Get a Houseplant to Feel More In-Control of Your Life

For almost a year, nearly every aspect of our lives has been changed by things beyond our control (mostly the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects). And while having multiple effective vaccines is certainly a reason to be optimistic, that doesn’t mean any of this is going to end in the near future. We still don’t know how long it will take before things start going back to “normal,” which makes it difficult to plan ahead for activities we enjoy (like travel) and that give us something to look forward to.

Living through a pandemic has meant having to “go with the flow” for months on end. But not in the fun way — like when you don’t have a set agenda on a vacation and decide to relax and see where the day takes you. This is a decidedly not-fun way, where every part of your life must be flexible because for most things, planning ahead isn’t an option. The good news is that there is something small that might help: Getting a houseplant. Here’s why that might make you feel slightly more in control right now.

[referenced id=”1041171″ url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2020/12/how-to-keep-a-christmas-cactus-alive-for-forever__trashed/” thumb=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/12/27/ick2eaflrxkqpizixvy3-300×169.jpg” title=”How to Keep a Christmas Cactus Alive For Forever” excerpt=”When you’re going grocery shopping this time of year, it makes sense to want to get in and out as quickly as possible. So if you’ve breezed past the seasonal plants that usually live at the front of the store near the shopping carts and hit the aisles Supermarket Sweep-style,…”]

Using plants to control our need to be in control

In an article for MindBodyGreen, Eliza Sullivan spoke with environmental expert and zero-waste activist Lauren Singer about why having a houseplant can help us feel more grounded during These Uncertain Times. Actually, there are four reasons, according to Singer:

1. Watching plants grow throughout the year can give us a better sense of the passage of time — especially when every day can feel the same.
2. Caring for a plant means sticking to at least some sort of routine (again, at a time when a lot of people no longer have one).
3. It can also be a type of mindfulness. Singer says that having plants to care for “teaches me to focus on my surroundings and be present because they are entirely dependent on me.”
4. Being in charge of another living thing — even a plant — can give us a sense of purpose.

[referenced id=”730083″ url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/05/why-you-keep-killing-your-plants-and-what-to-do-about-it/” thumb=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/05/25/gsqjw60err1t7jm27etg-300×169.png” title=”Why You Keep Killing Your Plants And What To Do About It” excerpt=”Did you know a cactus could droop? I didn’t until I killed one. Some plants are hardier than others, but if you’re anything like me, the only plant that survives under your thumb is an artificial one. Habitual plant killers, here’s where we go wrong.”]

So if you were on the fence about buying that leafy houseplant, consider it an investment in your mental health (as well as your decor).

And if you’re wondering how to keep that baby alive, stress less. We’ve got guides on overwatering, access to light, and plant safety around pets – if you need them.