Desk Plants

We all have a desk plant - right!? Well did you know that little tiny green plant is so full of life, that it is actually helping your health?! Let's get into the details...

Environment

Plants increase humidity in the air through a process called evapotranspiration. Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots. The plant uses the water to feed its cells and use the nutrients from the soil to help it grow. The water is then released from the plants pores and into the air. This process filters toxins from the atmosphere. Plants take CO2 (carbon dioxide - the gas we exhale) and replace it with oxygen. Fresh air leads to easier breathing and clearer thinking. Breathing easier and clearer air will help naturally keep you awake too! You will notice your focus will be stronger increasing your productivity and creativity! Having decor and live plants around your office space is said to help inspire new ideas. Colour, texture, and scents can have major effects on your mood. The reason for this effect is stimulating senses. When we begin to focus on the simple things and connect with nature, we can really start to open up to what is truly important. Innovation is what makes the world a better place to live in, in many ways. Advanced technology, entertainment, communication and many other things all make life just a little bit simpler to enjoy. Plants can also neutralize noise and vibrations, making the space feel more comfortable and quiet.

Colour

Colours have very beneficial effects on human beings. Colour can affect our moods and how we react. Each colour may affect each person differently, but these are some of the common effects of each colour:

Red:

• Passion

• Anger

• Energy

• Creative

• Love

• Excitement

• Confident

• Strong

Orange:

• Calm

• Happy

• Travel

• Grounded

Yellow:

• Happy

• Excited

• Joy

• Energy

Green:

• Energy

• Grounded

• Humble

• Hope

• Relaxed

• Secure

• Happy

Blue:

• Intelligent

• Satisfied

• Calm

• Relaxed

• Hopeful

Purple:

• Creative

• Confident

• Relaxed

• Innovative

• Important

Pink:

• Playful

• Sensual

• Romantic

• Caring

• Feminine

Brown:

• Sophisticated

• Grounded

• Neutral

• Supported

• Reliable

Grey:

• Sophisticated

• Empowered

• Respected

• Safe

• Committed

White:

• Minimalistic

• Plain

• Calm

• Dreamy

• Pure

• Clean

Black:

• Sophisticated

• Classic

• Grounded

• Professional

• Sadness

• Silence

Maybe even pick a colour theme for your office/desk! For example, I have a baby pink mouse, pen holder, day planner, and gratitude journal on my desk, so adding a plant with baby pink flowers in a baby pink pot will accent my space organically.

Nature

Connecting with nature can spark memories from previous trips, vacations, and other memories of being outdoors, boosting your overall mood and increase happiness. Plants allow us to appreciate the little things in life and helps us stay grateful for what we have. The base roots of life are easier to relate to when we have plants surrounding us and remind us of nature. Relationships with living things always grounds us and our spirit. Plants have been proven to live longer, healthier lives when they are spoken to and treated like a friend, instead of an inanimate object. Taking care of a plant can give us a sense of purpose. Having a sense of purpose is important because it helps motivate and drive us to reach our goals and maximize our full potential! Staying true to ourselves will make a better future. Relax, and lower stress with plants at your desk all day long making your space tranquil. We are one with nature and having a plant at our desk can remind us of that. As does an art picture inspire us, plants do just the same in their own simple ways. Bringing nature indoors can make us feel the illusion of working outdoors. Try adding textures and colours such as wood, leafs, rocks, geodes, or seashells!

Emotional

Plants can bring on the emotion of respect. Walking into an office that is aesthetically pleasing may bring a feeling of more respect for your employer for going the extra mile and caring about their employees. When an employer sets the tone for mutual respect, a better workplace begins to unfold. You may notice you spend longer lengths in beautiful spaces. Plants invite the idea of growth and expansion into our daily life, motivating us to reach for that bigger position or our biggest dreams! Don't be surprised to find you hitting those big promotions or raises quicker than you anticipated. ;) Mental health is something we all need to take care of. Plants make us feel relaxed and connected to nature, bringing us back to our roots and showing us more simplicity. A simple life will decrease anxiety and help you focus on just being present and happy. Plants can also bring the sense of unity, support, teamwork, and working together. That little plant on your desk is relying on you to feed it water and make sure it is in a good location for sunlight. Just like that plant, we too rely on external forces to make our lives better and more fulfilled. Check in with your coworker or someone who supports and motivates you every day. A sufficient work space is a supportive workspace - and I think we can all respect that.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics affect and influence our well-being helping our psychological and emotional wellness, having a major effect on our physical health in return. Plants can make us feel happy, energized, engaged, creative, and inspired. Healthy plants can even give us the feeling of being on vacation or motivate us to hustle so that we can take one! Inspiration can help us reach our dreams and desires by creating and designing our life to suit our happiness and needs.

Types Of Plants

There are endless types of plants that would work exceptionally well in your office space, so experiment with what works best for you and your office! Remember, we typically spend the majority of our waking hours at work, so feel free to have fun with it! If you aren't ready to take the step of having a desk plant, try buying flowers to brighten up your space every week! A new colour each week, or a different type of flower can bring new moods and inspire us in different ways!

Can't have plants at your office? Display art or photography of nature in your office space! Get creative with it! Pick out a fancy corresponding frame, buy a cute plant sculpture, or simply change the background on your computer!

I hope you had fun reading and learning the health benefits of having a desk plant! Even making small changes in our daily lives can have a huge impact on us and it is incredibly important to take care of you! Let me know in the comments what plant you have or want in your office space!

Photography by:

@samybeephotography