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4 Surprising Ways Plants Boost Your Productivity
Given recent headlines, it’s no surprise that more of us are working remotely. You may be wondering if there’s a way to be more productive while working from home. Well, it appears adding a little greenery to your home office pays dividends! Here’s how plants boost your productivity:
1. Plants make your working environment more welcoming
According to a study carried out in the Netherlands and the UK, bringing plants into a working environment increased productivity by 15%. One of the study’s authors, Professor Haslam, has suggested: “Office landscaping helps the workplace become a more enjoyable, comfortable and profitable place to be.”
Another study conducted in the US found that almost 10% of sick days could be attributed to things such as a lack of nature and natural light in the office. Furthermore, this analysis suggests that simply being able to see natural beauty can have a positive effect on your mood and self-esteem. It’s no surprise that we work more effectively when we’re happier!
2. Plants facilitate creativity
Research has found that when people looked at the color green for two seconds before doing a creative task, it boosted their creative output. Researchers dubbed this as the ‘green effect’. The study’s author, Dr. Stephanie Lichtenfeld, suggests the colour green is a signal of physical growth (as in growing plants) as well as psychological growth: "Green may serve as a cue that evokes the motivation to strive for improvement and task mastery, which in turn may facilitate growth".
3. Plants clean the air
Ever tried working in an environment without much fresh air? It can lead to headaches, fatigue, and difficulty in concentrating. When our quality of air is diminished, our health and performance suffer. In addition to having an adequate air conditioning system, you can benefit from being surrounded by plants. Plants are natural air filters, replacing carbon dioxide with oxygen.
Synthetic furniture items in your room may be releasing harmful chemicals into the air such as, formaldehyde and benzene. This study carried out by NASA suggests that plants can help to filter out such chemicals from indoor air.
While you are busy working during the day, plants will be performing photosynthesis, reducing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and increasing oxygen to carbon dioxide ratios, leading to cleaner air for you to breathe.
4. Plants reduce noise levels
If you enjoy peace and quiet while working, plants could be of help. By absorbing sounds, plants can actually reduce the distracting effects of background noise. According to this research, it is beneficial to position large plant pots in the edges and corners of a room. If you have the space, you could install a floral centerpiece. Small pots are ideal for desktops.
Why not add a touch of greenery to your home office today? Spending your day in a room without much connection to the natural world is not ideal for your physical and mental health. Plants breathe life and colour into your environment while helping you become more productive.
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