As much as we would love for summer to last forever... it must come to an end eventually. With September comes the end of summer vacation, and a return to school and work. Readjusting to a new routine can be a challenge. It’s important to take care of yourself and combat the stresses of these changes. A great practice that can help you de-stress and maintain your good mental and physical health is aromatherapy! Here are 3 benefits of adding aromatherapy to your self-care routine:

Improves Focus

After all the summer fun, finding your focus again can be tricky. Essential oils made from citrus, herbs and roots are some of the best to use for concentration. Oils like lemon, basil, rosemary and frankincense can be put into an oil diffuser which disperses the scent into the air around you. You can also apply oils to your skin, combined with a carrier oil like olive or coconut oil, and bring your aromatherapy with you on the go!  Using these oils during a studying session, big work meeting, or just during every day work and life, will help keep you sharp and focused! Check out our neighborhood friends Helen and Hildegard for all your essential oils!

 Improves Sleep

One of the most important parts of jumping back into a steady routine is always getting a good night’s sleep. A calming nighttime self-care ritual involving aromatherapy can put you in the perfect headspace to drift off to dreamland. Putting a couple of drops of eucalyptus or lavender in your bath, or bringing a few stems of fresh eucalyptus into your shower is an amazing way to wind down after a long day. Bringing all of these scents into your bedroom as well is guaranteed to calm your mind and body. You can spray your pillow and bed with lavender or keep some dried lavender on your bedside table. You’ll be fast asleep before you know it!

Relieves Anxiety

These kinds of transitional periods can be anxiety inducing, and having healthy coping mechanisms in your back pocket for these times is super important. Having a calming home space after a long day can be very soothing and beneficial to you mental health. Burning candles made with natural oils is an easy way to incorporate aromatherapy into your home space for a soothing, relaxing effect. Scents of chamomile, green tea, rose, patchouli and clary sage are all known for their anxiety reducing qualities.