Wanting to fill up some space after taking down the Christmas tree? Join in with Houseplant Week UK 2023!
Christmas is over and the January blues are kicking in around the UK. But if you’re looking for a way to get yourself in the right mindset for ready 2023, why not take part in Houseplant Week UK 2023?
Houseplant Week takes place on the second week of January every year, and this year it lands on 9th until the 15th – just in time for you to join! The week is a big celebration of the joys of indoor gardening, from the physical and mental health benefits to sprucing up a particularly empty corner of the living room.
So, how can you get involved in Houseplant Week? Maybe you’ve received some gardening tools or a couple of seeds for Christmas and you’re not quite sure what to do with them? Well, this is your perfect opportunity! Still, if not, venture out today and pick up a little plant pot to take care of – it doesn’t have to be anything too big, whatever takes your fancy! But before you get ready to go out into the rain, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of owning a houseplant.
Houseplants are so much more than a decoration for your house – although there’s nothing wrong with wanting to fill that gap on the windowsill! Indoor plants promote a healthier environment: they produce cleaner air, and they allow us to get back in touch with our green roots. In fact, 7 million people in the UK took up gardening as a hobby throughout the pandemic. Scientists have determined that the human species has a deep need to interact with nature, known as biophilia, as we are subconsciously aware of the benefits it provides to us – so why not take advantage of nature’s helping hand?
Maintaining a healthy mental state is always something that needs hard work, but the start of the new year is a particularly challenging time for many people. This is why Houseplant Week is such a helpful project to get involved with – research shows that even the smallest of indoor plants can reduce stress. Gardening advocates Thrive surveyed 317 people throughout the UK and found that 80 per cent reported better mental health, and 93 per cent said their confidence and motivation was improved by interacting with nature. Owning a plant has also been found to have effects on mental disorders, reducing symptoms of depression and PTSD, and improving ADHD symptoms. So, as well as taking care of your mental health through exercise, health dieting and regular sleeping schedules, why not add a little plant watering into the routine?
If we still haven’t convinced you yet, houseplants can also have a positive effect on productivity and creativity! So, if you’ve lost motivation over the Christmas break or you’ve got a big project coming up at work, a little houseplant may give you the lightbulb moment that you need to get over the January blues. You might even have a bit of fun deciding which plant to pick out – aloe vera plants are great for skin care and moisturising, and peace lilies clean and purify the air (as well as having a calming effect – hence the name!).
So this week, why not pop out and get yourself a little plant to brighten your day, your home and your mind!
Now you’ve got some small steps on how to improve your mental health, it’s time to start making some bigger changes! If you’re looking to focus on your mental health further and you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Show’s free seminars or book in with the Ajuda Foundation to find out what steps to take to begin prioritising your mental health. You can find out all our info on our websites, Eventbrite and social media!
