You keep telling yourself there’s no special occasion to be grabbing that bouquet of lilies at the supermarket. Shouldn’t you be buying those for a significant other? Maybe you need to save that floral arrangement for your friend’s birthday party. Though all of those are valid reasons to purchase flowers, what more justifiable excuse do you need than buying them for yourself? It’s time to celebrate yourself, get those flowers you’ve been eyeing at the store, and not feel an ounce of guilt about it.
Self-Love Is the Best Excuse
A little self-love never hurt anyone! According to Society of American Florists, a study conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, found that flowers are a natural and healthy way to moderate moods. The study showed a positive correlation between flowers and life satisfaction over a 10-month period. SAF highlighted three key benefits based on the study’s findings:
- Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants expressed “true” or “excited” smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.
- Flowers have a long-term positive effect on mood. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers—and showed a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.
- Flowers make intimate connections. Their presence leads to increased contact with family and friends.
How hasn’t this already convinced you to go ahead and add a bouquet to your weekly shopping list? Celebrate yourself and feel good about it because there’s a science behind a floral presence!
Taking Care of Your Flowers
Just as you should be taking care of yourself as a part of your self-care routine, you should learn how to properly take care of your flowers! Think simple yet effective—for your flowers to thrive, they need an environment that encourages growth and values care.
Trim Those Stems
If you’re buying a traditional bouquet, make sure to give those stems a trim, preferably at a 45-degree angle. This improves water uptake and promotes a longer life for your flowers!
Like your bouquet, you should make sure to prioritize trimming out unnecessary stressors to ensure healthy well-being. That hair appointment you’ve been putting off? The extra hour of sleep you feel guilty about? How about the chocolate that you should treat yourself to? Be gentle with yourself, and watch yourself bloom.
Give Your Flowers Clean Water
Though it may seem like an obvious tip, refreshing your flowers’ water goes a long way when it comes to floral care! This applies to you, too—make sure both you and your bouquet stay hydrated throughout the week. Try to add fresh water to your flowers regularly. You can even set aside a time for you to refill your water bottle and your vase! More importantly, clean your vase’s water from any stray leaves or petals: foliage can cause bacteria growth for your bouquet!
Flower-Food For Thought
That little packet your bouquet came with from the store? Make sure you add it to the water. Flower food—typically made of sugar, citric acid, and bleach powder—helps prevent bacteria buildup and maintains the vase water’s pH.
Now it’s your turn to make sure you’re getting your proper “flower food.” Add whole foods into your diet, but also don’t forget to treat yourself to your favorite snacks! Balance is everything, especially for you and your floral friends.
Get Some Sunshine
Go outside and get that Vitamin D! Sunshine helps the photosynthesis process in flowers, helping strengthen the health of your bouquet. According to Healthline, a bit of sun also benefits your mood, and is great for hair and nail health!
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