Getting the Body You Want Naturally (Part 5: Rest and Manage Stress)
Stress is something we all experience and will continue to experience in our lifetime.
We all get overwhelmed and anxious because life tends to throw us curveballs and turn us off the path we intend to go.
And because of this, we often struggle to find rest and truly allow our bodies and minds to restore. This lack of rest continues the cycle of stress on our bodies and minds as lack of rest and sleep often leads to even more stress in our lives.
From a physical point of view, chronic stress can block healing in our bodies, inhibit proper digestion and deplete nutrients. And I don’t know about you but I want the work I’m doing to take care of my body to actually matter instead of allowing stress to take away the nutrients from the food I eat and inhibit digestion!
However, stress does not have to consume us and there are ways for us to rest well and manage stress by looking at three practical solutions to stress and the specific essential oils that can promote rest and calm anxiety.
3 PRACTICAL WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS
1. IDENTIFY AND CREATE ALTERNATIVES TO STRESSORS: Take out a sheet of paper and identify the common stressors and triggers in your life. Do you get stressed about work or finances? Do you get stressed about family members being sick or about how your kids will be when they grow up? Whatever it is, make a list of what causes the stress in your life and be totally honest about this!
Then after that, you want to create alternative responses to those stressors. For example, if when a situation doesn’t go as planned instead of feeling discouraged or fostering a negative mindset, express gratitude for what is GOING well in your life and choose to dwell on those things!
One alternative response that has really helped me is writing out affirmations. An affirmation is simply affirming something that is true and right. Take one of your negative thought patterns you identified above and write one positive affirmation to counteract that.
For example, if you wrote down that your body will never be at a healthy size, your positive affirmation would be “My body is beautiful right here, right now. It isn’t where I want it to fully be, but it will be because I am doing my best to love and treasure it for what is is.” Try to make at least one affirmation to counteract each negative thought pattern you identified in step one.
2. SLEEP AND GET REST: Getting sleep and rest are more important than most of us give them credit for. Not only does sleep help our body restore and rest, but helps our cells and body repair themselves. Sleep also regulates many of the hormones in our body (cortisol, insulin, leptin and ghrelin) that help regulate blood sugar, hunger levels, and even cravings!
One of the best ways to get more rest and sleep is to SCHEDULE having at least 7 hours every night. Make sure to shut off doing whatever you do at night with enough time to prepare for bed, fall asleep and then actually sleep!
Another way I try to schedule rest in is to intentionally schedule “pockets” of rest throughout the day and week. For example, rather than working straight, I take little breaks to go for a walk, talk to someone, or just listening to something inspiring. This mentally and even physically helps me relax and let go of any stress weighing me down.
3. HAVE FUN: Did you know that doing something that brings you joy and is fun releases happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine? That’s the very reason why after vacation and taking some time to just laugh and hang out with friends, relaxes you.
I challenge you to take time in the upcoming weeks to do one FUN activity you haven’t done in a while! And enjoy every minute of it. I promise you, you won’t regret it!
7 ESSENTIAL OILS TO HELP YOU REST AND MANAGE STRESS
- FRANKINCENSE: Frankincense is one of my favorite essential oils and is often called the “king of oils.” This oil helps promote feelings of peace, relaxation, and satisfaction when used aromatically and has amazing health benefits when used topically and internally as well.Frankincense can be used on the skin to help rejuvenate it and reduce the appearance of imperfections. However, it is also amazing in supporting cellular health and function.One practical way to use frankincense is to apply 1-3 drops to palms of hands, soles or feet, and massage for 30-60 seconds gently as needed.
- LAVENDER
This oil is a MUST HAVE due to its versatility. Not only is it good for its calming and relaxing effects but also its effects on skin health. This oil can be used aromatically, topically and internally to promote feelings of peace, rest and may induce sleep. This oil can help promote peaceful digestion as well!
However, lavender may also be used for skin blemishes, imperfections, and even burns! I’ve known a lot of people who have used lavender when they experienced a burn and it really helped with the regeneration process.
3. PEPPERMINT
Although peppermint is also a great oil to for energy, it’s also just a great oil for focusing the mind, increasing alertness, and relieving headaches (especially those stress ones).
This is one of my FAVORITE oils for when I have a headache or just need some focus. I’ll put a drop of this and the Wild Orange essential oil in my hand palms, and inhale it in. It never fails to calm me or and focus my mind.
4. SERENITY (RESTFUL BLEND)
This is one of my FAVORITE blends from doTERRA! This blend not only helps calm emotions and create a sense of peace, it also helps relieve tension and provide a restful sleep. This oil is a blend of some amazing essential oils and natural plants like: Lavender Flower, Cedarwood, Ho Wood Leaf, Ylang Ylang Flower, Marjoram Leaf, Roman Chamomile Flower, Vetiver Root, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Hawaiian Sandalwood Wood.
My husband and I LOVE to diffuse this blend at night with two other lovely and restful oils – Balance and Vetiver.
5. BALANCE (GROUNDING BLEND)
This blend again (as you are probably catching on) is one of my FAVORITE blends for calming, grounding and providing tranquility. This blend is great to put on the bottom of your feet to begin or end your day, apply when traveling on long road trips or in the airplane, and even diffusing at night to promote a calming and restful sleep. This blend contains spruce Needle/Leaf, Ho Wood, Frankincense Resin, Blue Tansy Flower, and Blue Chamomile Flower essential oils in a base of Fractionated Coconut Oil.
6. VETIVER
Vetiver is what I call my “tranquilizer oil” simply because it really helps me to RELAX, GET CALM, and STAY CALM. This oil is sourced from Haiti and is a member of the grass family. Unlike other grasses, Vetiver’s grass roots grow DOWN and help prevent soil erosion. Due to its rich and exotic scent, it’s ideal for massages and for rest at night.
I personally diffuse vetiver while sleeping and also apply it to the bottom of my feet! This is a MUST if you are looking for something to calm you both at night during the day.
7. DEEP BLUE
Deep Blue is GREAT for helping to relax your achy muscles and joints. This blend contains wintergreen, camphor, blue chamomile, blue tansy, ylang-ylang, osmanthus and helichrysum oils. This blend is WHY I started to use essential oils consistently and started to share them with others. Not only is this blend is amazing in helping to relieve joint pain, calms osteoarthritis, and soothe muscles, it also may help with healing tissues and reducing the pain from inflammation – which is exactly my story with it! You can ready more about that >>HERE<<.
This blend is great to apply after exercise or even at night before bed to start to really relax your muscles, body and mind!
SUPPORT FOR YOU
If you are looking for more support on your health journey, I would love to support you in any way I can!
Here are a few suggestions below:
1.WOMEN OF HEALTH AND PURPOSE GROUP: If you are a woman looking for community and help on your health journey (as well as in owning your worth and purpose), I would love to have you join our online community! All you have to do is click “JOIN” >>HERE<<.
2.HEALTH COACHING: I offer 1:1 health coaching packages that range from 90-minute sessions to 3-month coaching packages. If that is something you are interested in, feel free to check out my health coaching programs >>HERE<< and then book a call for us to talk about what it would be like to work together.
3.ESSENTIAL OILS CONSULTATION: If you are interested in trying essential oils, I would love to talk more with you about it! Feel free to find a time in my calendar to book a call >>HERE<<.
Take charge of your health today! Through applying these practical steps above and using essential oils as a natural solution for your health, you will begin to get the body you want naturally by managing your stress and getting the sleep you deserve and need!
Leave a comment and let me know if you have any questions at all!
