Do You Have House Plants?

Here’s a question you probably never thought you’d get from your financial advisor: As you are preparing for retirement, do you have plants in your home?

I know asking about plants has nothing to do with your financial well-being. But it has everything to do with your general well-being, and isn’t that the point of having your financial life in order?

Here’s the thing, studies have shown that having plants in your home can help you a lot. Here are three benefits, in particular, that I think retirees need:

They can Improve Air Quality. In one study conducted by NASA in 1989, big leafy house plants were found to remove pollutants. Another study found micro-organisms in the soil that have been found to have anti-depressive effects. 

Plants can Support Cognitive Health. One study found that students were able to perform tasks 12% faster when plants were added to the windowless classroom. 

Plants may help you recover faster. A study of hospitals and caregiving facilities found that patients placed near or with a view of plants and trees had faster recovery times and less need for pain medication. 

So, do you have real plants in your home?