At the very least, houseplants are beautiful decor. They bring color to a space and are a constant reminder of the natural world. One of my favorite ways to unwind/meditate is by watering my houseplants outside during mornings or golden hour to reconnect with the earth. They can give us a sense of responsibility: something to take care of that also benefits our mood and space when we successfully do so. Beyond my own love for houseplants, I was curious to see what science had to say. Research shows that many of the ‘good vibes’ we feel around plants are backed by real evidence.
Benefit #1: Reduced Stress
Based on a journal by Ke-Tsung Han et al., keeping plants present in your space can help to reduce stress and result in an overall more relaxed physiology. In a study where people worked on a computer task, their systolic blood pressure (SBP) didn’t rise as much if plants were nearby. After completing the task, their blood pressure also dropped back to normal faster when plants were present.
Benefit #2: Improved Productivity
In the same study, participants exhibited a 12% quicker reaction time during their task when plants were present, suggesting better concentration and performance. Students revealed higher grades and fewer mistakes when plants were around. Despite a seemingly general overall improvement in productivity levels when plants were present, it was also shown that productivity decreases when the space is overly crowded with plants. The solution: add plants to your workspace but not too many! Think quality > quantity.
Benefit #3: Health, Recovery, and Healing
From the same review, patients in hospital rooms with plants recovered faster and displayed more stable vitals (such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and body temperature) while staying in a ward with plants versus a ward without plants. Those patients also needed fewer painkillers and even had shorter stays at the hospital. In a work environment, people surrounded by plants took fewer sick days and even showed greater pain tolerance and fewer instances of misconduct compared to those in plant-free environments.
A takeaway from all of this: adding plants to your space can support your wellbeing by reducing stress, sharpening our focus and productivity, and even support our long-term health and physical healing. Plants are a piece of nature we can live with, staying connected and staying calm to help transform the way we feel and function in our everyday spaces.
