Essential oils to get you through a difficult day

Yesterday did not start well for me. I had a busy day to get through with several clients booked in and a whole host of other jobs to get done. But thanks to the fact that my rather stubborn toddler has suddenly decided that nights are most certainly not for sleeping, I’d only managed to claim about 4 hours of rest the night before and I began the day with a thumping headache, no energy and a rather short fuse!

One of my first tasks of the day was to make myself an aromatherapy blend to sort out my headache and help lift my fatigue and that gave me the idea for this article.

From time to time just about everyone experiences one of THOSE days where things just aren’t going the way you hoped and you feel completely out of balance. Maybe you had a terrible night’s sleep too and feel unable to cope with the demands of the following day. Perhaps you have to give a big work presentation which is causing you to feel nervy and on edge. Or, some days, you have so much on that you have no idea where to start and the panic sets in.

Whatever the reason for your bad day, why not try an essential oil blend to get you back on track and help turn your day around. Below are some blends to try when things just aren’t going your way...

An energising blend for days when you’re exhausted

If you’ve been kept awake all night by a teething toddler, your neighbour’s car alarm or indeed anything else the chances are you won’t be feeling too great the next morning. But before you reach for another triple espresso why not give this energising blend a try. Whilst there’s no substitute for a solid 8 hours sleep, this blend can help to clear your head, give you a boost of get-up-and-go and keep you on track: 

3 drops rosemary essential oil

3 drops of thyme essential oil

2 drops peppermint essential oil

Blend the above oils together and use in a diffuser or inhale direct from a tissue. Alternatively, add the oils to a 10ml rollerball bottle and top up with a carrier oil then apply to the temples or the insides of the wrists throughout the day as needed.

Note: These are all strong oils so in addition to all the normal precautions about using essential oils, I only suggest using this blend if you’re generally in good health.

A calming blend for days when you’re feeling nervous

Most of us have experienced that nervous feeling of ‘butterflies’ we get on the day of an exam, a big work presentation or a speech to a room of people.

A little boost of adrenaline can be a good thing to keep you feeling sharp and energised but if you feel like your nerves are getting the better of you, then why not try this blend to help you feel calmer and less anxious about the task ahead: 

3 drops true lavender essential oil

3 drops bergamot essential oil

2 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Use as per above instructions

A grounding and focussing blend for days when you have way too much on

This is a blend for those days when your list of tasks or deadlines seem endless and even though you’re working flat out it feels as though you’re making no progress at all. When you have too much on it can be very easy for panic to take hold and before you know it, you’re trying to do everything at once and actually achieving very little.

This blend can help to calm and ground you it can also improve your focus so you can calmly work your way through one job at a time:

3 drops basil essential oil

4 drops frankincense essential oil

1 drop vetivert essential oil

Use as per above instructions

So, next time you’re having one of those days, just remember that there are essential oils to help you feel like your normal self again - although hopefully you won’t have to try these blends out too often!

Note: As with all use of essential oils, there are some safety precautions to follow. Essential oils are extremely strong and should never be applied neat to the skin or taken internally unless advised by a fully qualified professional. If you have sensitive skin it's a good idea to perform a patch test with your chosen oils, making sure they're properly diluted in a base oil. If there's no reaction after 24 hours then you can safely use the oils.

If you are pregnant or have underlying health issues it's always a good idea to seek the advice of a qualified aromatherapist to find out which oils are suitable or even speak to a health professional for advice. Extra precautions should be used when treating the elderly or the very young. Once again, it's best to get advice on the most suitable oils to choose.