Too much to do, too little time
There is too much to attend to and too much to repond to. We are all suffering from TMI - too much information from too many sources; be it newspapers, magazines on and off line, emails, whatsapp, sms’s, YouTube, Facebook and more. Inherently, we have a thirst for knowledge so it is difficult to halt this runaway train. With the end of the year fast approaching, we have all of this and more to deal with. Kids finishing exams, end of year deadlines, the stress of money for gifts and holidays and the list goes on. This is the time we need to consciously make a choice to press our own pause buttons, stop and smell the roses.
Using Aromatherapy to deal with stress
Aromatherapy is a natural solution to help counteract the effect of the year-end rush. Nature’s energy is captured in pure essential oils, which have the ability to affect our mind, body and soul. They have a physiological effect on how we think and feel. There is also a vibrational quality in essential oils that can affect our cell tissue by resonance.
Use the 'it can wait' approach
We need to make a choice to take time away from receiving or responding to information - we all can do with an ‘it can wait’ approach at least twice a day. Taking a few minutes at regular intervals will change the way you deal with stress, as you will feel less rushed by creating pockets of ‘standstill’ time. Enhance this time with aromatic oils to focus the body, mind and soul on the present moment – being PRESENT for a few moments has the benefit of bringing calm to the storm.
Some pause actions
At the office - Every couple of hours, push your chair away from your desk, sit with your eyes closed and breathe in aromas (use an aromatic inhaler or inhale from a bottle of oils).
At home - While doing chores or house work, take a moment to pause. Stand still, close your eyes and breathe in aromas or use a room spray to enhance the aroma in your home.
In the car - Keep some oils in your car and some cotton wool in the ashtray. Add a few drops onto the cotton wool ball and top up when the fragrance fades. Or use inhalers and inhale the aromas deeply when waiting at a traffic light.
Whilst waiting - If you are waiting for a lift, a meeting or for your kids at school, instead of checking the time repeatedly when waiting, simply surrender and breathe – you will be much more relaxed instead of anxious and irritated.
Before bed
• Shower or bath using bath oils or soap containing essential oils with beautiful aromas.
• Instead of watching TV or staring at your computer screen or tablet, take 20 minutes to meditate whilst inhaling calming aromas using a burner.
• Self-massage your feet and hands with soothing aromatherapy foot cream.
These actions require choice, and will become habits when practiced repeatedly.
Aromatherapy oils for a calming effect
When pausing and breathing, use aromatherapy oils that have a calming effect. Choose oils that are calming but not sedating and have a balancing effect. The following oils can be used alone from individual bottles of pure essential oils or as blends of the same.
• Geranium
• Orange
• Mandarin
• Lemon
• Cinnamon
• Spearmint
• Palmarosa
Application of calming oils
There are various ways to use the oils:
Inhalation:
• Use inhalers containing a blend of oils for personal inhalation of blended essential oils.
• Burn your favourite oil in a burner whilst breathing deeply.
Absorption via the blood stream:
• Premixed bath and massage oils for use in the bath or post bath.
• Mini roll ons rubbed onto pulse points and for discreet inhalation.
• Soaps and body lotions containing calming essential oils.
• Bath crystals in a bath or for a foot spa.
We can choose to complain or choose to pause, breathe deeply and continue on the treadmill of our wonderful lives!
