Engage Your Sense of Smell

I'm a guinea pig for hacks to be happier, less stressed, and more productive. I aim to filter the self-help practices to curate the best for you. The last thing that I thought would affect my productivity -- smells. 

Man, am I happy to be wrong. I'm now obsessed with aromatherapy: currently enjoying lemon and rosemary to make it through my afternoon slump, using lavender every night for sleep and carrying peppermint on me always to ground me. A study showed that workers with lemon-scented air made 54% fewer typing mistakes. 

Here are a few to start with:

• Lavender: Calms and controls emotional stress. Use: as a sleep aid.

• Lemon: Promotes concentration while calming and clarifying the mind. Use: when you are run down or anxious. 

• Rosemary: Improves memory and fights fatigue. Use: for a morning pick-me-up. 

• Rose: Boosts self-esteem, the libido and romantic feelings. Use: date night

• Peppermint: Energy booster that reduces burnout and frustration. Use: for brainstorms or stressful commutes. 

Engaging my sense of smell helps me be present. Different scents for different contexts also helps me compartmentalize -- work when I want to and relax when I don't. So take a moment and smell the roses.   #stressmanagement