What is Self-Care?
For many of us, we been busy with our hectic shedules throughout the day, focusing on work, families and other obligations all before taking care of ourselves.Piortising upon everyone else first is admirable, but it can lead to burnout and fatigue.
If we look more deeply, we realize that self-care can help ensure that we're at our best and more capable of taking care of our loved ones and obligations.
Do you feel the same too? Give some thought on what self-care means to you.
My Personal Self-Care List
Self-care is about taking time out of my busy schedule to do the following:
- Engage in self-reflection, practise mindfulness and improving myself in body, mind and spirit.
- Refresh myself with rest, sleep and breaks as often as possible.
- Eat healthful foods (Looking into recipes that help me to prepare healthful foods).
- Personal care products that improves physical facial and body skin..
- Engage in daily fitness activities.
- Listen to my body. Seek medical attention when necessary.
- Find ways to pamper myself probably the least once a month
- Pray (ask and thank) and meditate (listen carefully).
- Focus on friendships and relationships with individuals that are nurturing, compassionate, realistic, self-aware and that challenge me and help me grow.
- Set boundaries with those who are emotionally toxic.
- Intentionally remind myself that I have self-worth even though I'm far from perfect.
- Appropriately, safely and mindfully incorporate herbs, essential oils and other plant based products into my lifestyle to support my emotional, physical and spiritual self-care goals. **Never substitute essential oils or herbs for medical care when needed.
The above bulleted outline is my own personal self-care list for use as an example. It's very broad and covers elements that you or others may not think of when you think of "self-care." Make your own self-care list today and practice self-care.
Since starting to work with essential oils in the 90s, I have found essential oils to be extraordinarily beneficial in helping support my lifestyle and in striving to be more mindful of ongoing self-care. We should have at least a few essential oils into the collections, each oil has the benefit to cater with different issues.
Incorporating Essential Oils Into Your Self-Care Regimen
Many self-care practices and products can be enhanced by the incorporation of essential oils. It's important, however, to remember that essential oils are very potent, and they should not be used or diffused continuously throughout the day. Be mindful of how you integrate them into your lifestyle and be sure to learn about general essntial oil safety precautions and the specific safety precautions that apply to each essential oil that you use. **Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils should not be used as a substitute for medical care.
Baths
Bathing is a beautiful way to cleanse, relax and unwind. If desired, you can listen to your favorite form of relaxing music, read a good book and diffuse calming essential oils. Essential oils can be added to your bathwater, but don't add them to your bathwater without first solubilizing them. It's really important to ensure that you solubilize the essential oils first because essential oils do not stay mixed with water and have the potential of seriously irritating your skin.
Massage
Self massage can be enjoyed in the convenience and privacy of your own home. Giving and receiving massages with a trusted loved one can also be mutually beneficial both emotionally and beneficially. The practice of massage can be dramatically enhanced when essential oils are implemented into the massage session correctly and sensibly.
Beauty and Personal Care Products That Incorporate Essential Oils
Mass marketed personal care products made primarily with synthetic ingredients can potentially be harsh on our skin, the environment and on our nostrils. A growing number of beauty, cosmetic and other personal care products are available that offer greater benefit and incorporate the benefits of essential oils. Of course, just because something says it is natural or made with essential oils doesn't mean it's better for you. It's always wise to ensure that you are purchasing your products from ethical, knowledgeable companies that truly understand the benefits and precautions necessary when formulating products made with essential oils.
Before I began using essential oils, most everything I used to cleanse myself and make me smell good was mass marketed and primarily synthetic. Now, I use more natural products to pamper and care for myself. I will never have perfect skin (and that's okay by me!), but I have noticed major improvements in my skin, emotional wellness and in my appreciation for investing time in more carefully choosing the products that I put on my skin and hair.
Here is a list of some products available that are formulated using essential oils:
- Bar Soaps
- Liquid Soaps
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Hair Styling Products
- Exfoliants
- Lotions, Creams and Other Moisturizers
- Bath Oils
- Bath Bombs
- Bath Salts
- Body Mists
- Room and Bed Linen Sprays
Inhalation Methods for Self-Care
Essential Oil Diffusion
Diffusion is the process of dispersing essential oils so that their aroma fills a room or an area with the natural fragrance. From the simple to the elaborate, many different methods exist for diffusing essential oils into a room.
Inhalers for On the Go
Our lives are so rushed, and diffusing while away from home can be inconvient. It's also inappropriate to diffuse around others who may be negatively impacted by the oils that we diffuse. We are all different, and particular essential oils can be harmful to those with certain health considerations or to women who may be pregnant. Essential oils also must be used with greater care around babies, children, the frail and the elderly. Personal inhalers can save the day by allowing us to use essential oils while on-the-go without invading the air space of those around us.
Roll-Ons
Pre-diluted topical essential oil blends are becoming more readily available in a convenient roll-on form. Roll-ons purchased from us make it easy to apply the diluted essential oil blend as needed. Roll-on essential oil blends are formulated to address particular emotional and physical concerns. Roll-ons exist that focus upon encouraging feelings of calm, assisting with pain management, helping to ease cold symptoms, etc. Be sure to follow the directions as the effectiveness of particular roll-on blends can be reduced if not applied properly. Let us know if you would like to create your own roll-on blends.
Essential Oil Jewelry
There are a growing number of artisans now making beautiful jewelry that is designed to allow you to diffuse and enjoy the benefits and aroma of your favorite oils throughout the day.
Essential Oils to Help Support Emotional Wellness
Essential oils have the potential to help improve our mood. Essential oils should not be considered a miracle cure for emotional issues. As a complement to our self-care, particular essential oils have the potential to greatly assist in supporting emotional wellness. It gives natural remedy while feeling a sense of relief that there no harmful substance while feeling good.
Spending Time to Learn About Essential Oils is a Form of Self-Care
With how busy life can be, the thought of having to spend time learning about essential oils may seem contradictory to the idea of investing more time relaxing, reflecting and pampering ourselves. However, if we do not understand how to wisely and safely use essential oils, our efforts may wind up being ineffective. As a part of your self-care regimen, set aside some time to learn about essential oils from reputable sources.