A lot of people picked up new hobbies this past year when we were all stuck at home because of the lockdown. Some people tried making bread and even new products such as Dalgona coffee, while other people picked up other hobbies like gardening.
If you go online, you can see a lot of posts of people redecorating their homes and apartments with plants. These images are all very aesthetically pleasing, yes, but you don’t have to go that far if you want to get started on this hobby. Filling up every nook and cranny of your home with beautiful green plants may seem like a great idea but taking care of them is no joke. Starting with a plant before branching out will be a great way to test the waters.
But did you know that raising plants can do more than just make your space look nice and homey? Here are some benefits to raising plants that might just be the nudge you need to try your hand in seeing if you have a green thumb.
Don’t stress the green stuff
During the past year of lockdown, we all had to adjust to having our work and school life come home with us. No longer was there a clear delineation between our professional lives and our personal lives.
There are plenty of methods one can use to lower their stress levels and achieve a calmer mind—exercise is one—but did you know that having plants in your environment can achieve a similar effect?
This new work from home situation no doubt was stressful for a lot of people, finding it difficult to settle down when being at home didn’t immediately mean resting anymore.
A study published by Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that having plants in one’s home or office can make a person feel more comfortable and less stressed. It also found that indoor gardening tasks can lower both physiological and psychological stress.
For people with symptoms of mental illness, on the other hand, indoor gardening was found to be capable of helping increase feelings of well-being for those with anxiety or depression in a separate study.
Increase your productivity and creativity
Monitoring our stress levels is a good habit to have, especially when navigating our new normal. However, working from home also means adjusting to a new environment and learning to adapt your work habits for your home life amid possible distractions.
It can be very difficult to be productive when our minds are already very used to relaxing or doing something else in our new workspace. But did you know that studies have shown that having plants in the workplace can increase both productivity and creativity?
If you have your home workplace setup, why not try incorporating a potted plant somewhere close to help boost your productivity levels? A separate study also found that people with more plants in their workplace took fewer sick leaves and were shown to be more productive. Maybe after this pandemic is over, you can even bring your potted plant to your work desk for that added boost!
Pretty, fun, and happy
Finally, we can’t discount how plants really spruce up and personalize any space. Especially now when we’re in our homes more, it can’t hurt to personalize and brighten up our living spaces by adding more color to our homes.
Growing plants is challenging but also very fulfilling. Having something near you that’s alive and is thriving because of your care can bring happiness and joy—something that we all deserve in these times.