Pete Alexander invested in an interior landscaping firm in 2005 and found that live plants in offices reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, and sped healing. Plants also encourage mindfulness through daily care and work as conversation starters.
Chapters
Back in 2005, after working for the Second Street Company that was bought out by its competition, I decided to invest in an interior landscaping company and apply many management tools and techniques I had learned in school and in my corporate experience. While the company has provided me with a host of challenges and successes, one thing I what we didn't expect was the positive energy that is generated from installing live plants in our valued client locations. Numerous studies suggest that interacting with nature in some form can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, encourage faster healing, and increase overall happiness. And live plants have been scientifically proven to aid in improving sick building syndrome. And in addition to the health benefits previously mentioned, live plants can help you in several other ways, including: promoting mindfulness, because tending to them can have an immensely calming effect as you get lost in the moments of providing them care; a low-maintenance companion that isn't expecting a conversation or a give-and-take interaction, providing a social icebreaker, as plants can be a simple default conversation starter that feels safe and secure. And they remind us that we also need care. If your plants aren't thriving due to your care, it's probably a good time to look at the rest of your life as well. Consider being a plant parent if you're looking for a companion but you're not quite ready for the responsibilities associated with a pet or the expectations of a relationship. You may find that you have a green thumb and the stress relief benefits that come with it.
