Education
How are you feeling? We often look at ways we can actively control and manage or cure our stress through mindfulness, healthy eating and meditation but how can our environment and plants make a positive difference? There are some really quick ways of reducing stress by adding more natural elements to your home and in this episode, Chris explains how plants positively affect us. Listen in to find out about how they do it and the best plants to choose for your own environment. KEY TAKEAWAYS A study published in the Journal of Psychological Anthropology stated ‘active interaction with indoor plants such as touching and smelling can reduce psychological and physiological stress’ Even the soil can positively impact on stress and anxiety as it contains microbes that act as a natural antidepressant Soil can boost your mood by releasing cytokines (small secreted proteins released by cells) which lead your brain to produce more serotonin, ‘the happy chemical’. As Humans we are hard-wired to respond positively to our natural environments. A 2010 study from Sydney showed a reduction in stress, anxiety and fatigue when plants were added to the environment. Not only can plants make you feel better at home they can transform your work environment too. Airborne toxins and particles are absorbed by plant leaves. The toxins are then translocated into the plant root and used as plant food or destroyed through a metabolic breakdown. Plants in your home are one of the quickest ways to reduce your stress levels and improve your environment. BEST MOMENTS ‘Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air’ ‘Having plants means the bad stuff in the air is absorbed by them which is more positive for you’ ‘If you don’t have any plants in your home it’s time to get shopping’ ‘This is also why being outside is so beneficial’ ‘Plants also remind us of a more natural way of being’ VALUABLE RESOURCES Serial Stress Killer Podcast ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on. CONTACT METHOD Contact the show https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com