An indoor plant is a must for home décor. As humans, we enjoy being out in nature, but as college students we may not always have time to get outdoors. The solution: get an indoor plant. This will brighten up your home and your mood.
The idea of being held responsible for another life form, even if it is just a little plant, can be daunting. But having indoor plants is valuable, and it is very much worth the few necessary minutes per week to water and tend to it.
Surrounding ourselves regularly with nature is important. We need to have time to decompress from the constant buzz of technology and get away from the urban bustle. However, busy schedules during our college years can limit the amount of time we are able to spend outdoors. Indoor plants invite nature into our homes. This can furnish our spaces with a calming and peaceful atmosphere.
Because of the feeling of ease indoor plants give us, we can see a boost of productivity. Indoor plants allow us to focus better on the task at hand and it can also reduce our stress levels. It can even enhance our creativity levels. According to one study, participants with plants on their desks scored 15% higher than participants without plants.
Indoor plants have the potential to improve our physical health. Plants, particularly the peace lily or the spider fern, can cleanse the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and then releasing oxygen into its atmosphere. It also removes other harmful toxins and pollutants from the air so each breath of air will be nice and fresh.
Plants produce water vapor which evaporates from its roots up through its leaves, therefore adding to the humidity of the room. This is great for dry skin, especially during the winter months. This also lowers the risk of catching a cold. If you do get sick, it aids with soothing a sore throat and eases a dry cough.
Patients staying in hospitals where plants were placed in their rooms recovered faster, were less reliable on painkillers and staff reported they were in a friendlier mood.
Not only are there physical benefits to indoor plants, but they also lead to improved mental health outcomes. People with dementia saw it helped with their memory retention when they put plants into their homes. People with depression noticed an improvement with their well-being as well. People additionally felt overall less fatigued and their anxiety was reduced.
Not only do indoor plants have many benefits to our physical and mental health, they are a great way to decorate our homes. In spaces that can easily get claustrophobic, such as a dorm room, indoor plants are perfect for freshening up small spaces.
Succulents are one of the best options for college students. They come in big to tiny sizes so finding something that fits in a dorm room or in a shared bedroom is easy to find. Watering is only required a few times a week and it doesn’t need direct sunlight, making succulents the ideal low maintenance indoor plants.
So if you are thinking about sprucing up your living space, consider welcoming a green little friend in your home.
Catherine Van Weele is a sophomore studying political science. Follow her on Twitter @catievanweele.
