So now you know that natural light, blue sky and greenery have a calming and mood-boosting effect. To add to that, simply being around plants can cure what ails you. Research indicates that spending time around plants can reduce people's stress and lower their blood pressure. Not only that, plants help sick people get well faster: One study by the University of Rochester showed that keeping plants in a hospital hastened the recovery of patients and lowered their anxiety.

So keep a few pots of greenery in your office, your home -- anywhere, really -- and you might see an uptick in your general well-being.