The Green Room

Every Saturday, I turn my tiny apartment into a ritual space. First comes cleaning. Floors, counters, windows—everything gets a wipe, a sweep, a proper look. Mess ain’t just dust and dirt. Mess is stress lying in wait, ready to push your brain into overdrive. Studies show that a clean environment can reduce anxiety and improve focus (Vartanian et al.). I don’t just do it for looks—I do it for my mind.

After the cleaning, I tend to my plants. Aloe, pothos, spider plants. I check soil moisture, prune the yellowing leaves, rotate pots toward sunlight. It ain’t just maintenance. It’s care. Plants respond to consistent attention, and even interacting with them can reduce cortisol levels, easing stress and supporting mood regulation (Lee et al.).

I pour myself a glass of lemon water. The sharp scent hits first, then the cool clarity on my tongue. Hydration and a small routine—these count. I take a deep breath and lean back in my chair, letting the sunlight hit my face. Motivation isn’t always a lightning strike. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it’s quiet.

By the time I finish, the apartment smells faintly of citrus and soil. My shoulders drop. My chest loosens. I realize health isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating little pockets of calm. It’s about rituals that tell your brain: “You are cared for. You are capable. You can rest.”

I sit in the green room I built for myself, sip slowly, and let myself just exist. Relaxing doesn’t feel like laziness when it’s deliberate. It feels like survival.

Works Cited (MLA)

Lee, Min Kyung, et al. “Interaction with Indoor Plants May Reduce Psychological and Physiological Stress.” Journal of Physiological Anthropology, vol. 34, no. 1, 2015.

Vartanian, Oshin, et al. “Effects of Clutter on Perceived Stress and Performance.” Environment and Behavior, vol. 45, no. 3, 2013, pp. 1–19.