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
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c7f759_02f52423defc432e869e90c4225e70b5~mv2_d_5692_3794_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/c7f759_02f52423defc432e869e90c4225e70b5~mv2_d_5692_3794_s_4_2.jpg)