With two children, ages 6 and 4, I feel like I am just now to the point where I’m finding my motherhood groove. After years of unsuccessfully trying to figure out how to juggle it all – children, marriage, friendship, career, health – I have finally found, dare I say, a semblance of balance in our home. Well, maybe not balance, more like acceptance?
This means that I have learned to embrace the chaos and find simple ways to relieve stress.
Life is busy, complicated, and unpredictable. And instead of fighting it, I’ve learned to embrace it and to try to find joy in the small, everyday things. That said, life is stressful, and I have days (months?) that make my head spin out of control. And I’m pretty confident I’m not the only one. In fact, according to a recent survey by Wakefield Research, 68 percent of people feel stress on a weekly basis, and 32 percent are stressed every day (women in particular). Can you relate?
From managing a team and clients with my business, helping a family member navigate health concerns, running my children everywhere they need to be, tackling home to-do lists, meal planning, budgeting, and more – there are numerous sources of strain in my life, and I have learned how important it is to find small and simple ways to relieve stress.
A few ways I manage stress during those hard-to-manage weeks and days:
taking deep breaths
getting outside to enjoy nature
going for a walk
listening to a podcast
petting my dogs
putting fresh flowers on display
And until recently, I had no idea the impact of flowers on stress wasn’t just in my head, it’s actual science! The findings in the University of North Florida’s study, The Impact of Flowers on Perceived Stress Among Women, show that living with flowers significantly alleviates daily stress. This research may seem obvious because who doesn’t love flowers, but the solution to reducing stress really is that simple. The study concluded that “adding flowers to indoor environments results in a statistically significant and meaningful reduction in stress.”
These findings support other research that shows flowers have the ability to make people happy, strengthen feelings of compassion, foster creativity, and even provide a boost of energy.
“When life seems to be in a constant state of frenzy, flowers can provide us with a much-needed moment of calm,” said lead researcher Erin Largo-Wight, Ph.D. Doesn’t this make sense? Stepping outside for a fresh breath of air while experiencing nature, or bringing that nature inside automatically puts a smile on my face. I instantly forget about the stressful client call I just ended or the tantrum my four-year-old just threw. I truly experience an immediate calm.
The study went on to say that participants who received flowers overwhelmingly reported that flowers improved their mood. Quite simply, this means that minimal effort can pack a big punch and generate a meaningful effect for loved ones who might be going through a difficult time or need a quick and easy pick-me-up.
I recently received flowers right as I finished up one of the most chaotic weeks of the year (and it just so happened that I got a concussion during this already jam-packed, super busy week). It’s amazing how quickly my mood changed, simply by placing flowers on my kitchen island. When my family arrived home that evening, everyone noticed and seemed a bit cheerier than usual.
This new research gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “stop and smell the roses,” and provides a credible excuse to pick up fresh flowers for some extra color and cheer in your home!
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Where is your favorite local spot to pick up fresh flowers?
