Recent research conducted at Harvard suggests that waking up on the metaphorical “wrong side of the bed” might really affect how you feel hours later. The moods and attitudes swirling around you as you wake up can trail behind you throughout the day. For example, jumping out of bed with a smile when the alarm rings might make a big difference in how positive you feel about an upcoming meeting.

Just as importantly, the researchers at Harvard discovered a surprisingly effective method of ensuring that you wake up on the right side of the bed: looking at flowers when you rise. Going about your morning routine and seeing a bouquet of flowers can reduce anxiety and have a measurably positive effect on how calm and compassionate you feel in the afternoon. Looking at flowers can even help you beat the midday slump—seeing flowers in the morning is associated with a boost of energy.

Can flowers really reduce anxiety?

How can a detail as small as flowers in a vase on the windowsill affect how you feel about yourself and your life? Scientists aren’t yet sure exactly how it works, but evidence from a number of studies supports the idea.

One recent study tested the effect of flowers on wellbeing by placing them in the hospital rooms of recovering surgical patients. Patients who had flowers in their room had a much different experience of recovery than patients whose rooms were untouched. Plants and flowers helped reduce anxiety. Patients reported less fatigue and less physical pain. Even their blood pressure was lower.

You have probably felt firsthand or know from someone close to you that work can sometimes get you down. From time to time, sitting at your desk feels really draining. One study placed flowers in participants’ offices at work. Participants reported feeling happier and more comfortable. In many cases, the flowers bumped up how satisfied people felt about life and how positive their interactions were with others.

Besides boosting your mood and minimizing stress, flowers simply help you breathe a little better. House plants purify the air in your home by converting carbon monoxide into oxygen. Plants can also reduce levels of toxins like benzene and formaldehyde.

What do flowers have to do with happiness?

Whether you’re rushing to get the kids to school or to practice on time, or when you’re racing around to prepare the house for guests, a bouquet of flowers can help you center yourself. Maybe flowers remind you of simpler times at a favorite aunt’s. Maybe they remind you of taking a short walk outdoors.

Some scientists believe that the power of a small bouquet to reduce anxiety has to do with the psychology of color. Colors can trigger real emotional responses—there’s a reason doctors’ offices are rarely painted bright red.

Whatever the reason, flowers clear your head and make your eyes shine a little brighter. Treating yourself to a bouquet attests to one important component of lasting happiness: self-care. It’s easy to get caught up in what other people need—your kids, your spouse, or your boss. When you pick a few flowers for yourself, you place a premium on your own happiness within your world.

You can also help others reduce anxiety by giving flowers as a gift. Researchers at Rutgers studied how people reacted when given flowers. They found that people’s smiles when receiving flowers were genuine and big. Participants reported feeling less depressed, less agitated, and happier about life in general. The study also showed that flowers increased meaningful connections between close friends and family—an inextricable part of feeling happy in the long-term.