When The Afternoon Crash Strikes, Use One Of These 6 Essential Oils To Help You Focus
I don't know about you, but between work and school, I have a lot of writing and reading to do, and it requires a great deal of focus. TBH, it can be difficult to keep my mind clear and concentrated during all the times I need it to be on point — especially when late afternoon rolls around. But ever since I began my love affair with essential oils, I'm definitely planning on experimenting with essential oils for focus to help me perk back up whenever I start to crash instead of relying on my usual caffeine fix.
Aromatherapy — which involves using scents to reap both mental and physical benefits — is a practice with a long and rich history, dating back to about 2000 to 3000 B.C. in places like Egypt, China, and India. Plants are put through a distilling process that creates an oil, which holds the essential healing properties and fragrance of that plant. Whether you're wafting these oils through your nose or massaging them into your skin, the plant compounds enter your bloodstream and work their magic from the inside out.
So, if you find yourself struggling to focus — as many of us do — when the late afternoon rolls around, these six essential oils might just do the trick to help you get some sh*t done and feel good doing it.
01Ylang Ylang
Plum Island Soap Co Body Oil: Ylang Ylang, $12, Etsy
Ylang ylang is an oil that's sometimes suggested for people living with ADHD. This essential oil is thought to have some lovely sedative qualities that'll relax a reeling mind and jittery nerves while still keeping you alert and awake so you can plow through that afternoon to-do list with a confident ease.
02Vetiver
Essential Relief ADHD Essential Oil Roller Bottles, $20, Etsy
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology showed that people who inhaled vetiver essential oil had increased energy, focus, and attention levels. Try rolling this bad boy on your wrists and neck before you start working on that social psychology paper you keep procrastinating.
03Frankincense
Leaves of Trees Frankincense Argan Hand And Body Lotion, $13, Petit Vour
Not only is frankincense believed to sharpen your cognition, it's also said to clarify your thoughts, encourage attention to detail, and banish brain fog, which can all get in the way when your to-do list is running off the pages of your planner.
This one might be super useful for my fellow writer peeps out there who know firsthand just how annoying writers' block can be.
04Lemongrass
Alvita Organic Caffeine-Free Lemongrass Tea, $4, iHerb
Lemongrass promises a whole host of potential benefits, including an energy boost, improved focus, and a full-body feeling of refreshment.
Light a soothing candle, and treat yourself to a hot cup of lemongrass tea to keep your mind sharp when you feel yourself starting to lose steam later in the day.
05Rosemary
Scentsational Rosemary & Mint Scented Natural Soy Candle, $22, Amazon
This rather delicious scent is said to be really useful when it comes to improving your cognition. A 2012 study published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology showed that diffusing rosemary essential oil can help improve the accuracy and speed with which you complete cognitive tasks.
Try wafting this heavenly oil just before your next exam. If nothing else, you're treating your senses to an intoxicating scent, and who doesn't want that?
06Peppermint
Peppermint Essential Oil, $5, iHerb
Ever the refreshingly stimulating scent, peppermint is thought to increase energy and improve mental clarity. Take a moment and diffuse some in your office or room to uplift spirits as you get down to business.
