Office deadlines, household needs and all kinds of other problems leave many salaried workers under mental strain. But researchers say a green plant on the office desk can bring some relief from that stress.

A recent survey says that even a small touch of green at one's own desk is bound to change the working atmosphere at least a little, and the researchers recommend keeping plants at work for those troubled by anxiety.

According to the survey by a research team at the University of Hyogo in Japan, office workers' mental health is considerably better when there are "indoor plants" in the office. People who regularly suffer from work-related anxiety and stress in particular will see good results if they keep a green plant on their desk.

The survey, published in the Hort Technology journal, involved employees of 63 offices in Japan. Their mental state was examined before and after plants were placed on their desks. The workers were told to take three-minute breaks during work, first with no plant on the desk and then again after the plants arrived.

The survey found that looking at small green seedlings for just a few minutes during work eases stress considerably and lifts the mood.

Source: Dhaka Tribune. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.