In spite of reports, conflicting reports, warnings and conflicting warnings, it seems like our pandemic-shaped world is starting to open back up.
I have no idea if this is a good idea or not, but I do know two things for sure:
1. Articles like this make me saaaaad: “Back At Work And Wondering What Your Pet Is Up To?“
The author here talks about how “pets have been one of the winners out of COVID-19 because pet adoptions and pet ownership has increased a great deal since the pandemic hit…” There has even been a reported 30 percent increase in pet adoption compared to 2019!
And now that people are heading back to work outside the home, all those new furry friends — and furry friends that were there before their humans began working from home — are going to be left wondering… Where did everyone go?
The article then goes on to suggest several types of monitoring devices people can use to keep eyes on their pets. I’ve also seen many articles and Insta posts offering tips people can start utilizing now to help their pets (read: dogs… cats DGAF) pre-adjust to their impending daytime absences.
Arrrrggghhhh, the sadness!!
The other thing I know is:
2. I’ve been working from home for years now and probably will continue to do so well into the foreseeable future, so my pets and my schedule are good.
This relative non-impact hasn’t stopped me from being on the lookout for things that will help to improve my work-from-home-forever life though — and one thing that has become abundantly clear to me is that I (and maybe even you) need a plant.
Maybe you’re not into caring for a squirming, barking, tooting, mess-making pupparoo, but you still want something living to fawn over and coo at. Get a plant! There are way more benefits to having a plant (or ten) around your home than you maybe ever considered.
In this article — “How Plants Improve The Air Quality In Our Homes” — Lead Researcher at Plant Life Balance, Dominique Hes wrote that: “While in isolation, many of us turned towards tending to indoor plants as a way to slow down and relieve stress, realizing the wellbeing benefits they bring. But let us not forget their incredible ability to purify the air – yet another reason to bring nature indoors with a few potted pals…”
Hes highlighted that “studies show that our indoor plant pals can remove between 75-90% of airborne toxins depending on the plant and type of pollutant.” This happens by the plant “breathing.”
“Most plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen during the day, a key input into the process of photosynthesis. This, to put it plainly, is how plants feed themselves. But it’s not only CO2 that is absorbed but other gases as well, like formaldehyde, benzene, and other pollutants and small particles found in everyday life,” Hes wrote.
So, while we’re all still sitting here, working from home as we all long have been, it’s a good idea to consider the benefits of having even the most simple and low-maintenance of house plants near our work areas and in our relaxing spaces.
Get a plant for your desk to help you truly clear your head and focus while editing or working through your social posts. Put a plant next to your bed to help your oxygen intake while you sleep. Or, just get a plant for some random spot in your home to remind you of the wider, 3D world that still exists out there… somewhere.
Hes suggests aloe as an easy to care for, multi-faceted plant. “This much-loved succulent enjoys full sun or part shade, so try popping on a windowsill in the sunniest room of the house,” she wrote. “They like weekly water in summer, less in winter, and can handle neglect.”
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Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
Header image by Scott Webb via Pexels.
