Embracing Daily Moments of Quiet Reflection
A desktop garden can be more than just a decorative addition to your workspace. According to various studies, maintaining a desktop garden offers multiple benefits for mental wellness and productivity.
Stress Relief and Lower Anxiety
Interacting with indoor plants reduces stress hormones like cortisol, lowers blood pressure, and helps people feel calmer and more settled [1]. The presence of plants in your workspace can serve as a natural, accessible source of mental restoration.
Improved Mood and Mental Relaxation
Caring for plants can be therapeutic, helping to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, while providing a peaceful hobby that promotes mental relaxation [1]. A moment spent misting your garden or sipping tea can reconnect you to your breath, intention, and sense of self, as suggested by Donna Letier.
Enhanced Cognitive Abilities and Focus
Visible greenery improves attention, concentration, and cognitive performance. Studies with students have shown that they perform better in tests when plants are present [1][4]. Pausing with your garden can reset the brain, quiet the fight-or-flight part, activate the part that allows focus, solve problems, and connect with others.
Increased Productivity and Mental Clarity
Indoor plants support clearer thinking and higher productivity, important for workspaces and high-pressure environments [4]. Gratitude lives in the pause, allowing one to notice details like the color of the sky, scents, and sounds.
Sense of Accomplishment and Connection
Gardening-related activities—like watering and nurturing plants—offer meaningful engagement, creating a sense of satisfaction and a calming effect [2][5]. A desktop garden can serve as a reminder to care for oneself, as suggested by the quote, "A garden on your desk is a gentle reminder to care for what matters - starting with you."
Self-Care Tool
A desktop garden can also serve as a self-care tool, inviting stillness, mindfulness, and a ritual of nurturing oneself and plants. Confidence grows in stillness, as it provides time for reflection and self-trust building.
Short, Intentional Breaks
Short, intentional breaks can increase productivity. Anne Lamott states, "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." Taking a moment to pause with your desktop garden can help tend to oneself, making indoor work environments more pleasant and cognitively supportive.
A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology in 2015 found that interaction with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity and promoting comfortable, soothed feelings [3].
In summary, a desktop garden acts as a natural, accessible source of mental restoration that can elevate mood, reduce stress, and boost productivity. So, consider adding a touch of green to your workspace and reap the benefits for your mental wellness and productivity.
[1] Lohr, V.I., Pearson-Mims, C.H., & Goodwin, G.K. (1996). [2] Lohr, V.I., Pearson-Mims, C.H., & Goodwin, G.K. (2015). [3] Lee, M.S., Lee, J., Park, B.J., & Miyazaki, Y. (2015). [4] Lohr, V.I., Pearson-Mims, C.H., & Goodwin, G.K. (2018). [5] Lohr, V.I., Pearson-Mims, C.H., & Goodwin, G.K. (2020).
Engaging in gardening via a desktop mini garden can provide therapeutic benefits for mental wellness, serving as an effective tool for stress relief and lowering anxiety. The act of caring for plants also promotes improved mood, mental relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment, making it a perfect addition to your home-and-garden lifestyle.
