By now, we all know that getting outdoors is good for our health, and that’s largely because when we go outside, we’re exposed to all kinds of beautiful botanicals. Just looking at a pretty bloom can elevate our mood and do wonders for our health, and that’s just the beginning of the benefits we experience.
But as much as we’d all love to take a nice long stroll in nature every day, life gets busy and it’s not always possible. For those can’t-get-outside weeks, it works almost as well to bring nature inside to you. A bouquet of flowers on your windowsill can do more for you than you might think. Let’s take a look at some of the healing qualities of flowers and plants.
Remember Why You Walked Into the Room
How many times have we all walked from the bedroom to the living room, only to forget why we were headed there in the first place? If you’re young, this is likely due to distracted thinking, but for those of us advancing in years, it’s a common symptom of degenerating memory. Happily, a study from Rutgers University found that the presence of flowers improved episodic memory in those 55 and older.
Experience (and Maintain) a Good Mood
Depending what our lives look like at any given time, a good mood can not only be elusive, but hard to maintain. Yet it seems that keeping a floral arrangement (or two) in your home can help with this, too. The same study from Rutgers found that women presented with flowers not only experienced genuine happiness, but were still happier than they normally are three days later.
Combat Depression
If you’re one of the estimated 264 million people in the world who suffer from depression, the humble flower might be another tool in your mental health arsenal. Keeping a pretty bouquet on your kitchen table or nightstand is proven to help with low moods.
Take Fewer Sick Days
Taking a sick day as a child felt sort of fun, but as an adult it just means more stress as work deadlines and other obligations pile up. So next time you’re bedridden with a bad cold, make sure your loved one brings you a flower or two along with your chicken soup. Flowers and plants are shockingly powerful at accelerating the healing time of those who get to look at them.
Have More Compassion for Your Housemates
It doesn’t matter how much you love the people you share a home with, they’re still going to get on your nerves. But the difference between annoyance and full-out argument is often a little compassion. If you and your loved ones can see each other's side of things, there’s likely to be a lot less animosity. Luckily, flowers can help with that too. Studies show that the presence of ornamental plants in a room increases our compassion for others (and makes our relationships better in the process).
As if you needed another reason to order a pretty bouquet for yourself, it turns out flowers have a lot of science-backed reasons to hang out in your home. So we say order something pretty and reap the benefits; you deserve it.
