Jennifer Garner’s "Pink Pop" Secret: How to Trick Your Body into Thinking It’s Spring

Jennifer Garner’s recent Instagram shot of her cat caught my eye. (Check the third slide!) While I came for the cat, it was the pretty pink bouquet peeking out from the background that really stole my heart. The smile on my face made me realize that flowers are not only pretty props – they also have a surprising ability to brighten our lives, especially in the dreary depths of winter.

Recreate the Look

Flowers indoors aren’t just for aesthetics; they’re tiny, cheerful therapists. And if you’re one of those people who needs to see some studies, no problem, I've got you!

Behavioral research from Rutgers University shows that flowers have a genuine ability to boost our mental health. Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study, told The Society of American Florists, “What’s especially exciting about this research is that it challenges traditional ideas about how people manage everyday stress in healthy ways." She continued, “Flowers offer a natural, accessible way to support emotional well-being.”

Basically, flowers are your self-care on display.

The Science of Seeing Flowers

Flowers have such an emotional impact that you don’t even need to touch them to feel the benefits. A study published in PMC found that all you had to do was look at colorful flowers to have a significant improvement in your mood, including a reduction in tension, anxiety, and fatigue, with an increase in positive emotion like happiness.

Not only that, but further research published in ScienceDirect shows that flowers change how we perceive the world around us. In the study, participants in rooms with flowers judged people more positively and remembered more details. This suggested that flowers subtly strengthen our perception of things.

How Flowers Help in Winter

Let’s be honest, winter is a tough season for many people. It even gets the honor of having the most depressing day of the year (Blue Monday). But bringing flowers indoors can counteract the gray skies and shorter days. In the same study from Rutgers, flowers were shown to lower physiological stress markers like cortisol and blood pressure, meaning your body relaxes while your mind perks right up.

A small pop of pink or red blooms can trick your body into thinking spring has finally sprung, even if it’s snowing outside.

Best Picks for Mental Wellness Blooms This Winter

If you’re looking to boost your spirits in the dead of winter, here are some of the best flowering plants to brighten your mood:

1. Cyclamen

Cyclamen is a winter favorite for a reason. These bright flowers bloom beautifully indoors through late fall and winter. The exquisite hues bring the biggest burst of color to counteract those seasonal blues simply by being in sight.

Pro tip: These flowers thrive in bright, but indirect sunlight with slightly moist soil. These will do well in cooler indoor temperatures, so these are the flowers for you if you do as well.

Home Depot sells potted live cyclamens like these that come in red and white.

2. Jasmine

Jasmine is all about the soothing fragrance, with research suggesting it can ease anxiety and promote calm feelings.

Pro tip: Add a jasmine plant near a comfy seating area or a bedroom to enjoy that gentle scent that relaxes your mind after a long day.

3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies bloom with elegant white flowers even in winter, and they improve the quality of the air in your home. Cleaner air can help reduce mental fatigue and give you some restful moments.

Pro tip: Peace lilies are great for beginners as they are very forgiving. They like bright, indirect light and very consistent moisture.

4. African Violets

These don’t take up a lot of space and bloom easily inside, adding a cheerful color to your desk, shelves, or bedside table. The flowers may be small, but they're a constant reminder that life and beauty don’t stop just because it’s cold outside.

Pro tip: African violets always need to be watered from the bottom to avoid spots on the leaves.

This Self Watering Plant Pot from Amazon was made for African violets, and it's a neutral white, so it can go anywhere in your house.

5. Orchids (Phalaenopsis)

Orchids are long-lasting, and they stay vibrant for weeks and even months in some cases. These mind-boggling flowers are perfect for boosting your mood and can add a touch of fancy to your living room.

Pro tip: As with most of these indoor flowers, orchids do well in bright, indirect light, and they need a well-draining pot.

If your orchid gets too tall, at some point, you'll need some clips. These ladybug orchid clips (available on Amazon) are absolutely adorable.

Flowers don’t have to be just “pretty props.” Despite their small size, they have a big job in that they provide a mood boost, stress relief, and calming presence all rolled into one. Whether you grow them in your own garden, or get a ready-made bouquet, adding flowers indoors can have a major boost on your mood. What can I say, it’s science!