Health, Happiness and Houseplants
4 minute read
Indoor plants can benefit your mental health through mood boosting and increased productivity
Your physical health can also improve through air purification, natural remedies, and more restful sleep
You can purchase houseplants from Plant Collective, an environmentally-friendly brand partnered with Ecodrive
Did you know that the average American spends less than 8 percent of their time outdoors? Spending time in nature has been linked to better mental and physical health. However, we all have responsibilities that can make spending a majority of your time indoors unavoidable. Between work, taking care of children, and completing household chores, many people may not have much time left to experience the great outdoors. That’s where houseplants come in.
Bringing the outdoors in using houseplants can improve both your mental and physical health. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the many benefits of indoor plants.
Air purification
Mood boosting
Increased productivity
Natural remedies
Restful sleep
Air purification
In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, indoor plants can capture many volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds can be found in common household items including plastics, fabrics, and cosmetics. Houseplants can absorb VOCs and other indoor air pollution, like ozone, through the pores on their leaves. Indoor air pollutants have been linked to asthma, nausea, cancer, and respiratory illness, but one study found that houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air pollutants in 24 hours.
Mood boosting
The aesthetic beauty of houseplants alone can improve your mood, as can the act of planting and caring for them throughout the day. There’s also evidence to suggest that the “friendly” bacteria found in potting soil can give your mental health a boost. In one study, when researchers exposed rats to this bacteria, they observed behavioral changes similar to the effects of antidepressants. The bacteria activates a group of neurons in the brain that produces serotonin. Increasing levels of serotonin in the brain is linked to lessening depression. So getting your hands dirty might actually make you happier!
“Bringing the outdoors in using houseplants can improve both your mental and physical health"
Image by Unsplash
Increased productivity
The presence of houseplants has been linked to a 15 percent increase in productivity and concentration. Additionally, employees working in an office with indoor plants reported more workplace satisfaction. One study found that lack of nature and natural lighting was responsible for ten percent of employee sick days.
Natural remedies
Many plants can be used as natural remedies to common ailments. For example, Aloe Vera can be used to treat burns, improve digestion, and clear acne. Having your own Aloe plant allows you to have access to its medicinal properties, straight from the source. Many herbs also have medicinal properties, like mint, which can soothe upset stomachs and calm anxiety.
Restful sleep
Most plants produce oxygen during the day when undergoing photosynthesis. However, when photosynthesis stops, these plants can release carbon dioxide instead. Fortunately, many plants -- like orchids, succulents, snake plants, and bromeliads -- do the opposite, making them the perfect addition to your bedroom. Plants that release oxygen at night can improve the quality of your sleep. So keep those plants in the bedroom and use other indoor plants to spruce up your workspace, living room and kitchen.
If you’d like to get the benefits of houseplants, while also planting climate change-fighting trees, you should check out Plant Collective. It’s a one-stop-shop for beautiful indoor plants, and they partner with Ecodrive to plant one tree for every order! With Ecodrive, Plant Collective offsets the carbon emissions created during the shipping process by planting mangrove trees in Madagascar. They even have a convenient list of plants that are great air-purifiers to get you started on your houseplant collection. Houseplants can be a wonderful addition to your home or office, so let’s get planting!
