Not only do they filter your air but they also reduce psychological and physiological stress: plants, yes, plants.
Since I began living in the concrete jungle my mood has drastically changed from okay to worse. I could not help but notice that there was one thing missing in my life that I never appreciated when I lived outside of the city: greenery!
Plants play a big role in our environment both physically and mentally. They have a way of cleaning our air by taking out toxins and providing us with oxygen.
As summer is right around the corner, I can't help but notice the smell of blooming trees and grass. I realize how much of an impact greenery has on air purifying especially in a city filled with pollutants and toxins.
Especially with anxiety, senses are so strong that it is essential that we have clean and fresh air to breath, and why I strongly encourage having plants in your home and in your workspace where you spend the most of your days.
Benefits of Plants on Mood
Recent literature has shown how plants can improve mood by creating a more relaxed state both psychologically and physiologically. Looking at plants with large leaves even just for a short period of time does not only made your body more relaxed but also induces positive emotions. In many ways then, plants have shown to decrease depressive symptoms overall and create anti-anxiety, calming effects!
Not only do plants decrease stress on both your lungs, body and mind, they also improve your cognitive abilities. Studies have shown that plants improve task performance and attention. In turn, doing better cognitively actually improves certain mood symptoms.
Overall, foliage plants have a way of reducing and restoring your mental fatigue since being around nature has a way of inducing positive emotions in which reduces stress.
Now, I'm not saying this is a treatment for depression or anxiety, but if research suggests it helps even a little bit, why not give it a try?
So come hop on the aesthetic bandwagon with me and let's fill our life with more plants! And remember - the bigger the leaf the better your mood ;)