The first day of winter will be arriving this month and depending on where you live, you may start spending more time indoors. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t bring the outside in. House plants are a great way to do that, and they have benefits for you as well, such as:

Reduced anxiety – One study used two groups that each transplanted a house plant and then did a computer task. Findings showed that at the end of transplanting, participants had a noted decrease in blood pressure compared to when they did the computer task.

Improved productivity – Another study found that when plants were added to a windowless lab, college students worked 12 per cent faster.

Increased happiness – People who spent 5 to 10 minutes in a room with a few house plants were reported in an experiment to feel happier than people who spent time in a room with no plants.

Sharpened attention – When elementary-aged students were placed in separate classrooms, one with a real plant, one with an artificial plant, and one with a photo of a plant, a study found the students in the room with the real plant showed improvements in attention and concentration in brain scans.

So, if you are thinking of getting house plants, or adding some to your collection, check online for the many options available.