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Brighten Your Mood With Indoor Plants

May 4th, 2020

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“A beautiful plant is like having a friend around the house.” - Beth Ditto

A woman enjoying her houseplants

Using Nature to Help Our Daily Mood

As humans, our moods can fluctuate from day to day and even hour to hour. There are times that we will feel good and be happy, while there are other times, we will experience sadness and will not be doing quite as well as we would like. It is a good idea to be prepared for times when we may have a sad or dull mood with things that can help us feel better and brighten our mood.

It can also be beneficial to have things in place that can help us sustain a good mood, to keep one feeling good and keep positive vibes in one’s life. One such mechanism for doing this is experiencing nature.

What Defines “Nature”?

Nature is anything that comes from the outside, or the great outdoors, as some call it. Many times, when we think of nature, we think of parks, forests, and the beach. Nature often holds the connotation of being out in the middle of the wilderness with no other people around.

However, there is more to nature than just the wilderness. Fresh air could be considered part of nature. Plants are part of nature as well. In order to experience nature from inside, such as inside one’s home or one’s office they work at, many people will bring plants into these areas. There are several aspects of having plants inside one’s home or office that can bring benefits to one’s mood and well-being.

Relaxation

One of the biggest benefits of having plants indoors is that they can provide a sense of relaxation. It can be relaxing to have a connection to nature inside and nearby. Indoor plants can bring colors, such as greens, reds, oranges, and other colors that can be relaxing and peaceful.

A bedroom with many lush indoor plants

Indoor plants also can help break up drab and boring areas that may need a bit of life. Plants can bring life to any room, quite literally. Being relaxed often improves one’s mood and can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Getting an indoor plant can certainly calm the senses and improve one’s mood.

Responsibility

Indoor plants also require some responsibility by the plant owner. If the plant is not adequately taken care of, feeding and watering the plant and making sure it has sufficient sunlight, then the plant will suffer and eventually will die. Having an indoor plant allows the plant owner to be responsible for another being, which can help elevate the mood of the individual.

It can feel good to have something other than oneself to take care of. Having a plant, or multiple plants, can help give an individual a sense of purpose and meaning in their life. This is especially true for those who live alone and suffer from loneliness and depression.

Depression & Loneliness

Depression is a condition and loneliness is a state of mind; both of which involves an individual who most likely experiences sadness and/or a lack of hope, among other symptoms. Surrounding oneself with one or more plants, whether indoors or outdoors, can spark joy into their mind and body.

When feeling hopeless, a person who is able to grow, care for and maintain a plant may experience a sense of pride and worth for how they are enhancing life for another being. Caring for plants can help get one’s mind off of negative things. It can also help change a negative state of mind by simply looking at the plant and thinking about the plant.

Home or Office

Indoor plants can bring new life to any area, and it is important to mention that the benefits of indoor plants can be applicable for a home setting or a work setting. In a work setting, it can bring relaxation and peace to employees as well as customers. Many offices will have plants in waiting areas for patients/customers to enjoy and receive the benefits from as well.

Indoor plants can also give individuals in these locations something to do. For those who own the plants, they are able to take care of it, trim the plant if necessary, and provide it with all the essential things needed to keep the plant alive. Even those who do not need to take care of the plant can observe the plant, which can give the individual something to do.

Bring the Outdoors Inside

Indoor plants can bring several benefits to those who come into contact with them. The benefits are a wonderful tool and hobby for those who own the plants as they have a new sense of responsibility and are forced to care for another being. This responsibility can give one meaning and purpose in their life and is especially helpful for those who live alone and for individuals who used to have people to take care of but no longer have that responsibility.

Plants can bring relaxation to those who come in contact with them. They can provide peaceful ambience and bring relaxation to almost any atmosphere. There has been research that has suggested that being in nature can help improve one’s mood and well-being.

However, it is not always possible to go out into nature and experience nature outside. Therefore, a great alternative to going out into nature is bringing nature inside to you. An outstanding way to achieve this is by acquiring indoor plants. Indoor plants are an effective way to bring nature, and the benefits of nature, inside.

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