"Descubre la felicidad en el cuidado de tus plantas: La psicología detrás de los placeres en casa"

Los placeres sencillos —esos momentos pequeños y aparentemente insignificantes— poseen un poder asombroso para moldear nuestro estado de ánimo y centrar nuestras vidas. No se requiere de una lupa de detective para descubrir la satisfacción que proporciona un trozo de chocolate. Igualmente reconocida es la recompensa impulsada por la serotonina que sentimos tras lograr una meta: los esfuerzos heroicos que el cuerpo recompensa al activar su sistema interno de bienestar, similar a la euforia que experimenta aquella persona que acaba de pasar una hora en el gimnasio.

Yet, there are other, more mundane, microscopic pleasures — neither virtuous (like exercising) nor vices (like drug use) — that ground us in the chaos of life. These are often domestic tasks, such as organizing a closet or trimming a pet’s nails, that offer a sense of balance and protection. They are so-called “refuge pleasures,” the little things that not everyone enjoys but that some cherish as a sanctuary.

“Our daily routines, whether domestic or not, can be surprisingly effective at disconnecting from stress because they offer a combination of automatism, attention and a feeling of having completed a task,” neuropsychologist Beatriz González tells EL PAÍS. “These activities are usually simple, repetitive and require moderate concentration, which helps focus the mind on the present and away from worries. In short, it is somewhat similar to meditation or mindfulness.”