Category: Self-Care & Wellbeing

1. Christmas Self-Care: Top 3 Essential Oils

   Posted on 9:00am Monday 6th Dec 2021

   

   Christmas Self-Care: 3 Essential Oils for the Festive Season

   Christmas and the holiday season can be a wonderful time of year, filled with celebrations, reunions and spending time with people we love.

   But let's be honest, it can also be a challenging time.

   There can be extra shopping, organising, cooking, travelling, financial pressure, family commitments and a very full diary. And for some people, Christmas can also bring difficult emotions, particularly if you're missing someone or your family circumstances are complicated.

   So, just like any other time of year, it's important to make some time for yourself.

   One of my favourite ways to practise simple self-care is aromatherapy.

   Here are three essential oils that I particularly associate with the festive season.

   Three Essential Oils for Christmas Self-Care

   Orange

   Sweet Orange is one of my favourite essential oils for creating a warm, cheerful and uplifting atmosphere.

   Its beautiful citrus aroma is perfect for Christmas and can make your home feel fresh, welcoming and festive.

   Try adding a few drops to a suitable essential-oil diffuser and enjoy the aroma while you're relaxing, wrapping presents or preparing for guests.

   Frankincense

   Frankincense has a long history of traditional use and is one of those essential oils that immediately creates a feeling of calm and quiet.

   I particularly love it during the festive season when everything can start to feel a little hectic.

   Diffuse it while you're relaxing in the evening, practising meditation or simply taking some time out from the Christmas rush.

   Cinnamon Leaf

   Cinnamon is another classic Christmas aroma and instantly reminds me of warming festive spices.

   However, Cinnamon Leaf essential oil needs considerably more caution than many other essential oils because it can irritate the skin.

   For this reason, I would recommend using it primarily in a diffuser and following the manufacturer's safety guidance rather than casually adding it to homemade bath or body products.

   If you want to use Cinnamon Leaf on the skin, it is particularly important to use an appropriate dilution and check professional essential-oil safety guidance first.

   Simple Aromatherapy Self-Care

   One of the easiest ways to enjoy essential oils at Christmas is simply to diffuse them.

   You could create a little evening ritual:

   • Put your phone away.
   • Make yourself a warming drink.
   • Choose an essential oil that suits the mood you want to create.
   • Dim the lights.
   • Put on some relaxing music.
   • And give yourself 15 or 20 minutes to simply breathe and unwind.

   It doesn't have to be complicated.

   Aromatherapy can be a lovely little reminder to pause.

   Essential Oil Safety

   Essential oils are highly concentrated natural substances and should always be used appropriately.

   Never assume that because an essential oil is natural it is automatically safe for everyone.

   Some oils are unsuitable for certain people or circumstances, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, young children, older or medically vulnerable people, and some health conditions or medications.

   Some essential oils can also irritate the skin or cause photosensitivity.

   Always check the safety information for the specific essential oil you are using and use an appropriate dilution for topical applications.

   If you're new to aromatherapy, it's worth learning the basics before making your own bath and body products.

   A Little Self-Care at Christmas

   Christmas doesn't have to be perfect.

   You don't have to attend every event, buy every present, cook everything from scratch or keep everyone happy all of the time.

   Give yourself permission to slow down.

   Take a bath.

   Go for a winter walk.

   Have an early night.

   Spend some quiet time with a cup of tea.

   Diffuse an essential oil that you love.

   Or simply sit down and do absolutely nothing for ten minutes!

   Self-care isn't about adding another thing to your Christmas to-do list.

   It's about making sure that you are part of your own list too.

   If you'd like to learn more about aromatherapy and natural self-care, you'll find my self-care book inside the Revive Self Care Hive.

   And if you're just getting started, you can also download my FREE Self-Care Toolkit.

   Reconnect. Restore. Revive.

   Until next time,

   Zoe

   x

   Until next time

   Zoe

   x

2. Ideas for Self-Care Sunday

   Posted on 11:00am Sunday 28th Nov 2021

   

   Self Care Sunday: Simple Self-Care Ideas for a Healthier Week

   If you've recently decided to take better care of yourself, Self Care Sunday is a lovely place to start.

