As a Mom of three I know there have been so many times I have felt anxious.  It is such a terrible feeling.  I honestly greatly dislike to feel anxious so I knew right away this was one battle I wanted to learn to win.

Essential oils were a huge part of this journey.  But before I started using natural products, I needed to journal what my typical week looked like and when anxiety was sneaking up.  I needed to assess the triggers.  I needed to know time frames and exactly how long and what would help me to prevent having an anxiety attack in the first place, and what I could do to kick it.

I created a framework to use and looked at it daily, then weekly, then biweekly and so forth.  I updated it as needed.  This helped me to stay focused and keep on track with my self care routine to prevent anxiety attacks.  Hey, P.S. - I teach this exact framework to create balance!  It can be used over and over again!  You can book a call here to get started!

I made sure I was doing all of the basics too, like staying hydrated, started a sleep schedule, started waking up an hour before the little's, amped up my diet, and went for walks and stretched more regularly.

I then started to experiment with which essential oils I could use that were safe to use around the little's.  Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) became my go to's. I found that if I diffused Lavender and Mandarin when I felt like things were getting a bit chaotic, I was able to create a calm and uplifting environment which preventing anxiety from sneaking up on me.

I found that if I was already becoming anxious, using Lavender, Frankincense, and either citrus above helped my nervous system calm down faster.

I found that I could use these oils prior to certain occasions or events, or even certain times of the day to help keep us all on a calmer and much more pleasant level!  Win Win!  This wasn't just working for me, it was helping my children stay emotionally balanced as well.  I was creating a more peaceful, fun, happy, and relaxing environment for us.

Now I am not saying that you have to use these exact oils, but I am sharing a few of my first favorites to promote calm, relaxation, and ease anxiety.  You will have to do the research and check precautions of course!  Especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or in regards to your child's age and health profile.

So how did I use these oils... well there are many ways one can use them.  Here are some suggestions that might work for you:

• Add a few drops to a bowl of slightly steamy water (keep away from kiddos to prevent burns) and allow the aromatics to fill the room
• Add a few drops of each e.o. in a diffuser (start out by adding one drop of an e.o., then add another, then another.. this will help you determine how many e.o.'s you would like to use or like to blend and the amount.  If you feel an oil is overpowering, you can calm it with additional drops of a citrus e.o. or your favorite kid safe e.o.)
• Add a few drops to your bath... if you missed my recent insta post with bath time dilutions - check it out here!  Be sure to always make sure e.o.'s are bath safe prior to use.  Just because they are kid safe, doesn't mean they are bath safe too!  Always dilute your e.o.'s in a carrier oil, and again, grab dilution rations for kiddos by age at link above!
• Add a few drops to a tissue and waft in front of your nose or your kiddos.  Take a five minute time out to do some deep breathing and grounding work.   Starting by taking three slow deep breaths.   Slowly inhale being sure to focus on dropping your tense shoulders as you exhale.  Then slowly exhale the anxious thought and inhale a good thought.  Note things around you... talk to yourself "My child is safe.  I am safe.  Inhale, exhale.  We are at home.  We are happy.  Inhale, exhale.  I will only allow myself to be upset about xyz for five minutes and then I am moving on with my day.  Inhale, exhale.  I only have to do this and this today and then I am only focusing on me and my child.  Inhale, exhale.  HUG, SNUGGLE, and FEEL YOUR FEET GROUNDED TO THE FLOOR.  Go outside and deep breathe to really amp up the grounding.
• Use a nasal inhaler instead of a tissue and have access to your favorite calming blend for months!  This saves you a TON of money on drops of e.o.'s.
• Create a roller ball blend to use and carry with you.  If you are unsure how many drops of e.o.'s to use for a blend for your kiddo, feel free to reach out!  Using proper dilution of essential oils and carrier oils is key for safe practice and prevents your kiddo from possible unwanted adverse reactions.

SO WHAT IF I DO NOT WANT TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS?

No worries, here are a few quick tips:

1. Use hydrosol's instead.  Hydrosol's are also called "floral waters" and they are way less concentrated than essential oils, making them a lot safer for use with kids anyways!  They are created during the distillation process of plant matter to obtain the essential oil from the plant matter.  The aroma is more subtle as well.  Hydrosol's can be sprayed into the air or even added to the bath.  They still have precautions so you must still check precautions prior to use.
2. Get moving.  Exercise and movement decrease our cortisol levels calming the nervous system down a notch.  Make it a point to walk, swim, or workout daily to keep emotionally balanced.
3. Stick clear of too much caffeine, food coloring, candy, and processed foods.  Eat cleaner.
4. Get some rest.  Try to get on a schedule.
5. Start saying "no" more often and only doing what is necessary so you aren't making your schedule too tight.  Being on the go and in a rush all the time causes anxiety just looking at the calendar!
6. Drink herbal teas known to assist in calming and relaxation, such as lavender, lemon balm, or chamomile tea.
7. Set aside time for the things you love.  Add them to your calendar with an extra hour included.  WHY?  Because you have kids! :)  Things come up.  Work can get in the way of our "me" time.  So if you book out an extra hour and something comes up, you are still golden to get your self care time in!

We are all on a journey for better wellness.  I hope this was helpful!  Don't forget I send out weekly emails with tips every single week!  Click HERE to get your tips so you can stay on track with your wellness!  You got this!

With much love!  Jamie

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