Welcome to 2016! The holidays festivities are over, the temperature has dropped a few degrees and the sun is now only making a brief appearance. It’s officially winter and with winter comes the blues - whether it’s a mild case of exhaustion from the busy holiday season or a full blown case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), you can help keep your energy levels (and your spirits) up with these five essential oils.
#1 Basil
This is the powerhouse essential oil for combating the effects of SAD. Basil stimulates your mind, giving you a boost of energy, clearing up mental fatigue and helping you focus. If you’re having trouble keeping those eye lids open during the work-day, add a few drops of basil to your diffuser and you’ll make it to quitting time!
#2 Mint
Peppermint and spearmint are excellent stimulants. Their fresh scents shoot right through to the brain to wake you up, while also rejuvenating your senses so that you can deal with any problems that come your way. Peppermint’s stronger scent overpowers fatigue while spearmint’s softer fragrance is better for use with children in the room.
#3 Rosemary
Feeling like your nerves are frayed, but you don’t have the energy to deal with it? Then rosemary is your essential oil. A stimulant, it will wake you up while its uplifting properties help you focus on the tasks at hand. As for those pesky nerves, a quick whiff of rosemary will lift your spirits immediately.
#4 Lavender
Another symptom of SAD is insomnia and to help you with that is our dear friend lavender. The calming floral scent induces sleep, calms the nerves and stimulates mental activity. Blend it with rosemary to pack a bit of a punch to your aromatherapy regime - this powerful combo will decrease your mental stress and anxiety, and increase your cognitive function!
#5 Lemon
Add a bit of cheer to your day with this uplifting essential oil. Lemon is a restorative that helps you maintain focus and concentration throughout the day. Its fresh scent will also boost flagging energy levels so that you can stay awake during your next office meeting… no matter how long it drags on for.
Alternatives
If you’re not a fan of these essential oils or don’t have them on hand, you can grab citrus oils (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc) to lift your spirits and give you a spark of energy. For the winter blues, try a floral essential oil - the subtle energies fight off depression.
Which essential oils do you like to use to keep you going through the cold winter months? Share them with us on our Facebook page!
