Stress Relief: How Flowers Can Help Calm You, Elevate Your Mood and Make You a Happier Person

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Stress is something that most of us, unfortunately, are all too familiar with. And so begins the search for stress relief.

Whether you’re trying to hold everything together, balance a job and family, or just have a busy, busy schedule, you know what it means to be stressed and need some stress relief.

Along with all the causes of stress are just as many remedies and stress relief tips to help overcome it.

Maybe you’ve tried them and maybe they’ve worked…or not.

If you’re still in need of relief, consider this simple solution before you try medication (or even pricey spa treatments)… flowers.

Yes, you read that right. I said flowers.

Okay. It’s time for my confession. I love flowers….Really. Love. Flowers. They make me feel so happy!

But I rarely receive them.

And because I thought for a long time that buying flowers for myself was somehow an extravagance, I didn’t often purchase them for myself.

We all know the joy of receiving flowers for special occasions or from a special someone.

That same feeling can help provide some much needed stress relief just when you need it most.

Don’t believe me? Let’s look at the science.

Psychologist Jeannette Haviland-Jones, her husband geneticist Terry R. McGuire and others, published findings from research on flowers and mood in 2005.

In the findings from their studies, flowers were found to elevate mood. The researchers stated “ in three different studies we show that flowers are a powerful positive emotion ‘inducer’” .

They further determined that flowers had both immediate and long-term effects on “emotional reactions, mood, social behaviors and even memory for both males and females”.

Finally, they showed that flowers and their scents promote people’s happiness, and suggested a co-evolutionary theory in which flowers became the “pets” of the plant world.

A 2008 study by Parks and Mattson, researchers from the Department of Horticulture, Recreation and Forestry at Kansas State University, revealed that hospital patients with flowers in their rooms felt less anxious, needed less post-operative medication, and were generally in a more positive state of mind (having a more positive attitude) than patients with no flowers in the room.

Hopefully you won’t be spending time in the hospital anytime soon, but you could ideally experience the same effects by placing flowers in your home, other personal spaces or spaces where you spend time (office or professional spaces) and allowing their simple beauty to cheer you there as well.

So how exactly can flowers help with stress relief? So glad you asked.

Stress Relief #1 – Flowers Can Help Calm You

Earlier, we mentioned the joy that comes when receiving flowers, but the positive mood effects of flowers goes way beyond that initial moment. Flowers can help put us in a better state of mind in several different ways.

For example research has shown, and it is widely recognized, that the scent of lavender flowers when it is inhaled has a relaxing, soothing effect and can help us to sleep better.

Stress Relief #2 – Flowers Can Elevate Your Mood

Different colors of flowers can affect our mood – soft, pastel colors like pink and lavender give a calming, relaxing effect, while bold and vibrant colors such as red and orange invoke energy and passion.

You have the freedom to choose colors according to the mood you want to create.

Stress Relief #3 – Flowers Make You a Happier Person

Why are flowers such popular gifts for anniversaries, birthdays and other holidays?

Because they make the recipient happy.

Seems obvious, but why don’t we use this knowledge in our daily lives and not just on special occasions?

Think about it – if daisies make you smile or remind you of a special moment, why not have them around more often?

You don’t have to wait to receive them from someone or wait for a special occasion.

Get them for yourself!

It’s no different than treating yourself to some chocolate or another favorite treat, except that they last longer and are calorie-free!

It is worth noting that giving flowers to someone can also help to relieve stress and have these same effects.

“It is better to give than receive” isn’t just an old cliche…spreading kindness to others can elevate your mood, reduce stress and make you happy like nothing else.

So, if it’s been one of those days (or weeks or months) and you’re in need of some stress relief, try picking up a bunch of your favorite blooms just for yourself. In fact, do it on a regular basis.

Place your flowers prominently where you can see them and remember – what makes you happy, calm, relaxed, etc. makes you better, not only for yourself, but for your family and friends as well.

It’s not a crime to do something for yourself that makes you happy. If flowers (a natural stress relief) make you happy, buy some. Try a little flower power today!

If you liked this post, and especially if you bought yourself some flowers, let me know in the comments! And please share this post with someone you think might appreciate it. Thanks!

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Kimberly Clay is the founder and creative force behind What She Say. She’s a business professional, writer and editor who’s been creating and managing digital content for nearly twenty years. Her work is now focused in the areas of self-improvement and personal development, and she is passionate about helping other individuals, especially women, to find a path for living their best life.