Aromatherapy for Self-Care
Have you ever wondered how you can incorporate essential oils and aromatherapy into your self-care routine?
Stress is something that affects us all in some way. Whether it’s from your job, family, health, or something else going on in your life, we all deal with it. A big difference is between us is how we deal with it. Someone like myself, who suffers from mental health issues, will deal with stress completely different from say my husband who doesn’t let things bother him in the same way. My point to this is, it’s all relevant. My stress and things that bother me are just as important as your stress and how it bothers you, however different the two may be. What we need to focus on is how we care for ourselves. What I want to talk about more today is how to use aromatherapy in your self-care routine.
Self-Care is not something I have always done. And because I’m being honest with you guys, it’s something I still struggle to do. On my journey of dealing with my anxiety and depression, I’m learning that taking care of myself is something I have neglected. Everyone comes before me and at the end of the day there just wasn’t any time left. I’m learning that I need to make time for me, even if it’s just once a week for 10-15 minutes. I do something I enjoy or something to help me relax. Whether it’s taking a bath, giving myself a foot or hand massage, reading a book, sitting quietly outside on my swing, taking a walk or journaling. It’s just a little time that is all about me, nobody else. It’s very hard. Especially when you are a mother or you are just someone who has never focused on yourself. It’s absolutely a new practice and something to get used too.
An easy way to use Aromatherapy for self-care is through an inhaler. Sounds odd right? I thought so too, honestly! But hear me out. If you are having an absolutely terribly day and feeling down, you can grab this little inhaler and breathe. That’s it, just breathe. It will seriously lift you up. Scent triggers your brain. I’m not making this post all scientific and all that good stuff, we will save that for another day. Just think of it like this, when you hear a song you love and it takes you back to a great memory, scent can trigger the same responses. So if you find a scent that you love, when you are having an absolutely terrible, curl up into a fetal position and hide under your desk kind of day, you can breathe in your favorite scent through your little portable inhaler and it can trigger your relaxation sensors (or something scientific like that).
Another option is to take a bath and add in some of your favorite soothing oils. Vetiver is a highly popular calming oil (it’s a love it or hate it aroma). If you choose to use Vetiver, a drop or two is all you need! Lavender of course is a big go-to. Bergamot is a beautifully calming oil. The one thing to remember about this oil is it is phototoxic so at night it would be fine but don’t bath in this oil before heading out to sunbathe! Also, VERY important, when you are adding essential oils into your bath, I highly recommend you mix them into a carrier oil and then add that mixture to your bath. Not only will it add extra moisturizing to your skin but it will be the safest way to use the oils. All you need is a Tablespoon or two and then a few drops of your chosen oil. Okay, back to the self-care……try adding some oils into some unscented lotion and give yourself a foot massage or hand massage. Add some lovely, calming oils into your diffuser (recipe below) and grab a book. Inhale the beautiful aroma and get lost in the story.
I personally also have an aromatherapy bracelet that has lava beads on it. My favorite oils to use are Patchouli, Lemon & Lavender. I add the oils to the lava beads and they hold the scent for about 3 days. Then during the day when I’m stressing out, I just inhale the beads and it helps me to relax. It also helps me to remember to breathe. I know it sounds silly but honestly, when I’m in the midst of a panic attack or stressing over work or kids or whatever, I tense up and hold my breath without even realizing it. When I have my bracelet on, I lift it up to my nose and breathe. It seriously helps me to calm down by just taking several deep breathes and then with the scent of the oils, it’s calming to me.
I hope these few options help you. Self-Care is something I’m constantly working on and I’ll be sharing with you anytime I have new ideas. And I’m always checking out new oils and you know I’ll post when I find something that helps with stress, anxiety or caring for YOU! And remember friends, just breathe.
-Much AromaLove <3
Self-Care Recipe Ideas
*Calming diffuser blend: 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Bergamot, 1 drop of Rose Absolute
*Soaking Salts: 7oz salts (Himalayan or Epsom), 3tsp carrier oil, 15d Lavender, 15d Lemongrass, 10d Rosemary
*Massage Oil: 1oz carrier, 4 drops of Cedarwood, 4 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Jasmine
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Disclaimer: Post may contain affiliate links. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. My products and posts are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases. They are not a replacement for doctor prescribed treatment and medication. Not intended for use on small children unless otherwise noted. If you are pregnant, nursing or under the care of a physician for chronic issues, please consult them prior to trying any essential oil products. All products/recommendations are for external use only.
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