Boost Productivity, Creativity, and Wellbeing with Your 5 Senses | Gretchen Rubin

We’re so obsessed with tech, tools and strategies to boost productivity, creativity, innovation and even wellbeing. But, what if there was a powerful technology that did all of this, what if it already existed inside you, and it was not only 100% free, but always fun to access?

Turns out, there is. It’s our sensory system. Yes, the 5 senses we generally take for granted, but understood and harnessed, hold the power to unlock so much for us.

When we rush through life and work in overdrive mode, it’s easy to numb ourselves to the sensory world around us. We become head-down-focused, absorbed in our cognitive busyness. Our senses operate on autopilot, in the background.

But what if engaging our senses more intentionally could enhance our creativity, productivity, focus and presence? What if curating the smells, sights, textures, tastes and sounds around us could help us be more joyful, imaginative, and grounded in our work?

I never gave much thought to these questions until my friend and happiness researcher, Gretchen Rubin hipped me to the untapped power of our sensory system. She had a routine eye doctor visit that stopped her in her tracks. Like many of us, Gretchen took her senses for granted until faced with the prospect of losing one. This launched a years-long quest to uncover the hidden power of our senses.?

I recently had an enlightening conversation with Gretchen about her fascinating new book, Life in Five Senses. In our discussion, Gretchen shared groundbreaking research on the senses that challenged my assumptions. Her insights revealed how subtly yet profoundly our senses impact our inner world each day. Often without our awareness.

And, for those interested, the conversation also tee’d up a host of benefits, from productivity to creativity, that I’d never even considered.

Here are 4 key ways to tap the 5 senses to boost your creativity, productivity, and wellbeing.

Scent Shapes Decisions

Smell has strong yet subtle ties to memory, emotion, and even decision-making. In my experience, we rarely think about how ambient scents—from foods to air fresheners—unconsciously affect our moods and choices.

Gretchen suggests bringing intentionality to scent at work. Light a favorite candle to cue focus time. Avoid overwhelming smells that stress you out. Seek sensory pleasures that lift your mood. When you consciously curate scent, you tap into its powerful effects.

Uncover Your Sensory Blind Spots

We all have sensory preferences and neglected senses. Take Gretchen’s simple quiz to reveal your neglected sense—the one you pay the least attention to. For me, it was smell.

Discovering my blind spot helped me uncover new sensory pleasures, like exploring botanical gardens, being more intentional about scents and aromas while I work, and even just breathing more through my nose when I hike. Try new experiences related to your neglected sense. The more you engage it, the more you’ll grow your sensory awareness.

Harness Senses to Spark Creativity & Flow

Certain senses can shift our mental state. In my experience, curating the sensations around me has helped spark creativity. Gretchen suggests tapping different senses to achieve flow. Dim the lights, play ambient music, and sip tea to spark imagination. Or flood the space with natural light and step away from your desk to foster innovative thinking.

Experiment with evoking sensory environments that fuel your best work. With some trial and error, you’ll discover what works for you.

Respect Diverse Sensitivities & Sense Boundaries

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all sensory “ideal.” We each have unique preferences and sensitivities. Start by knowing yours, then communicate respectfully to find shared solutions.

Could you wear noise-canceling headphones while your colleague listens to music? Agreement might require compromise, but the payoff of a sensory environment where everyone can thrive makes it worthwhile.

Curating your surrounding sights, smells, textures, tastes, and sounds may feel small, but it offers big potential.?

Ready to learn how your senses could be the missing ingredient for bringing more energy, focus, joy, inspiration, and meaning to your days? Listen to my full conversation with Gretchen Rubin on the SPARKED podcast to dive deeper into the overlooked power of our senses. When you consciously engage them, you can unlock more joy, focus, creativity, and meaning in your day-to-day work. #creativity #mindfulness #worklife

Dive into the resources we've curated below and get started on the road to a more productive and inspired you this week:

How to ask for help. Asking for help can be uncomfortable, but you might be surprised to find out how often you tend to underestimate people's willingness to lend a hand. Learn the dos and don'ts of asking for help in the workplace and beyond using an easy-to-follow "SMART" system designed by professor and author Wayne Baker .

A gentler, better way to change minds. ?Trying to convince someone to see your point of view is hard enough, and it's even tougher when arguing with someone with completely different values. Discover a new, research-backed strategy to help you bridge the gap with more patience and compassion from Arthur C. Brooks .

Some US Employers Start to Move to a 4-Day Workweek. We all knew it was coming—the rise of the four-day workweek. Find out what companies that have implemented the new change have to say about the effects of a permanent long weekend and inspire your own ideas about the future of work starting here with Kathy Gurchiek .

Stop feeling guilty about delegating. Every leader knows that delegating work is sometimes easier said than done. But practice makes perfect, so discover five strategies in this article from Dina Denham Smith to help you delegate at work more often and with less guilt.

To learn your Sparketype, check out the free Sparketype? Assessment.

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