   Sunday is often a little slower than the rest of the week, giving us more opportunity to pause, rest and do something for ourselves.

   Self-care doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. In fact, the best self-care is usually the kind that you enjoy and can realistically fit into your everyday life.

   Why Is Regular Self-Care Important?

   When we're constantly busy and don't make time to look after ourselves, it's easy to end up feeling physically and emotionally drained.

   Ongoing stress and lack of rest can contribute to things such as physical tension, headaches, irritability, poor concentration, disrupted sleep, low energy and feeling overwhelmed.

   Regular self-care gives us an opportunity to pause and recharge before we reach that point.

   The important word here is regular.

   Taking one relaxing Sunday every few months is lovely, but creating small self-care habits that you can continue throughout the week is much more beneficial.

   Simple Self Care Sunday Ideas

   Have a relaxing bath, go for a walk, practise some gentle yoga or stretching, spend time in nature, read a book, journal, practise meditation, enjoy some aromatherapy, have a facial or simply give yourself permission to do very little!

   You could also use Sunday as an opportunity to prepare for the week ahead.

   Prepare some nourishing food, organise your diary, change your bedding, tidy one small area of your home or plan something enjoyable to look forward to.

   Self-care doesn't always mean doing something relaxing. Sometimes taking care of yourself means doing something that will make the rest of your week easier.

   My Everyday Self-Care Routine

   I'm a great believer in creating a self-care routine that actually fits into your life.

   This is what works for me:

   I eat healthy, nourishing food most of the time, but I also enjoy cakes, chocolate and crisps! It's all about balance.

   I do some form of exercise regularly, including walking, yoga, Afro-beats aerobics and power walking videos. As I'm busy, I often fit in two or three 15-minute online sessions during the morning, lunchtime or evening, plus a longer walk when I can.

   I use essential oils throughout the day, choosing different oils depending on whether I want to relax, feel more energised or create a pleasant atmosphere in my workspace.

   I journal and talk to people I trust when I need to process what's going on internally.

   I also know when I need to switch off from the news. If I notice that watching or reading too much is making me anxious or overwhelmed, I take a break.

   In the evening, I put my phone on "Do Not Disturb" at least an hour before bedtime. Sometimes I'll do 15 minutes of gentle bedtime yoga and diffuse relaxing essential oils.

   And I love looking after my skin, so I have a simple twice-daily skincare routine and enjoy giving myself a proper facial every couple of weeks.

   This is what works for me.

   It fits into my lifestyle, I enjoy it and, because I've been doing many of these things for years, they have become almost habitual.

   Find What Works for You

   Your self-care routine doesn't have to look anything like mine.

   Perhaps walking, gardening, sewing, reading, cooking, listening to music, spending time with friends, having a quiet cup of tea or getting out into nature makes you feel good.

   The key is to choose things that you enjoy, that make you feel better and that you can realistically continue.

   Start small.

   Choose one or two things that you can do regularly rather than trying to completely overhaul your lifestyle overnight.

   Once those habits become established, you can gradually introduce more.

   Self-care isn't selfish.

   It's about recognising that your own wellbeing matters too.

   Explore Self-Care with Revive

   If you'd like to explore self-care in more depth, I've created the Revive Self Care Hive to help you reconnect with yourself, restore your energy and develop simple self-care rituals that fit into real life.

   Inside the Hive you'll find self-care guides, practical resources and other holistic wellbeing content covering areas such as aromatherapy, Ayurveda, skincare, stress management and seasonal living.

   I also have a range of self-care online courses if you'd like to take your self-care journey a little further.

   And if you're not sure where to start, you can download my FREE Self-Care Toolkit and begin with a few simple ideas.

   Remember, you don't have to do everything.

   Just start with one small thing that makes you feel good.

   Happy Self Care Sunday!

   Until next time,

   Zoe

   x