For some people, houseplants are like furniture or paintings. They’re something to decorate your flat or home, but they serve no other purpose. Did you know, though, that just having a few plants around the house can make a huge difference to your physical and mental health, and even improve your performance at work. In this blog, we’re going to tell you a few reasons why you should get a houseplant. And no, it’s not just because they’re pretty.
Houseplants improve your mood
Feeling blue? It’s no surprise. This coming Monday (17 January) is, statistically, the most depressing time of year. It’s even called “Blue Monday”. The holidays are over, but we’re still a long way from the sunshine of spring. Luckily, houseplants have been proven to improve your mood, as well as reducing anxiety and stress. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and add oxygen. Scientists have shown that environments rich in oxygen improve your mood, energy, and mental focus.
Houseplants improve your health
And it’s not just your mental health that will get a boost from having plants around you. Your physical health will benefit too. Houseplants absorb formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and other nasty, man-made chemicals that can pollute our air. Having clean air is, obviously, good for your lungs and good for your breathing. And what about allergies? Most people suffer badly from allergies and spend all their time indoors sneezing. A study from Virginia Tech, a university in the USA, has discovered that having houseplants can reduce the amount of dust in your home by 20%. Sneeze no more!
Houseplants boost your productivity at work
Better focus, decreased stress, and improved health? With all these benefits, of course offices are starting to look more like greenhouses or jungles. Studies have found that people who were allowed to have plants in their office greatly improved their efficiency and productivity at work.
So with all these benefits, why not get a fern or aloe vera for your home? Add some nature and a splash of colour to your home, while improving your physical and mental health at the same time.
For more tips to help you through Blue Monday, check out our blog about apps to help with your mental health, ways to de-stress, or about mental health awareness.