Masters of the Oil-verse!

There are certain things that all of us have to do every day.  Some things are relatively easy: breathing, reading, eating (for the most part).  But sometimes a lot of the basic things that we have to do every day can also be a struggle to get through, like waking up early and getting our exercise in.  Happily, nature has given us some remedies to make things easier – essential oils that can “grease our wheels” (pun intended). Check out a few of these ways essential oils can make your routine easier than ever.

1. Waking Up

Our poor alarm clocks.  They listen to us at bedtime tiredly talk about the many things we need to do in the morning. They willingly agree to sing anything from guitar music to a rooster crowing. Each morning our “sleep zombie” pummels every nine minutes.  Then, an hour later, we apologize and it agrees to do it all over again the next day! When you are feeling groggy in the morning, lemon should be your first go-to.  Known for its energizing, invigorating properties, several deep breaths of this stuff coupled with rosemary and basil are sure to get your blood circulating and your mind humming.  You can even create a blend that you spray into your shower as part of your morning routine. Your alarm with thank you.

2. Eating

After getting ready a few minutes earlier than normal, you head down to the kitchen and try to decide what to have for breakfast.  You know you should probably make a green smoothie and grab a few boiled eggs, but there’s also your ever-so-comforting chocolate and marshmallow cereal.  Normally you’d say, “What the heck,” and grab the leftover doughnuts, but then you notice some grapefruit and lavender essential oils on your counter. Grapefruit is the number one essential oil that aromatherapists turn to when it comes to established good eating habits.  Grapefruit helps prevent overeating, ease cravings, and helps your body detox and slim down. Peppermint, a great companion to grapefruit, is known for its ability to ease digestion and prevent overeating. Just a drop or two of these essential oils and you will feel empowered to make the right nutrition choices for your body. Take a whiff of each. Perhaps you will decide to boil some eggs and make a green smoothie after-all.  

3. Studying

Whether at a job or at school, everybody has to study.  Sometimes those pages and charts can be a blur, and the fact that you’ve been doing it for hours isn’t making it any easier.  Happily for you, you remembered to grab some wintergreen and frankincense. Wintergreen has an invigorating effect with a sweet and pleasant smell.  Frankincense has been used for thousands of years to help clarify and focus thoughts. Put a drop of each into your palms. Breathe deep. Or rub the mixture across the back of your neck.  Feel yourself get another burst of energy to help you get the job done. This is also a wonderful blend to keep in your car. When you are on a road trip or even your evening commute and you start to feel drowsy, this is a great way to give yourself a pick-me-up. Couple this treatment with a cup of ice chips to suck on, and you’ve got a great substitute for an energy shot to get you through your day.

4. Exercising

We know exercise is good for us, but when it’s been an exhausting day, in an exhausting week, during an exhausting month, it can be a little difficult to make it a priority.  Happily for you, when you woke up early and took a refreshing shower, you remembered to do a little prep work. Sitting next to your remote is your car keys, water bottle, and vial of  peppermint and sweet orange oil mixed in some fractionated coconut oil. Peppermint is an invigorator. It increases your blood flow and stimulates your mental performance. Sweet orange uplifts your mood while simultaneously calming your raw nerves.   Put a dab of each on your wrists. Grab your gear, and carpe diem. You are now energized and ready to go!

5. De-Stressing

Even more certain than death or taxes, each day is going to have its stresses.  It’s important to help your body calm down. When your body is under stress for a prolonged period of time you may experience adrenal fatigue, which includes symptoms of exhaustion, irritability, and a weakened immune system.  Fortunately, you have cedarwood and cypress oils to help you out. Cedarwood promotes the release of serotonin in your brain, which gives you a feeling of peace. Cypress has a similar effect and is used in emotional healing to help with grounding.  Keeping these two handy will help you remember to approach problems with calmness and not to internalize them.

6. Going to Sleep

After a long and eventful day, there is a lot going on in your mind.  You are thinking of how great some things went, how difficult other things turned out.  You are also plagued with events the next day will bring. You set your alarm, promising not to let the sleep zombie hit snooze again.  With your brain all a-buzz, you look next to your bed and see some lavender and chamomile essential oils. Lavender, the star child of all essential oil-dom, is one of those magical oils we call an “adaptogenic” – it adapts to what your body needs.  It is calming when your body needs calming; stimulating when your body needs stimulated, as well as promotes healing and prevents infection all-in-one. Blend it with the ever-so-soothing chamomile. Put a few drops of each and massage it into your neck, forehead, and chest.  Your breathing will slow down, your eyes will close, and you’ll drift off into a pleasant sleep. Think of it as a bottled up version of a lullaby and a bedtime story.