Flowers have long been known for their ability to lift our spirits and brighten our days. With their vibrant colours, sweet scents and natural beauty, it’s no wonder that having flowers around can provide a boost to our moods. Recent research has delved further into the science behind the feel-good power of blooms. Read on to learn how bringing flowers into your daily life can help boost your mood naturally.
Seeing Flowers Lifts Our Mood
The sight of flowers alone has been found to provoke positive emotions and reduce anxiety and worry. Studies have shown that people who are shown pictures of flowers report increased enjoyment, interest and enthusiasm. They also feel more attentive and report feeling less negative emotions like sadness, anxiety and anger.
Even seeing depictions of flowers can provide a mood boost. Research has found that people who have real or depicted flowers in their homes report improvements in mood, but those with real flowers report more positive effects.
Flower Scents Alleviate Stress
In addition to their appearance, flowers’ lovely fragrances also contribute to their mood-enhancing abilities. Several studies have shown the stress-reducing benefits of floral scents. The aroma of flowers has been found to lower heart rate and blood pressure, two bodily signs of stress.
In particular, the scent of lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety and help induce relaxation. Keeping fresh lavender or a lavender-scented candle on your desk can provide an instant mood boost when you need to destress.
Growing Flowers Is Calming
For those with a green thumb, growing flowers yourself can provide mood-boosting benefits beyond simply having the blooms in your home. The act of gardening and caring for plants has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Plant interactions like planting, pruning, watering and harvesting have been found to induce positive physiological changes. Research has found that gardening tasks can decrease cortisol levels, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and improve mood.
Caring for flower gardens requires patience and provides a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and confidence as you see your plants grow and bloom. The whole process can boost your mood and give you a positive outlet for stress.
Cut Flowers Allow Mindfulness
Having a fresh bouquet of cut flowers from a shop like reidsflorists.co.uk allows you to appreciate their beauty up close and be mindful of the present moment. Gazing at a pretty bouquet on your kitchen table invites you to pause and take a few deep breaths, releasing any tension or worries from the day.
Flower arranging itself requires focus and provides the same benefits of mindfulness activities like meditation. Assembling a floral bouquet encourages you to be creative and focus on the colours, textures and shapes of the flowers. This immersive process can induce a feeling of calm.
The Healing Power of Flowers
Research has shown that having flowers in hospital rooms can provide measurable benefits to patients. Studies have found that patients recovering from surgery who had flowers in their rooms had shorter hospital stays, less pain medication intake, and more positive health and mood scores compared to those without flowers.
Next time you need a pick-me-up, add some flowers to your space and let their natural mood-boosting powers uplift your day!