Terri Ramsey Beavers With the pandemic that took over the world in 2020 still going on, studies have shown how staying indoors for prolonged periods of time has affected the mental health of a majority of the population. As a result of this, extensive research has been conducted on the different ways all people can overcome various mental health issues without having to invest in therapy or medication.
Among the many methods, having a clean and plant-filled home was one of the most common yet effective ways one can improve one’s overall health and well-being. Let’s go over the many reasons why this might be the best thing to happen to your home and why you should consider investing in indoor plants if you haven’t already. Let’s get started.
Cleanliness and Mental Health
There’s a reason why cleaning vlogs and the cleanliness niche have seen massive growth and popularity over the past few months. People have realized that having a clean home along with the physical act of cleaning one’s living space can have incredible benefits on the mind, especially when you spend 90% of your time indoors. Living in a messy or dirty space can be bad enough, but with the pandemic forcing a majority of the people to work from home, people have found it quite difficult to concentrate on their jobs and have a productive day when surrounded by mess and clutter.
In 2010, a study conducted by the University of California discovered that a majority of people who lived in messy or cluttered homes were prone to suffer from depression, while people who lived in homes that were clean and hygienic were less prone to suffer from mental health issues that prevented their productivity and happiness.
Thus, science does prove that living in a clean surroundings can have a lasting effect on the mind and body, especially when the individual is forced to live and work from home for extended periods of time.
Plants and Flowers
Apart from having a clean home, indoor plants have also proved to be a significant contributor to the overall health of an individual. Studies have shown that the mind tends to release happy hormones, playfully termed as ‘outdoorphins’ when one is constantly surrounded by lush greenery even when at home. This is because the mind is stimulated by the sight of greenery and immediately associates the plants with nature, allowing one to feel the same relaxing and calming emotions that you would generally feel when taking a walk through a park.
Due to the significant improvement in one’s mood and the relief felt from the release of stressful emotions when surrounded by indoor plants, offices, and other corporate buildings have started incorporating flowers and plants in their working areas as a means of uplifting the mood and performance of their employees. Being in a happy and relaxed mood often helps one work better and be more productive, so if you have an office or workplace at home, you could try sprucing it up with flowers and plants to make sure your mental health does not go for a toss despite being stuck at home for months together.
Summary
The fact that having a clean home that is filled with plants and flowers can have a positive impact on the mental health of individuals has been backed by science and has also led to the invention of other kinds of therapeutic practices that involve plants, flowers, and deep-cleaning of one’s living space. We hope you found this article both helpful and enlightening!