Aromatherapy for back to school

School preparations in the mornings are usually a big job, getting everyone up, dressed, fed, lunches made, bags packed and teeth brushed! Diffusing fights, finding lost shoes and brushing through tangled hair. Buttoning shirts, straightening skirts and wiping smudges off of cheeks. It’s your job to keep everything moving forwards, like a well oiled machine. As everyone moves around the house I imagine it like a complicated tango, everyone needs to be in sync.

But being on a time frame can often mean delays happen, little people drop out of sync, older school go-ers don’t want to cooperate, everything gets rushed. Chaos and stress are often a part of this routine too. There is often shouting, threats and bargaining. You just need to get them out of the house. By the time everyone gets into the car you’re frazzled and it’s not even 9am.

What if we removed the stress from the situation? If we removed stress you probably wouldn’t feel the need to shout. Your heart wouldn’t race, anger would cool off. There would still be shoes to find and lunches to pack. There would still be hair to brush and shirts to button. But simply removing stress means you can take everything in your stride. And in fairness, what’s the worst thing that’s going to happen if they’re 5 minutes late for school as long as they get there happy, in one piece and ready to learn.

What’s the one simple step you can take to keep your cool in the morning? Aromatherapy!! Drop about 7 drops of your morning blend into a diffuser and place it somewhere you spend most of the time, the kitchen, bedroom or hallway maybe so you get a breath of relaxation every time you walk through. Here are some great oils to consider for different times of the day; getting to school, home from school and evening time!

Here are my top 5 oils for morning bliss!

1. Grapefruit – A beautiful morning oil that stimulates and brings balance the mind & body. It’s almost hypnotic and brings a gentle sense or euphoria.

2. Bergamot – uplifting and cooling on anger & frustrations! This oil is one of the best anti depressants and is a digestive, helping your body to wake up and easing butterflies or nerves.

3. Lavender – the most versatile oil there is, promotes relaxation. It relieves heart palpitations and mental exhaustion.

4. Peppermint – cooling for anger and hysteria while stimulating your mental capacity into gear. This oil is uplifting, perfect the morning routine.

5. Sandalwood – a very grounding and calming scent. This oil clears your mind and helps you be more expressive, bringing out the best of you.

After school brings a different kind of energy. Children have spent the last 5 hours learning, taking orders, following rules, playing to the social tune. Their senses can become a little overwhelmed so when they get back to the safety of their home sometimes they need to blow off steam and sometimes this can test mom or dad’s patience as it comes across like not listening or acting out. Older ones can feel the same too and may retreat to their rooms, seeking solitude and time to zone out. It would be nice to be able to press the reset button here, shed all of the day’s activities, worries and energies and relax back into the home environment so families can make the most of the afternoon they have together.

Here are my top 5 oils to do just that:

1. Teatree – is revitalizing and refreshing.

2. Eucalyptus – more grounding then teatree and helps cool off heightened emotions. Both of these oils also purify the air. They are anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and stimulate the immune system. Perfect protection against winter colds.

3. German Chamomile – acts as a tonic for the mind, clearing out the junk and pushing aside negative emotions. It’s also calming and comforting.

4. Rosemary – another tonic for the mind it also helps concentration and focus during homework or study time. It’s an antidepressant too and can totally uplift the mood.

5. Benzion – brings on relaxation. It’s very comforting and soothing, like a hug. This oil helps confidence to bloom while banishing worries.

Night time also needs to be peaceful. With dinner out of the way it would be lovely to slow down, bring the day’s activities down to a gentle simmer, quietly easing everyone into relaxation and getting ready for a restful night’s sleep before starting the whole thing again tomorrow.

Here are my top 5 oils for evening bliss and sleep:

1. Petitgrain – A relaxant for both the mind and muscles that helps slow the breathing and brings the body to a calm state.

2. Lavender – Again this is one of the most versatile oils there is. Soothing, relaxing, balancing, calming. This oil also enhances the properties of other oils in the blend. It’s a good one.

3. Marjoram – combined with lavender this is a recipe for good sleep. Have trouble sleeping? You need this. Just letting these oils work away in the living room in the evening will bring everyone to a calm.

4. Frankincense – a good oil for “letting go” of the day, or any negativity at all really. This is a comforting oil which helps slow and deepen your breathing.

5. Valerian – This is an old oil and was used during war to treat anxiety. It is another amazing oil to help with sleep and is a fantastic anti-depressant.

But as I’ve said before, please ask a local Aromatherapist for help with oils before you go and buy a load. Particularly if you’re using them around children! Every family routine and dynamic is different; your local Aromatherapist will know the best oils to blend for you and your family.

#itworks #Aromatherapy #stress #backtoschool #relax #sleep #calm