Looks like January has arrived, as it does every year. It’s grey and dark outside, people huddle in floor-length winter coats, thinking of sunny days. With shorter days, longer nights, a snowless winter and the cold keeping us inside, tending to plants can be a beneficial decision to maintain a dynamic mood. Being in their presence has always had therapeutic benefits (and, just so you know, we need them to breathe).

Many of us encounter a slight winter sadness against the grey landscape characteristic of this season, the lack of sun, light and movement. During winter, people notice that they are lethargic, tired and lose interest in things. And this can manifest itself gently and subtly, or it can be more serious. This phenomenon is known as seasonal affective disorder.

Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of this disorder or just feeling a bit of the winter blues, it’s never a bad idea to indulge in a few moments of self-care. If you’re looking for an easy and affordable way to calm down, take some plants home or start an indoor garden: research suggests that plants can boost our mood and have other positive effects.

In 2019, Melinda Knuth, assistant professor at North Carolina State in the Department of Horticulture, and one of her colleagues reviewed existing studies from the past 10 years on the benefits of plants for emotional and mental health. 2,500 articles and nine months of work later, Melinda says, “Plants can help reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, just by being around them. Just looking at a picture of a plant can also help lower blood pressure and heart rate, which is incredible.”

“There’s something innate in humans to take care of something, and that can be a much-needed experience, one that can help us have a sense of routine.”

Plant care is also about self-care. The more time you spend doing activities you enjoy or help you relax, the more you boost your mood. Even if you don’t consider yourself a plant person, even a single plant care routine can bring benefits. If you’ve never had plants or are stressed about the care process, start with one or two – Pothos or Snake Plants because they can withstand low light conditions. If you have plenty of light, you can try flowering plants such as orchids, bromeliads, petunias or amaryllis.

“Just having plants around can be beneficial. It’s like a return to nature.”