1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and ours are more 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is to get 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: a plant for your home office. Plants add color and beauty, 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: They make us more relaxed, and if you believe the research, 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: they can do some pretty remarkable things for our mental 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: and physical health. I probably don't have to point out 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: that plants make any space look better. Also, in general, 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: people enjoy connecting with nature. If a long walk in 11 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: the forest is out or you're living somewhere where parks 12 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: are closed right now, feasting your eyes on a nice 13 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: plant can be something of a substitute. To be sure, 14 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: caring for a plant is work, and if life is busy, 15 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: this might not seem appealing, but stay with me here 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: because the caretaking requirement is actually a big part of 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: the magic. Because you don't have to keep a plant 18 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: in your office, choosing to have a plant creates a 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: feeling of abundance. You've got your nose to the grindstone 20 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: with work and family responsibilities, but you've also got space 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: for something else. Sometimes little inefficiencies are the time equivalent 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: of saying keep the change. And if you don't have 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: many responsibilities right now because your hours have been cut 24 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: or you're living alone, while taking care of a plant 25 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: can help there too. In one of the most famous 26 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: studies in social science, elderly residents of a nursing home 27 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: given plants to care for lives longer and in better 28 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: health than those without plants. We all want to feel needed, 29 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: and if you're not sure about the long term responsibilities 30 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: of a pet, a plant is a good way to start. 31 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: So that leaves the question of what to buy. While 32 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: your local nurseries may be closed, grocery stores, warehouse stores, 33 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: and hardware stores often have plenty of plants to choose 34 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: from phil plodendrons and devil's ivy. The plants with those 35 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: heart shaped leaves are good plants for beginners, as are 36 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: spider plants. Their name comes from the fact that their 37 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: leaves arch up and then down like a spider's legs. 38 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: Orchids are common at grocery stores. While some people can 39 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: coax them into blooming multiple times, you can just enjoy 40 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: an orchid while it's blossoms last generally for a while. 41 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: And then when the blooms fall off, compost the plant 42 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: and buy a new one. Succulents are low maintenance, and 43 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: you can find plenty of small varieties that are great 44 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: for tight spaces. Depending on where you live, you may 45 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: be able to get a bamboo stock. You can place 46 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: the stock and a glass of water where it will 47 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: last indefinitely as long as you change the water every 48 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: now and then. Most plants you buy at the grocery 49 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 1: store will have a little tag stuck in the soil 50 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 1: with watering instructions. If not, the internet can give guidance. 51 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: In general. While you may like to sip on a 52 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: glass of water all day long, most plants prefer their 53 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: water in big gulps taken in frequent like Start by 54 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,399 Speaker 1: watering your plant generously once a week and adjust from there. 55 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: Be sure to put a saucer under your pot to 56 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: catch any water that runs all the way through, and 57 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: if you notice water in the saucer, pour it out. 58 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: This is work, but it's not like it's a lot 59 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: of work. For a little bit of money and a 60 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: few minutes a week, a plant can make you smile 61 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: every time you look at it. If you feel a 62 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: sense of abundance or a sense of being needed to well, 63 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: that's all the better. If you put a plant in 64 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: your home office, I invite you to tell me about 65 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: it and send a picture. You can reach me at 66 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: Laura at Laura Vanderkam dot com. In the meantime, this 67 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding in 68 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is a 69 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit the 70 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 71 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.