It’s been known for a long time that being surrounded by nature improves our mood and relieves stress, but what if you could mimic that relaxing environment at home? Filling your house with flowers could be the secret to improving mental health.
Why flowers have a lot of influence on mental health?
We all know that flowers and plants have the power to make people happy. They can delight you on a special occasion, cheer you up when you are sad or make a dull and dreary room much more attractive that is why flowers are one of nature’s gifts to improve mental health.
Flowers can improve anxiety
Stress and anxiety are part of everyday life. While there are many things you can do to control your mental health, flowers can help restore some short-term calm to your situation.
It turns out that this is true even in very worrying situations. A 2008 study found that hospital patients who had flowers in their room felt less anxious. They were also more positive about their recovery and required less postoperative care than patients without plants.
Flowers can help you sleep
When it comes to sleeping, we will focus on one flower in particular. The scent of lavender has been proven to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, helping you relax. The more relaxed you are, the more likely you are to fall asleep.
Obviously, lavender cannot cure insomnia on its own, but it can certainly help as part of your bedtime routine.
Flowers can improve your memory
Specifically, rosemary can sharpen your memory capacity. In 2015, researchers conducted a very interesting experiment, in which participants entered one of three rooms and completed a memory test. One room smelled of rosemary, one of lavender, and the other had no specific scent.
Each participant had to look at a series of hidden objects around the room and remember them for later. The project tested the impact of different smells on “future memory”, in other words, how much do you remember to remember.
In real life terms, this could be posting a letter you wrote yesterday or paying your bills on time.
The people in the rosemary-scented room scored the highest on this test. Lavender room scored significantly lower, presumably because people here were too relaxed and sleepy to keep up with everything.
Flowers can change your emotions with colors
We all associate colors with different moods. Red can mean love, anger, or danger. Yellow is generally associated with happiness and sunshine. Blue can mean calm or sadness.
Green is related to safety, which could explain why having lots of leafy plants around creates such a comfortable environment.
In addition to this, each of us has our own personal relationships with colors that can bring to mind a happy or sad memory and influence our reactions.
Suddenly choosing the color of your flowers becomes a bigger decision than you thought. Of course, it is also a great opportunity to create a particular emotion or feeling in the recipient of the flowers.
Flowers can make you more productive
Studies have shown that office plants increase brain performance and encourage creativity.
Sparse and clean offices may look impressive to passersby, but they offer no visual stimulus for those who have to spend all day there, which could have an impact on productivity.
It’s not just the workers, either. Studies have also shown that installing plants in classrooms and conference rooms increases attendance. Turns out, having plants around can make you happier and more attentive, wherever you are.
Going back to the idea of color, red is related to concentration and attention to detail, while blue is considered a better way to encourage creativity and free thought. So if you notice a lot of plants of the same color in your office, your boss might be trying to tell you something.
Gardening and mental health
Why wait for someone to give you flowers when you could grow your own? We know that flowers can make you feel great and there is also evidence that gardening itself can be good for your mental health.
A 2015 study found that 88% of people mentioned mental well-being as a reason to go out in the garden. All that digging, planting, and pruning provides fresh air and a sense of accomplishment.
Some people find value in having something to care for that depends on them to survive. Gardening is also an activity you can do as a group, as tending a community garden and spending time with friends and family is a sure way to boost your mood.
6 flowers that can help improve mental health
There is a constant link between exposure to flowers and plants and positive psychological health that are a factor in improving mental health.
Chrysanthemums improve mood
Flowers do more than just brighten up your room, they can also have an uplifting and uplifting effect on your mood. Research has shown that the impact can last for days, proving to be much more powerful than a candy bar.
Flowers can drive away anxieties, worries, and sadness, making people feel less depressed, worried, or agitated. This is related to its color, smell or even the act of giving or receiving flowers.
Chrysanthemums have been shown to reduce symptoms of worry and stress, and when taken as a tea, this flower refreshes and relaxes our bodies.
Lisianthus or Eustoma encourages creativity
Fresh flowers can spark creativity. Inspiration, new ideas and the ability to solve problems are proven positive effects of plants and flowers in the workplace, generated by a boost in mood and general happiness.
See flower arrangements as a creative outlet: not only will you develop a new skill, but you will also be close to nature.
Red flowers, like the Ruby Ranunculus, are connected with concentration and attention to detail, while blue stems, like the delicate Anemone or the pretty Lisianthus, encourage creativity and free thinking.
Roses to improve mental health
Have you ever heard the expression “stop and smell the roses”? This is because not only do they look beautiful, but they are known and proven to produce wonderful mood-enhancing endorphins.
Jasmine and lavender help you sleep
Sleep plays an important role in our physical and mental well-being. Without it, we may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, or coping with change. Emotions can also lose control very quickly.
Jasmine and lavender have been proven to lower stress and anxiety levels, induce tranquility, improve sleep, and lower heart rate, making them ideal additions to the bedroom.
Calendulas help heal
Flowers have been proven to help reduce recovery time. Although flowers are no longer allowed in hospitals, if someone is sick or recovering at home, a well-thought-out bunch of flowers can create a sense of well-being. Blood pressure and heart rate levels will drop.
Bright yellow or orange marigold flowers are known for their antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. They are often used externally to relieve inflammation and heal wounds and rashes, they can also be taken internally to stimulate blood circulation and speed recovery from colds and fevers.
Sunflowers make you happy and optimistic
We all could use a little sunshine in our lives, and what better way to ensure that than to plant a few sunflowers, which provide an instant boost of spirits with their cheery blooms, as well as being good for wildlife.
A surprise bouquet of any flower raises a smile
Imagine changing someone’s day with a simple gesture. Knowing that you are loved and supported can mean so much that the positive impact of receiving a bouquet of flowers can be enough to get you out of a difficult spot or low point.
Flowers are a perfect solution to communicate emotions when it is difficult to find the right words.