When you scroll through your Instagram feed, odds are you're getting a good visual pummeling—lots of beautifully designed, minimalist living spaces loaded with so much lush, green vegetation, they'd make Adam and Eve jealous. It probably makes you feel like your plant game isn't up to snuff—and, to be honest, that might be true.         

The fact is, we could all use a few more indoor plant in our lives. They don't just look nice. It actually pays off *big-time* to adopt a few more green babies into your home. Here are just a few of the major wellness benefits…    

Plants crush stress & brighten mood.

Hitting up the gym isn’t the only way to take control over your surging cortisol levels. Surrounding yourself with plants comes with some powerful stress-busting benefits.     

Studies have shown that simply seeing, touching, and smelling plants can reduce stress on a hormonal level, but it’s not all about the green stuff. Even spending quality time near all that dirt comes with big benefits. Soil naturally contains special microbes colloquially known as ‘outdoorphins’, which act as natural antidepressants. These 'outdoorphins' release cytokines in the body, which increase the production of feel-good serotonin in the brain. So the simple act of spending more time around soil actually improves your mood on a biochemical level—good news if you don't have the greenest thumb! 

(Bonus: these benefits double down when you dig in to outdoor gardening. Want to crush your stress and help save the bees? Maybe it’s time to start planning that bee garden you’ve been putting off.)    

They supercharge your focus.

According to a 2014 study conducted by the University of Exeter, filling your workspace with greenery could increase productivity by up to 15 percent! It also improves creative thinking, memory, and problem solving skills. Pair a few additional houseplants with a pack of B.LXR, and you’ll be unstoppable.       

And they even improve indoor air quality.    

If you passed the 1st grade, you’re already familiar with this process—but a quick refresher doesn’t hurt. Plants naturally absorb the CO2 in the air and release oxygen in its place, so they can drastically improve the fresh oxygen content of your living space. And since oxygen is pretty important (a major understatement), having a replenishing supply in your hive is a gigantic win for your health.      

And if you’re worried about indoor air pollution, NASA has extensively tested indoor plants for their impressive air filtration potential. Lots of things dirty the air in our homes. Chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene off-gas from our furniture, while car emission pollutants seep in every time we open the front door. You can combat these pollutants and improve your indoor air quality by fortifying your home with plenty of snake plants, pothos, ferns, and other NASA approved vegetation. It'll be a lot cheaper than a top-of-the-line air purifier, and it'll look dreamy!  

The point is, keeping plants in your house makes you healthier—and it just feels so good to be surrounded by your own personal indoor jungle. If you’re new to plant life, stroll into your local garden store and ask for some good starter plants. Look for plants that are hardy and don’t need ultra-specific quantities of water or sunlight. (There is a good reason what succulents are so popular. They're an ideal choice for new plant parents.)

A few well-placed pots will turn your healthy home into the garden oasis you've always dreamed of—even throughout the colder seasons. Get ready to unleash your inner plant lady.