It is not news to anyone reading this: working in a library is hard. Doing any kind of public-facing customer service work is always hard, and right now a lot of things are coming together to make it more complicated.

We can’t fix that for you. Sorry.

But this semester, we are going to provide small weekly stress-management/happiness builder ideas. They aren’t going to make all your issues magically solve themselves. But, everyone can use a reminder to take a step back and breathe.

Gardening can be great for your mental health. Just being around growing plants can brighten up your day. And having all the oxygen-producing green plants around you may also be beneficial. Bring in some plants to surround your workplace and your home, to brighten up your life.

Maybe you live in a place where you can’t have a big garden out back. Maybe you don’t have the time and energy and patience for taking care of a garden. No problem. Of course, it’s great to have time and space to take care of lots of flowers and veggies; and if you can do it -that’s great! And if you want to keep it small, also perfectly fine.

Collect a few spaghetti sauce jars, or other good-sized containers you keep use up in your kitchen. No need to spend a bunch of money on fancy pots. Feel free to paint the container, glue on decorations, or just leave it as is.Just drop a handful of small pebbles into the bottom of the jar, add in a bunch of dirt. Use potting soil, or dig up some dirt from your yard. Don’t over-complicate it.

Get some seeds for some herbs you like, or some small flowers. Drop them into your containers and cover them up with a little dirt. Water them every few days. Set them in the sunshine – outside, in a window. Anywhere you can see them is the right place.

Or, buy some plants already grown and in pots. Buy some flowers from the grocery story.

Spend time with your plants. Feel free to name them. My grandmother, who could grow absolutely anything, swore that talking to plants was good for you and for the plants both – so I talk to my plants. Plants want to live and to grow; you just have to give them a little help. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just enjoy them as they grow, and let them help you to have a happier day.