How Houseplants Help Me Maintain My Mental Health
This odd idea from my therapist made all the difference
Six months into quarantine, I’m struggling with focus. Waking up, doing my hair, putting on clothes, and sitting down to work for eight hours seems kind of pointless as the world crumbles just outside the front door.
I’ve tried a million different tactics to will myself to regain the drive I had before COVID-19: waking up earlier, practicing yoga, meditating, going on long walks, saying affirmations… you name it, I’ve tried it. I found a few things that help a little but, after a few days, they start to feel as pointless as anything else.
My fantasy for every day is to wake up whenever I do and then to read books, binge Netflix shows, or play games on my phone as I try to zone out. In a perfect world, I could ignore the growing political unrest, America’s continued oppression of Black bodies, the worldwide pandemic, the wildfires I can smell from my apartment, and everyday highs and lows of living with clinical depression by tapping out.
But I don’t live in a perfect world, so I’m fully aware of the ongoing mess that is 2020 as I go about my day. This knowledge feeds my anxiety and calls forth feelings of rage, terror, disbelief, disgust, and confusion — a kaleidoscope of emotions that move…
