseplants can help. According to research published in the journal HortScience, indoor plants can actually improve concentration and focus while reducing stress levels.
In one study conducted at an office building in Japan, researchers found that workers in rooms with plants experienced less stress and improved productivity compared with those who had no plants nearby.
2. Plants help purify the air
Plants help purify the air, and you can grow them in your home or office for a healthy environment.
Plants have the ability to cleanse the air, and they can also absorb toxins. The leaves of houseplants filter pollutants in your home, including carbon monoxide and benzene, so they're effective at reducing health hazards.
3. Plants, too, can add moisture to the air
Plants can add moisture to the air by transpiration. The more plants in a room, the more moisture will be added to it. This is especially helpful for dry winter months.
Plants also help reduce airborne dust particles by making it harder for them to settle on surfaces like furniture, floors and walls. This means less dusting and vacuuming!
4. Taking care of plants can make you a more compassionate person
According to studies, ornamental plants have an impact on our compassion levels, and people who spend more time around plants are natural nurturers with more advanced social relationships. Consider this: You're showing empathy and compassion to a plant, a living but ultimately faceless being. That means you can connect with almost anything and anyone.
Plants are also a source of connection with nature and its rhythm. They help us live in harmony with nature and its cycles by making us aware of how we can harness the power of nature in order to improve our lives.
5. Plants provide psychological comfort
Plants provide psychological comfort by offering a sense of safety, predictability, and control, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
The researchers found that participants who were exposed to plants showed more signs of relaxation than those who were not exposed. This effect was most pronounced among people who had low self-esteem or few friends in their social network.
"Plants help create an environment that makes people feel better," said lead author Dr. Robin Soster, assistant professor of psychology at Kansas State University. "We know from previous studies that having fewer friends is associated with increased stress levels and poor health outcomes."
The findings suggest that using plants in interior design might be an effective way to reduce stress and improve health outcomes for people with low self-esteem or limited social networks.
That's it! Thanks for reading. I hope you found this blog post helpful. Have a great day/evening!
