Studies have shown that being surrounded by plants causes a subconscious release of endorphins (also known as the happiness hormone) in the brain. Endorphins serve to lower the stress hormone cortisol, thereby creating a general sense of well-being. Once your stress levels drop, you automatically become more productive.
But plants do much more than making people happy and reducing their stress levels They also increase the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. What’s more, many plants also absorb toxins, which essentially means they are purifying the air. Finally, plants also help regulate the level of humidity in any given room. All in all, these factors help reduce all manner of physical discomfort (headaches, eye irritation, irritated airways, etc.) and even decrease the number of sick days taken. Plants are not a gimmick. If anything, they should form part of any well-being policy.
Meanwhile, a serious energy crisis is starting to rear its ugly head all over the world. But, here’s a bit of good news: rooms that have plants in them require less air conditioning, as plants serve to automatically regulate the surrounding air quality. And yes, these plants do require a certain amount of maintenance and know-how. That being said, we at Blue Lines have learned everything we need to know via the internet. So far, no pests or diseases (that we’re aware of!). I spend about two hours a week taking care of our green friends. While that is quite a lot of time, it has earned me the excellent title of ‘plant manager’. Thankfully, those two hours are the most mindful of my week. Yet another win-win.
In short, having plants in the office helps reduce stress, while also increasing productivity, improving overall well-being, creating a more relaxed atmosphere and even reducing the total number of sick days. I can’t think of a single reason why you wouldn’t have plants in the office. Anyhoo, I’m off to order a few palm trees. 🌴