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The winter blues, otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is triggered by lowered Vitamin D levels due to shorter periods of daylight. Vitamin D helps balance hormones while maintaining comfortable and functional levels of serotonin and melatonin. For those unfamiliar, serotonin is a hormone that keeps stress levels low, while melatonin helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythm. So, unbalanced hormone levels can negatively affect your mood, appetite, energy levels, and sleep quality as well. Worth noting that the body also naturally produces more melatonin during these darker months of the year, which can increase the chance of daytime drowsiness. All of this explains why people might be less active in the winter time, the chilly weather prompting them to stay in more often. They might also exercise less and choose heavier food options. All of these habits worsen the winter blues, and can make the colder months harder to deal with.
Luckily, plants can come to our rescue in the most unexpected ways. So, while you wait for spring to come around, why not give indoor gardening a try and start building a houseplant collection? Here are a few ways plants can help battle the winter blues:
Have you noticed a mood boost when you get your hands dirty in the garden? That’s partly due to the fact that soil actually contains a natural antidepressant called Mycobacterium vaccae. Research points out that this microbe stimulates serotonin production and also can improve cognitive function and increase focus. This explains why visiting a garden center or plant nursery can lift your spirits, as you’re surrounded by large quantities of good dirt. Also, garden centers are warm and humid places with bright light filtering through the roof, which can also give you a precious dose of Vitamin D!
Just like tending to your garden, taking care of houseplants can be just as fulfilling and rewarding. The practice of plant care can be calming and meditative as you wipe the dust off their leaves, mist the foliage to boost humidity levels, and prune what’s needed to ensure they’re always looking their best. You’ll be able to bear witness to a plant’s ongoing growth that you actively contribute to, and receive little dopamine boosts every time it unfurls a new leaf. Tending to your houseplants is also a practice in mindfulness, which is an extremely helpful practice in coping with anxiety and stress. It helps you focus energy on the present instead of getting lost in worrisome thoughts.
As we spend more time in our homes during the winter season, our indoor air quality has never been more important. Unfortunately, as we tend to close windows and keep natural airflow to a minimum in colder weather, we’re more at risk of the many common culprits of indoor air pollution, such as household cleaners. Also, breathing in stale air, in general, reportedly causes fatigue and headaches. Again, our houseplants come to our aid by doubling as air purifiers. The golden pothos, peace lily, English ivy, and the spider plant are some of the best indoor plants to improve mood, as they filter out harmful toxins in the air, such as formaldehyde. Stop by Westwood Gardens today to discuss any of your houseplant needs or questions—we’re always happy to help!
