Plants Can Reduce Your Stress - Work Smart. Live Smart.

Can Plants Reduce Your Stress?

Today is Take Your Plants For a Walk Day as research says that plants can reduce your stress. Well, I’m not sure that I am going to take my plants for a walk, but I will try to be nicer to them.

Many of my plants have ‘taken a walk’ to the dump when they failed to survive my watering and care routine (or lack of). Some species of plants and I do very well, others, I have given up on completely.

After reading a report from NASA where they found that some houseplants were able to remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours, I decided I may need to give houseplants another try.

Top 9 Air Purifying Plants That Can Reduce Stress

The following plants are most effective in removing potentially harmful chemicals-including those in paints, varnishes, dry cleaning fluids, car exhaust fumes and tobacco smoke-from the air in your home.

Dragon tree
Ivy
Ficus
Philodendrons
Spider plants
Peace lilies
Ferns (Mother Fern)
Chrysanthemums
Palms (Dragon Tree)

I have tried spider plants, ivy, ficus, chrysanthemums and palms with very little luck. Maybe a fern is next on my list.

Did You Know that plants make you feel calmer and heal faster?

Some studies have shown that hospital patients who face a window with a garden view recovered more quickly than those who had to look at a wall. According to a University of Agriculture in Norway study, indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent, partially by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.

Plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats by more than 30%. Beverly Beuermann-King Click to tweet

Did You Know that plants can make you smarter?

The University of Technology Sydney found that classroom plants consistently led to improved performance in spelling, mathematics and science.

Did You Know that plants can reduce stress?

Washington State University, found that participants in the presence of plants were less stressed and reacted 12% more quickly than those in the absence of plants.

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resilience During Take Your Houseplants For A Walk Day:

Give a houseplant a try, after all plants can reduce stress. Some are better suited for some rooms in your home than others. So don’t give up. I have had a spider plant in my bathroom for over 10 years, but have failed to keep one alive in my kitchen for more than 6 months.
Look for varieties that are low maintenance. Ask your friends which variety they have had success with and which ones they have taken on the long walk to the garbage can.
Try to remember to water and fertilize them regularly. Even better, make it someone else’s responsibility and you just enjoy their benefits without the work.

Plants not only add beauty to a living space, but they have proven health benefits. However, if trying to have a green thumb is creating too much stress in your life, forgo the growing at home and get out and enjoy the gardens of someone else and get the benefits the easier way.