The festive season can be a time of happiness, warmth and family love However for many people the pressure of creating the 'perfect Christmas' can lead to stress and sleepless nights. Finding the ideal present for everyone, making your house beautiful, cooking the best dinner ever, juggling family dynamics - as well as keeping on top of day to day life can drive anyone to distraction. This is where essential oils, diffused in a burner or inhaled from a tissue, or absorbed through natural products, can really help Some of my favourite soothing oils include:
Ylang-Ylang - relaxes the body helping to drive away anxiety, sadness, and chronic stress. It also has an uplifting effect on the mood and induces feelings of joy and hope.
Geranium - uplifts ones' mood, lessens fatigue and promotes emotional wellness.
Lavender - this versatile essential oil has calming and sedative properties. It helps reduce anxiety and sleep disturbance.
Sweet Orange - promotes a feeling of happiness and warmth and is mildly sedative. This sunshine oil always brings a sense of wellbeing into the room
My award winning Serenity range blends these beautiful oils in addition to strengthening Cedarwood, and grounding Patchouli and is the ideal natural support to helping soothe, de-stress, relax and aid with sleepless nights.
Calming the mind and soothing the soul in the evenings is a vital way to aid restful sleep and I'd always recommend the following serene ritual if you're starting to feel stressed - it goes a long way to helping you feel calmer:
In the evening:
- Run a beautifully warm bath, add a few drops of calming Lavender, or a richer blend of Serenity Slumber bath oil, dim the lights and light a candle. Lie back in the water and let the essential oils surround you in heart-warming aromas, let your mind un-wind.
- After the bath you can massage your body with a natural oil (like organic olive oil) or our Serenity Slumber Body oil. Massaging has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and gently smoothing your hands mindfully across your skin will aid with sleep and increase feelings of wellbeing.
- For an extra boost of soothing oil aromas you can light an aroma burner in your room, either infused with our Serenity essential oil blend or something soothing like a mix of Lavender, Geranium and Sweet Orange (2 drops of each). Applying an essential oil pulse point roll-on to your temple and wrists pulse points, before spritzing your pillow with a sleep aid like our Serenity Slumber pillow mist will also work wonders for a natural and rested sleep
- And remember - no phones in the bedroom and no screens (including TV) for ideally an hour before you plan to turn out the lights. Screens and sleep are not restful bed partners. Grab a book - a mug of chamomile tea, and snuggle into bed well before you plan to turn off the lights
Sweet dreams my friends, and I hope your sleep is rested and full of Serenity
Much love from all at Bloom xx