A: a plant

Boss running you ragged? Take your troubles to Phil O’Dendron. Research from Japan shows that after touching a houseplant for two minutes, men felt calmer and had reduced blood flow to brain regions activated during stress. Study author Kazuko Koga, Ph.D., says we are wired to constantly assess whether our surroundings are pleasant (calming) or unpleasant (stressful), with nature falling into the “Pleasant” column. The men touched devil’s ivy, but Koga says any plant with smooth, soft leaves, like a philodendron or peace lily, should work.