Welcome to the first post in our series ‘Exploring Wellness’. We’ll be examining the phenomenon, looking at what it means and how it can impact your daily life.
A word that often pops up in discussions about essential oils is wellness. It’s a bit of a buzzword, especially at the moment during January. It’s the season of New Year’s resolutions when everyone you know seems to be embarking on a different health kick. You might have heard of it, or been told you should be focusing on it, but one thing remains to be seen – what exactly is wellness?
What does ‘wellness’ mean?
In short, wellness is about actively pursuing a happy and healthy lifestyle. It means being conscious of the decisions you’re making, and how they will impact your body and mind. It also means factoring in daily practices to keep you feeling fit and well. These healthy habits build up to create a better and more satisfying lifestyle – not just surviving, but thriving.
We’ve all heard the saying “prevention is better than the cure”. Well, if medicine is the cure, then wellness is prevention. It’s all about keeping healthy on a daily basis and checking in with your body, to stop problems before they arise. It doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul of your life, just being more aware and making simple and healthy choices each day.
The principles of wellness
Wellness is a ‘holistic’ practice – going beyond just the physical to look at you as a whole, including your complex social, emotional and spiritual needs. There are six main health principles in wellness, though some models include up to twelve! These are:
- Physical – keeping your body healthy through nutrition, exercise, and good sleep
- Mental – engaging your brain through learning and creativity
- Emotional – accepting and expressing your feelings
- Spiritual – finding meaning and purpose in your life
- Social – forming connections and interacting with those around you
- Environmental – having a safe and comfortable environment
How aromatherapy can help
You may be wondering where essential oils fit into all of this. Well, there are many different ways in which essential oils can be used to help achieve some of the goals above. The best part is, they’re so easy to fit into your existing routine!
Aromatherapy can do so many things for you. Scent is a powerful sense, with strong links to memories and emotions. We’ve got a whole host of ideas across our blog and website for ways you can use aromatherapy to improve your daily life. Here is a selection of our favourites that focus on your health and wellbeing.
We all know getting a good night’s sleep is important to our everyday health. If you have trouble drifting off, essential oils can help. Lavender is one of the oldest sleep remedies in the book. We’ve got a whole article about how essential oils can help with sleep for more tips.
You don’t need to limit essential oils to bedtime, however – relaxing and taking a few minutes to check in with your body is worthwhile at any time of day. A short deep breathing exercise can do wonders for your stress levels. Some essential oils, like peppermint and rosemary, are known for relieving tension. Perfect to keep around at work, to ground you when things get stressful. The simple act of smelling your favourite scent can encourage a mindful moment.
Essential oils aren’t just for relaxing, though – they can also be stimulating! A fresh citrus scent like grapefruit or lime can give you a burst of energy and wake you up in the morning. Sometimes finding the motivation to exercise is tough, but creating a routine and making sure you’re excited can help. As we mentioned earlier, scent is connected to memory. By picking an essential oil to associate with exercise, you can help create that motivation for yourself. Smell the same scent every time you finish exercising, while you’re feeling good and riding that endorphin high. You’ll soon begin to associate that oil with how good exercise makes you feel!
We hope you’ve enjoyed the first post in our series Exploring Wellness. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be examining the phenomenon, taking a closer look at subjects like mindfulness and meditation. Make sure you stay tuned for the next post!
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