Ah, January. The month of post-Christmas blues; the time when people look to recharge themselves after the busy festive period.
The comedown from Christmas, as well as the general rubbish weather and dark nights, can take a great mental and physical toll on many of us. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in particular, a mental health condition linked to symptoms of depression caused by dark days and miserable weather, is one that affects many, especially during the winter months like January.
There are, of course, many options to consider when aiming to improve our physical and mental wellbeing; some include exercise, eating and drinking the right foods and drinks, and speaking to family members, friends, or even professionals, to name just a few. But did you know that investing in houseplants in your home and office can also support your physical and mental health?
The psychological benefits do vary, but two major ones are improved mood and reduced stress levels. Investing in houseplants helps you release happy chemicals. For those in particular who suffer from anxiety and/or depression, investing time in horticultural therapy helps to release endorphins in your brain. Having plants in the office has also proven to increase productivity; one study showed that students in a lab worked faster and with less stress when plants were situated nearby. Interestingly, interviews with different workers at different companies in both the US and India concluded that employees experienced greater job satisfaction and willingness to commit to the company after being surrounded by plants. Your indoor space being populated by houseplants also enables you to feel more comfortable and relaxed, as looking after houseplants helps lower your stress response, helping you to manage your blood pressure and heart rate better.
Horticultural therapy can help release endorphins in your brain, which is hugely beneficial to those suffering from anxiety and/or depression.
In relation to the physical benefits of having an indoor garden, there are a whole multitude. For one, indoor plants can help reduce fatigue and even headaches. Poor air quality is the cause of physical symptoms like dizziness and fatigue, which is the result of furniture and carpet that make up our interior space, as well as cleaning products we use which unfortunately contaminate the fresh air. Houseplants serve as a type of purifier, filtering out all the bad chemicals (popular houseplants for combating this are the spider plant or ficus tree).
For those recovering from physical illness, houseplants can help move things along quicker. Hospital patients, for example, experience lower ratings of pain, fatigue, and anxiety when they have plants in their rooms. Sickness rates, according to researchers, fall more than sixty percent when houseplants are placed near people. For all the asthma folk out there, being surrounded by houseplants can also help you with your breathing. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and then release oxygen, thereby increasing the oxygen levels around you.
Houseplants help to reduce sickness rates by 60%, according to researchers.
Your physical and mental wellbeing, no matter what day, month is extremely important. Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre is happy to provide you with a wide selection of unique houseplants. We've just received another massive houseplant order! From the more common to the more rare, you'll be sure to find the perfect green friend to help you thrive physically and mentally this winter.
Our houseplant range is forever expanding; we've just received another huge order!
We wish you all the very best!
Please be aware that horticultural therapy is not the only solution to mental and physical health crises. Do consult a doctor/professional if needed.
Specifically, if you or a loved one are experiencing any sort of mental health issue, then please visit NHS's mental health support line at: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/. Here you will find all the contact details you need to get the right advice to help you manage your condition. Also contact your doctor.
Websites consulted
Author(s) Anonymous, 'What does Blue Monday mean for our mental health?', Mental Health Foundation, 6 January, 2021, <https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/what-does-blue-monday-mean-our-mental-health> [Accessed January 5 2022].
Author(s) Anonymous, 'Houseplants: to support human health', RHS, <https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/houseplants/for-human-health> [Accessed January 5 2022].
Author(s) Anonymous, 'How Houseplants Improve Health and Wellbeing', Westland, 6 March, 2018, <https://www.gardenhealth.com/advice/indoor-growing/how-houseplants-improve-health-wellbeing> [Accessed January 5 2022].
Rebecca Joy Stanborough, 'A Hobby for All Seasons: 7 Science-Backed Benefits of Indoor Plants', Healthline, 18 September, 2020, <https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-home-guide/benefits-of-indoor-plants> [Accessed January 5 2022].