If you don't consider yourself having a green thumb, please raise your hand (*raises hand*). If you love plants but can't seem to get the hang of keeping them alive for long, raise your hand (*raises hand higher*). Well, you are not alone.
Recently, taking care of a plant has been a new way to enhance your home space and a great way for self-care. According to EcoWatch, having plants in your home can improve your mental health, your immune system, your productivity, and your relationship with others. No matter if you have a "green thumb" or not, we all deserve some nature that will improve our health in some way.
6 Easy Plants To Grow Indoors
Air Plants
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These plants have been trending for the past year and they are ideal for easy plant care. Air plants are considered epiphytes. This means that they naturally grow on other plants. No soil needed. That's right, y'all!! Here is a plant that you do not need to pot and repot after a certain amount of time in order for it to blossom. Even though air plants still require water and sunlight just like any other houseplant, they are a top choice.
Spider Plants
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Now the spider plant is a plant I have had some experience with. Spider plants are one of the most adaptable house plants you can find. With well-drained soil and enough sunlight, spider plants produce like no other. They grow little spiderettes everywhere which can be transferred from the mother spider plant to water or soil, where they can start to root. The good thing about spider plants is their resilience. These plants are able to grow in various ranges of environmental conditions and sprout successfully.
Aloe Vera
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Most of us should be familiar with this one. Aloe Vera is not only a plant that is easy to take care of but a plant that you can use its gel-like juice to relieve pain from cuts and burns. You can also use this plant as a natural hair product! For my fellow curly girls, this plant is a great conditioner and it can reduce dandruff. Why shop for a haircare product when you can save money and grow it right in your own living room?
Peace Lily
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Let me just say, the name of this plant makes me feel better already. These beautiful plants can grow up to 16 inches indoors. If they are grown outdoors in a warm climate, they can grow up to six feet tall. Since these are tropical plants, they need bright indirect sunlight and consistent moisture. Outside of the name, these beautiful plants will be great to grow in your home and bring a nice aesthetic.
Christmas Cactus
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We are slowly approaching holiday season, so this one seemed like a good fit. This cacti blooms red, white, pink, or purple flowers at the tips of its branches. Despite its name, you are able to keep this plant around past the holidays with the right temperature (around 55 to 65 degrees) and keep the soil barely evenly moist. This plant will definitely make your home more festive for guests and brighten up your home overall.
String of Pearls
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Last not but least, this cool-looking succulent is a must to add to your list of home plants. They grow fast in warm and cool climates. While this plant looks like tiny little green buds, these buds actually bloom into tiny white flowers that smell like cinnamon! To get your string of pearls to blossom these lovely flowers, you can cut back a little on the watering and keep the temperature a consistent 60 degrees during the winter months.
There are more "easy-to-grow" plants out there that you can add to your home. We can all practice our green thumb with great plants with the right tools. There is one app I found that is really helpful for people who are new to house plants. This app is called Planta. Planta will be able to identify the type of plant you have, get care schedules for each plant to follow, and a special feature that can help you solve possible plant growth problems.
To my beginners and non-green thumbers, WE GOT THIS!
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By the time she turned 40, she had encountered her breaking point and spiraled so deeply that she saw no way out for herself aside from death. She went on to say that she heard voices in her head telling her to end her life and that told her of her unworthiness, pulling her deeper into her depression. "I started looking for places, cliffs where I could have an accident because I didn't want my kids to think that their mother had committed suicide.”
Jada credited friends of her son Jaden for putting her on to ayahuasca, a powerful and traditional plant-based brew used for shamanic and healing rituals known for its psychoactive properties. She said partaking in ayahuasca changed her profoundly and "the suicidal thoughts completely went away."
"Ayahuasca helped me, it gave me a new intimate relationship with myself that I had never had before," she told the outlet about her first time taking the psychedelic. Keep reading for more key takeaways from Jada's PEOPLE exclusive.
Jada Pinkett Smith on the status of her marriage to Will Smith:
In what might have been a shocking revelation to most, Jada revealed to the world that she and Will have actually been separated for the past six years, going on seven years. She explained the status of their 26-year marriage to PEOPLE:
“We’re still figuring it out. We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together. We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”
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Jada on how her relationship with Will Smith caused her to abandon her mental health:
As her star in Hollywood was rising thanks to starring roles in projects like A Different World, Jason's Lyric, and Set It Off, Jada revealed that she was taking Prozac and being treated for depression and suicidal ideation. Meeting Will would cause her to develop a false sense of not needing to take care of her mental health.
"Once I met Will, I completely abandoned my mental health. I was so intoxicated by him and our dynamic. I really felt like I'm cured," she said to PEOPLE. "He became the drug."
