Journal logo

Benefits of Plants in the Workplace

Tips and Tricks for Treating Workplace Anxiety

By Jackie BarrowsPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
Like

When anxiety in the workplace attacks, what is the best method to "keep calm and carry on"? For many, it is growing and maintaining indoor plants. For some reason, the act of caring for indoor plants has a calming effect on employees under deadline stress, or are anxious due to air pollution from harmful cleansers.

How does this work? It goes back to when humans all over the planet focused on one thing; farming. That's right, farming! The tending of plants is so ingrained in our DNA, we find solace in it on every level. The very idea of being out in the sunshine planting seeds, pruning, and watching the healthy vegetation grow brings us some sense of calm in a crazy technologically advanced world. There's also the added benefit of having to take care of another living thing rather than sitting in our offices and worrying about our own problems. Then there's the other benefit of physically taking care of something when we are frustrated or anxious. It's calming and therapeutic to have something peaceful such as a plant to take care of in the office. Even the color green is a go-to wall color for offices in order to evoke a sense of calm and growth! We have a long history of nature benefiting our health. We often find greater peace and tranquility when tending to a garden, taking care of a Bonsai tree, or taking care of succulents in the office. Why not go back to the basics?

As an added benefit, plants also clean the air of harmful chemicals brought on by office cleaners. Ever find yourself getting a lot of headaches or feeling ill from chemicals in the air at your office? Indoor plants alleviate this pervasive issue by removing those nasty chemicals and putting oxygen in its place. Some plants also have beautiful fragrances that make the office friendlier to employers, employees, and customers. Now, it is of course important to make sure no one else in the office is allergic to the plants you put in your cubicle or office; it pays to find plants that are non-allergenic. The good news is that there are plenty of beautiful non-allergenic options available! It's a win-win having plants at the office!

Statistics show that 35 percent of workers say their jobs are harming their overall health, with 42 percent saying their jobs are interfering with their personal lives in a big way. Combine all that with half the working population saying that their workloads are more demanding this year than last year, and it's a no-brainer; we need to put indoor plants in the office, and we need to allow employees to take care of plants in their own offices and cubicles. It's simply a winning strategy for a calmer office environment. Studies have shown that most workers find taking care of plants in the office to be a wonderfully peaceful endeavor that has helped them become calm again after a vicious anxiety attack. Taking in the smells of the plants as well as physically pruning and watering plants enacts soothing chemicals in our brain such as serotonin that induce feelings of calm. Feelings of a calm work environment produce greater mental health.

Keeping plants in the office is one of the best methods available for producing a peaceful and therefore healthful work environment. It is worth consideration for the benefit of employers and employees in just about any workplace. Let's get back to the basics and back to nature, and we'll all be much happier.

Do you like what you just read? Please share on social media, feel free to read my other works, and leave a tip on this post if you feel so led. Thank you!

advice
Like

About the Creator

Jackie Barrows

Jackie Barrows is an artist, a writer, and all around creative soul who enjoys bringing new ideas and stories to life. She wears many hats as a Graphic Designer, a blogger, and Lead Production Artist for R.A.W. Productions.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.