Using Essential Oils to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

If you’re anything like us, the past two years have been beyond stressful. Between worrying about your health, your finances, your career, and your family, there doesn’t seem to be anything that isn’t anxiety-inducing. While feeling worried is a natural and normal human response to challenge and change, long-term elevated stress levels can be harmful to your health. 

Stress can manifest itself in many ways, including difficulty concentrating, depression, worsening of chronic health conditions, and difficulty sleeping. Developing a healthy way to cope with stress and anxiety is important, as elevated stress levels can also take a toll on our immune system. We have collected a list of ways we have been using essential oils to cope with the added stress of the pandemic on our normal hectic lives.

Essential Oils for Self-Care

It's important to make time for self-care. We’re all incredibly busy, but you can’t pour from an empty cup. Carve out time for a weekly bath using your favorite essential oils or scented bath salts. Put your favorite essential oils or a calming blend in a  diffuser and take a few minutes to unplug and read in bed.

Finding a few minutes every day to put yourself first can make the difference between getting through each day and being able to enjoy each day. Create a routine for yourself that you can lean on in times of stress. It can be as simple as making a mist with any one of the best essential oils for stress and anxiety - Lavender,  Clary Sage,  Bergamot,  Orange,  Geranium, and  Marjoram (or mix a few together to create your own blend). Just add a total of 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of water to a mister bottle. Not into DIY? Try our Body and Air Mists of  Stress Relief  or  Anxiety Release. For fun, whip up this simple  Orange and Cardamom body scrub and take an extra minute in the shower each day to indulge.

Essential Oils for Relaxation and Sleep

Focus on maintaining or improving your  physical health. Getting regular exercise is beneficial for your health across the board. Additionally, focus on eating healthy meals and snacks, staying hydrated, and prioritizing healthy sleep habits. If you’re anything like us, sleep can really take a hit during times of stress. And sleep deprivation can harm not only your mental health but also your immune system. Diffuse  Sleepy Time while taking a break from screens before bed, or add  Lavender, the best essential oil for relaxation, to a mister bottle with water and spray around your bedroom to promote more restful sleep.

Unplug

Take a break from the constant barrage of information from the news and social media. This is incredibly important for children and teenagers. Put the screens away. Instead do a short activity together, whether that is playing a board game or a DIY project using essential oils like this  homemade play dough. 

Practice Mindfulness

Instead of dwelling on things that are out of your control (ahem, all things pandemic), try to focus on the things you can control. Practice your deep breathing and meditation skills while diffusing  Frankincense and Myrrh. Create your self-care routine and try to get out for a walk each day. 

While you may think that there’s no time in the day for any of these tips, try incorporating one at a time. Whether that’s taking a few minutes before bed to unwind, or before the kids get up to sneak in a quick yoga session. Before long, you’ll be able to develop a routine that can help you transcend times of stress and reduce the anxiety that seems to be hovering over us all.

What do you do for self-care? Share in the comments below!