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7 Tips to Ease Christmas Stress

7 tips to ease Christmas stress header

Although most people find Christmas a happy and fun time it can also be a stressful time. The need to shop for presents, send cards and spend time with relatives and people we don’t particularly care for and eating and drinking too much can all result in stress.

Christmas can also be a bittersweet time if loved ones are no longer with us. There can also be conflict and misunderstanding when all the family gets together.

Christmas is not as much about opening presents as opening our hearts

Try the following 7 tips to lower your stress this Christmas.

1. Deep breathing
If you are feeling very anxious or stressed try some deep slow breathing, just focussing on your breath. If you can go outside and put your bare feet on the grass while you breathe that’s even better. You may also like to use an Aromastick to bring feelings of calm.

2. Take time out for yourself
Woman Lying in a Bathtub Holding a Mug Have a relaxing bath or massage, listen to some of your favourite music, eat some chocolate or your favourite food and take the time to really taste and savour it. Do something you really like just for yourself.

3. Take some time out to meditate or listen to a relaxing visualisation.

4. Get plenty of sleep
Sleeping woman It’s easy to burn the candle at both ends at this time of year but you’ll find you will cope better if you get plenty of sleep. Not enough sleep can make you tired, irritable and unable to cope with even minor upsets. If you are having difficulty getting to sleep try making a blend of 2 drops lavender, 2 drops geranium and 1 drop sandalwood in 10 mls of vegetable oil and rub into your chest, neck and shoulders about half an hour before going to bed. This should make enough for a few nights use.

5. Drink plenty of water.
Keep yourself well hydrated especially during these hot days of summer. If you are drinking alcohol remember to also drink some water in between drinks.

6. Ask for help.
Don’t try to do everything yourself. Ask for help before everything gets too much for you and you start resenting others.

7. Scent your Christmas tree.
If you have an artificial tree you may like to take a few cotton balls and add a few drops of spruce, pine, cinnamon or whatever aroma reminds you of Christmas and happy times and place them in hidden little corners of your tree to bring the scents of Christmas into your home. Alternatively you could add a few drops of a blend to your diffuser to keep things calm.

Four Ways to Use Essential Oils

There are many different ways you can use essential oils. Here are four of them.
Inhalation
Direct Inhalation – This is one of the easiest ways to experience essential oils. Simply open the bottle and sniff. You can also put one or two drops on a handkerchief or tissue. Alternatively put a few cotton balls into a small bottle such as a used essential oil or tablet bottle add 2 or 3 drops of essential oil, close the bottle. When you need to smell the essential oil simply open the bottle and sniff. The aroma will last a long time. This is useful for people with anxiety who may use a particular oil to calm them down. Or add up to 15 drops of your favourite blend to a personal inhaler.

Steam Inhalation – Fill a bowl with hot water; add 3 or 4 drops of essential oil. Place a towel over your head, close your eyes and with your head above the water breathe in the steam. Be careful to have the bowl on a flat surface. Also make sure there aren’t any young children nearby. This is very effective for treating colds and flu.

Bath
Add 6 to 8 drops to half a cup of full fat milk and then add that to the bath water and swish the water around before getting in. By adding the milk you help the oils disperse through the water instead of sitting on top. Be careful which oils you use. Oils like lavender, geranium, chamomile and ylang ylang are fine but you may regret adding ginger, nutmeg or any of the hot stimulating oils.

Massage
Woman having an aromatherapy massage Massage is a very enjoyable way to experience the essential oils. Use 10 to 12 drops in 25 mls of cold pressed vegetable oil. For sensitive skin 5 to 7 drops is enough. Massage is wonderful for relieving muscle aches and pains, stress, and nervous tension. It can also help to ease the muscle cramps of PMS.

Perfume
Make your own unique perfume by adding up to 7 drops of essential oil to 10mls of jojoba or a cold pressed vegetable oil. Alternatively rose, jasmine or neroli essential oils in 2 or 3% jojoba can be applied straight to the skin.

Guidelines for Diluting Essential Oils

Here are some simple guidelines for diluting essential oils.

MASSAGE
For a 0.5% dilution use 2-3 drops in 20mls of vegetable oil or 5-6 drops in 50 mls.
Use for children under 10, eczema, psoriasis, sensitive skin, facial, pregnancy, emotional and spiritual blends.
For children less than 18 months of age use 1-2 drops of essential oil in 20 mls cold pressed vegetable oil.

For a 2 or 2.5% dilution use 8-10 drops in 20mls of vegetable oil or 20-25 drops in 50 mls.
This is a blend for everyday use.

For a 5% dilution use 20-30 drops in 20mls of vegetable oil or 50-60 drops in 50 mls.
Use for short term or localized treatment. For example colds/flu, localised pain, bruising and infection.

LOTIONS, CREAMS AND OINTMENTS
For a 0.5% dilution use 3-4 drops in 30mls/grams of oil/cream or 5-6 drops in 50 mls/grams.
Use for children under 10, eczema, psoriasis, sensitive skin blends.
For children less than 18 months of age use 1-2 drops of essential oil in 20 mls/grams vegetable oil/cream.

For a 2 or 2.5% dilution use 12-15 drops in 30mls/grams of vegetable oil/cream or 20-25 drops in 50 mls/grams.
This is a blend for everyday use.

For a 5% dilution use 30-40 drops in 30mls/grams of vegetable oil/cream or 50-60 drops in 50 mls/grams.
Use for short term or localized treatment. For example colds/flu, bruising and infection.

BATHS
Dilute the essential oil in half a cup of full fat milk, a teaspoon of honey, sobuliser or bubble bath before adding to the bath. This helps to disperse the essential oil through the bathwater rather than sitting on top of it. This is especially important in the case of babies and young children. Swish the water vigorously before getting in. Remember to keep the bathroom door closed.

Use 3-4 drops of essential oil for young children, eczema, psoriasis, pregnancy and sensitive skin. 1 or 2 drops is sufficient for children less than 12 months of age.
Use 6-8 drops for relaxation or revitalization.
Use 10-12 drops for infections, acne, boils, colds and flu.

FOOTBATH
Use between 2 and 6 drops of essential oil to a bowl of warm water. Dilute in milk etc. as above and/or swish the water very well.

STEAM INHALATION
Add 3 or 4 drops of essential oil to a bowl of warm water.

DIRECT INHALATION
Put one or two drops on a handkerchief or tissue.
Add 2 or 3 drops of essential oil to a few cotton balls inside a small bottle and close the lid. Use as necessary.

DIFFUSER / VAPORISER
Add 4-8 drops to the diffuser or vaporiser depending on room size.

COMPRESS
Add 2-6 drops to a 500ml bowl of warm or cool water.

MOUTH WASH
Add 1 or 2 drops of essential oil to a glass of water.

ROOM OR BODY SPRAY
Add up to 15 – 20 drops of a single oil or blend to 50 mls of water.

PERFUME
Make your own unique perfume by adding up to 10 drops of essential oil to 10mls of jojoba or a cold pressed vegetable oil.