With the mounting concerns on climate change, the call for more sustainable actions has only intensified as of late. On an international level, policies to reach net zero emissions by 2050 have already been introduced and are strongly supported by world leaders. Financial support is also extended to help vulnerable countries adapt to measures addressing global warming. On a personal scale, more people are also willing to adopt an eco-centric lifestyle. One simple way to do this is to bring your garden into your home. Here are a few reasons why doing that can be a life-changing decision.
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Naturally Purify Your Indoor Air
Research has shown that plants have a positive effect on health, and one of the key benefits of bringing houseplants into your home is that they can be an effective air purifier. These days when remote work has become commonplace, many of us spend around 90% of our time indoors. However, with the increase in indoor air pollutants, mostly from personal care products and even household cleaners, we are also more likely to experience health issues while we’re at home. Fortunately, indoor plants can help lower these chances. Studies show that plants can reduce the concentration of indoor air pollutants by 75%. As such, not only do plants make your home look more vibrant, but they also make it a safer place for your health.
Improve Your Overall Well Being
Aside from purifying your indoor air, plants also have significant benefits on your overall well-being. Studies show that caring for indoor plants suppresses your sympathetic nervous system activity and your diastolic blood pressure. This, in turn, results in lowering your psychological and physiological stress. A similar study also found that exposure to plants improves your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels. This is because plants can relax your body and your mind, thus increasing your sense of well-being. Even among the elderly population, a single session in a Japanese garden is shown to improve short-term memory.
Boost Your Productivity
Finally, for those who work at home, indoor plants bring an added benefit. When your workspace has a bit of greenery, you are bound to become more productive. One way that plants do this is by reducing noise levels since live plants can effectively block out unnecessary sounds. Thus, studies show that those working in an environment that has plants increased their productivity by 15%.
Conversely, in the US, almost 10% of sick days could be attributed to a lack of nature and natural light in the office. Not only do you become more productive, but working around greenery also makes you more creative. Scientists call this the “green effect.” The color green signals physical and psychological growth, so it motivates people to strive for improvement and creativity.
Bringing plants into your home makes your living space more vibrant. However, the benefits of indoor plants do not stop at aesthetics. Indoor plants not only make your home eco-friendlier by reducing indoor pollution, but they also make you a healthier and happier individual.
