On top of my desk, apart from the computer, the only thing I have is a small plant, which I look at every time I’m stuck on a topic or simply when I feel a little stressed. That minute in which I move my attention from work to my little green “forest” is more than enough to rediscover balance. And it is not a trick of my imagination, there are several studies that demonstrate the psychological benefits that plants bring.
The psychological benefits of plants
1. Plants to enhance creativity
A study carried out at Bunkyo Gakuin University recruited 35 students, who had to pass a creativity test. Specifically, they had to look for up to 30 words that were linked to some of the objects found in the room.
The interesting thing is that in one room the researchers left a magazine rack with some magazines inside and in another they placed a plant. As you can already assume, the people who were in the room where the plant was located not only had more ideas but they were also more original.
Why? The researchers evaluated people’s mood before and after entering the room, and noticed that those who had been exposed to the plant appeared more relaxed and in a better mood. As we already know that creativity almost always appears when we are more relaxed, it is logical to assume that the calming effect of plants enhances our creative thinking.
2. Plants to heal faster
Numerous studies have discovered that plants help us recover faster after suffering an illness or surgery. For example, in 1984 an experiment was carried out in which, from the hospital windows, some patients were allowed to see a beautiful green park. These people not only reported less post-surgical pain and stress but also recovered twice as fast as those who had not had these views.
More recently, in 2009, another experiment with similar characteristics was carried out, only this time the plants were placed in the patient’s own room. The researchers were able to see that plants were associated with less use of painkillers after surgery, a more positive physiological response, less pain and fatigue, and a more positive mood. All this shortened recovery and hospitalization times.
3. Plants to be more effective
The fact that plants reduce our stress levels may be the reason why they make us more efficient workers. Something that Norwegian researchers verified when analyzing 385 employees in their work environments. According to this study, the presence of plants in the workplace minimized perceived stress, decreased the number of people who were absent due to illness, and slightly increased productivity. Apparently, it is all due to the fact that plants make us feel more comfortable in a place, encouraging us to relax and work better.
References:
Park, S. (2009) Randomized clinical trials evaluating therapeutic influences of ornamental indoor plants in hospital rooms on health outcomes of patients recovering from surgery. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine; 15(9): 975-980.
Bringslimark, T. et. Al. (2007) Psychological Benefits of Indoor Plants in Workplaces: Putting Experimental Results into Context. Hort Science; 42(3): 581-587.
Shibata, S. & Suzuki, N. (2004) Effects of an indoor plant on creative task performance and mood. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology; 45(5): 373-381.
Ulrich, S. R. (1984) View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science; 224(4647): 420-421.
