Mental Benefits
Everyone, whether we like to admit it or not, has been or is currently being affected by mental stressors. This can be as simple as daily stress or as detrimental as depression and psychiatric disorders. Regardless of severity, keeping green spaces in your home is known to reduce stress and boost overall mood by producing the sensation of tranquility. In fact, studies have provided a positive correlation to reducing anxiety and depression levels. Consequentially, this also has reduced occasions of violence and aggressive outbursts in the household.
Green spaces have also been proven to increase concentration. If you have a home office or spend a significant amount of time in specific rooms around your house, consider adding green spaces to it. Not only does it help you focus on the tasks at hand but also allows your involuntary attention to take over. This provides rest to your voluntary attention and allows your cognitive energy to recharge. This is especially true for children and adolescents as their brains are still learning and developing. Green spaces provide engaging sensory stimulation with minimal requirements of concentration.
Children exposed to green space during adolescence have a lower risk of developing behavioral and mental health disorders. Think about this when designing nurseries or decorating children’s rooms. This does not mean the room needs to be decked out in plants, you can still add components of green space without sacrificing their “dream room”.
Those who spend a significant amount of time at home can begin feeling a lack of motivation. This is especially true for those who work from home or complete school from home. Green spaces increase levels of productivity and can also improve self-discipline and simultaneously reduce impulsive behavior.
Physical Benefits
Many people and cultures around the world use elements from the natural world for medicinal purposes, but did you know that just being surrounded by nature can produce physical health benefits? Thanks to nature’s sensation of tranquility, as mentioned previously, it has been correlated with lowering blood pressure levels and alleviating fatigue. While you shouldn’t replace medication with plants, those who suffer from high blood pressure should consider investing in green spaces for their home. This can be said for anyone more prone to health risks.
Those recovering from physical trauma have been projected to have a significant decrease in recovery time. This has been tested and is even currently used as a form of recovery therapy in hospitals across the world. Anyone recovering from surgeries or even minor wounds can gain from the natural benefits of green spaces.
If you’re lucky enough to have a green thumb and the time to care for household plants. Many plants enhance air quality which increases overall quality of life.