Have you ever wondered what are the benefits of bringing Nature into your home… come on over and see!
If dogs are the new children, plants are the new dogs. It seems that everyone these days has a house full of succulents, and people tout the benefits of fresh air and sunlight with renewed vigor. Is there any merit to these claims? What are the benefits of bringing nature into your home?
Natural Elements That Improve Your Health
Nature can do so much more than provide a sense of calm. It can also positively impact your health.
Sunlight
Having plenty of sunlight in the house does more than just brighten your mood by alleviating symptoms of depression. It also boosts vitamin D levels. Research has shown that many people have chronically low levels of vitamin D, so getting some sun could give you a much-needed boost and even strengthen your bones.
Exposure to blue light — including daylight from the sun — in the morning lowers your melatonin levels, increasing alertness and decreasing insomnia over time. This is the same reason you shouldn’t use your phone at night. When viewing light that falls in the same part of the spectrum as sunshine, the human brain is programmed to wake up.
To put it simply: Open your curtains!
Gardening
Indoor gardening activities, such as transplanting plants from one pot to another, can lower diastolic blood pressure and suppress the sympathetic nervous system. In other words, you’ll feel more relaxed. Tentative evidence also suggests indoor plants can improve cognition and overall feelings of health.
Plus, planting an indoor herb garden can directly benefit your health by giving you homegrown, nourishing spices like oregano, basil and mint. You could even take it a step further and grow vegetables or fruit. Carrots, onions and leafy greens are usually well-suited for indoor life, as are lemon and orange trees.
Do some research about what plants thrive in your area so your garden can have the best success.
Air
Letting fresh air into your house can also make you healthier. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are often two to five times more air pollutants indoors than outside. Common sources include household cleaners, pesticides, pet dander, tobacco smoke and asbestos. Nonstick cooking equipment, such as frying pans, can release toxins if heated to a certain temperature. Incense and hair spray are also harmful to inhale.
The easiest solution is to open a window. If you shut off your heat or air conditioning and let your house match the outside temperature, you’ll most likely reduce your electric bill. That’s a nice bonus to go with the better air quality. If you want to open your windows but the weather isn’t cooperating, you can use an air purifier to scrub pollutants from your home.
Natural Elements That Boost Your Mood
Nature can do a lot to improve your outlook. Consider bringing these elements inside for a healthy dose of positivity.
Plants
Indoor plants are beautiful, can make you calmer and give you something to take care of, which is relaxing and creates a sense of purpose. They may not demand as much attention as animals, but plants need to be watered and fertilized regularly, giving people a reason to get out of bed. They liven up any space in your home. Plus, many of them smell great.
There might not be any plants outside your home if it’s winter, a very hot summer or you live in an urban area with few green spaces. You can always cultivate them indoors to protect them from the elements. Having your own green space to come home to can be rejuvenating.
Fish
Evidence suggests that viewing fish in an aquarium reduces anxiety and improves mood, but you don’t need a study to know how relaxing and interesting it is. Children will stare at aquariums for hours.
Fish commonly kept as pets include:
- Goldfish: These easygoing fish need a lot more space than you’d expect, given pet stores’ propensity to plop them in a tiny bowl — they require at least 10 gallons of water each. Since they need to be kept in groups, this adds up fast.
- Bettas: In contrast to goldfish, bettas prefer being solitary. These showy fish need at least a 5-gallon tank and can live up to five years.
- Guppies: This is one of the easiest fishes to breed in captivity. Females are usually dull gray or brown with a small splash of color on their tails, while males can be any color or pattern imaginable. They’re freshwater fish that need to live in groups.
Just keep in mind that a fish tank isn’t a decoration — it’s a space for living pets that need food and clean water. This is one of the most beautiful animal habitats you can have in your home.
Decor
If you’re not ready for the commitment of feeding fish or watering plants, there’s good news: Even photos of nature can help you relax. Why not decorate your bedroom or home office with pictures of landscapes or leaf-patterned wallpaper?
You could create a miniature Zen garden in a sandbox with decorative gems and fossils. It doesn’t have to be green to be soothing. You could also use nature-inspired furniture and decor to give your home an organic feel. Look for pieces that are free of harsh, sharp lines and include earthy tones and textures.
Aromatherapy
You can bring the fragrance of the natural world indoors. Some popular scents include lavender, rosemary and sage. You could use essential oils or hang bundles of sweet-smelling herbs in your kitchen, which will be perfect for cooking if you ever need some spice. Potpourri is also a common bathroom decoration that looks beautiful and imparts a calming aroma.
Sounds
Another way to feel more immersed in nature is through sound. You can listen to white noise playlists of rain or ocean waves to help you fall asleep or concentrate while you work. Open a window if you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere with many pleasant natural sounds. You’ll be able to tell the different birdsongs apart in no time.
The Benefits of Bringing Nature Indoors
Even the inside of your home can be full of life. Bringing plants, animals, sunlight and air indoors lets you reap the rewards they provide in the form of a positive mood and better health.
Cora’s passion is to inspire others to live a happy, healthful, and mindful life through her words on Revivalist – wholeheartedly convincing them that everyday moments are worth celebrating. Cora has spent 5+ years writing for numerous lifestyle sites – hence her sincere love for both life and the beauty of style in all things. Keep up with Cora on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
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