Relaxing games and well-being · Post 044
Does caring for plants reduce stress? What we know
Caring for a pot can be a pleasant activity, with attention to gestures like touching the soil, removing dry leaves and watching a sprout. The response varies from person to person and with the task chosen.
Try a short routine
Choose an easy-to-reach pot and observe the light, the leaves and the moisture. Finish the activity before taking on more plants. If you prefer, just write a note about what changed.
What one study found
Lee and colleagues compared repotting a plant with a computer task in a small study of young men. During the plant activity, participants reported more comfort and showed differences in physiological measures. The study observed an immediate reaction, and the result applies to that group and those tasks.