Some plants offer natural stress relief elements that can’t be found in other methods. The simple beauty and joy of tending to these functional plants can greatly relieve stress you might feel from a long day in a stuffy office or fighting traffic within a fog of fumes.
Spending time with nature is known to help relieve stress. One study showed that hospital patients who enjoyed well-placed plants within their rooms tended to have much lower stress levels than those patients without the plants.
Planting greenery indoors can cheer up the ambiance of a room and also purify the air you breathe. They bring relaxation and a restful scene into any room in your home or office. Indoor plants also increase the oxygen levels in a room and rid it of toxins so you’re breathing cleaner air.
Some great plants for containers and your indoor space include the aloe plant. Not only does the gel within the aloe leaves contain healing properties – they keep the air free of pollutants found in most cleaning products. Place the aloe plant in a sunny spot and watch it grow.
Scientists at NASA have deemed the English Ivy plant as one of the best indoor plants to use for filtering the air. It’s great for absorbing formaldehyde and a beautiful plant to hang or use as a floor plant – and it doesn’t need a lot of sunlight to flourish.
Other indoor plants useful to filter the air and release oxygen are the low-maintenance peace lily and the spiked leaf snake plant. Neither needs a lot of sun or water, so they’re relatively easy to grow.
Gardening can help relieve stress in many ways, whether you plant your garden in containers, grow them hydroponically or have an outdoor garden space. The sunshine you get while gardening outdoors provides natural stress relief and exercises your body, producing natural stress-relievers in the brain.
If you can grow vegetables in your garden space, be sure to include dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kale. Blueberries are also a great resource for stress relieving antioxidants.
Carrots, tomatoes and peppers are also vegetables that can have a great impact on lowering your stress level, helping to relieve tension and balance your blood sugar. Rather than drowning your sorrows – and stress – in a bowl of ice cream or bag of chips, reach for fresh veggies and enjoy all the health benefits they provide.
To further reduce stress in your life, be sure to carve a meditation space in your garden. Add a water feature and some colorful flowers and plants to reduce stress levels in your life.