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Jada Pinkett Smith on the self-acceptance her kids have taught her:
"My children, they’re little gurus," she told the mag of her kids, bonus son Trey, 30, Jaden, 25, and Willow, 22. "They’ve taught me a deep sense of self-acceptance.”
“They love every part of me. The level of love, unconditional love that they have for me and their dad. And it's one thing to want to be the person that gives that unconditional love. And then there's, to be the recipient of that.”
For the full cover story and photos, head over to PEOPLE here.
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Even if fall is your least favorite time of year, this is a great opportunity to shift your perspective and think about ways you can make the last quarter of the year count. Try these tips:
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1. Continue to get outside and travel during the fall season.
Who said you need to stay indoors just because the days are shorter and the nights are colder? Throw on those thermals, light that outdoor fire pit, and gather around with friends and family regardless. If you can, make your space more accommodating to enjoy the fall weather and outdoor activities, such as adding an electric fireplace in your home for cozy vibes, setting up a tea or coffee station on your kitchen island, or adding a few ambient string lights and some fall decor to your patio space (whether small or large). Many people also play sports, walk, or jog outdoors during the fall and into the winter, which can have health benefits.
I wouldn't dare hang out anywhere outdoors when it's less than 60 degrees, but I found that when I'm fashionably prepared (i.e., wearing my favorite faux fur, puffer vest, and/or boots) and I'm in good company, I can embrace what I thought was cheesy fall-themed cocktails or the cold breeze. I'd even venture out and go for walks in the fall. It actually became enjoyable and therapeutic.
And if you love taking trips, fall (especially in October and November) is an off-peak travel season, which means prices often drop. You can find great fares for a fall trip to your favorite international destinations that often have warm weather year-round, and you can even plan shorter trips to U.S. cities where the weather is a bit warmer.
2. Focus on a specific short-term goal and write a plan to accomplish by December.
Any time you can focus on something you want to do that will advance your career (or your overall life), it can offer a sense of purpose and accomplishment to get out of the mental rut that can come with a change in seasons.
Whether it's to close a deal, save up a certain amount of your paycheck to treat yourself or re-brand what you offer via social or a new website, find a project to focus on that will enhance your professional experience or quality of life.
If you want to commit to advanced education or courses to upgrade your skills, now's the time to do that. Get locked in, mentally, to a goal that you can feel proud of accomplishing and that will distract you from the dreariness that can be the fall season. Write down goals, create a vision board, or work with a mentor who can keep you accountable and focused.
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3. Change your environment or work remote a few days per week.
If possible, get out of the office and take more breaks. Enjoy fresh air, music, or a sweet treat during these times. It sounds corny and typical, but it's worked for me. As much as we take this for granted, being indoors in a cubicle or home office while it's cloudy, rainy, or cold out can become boring and draining. Talk to your manager to see if you can work outside your office a few days a week or a month. Take baby steps and consider their deliverables and obligations when pitching for this.
And, this might sound extreme to some (so if it doesn't apply, scroll on by), but relocate if you have to. Years ago, after a season of working in New York full-time, I went to work remote in southeastern Virginia. I didn't really want to be in warm weather all year, but I couldn't stomach the extreme weather conditions of the fall and into winter any longer.
If your job isn't accommodating and you have the flexibility, look for other jobs at companies where you can shift environments when the seasons change. You don't necessarily have to say, "Hey, in the fall, I want to be out of the office and work from home," but present your case in a way that's professional, considers the impact of your working elsewhere, and offers tangible benefits like better productivity, a focus on mental wellness, or continuing your track record of success.
4. Seek professional help via a counselor or licensed therapist and feel the feels.
I know, I know. We hear a lot about getting therapy, and sometimes it can seem like a headache within itself to actually find someone who's a good fit, is affordable, and won't waste your time. However, seasonal depression can be a seriously debilitating thing, and it's a good idea to talk to a professional to brainstorm ways to overcome or cope. It's also super-empowering to be seen and heard and not feel like you're overwhelmed with demotivation and sluggishness.
Through therapy, I learned how to spot seasonal depression at the onset when I felt demotivated or couldn't really get my creative juices flowing at work. We'd troubleshoot what I could do to pivot and how to know when to sit in the feels and go through the motions or when to do the total opposite, get out of my head, and take action for a solution. I only found healthy ways to cope through therapy because there were certain strategies my therapist knew about that I'd been unaware of.
I've never been a huge fan of fall or winter, but I've found that breathing techniques, visualization, exercise, and embracing doing new things in those seasons have truly been helpful. I've also given in to romanticizing fall by decorating my home and shopping the trends (even if it's just one very subtle touch of decor or incorporation of a fashion trend). I now enjoy all that season brings while getting my rest and unapologetically prepping for creative and mental hibernation in the winter.
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