Adding elements to your workspace that incorporate or mimic nature can decrease stress and enhance creativity in the office. The most affordable investment is buying plants, which can deliver a big impact when it comes to your health. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that having plants in your office or home is good for your well-being and may help reduce your stress levels. It’s not just stress levels that can be affected by the presence of plants. Other possible benefits of bringing plants into your workspace include:
- Increased focus.
- Increased creativity.
- Increased workplace satisfaction.
- Increased task completion.
- Reduced noise.
Some workplaces don’t include natural elements due to concerns about the responsibilities of plant care. But there are many easy-care options available. Some plants that make a good choice for your home or workspace include:
- Snake plant — A slow-growing desk plant that requires little attention.
- African violet — Requires indirect sunlight.
- English ivy — Requires medium light and average water.
- ZZ plant — Tolerant to low light and requires little water.
- Aloe — Place near a sunny window, water every couple of weeks.
- Philodendron — Requires regular watering.
- Pothos — Easy to care for and tolerant of low light.
- Oxalis — Does well in low humidity but requires bright light.
- Rex begonia — Does well in low light but requires sufficient humidity to thrive.
- Fiddle-leaf fig tree — Requires filtered bright light to full sun and moist soil.
- Rubber tree — A low-maintenance plant requiring medium to bright indirect light and moist soil.
- Spider plant — Easy to care for; requires bright indirect sunlight and moist soil.
- Peace lily — Easy-to-care-for plant that requires moderate indirect light and frequent watering.
- Lucky bamboo — Easy to grow in low light and can grow without soil when stems are submerged in water.
Learn more about basic self-care for leaders and ways to put this into action in this Blue Cross® Virtual Well-Being webinar. You can also sign up for future employer-focused and general interest webinars here, where you’ll find past sessions and resources. Related:
- 5 Ways Employers Can Promote a Healthy Work Environment
- Workplace Well-being is Good for Business, Employees
- From Wellness to Well-being: Employers Moving Beyond Physical Health
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