Reduce Stress with Plants

Modern research confirms what was local knowledge thousands of years ago. Spending time with plants can help you reduce your stress. The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development (Relf, Diane. Editor 1992 ) which is a collection of research papers from a symposium held in 1990, reports on the many benefits humans gain from spending time with plants. The research papers describe how time with plants can reduce stress, improve mood, as well as be an aid in therapy. Several papers describe the role of plants in building community and social connections when used in community gardens. Other papers explain how plants in living and working environments purify the air, support temperature moderations and reduce noise.

It is not complex, nor difficult to connect with plants to reduce your stress. It can be as simple as putting a simple container of flowers on your desk when working. Other practices for stress reduction include watering and caring for indoor potted plants. When indoors you can take a break to sit next to your potted plant or plants. To shift your attention away from anxieties, you can spend a few moments noticing the color as well as the feeling of plants around you. Using your senses to assess their condition is a calming activity when you truly spend time experiencing the plants. Engaging in calming activities such as picking off dead leaves or watering your plants shifts your attention away from worrying.

Spending time outdoors is a simple way to calm the mind. Taking a break to sit or stand outside to enjoy the sunshine and plants surrounding your residence or office building lets you relax. If in a highly urban environment, you may need to take a walk to a park or drive to a nearby open space to get outside. Once outside, to reduce your stress, make sure you engage with your senses while walking. If you continue worrying and thinking about challenges, you will miss the colors of the plants, the sounds of the birds or other animals, the odors of plants or animals, as well as the opportunity to feel the bark of a tree of the fuzziness of a live or dried plant. An effective way to reach a state of calm while walking is to notice how your weight shifts from one foot to the other. Then, when mental thoughts arise, simply notice them and then tell yourself, “I am walking now,” and return to experiencing sensations as you walk. Enjoy taking a break from stress generated by a lot of mental dialogue and reach out to touch a plant.

– Carol O’Dowd, MPA, MDIV, MI, RP
Prajna Healing Arts