Flowers and mental health benefits have long been associated. As herbs and plants provide physical healing, they also help calm the mind, reduce stress, and even inspire creativity. All these combine for a holistic approach to personal well-being and vastly improved wellness. You can also read more about Green Spaces: The Key to Entrepreneurial Wellness
Traveling to Picturesque Places
Flowers grow all over the world, and some are even unique to specific places. This is why many nations use plants and flowers as national symbols and flags. For example, Lily of the Valley is Italy's national flower. A stunning flower, Lily of the Valley, also known as Madonna Lily, can be seen all over the country. Booking Italy tours to picturesque places gets you out of the house and into new experiences. Nature walks in other countries will only benefit your wellbeing.
Flowers and Mental Health for Better Sleep
Around 10% of people in Western countries have insomnia. This is when you only sleep for a very small amount of time, and it is destructive to your life. However, flowers can be a big help:
- Some flowers, such as peace lilies, remove toxins from the air in the bedroom.
- Certain plants and flowers can help regulate the humidity of a room.
- Scents such as lavender are well known to aid with calming and falling asleep.
Just placing some peace lilies in your bedroom can purify the air, helping you sleep better at night. However, using the scent of lavender through flowers or essential oils is popular today.
The Power of Recall
Did you know that flowers can help with memory? There have been studies where people in scent-filed rooms had better recall than those without. There could be several reasons for this. However, it is known that aromas have the power to instantly recall long-forgotten memories that are associated with them. For instance, you can recall a moment from early childhood just by the scent of something like a meal your mother would cook for you. Amazing, right?
The Colors of Emotions
It is well-documented that colors play a critical role in mental wellness. Color psychology studies the effects that colors can have on the brain. Given the vibrancy and variation of colors in many plants and flowers, they form a core part of therapy. Colors such as yellow, orange, and red are associated with energy. Meanwhile, blues and violets have an instant calming effect. This could be why lavender is one of the most popular flowers for relaxation, alongside the calming aroma.
Calming Flowers and Mental Health for Work
A survey in the UK found that 50% of office workers think plants and flowers improve their day. If you feel you are stressed at work, then consider some of these plants for your workplace:
- Lavender is well-documented as a powerful calming and sleeping aid.
- Jasmine is also known to help reduce anxiety and is often used in essential oils.
- Lemon balm has powerful restorative and calming effects when combined.
- Rosemary is a herb that can be eaten for a range of physical and mental benefits.
- Gerbera daisy is associated with cheerfulness because of the vibrant colors.
- Chrysanthemum has been used to help with insomnia and relaxation.
- Snake plants are used in offices because they are known to uplift spirits.
- Red-edged dracaena removes air toxins and promotes a healthy environment.
If you work from home, you can fill your office with the plants you love to achieve the desired effects. However, be sure to ask your boss before filling the workplace with flowers and plants! read our amazing article Floral Therapy – Exploring the Mental Health Benefits of Gardening and Flowers
A Creative and Productive Office
Further to the office, there are other benefits, such as the calming effects of some flowers. Some species are known to increase productivity. A clean and tidy office is safe and healthy. But it is also boring and unmotivating. The vibrancy of flowers has a motivating impact on the mind and stimulates the brain to be more productive. And it doesn’t only work for the office either. There have been successful studies with flowers in classrooms and college lecture halls.
Flower Arranging as Therapy
Being creative and occupying the mind is a well-known therapy for issues such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Many people have turned to knitting and crochet lately, which are known to provide relief for these problems. However, as good as these are, they take a long time. Flower arranging could be the perfect remedy as a hobby to occupy the mind and yield satisfying results quickly. It requires focus, but you also benefit from the colors and aromas.
Flowers and Mental Health in the Garden
Gardening is well known for stress relief. The well-being scores of people who garden are 6.6% higher than those who don’t. If you are wondering if you should try it, here are some reasons:
- Being around flowers and garden plants reduces stress by lowering blood pressure.
- The scents and colors of flowers can instantly bring back treasured memories.
- Tending to a garden and flower bed provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
Just being around flowers has benefits. Yet you will get away from distractions such as social media. This encourages healthier activities and physicality and provides you with fresh air.
Flowers as a Creative Inspiration
Throughout history, flowers have always been an inspiration. Creativity is recommended as an outlet for stress and anxiety to promote wellness. You can choose to arrange flowers, make dried prints, or sketch your flowers. Of course, painting is a challenging hobby to master, but flowers have been the inspiration for some of history’s greatest artists. Have you ever wondered why world-class painters such as Vincent Van Gogh actually take the time to paint flowers?
Summary
Encouraging you to see the world is just one of the major benefits of flowers and mental working for wellness. Of course, various species have varying effects that can help with anxiety and promote a better workplace through visual stimulation alone. But if you need to get a little creative, then flowers are the perfect inspiration for painting like the famous Dutch masters!
