Using scented candles for focus
Using scented candles for focus
A post related to this one addresses the fact that environment affects productivity. In it, I said I’d tell you about why using scented candles for focus is a choice I made to help me be more productive.
I use scented candles, one on either side of my giant monitor. They stand right in my line of sight as I sit at my desk, and there are reasons for the flames, the scents, and the candles’ positions.
Signal the brain to get going with scented candles
The sight of the flames right in front of my screen is a visual signal. The scent of the wax is an olfactory signal. The sense of smell is strongly associated with memory. It can be used to trigger different states.
I also use some other signals, such as Brain Shift Radio and an essential oil diffuser. They all send my brain the message, “It’s time to produce. No Facebook for you!” When it is time for me to relax, network, or connect with friends (none of which is producing content), all I have to do is blow out the candles and close BrainShiftRadio (I usually let my diffuser keep running).
Productivity has a smell
Unlit candles serve as a visual signal to me. It means I don’t need to be doing anything in particular. It’s not, however, a signal to relax. How so? Even when the candles are lit and I’m working, I remain relaxed. Why? Because I know all too well that stress is deadly. Lit candles mean steady and relaxed productivity, just as the flames themselves are steady and productive, giving light, heat, and scent as long as they burn.
In addition to using scented candles for focus, I use essential oils. Whether or not there are physiological benefits, using them can definitely help with productivity. It does so by serving as a signal to the brain. This little guy right here tells my brain it’s time to produce.
Using scented candles for focus
There’s another reason I use great scented candles.
- It carries a reminder that I, like the candles, have a finite amount of energy to burn.
- I need to use energy wisely.
- When it’s used up, it needs to be replenished.
This realization was nothing short of an epiphany for me. You might want to use candles for the same reasons and benefits. I recommend this sampler pack to help you find candle scents you love. Here’s to a fragrant increase in your productivity.