We’ve all experienced it. After a stressful day, or a stressful week, we go outdoors, maybe on a walk, maybe on a weekend retreat to the mountains, and almost magically the tensions we had been feeling seem to slowly melt away as we breathe deeply and take in the nature surrounding us.

Regardless of whether you consider yourself “outdoorsy” or not, nature has a soothing, even healing effect on all of us.

According to an article published by the University of Minnesota*, being in nature can reduce feelings of anger, fear, stress as well as reduce blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. It improves our mood and can even help us cope with pain.

Research in hospitals, offices and schools has shown that just a plant in a room can have a notable positive impact on individuals, reducing stress and anxiety.

With this in mind, a trend that is becoming increasingly popular is to incorporate live plants into workspaces for the health and well-being of employees. It’s a way of bringing nature and its calming effects into our more constant everyday surroundings. Whether you work in a home office or a cubicle (or anywhere else, for that matter), the benefits of keeping live plants are well worth the little bit of effort spent to nurture them.

In addition to enhancing your mood, reducing stress, etc., they can improve the air quality of your space, help reduce illness rates and cause increased productivity, simply because they make you feel better mentally, physically and emotionally.

You might be thinking, “But I’m not a green thumb,” That’s ok! Here are three great plants that are easy to take care of and don’t require you to have a Master’s Degree in Horticulture:

• Snake Plant
• English Ivy
• ZZ plant
• Pothos

(Don’t forget to support your local greenhouse instead of buying your plants online- unless of course, your local greenhouse has a website you can order from.)

Another way you can reap the benefits of nature for your well-being is to look for and take opportunities to work outside. Or, If working outside isn’t a feasible option for you, even just going outside and taking a short walk during breaks can do wonders for resetting your mind and reducing stress during your work day.

If you want to know more about the positive effect of nature on your overall well-being, check out this article!

Here’s to your health and well-being!