Embrace your inner house plant

In our new world of virtual meetings, remote work, and “business on top, pjs on bottom,” my house plants have flourished. I began with one and now I am up to seven indoors and four that have graduated to life outside! Being at home has given me the time to nurture them with the right amount of water, sunshine, and attention necessary for them to live their best lives. That realization got me to reflect upon a quaint touristy gift store I visited here in Old Town Alexandria. There was a small needlework pillow of a saying that caught my attention. It read: “You’re basically a house plant. Drink more water and soak up some sunshine.”

Clearly I know how much my real plants need to flourish, they are practically taking over! But how am I doing, for me? How are you doing for you? Reflect with me for a moment: what does your daily water intake look like? According to the Mayo Clinic, “Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 50% to 70% of your body weight.” Allowing yourself to become even mildly dehydrated can lead to noticeably reduced energy and fatigue.

Good news is that plain H2O isn’t the only source of hydration you’re allowed to count in your day. It is, however, the most efficient because it doesn’t come with any of the baggage that other sources have (calories, sugar, or caffeine). A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when determining if you are hydrating enough is that men should consume about 15.5 cups of fluids a day and women should consume about 11.5 cups of fluids a day (Mayo Clinic).

Now, have you soaked up the sun today? Sunshine makes us happy! It drives your body to produce more serotonin which is the chemical in your brain responsible for lifting your mood in response to stimuli. Sun is a stimulant and so your body responds in kind by making you happier. I have a friend in Alaska where the sun doesn’t come up hardly at all in the winter  months. She has several “happy lamps” in her house that emit sun-like light for the depths of winter to help her avoid SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I’m not saying ditch the sunscreen and hit the nearest beach like skin cancer doesn’t exist. I am saying soak it up in moderation; probably a bit more than you’re currently doing through a daily lunch or pre-drive home walk.

Who knew our pandemic plants could teach us so much?!

Sarah Carter | Executive Coach | Cowo & Crèche Member | www.inwiththenewyou.com | insta: @sarah_carter_coach