Dealing with Stress, Sleep and Sadness
We all know that stress, sleep, and sadness are three words that do not pair well together. Too much stress usually equals too little sleep, which in turn leaves us more tired, more cranky, and more stressed. So how do we stop the vicious cycle? In this post (and accompanying class) we will talk about how we can stay more calm and relaxed during the day and enjoy better sleep at night to live a happier life. Let’s get started by taking a look at some statistics:
- 40% of Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep
- 8 out of 10 Americans say they are frequently or sometimes stressed in their daily lives
- Only 4% of people say they never felt stressed (must be nice!)
While we can’t claim to know their secrets, we do have some tips, tricks, and oils that can help you to stay more calm, relaxed, and grounded during your daily grind that in turn will also support better sleep habits at night allowing you to feel rested and happy in the morning.
Your Mornings Set the Mood
How you start your mornings has a huge impact on the remainder of your day. It can even be a very good indication of how you will end your day. If you wake up with your mind already racing, frantically rushing around trying to get things done for yourself and everyone else with your nerves on edge, you are setting yourself up for a day that will be much the same.
Gary Young developed something he called the Great Day Protocol. It uses four specific oils to support our emotions, promote feelings of harmony and joy, and guard against negative energies that disturb our thoughts and send our emotions into a tailspin. You can also use these oils to combat occasional sadness. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these oils can do. Use all four early in the morning, following the application instructions given, to have a Great Day!
Oils to use:
- Valor
- Harmony
- Joy
- White Angelica
You are now ready to tackle anything the day throws at you!
Mid-afternoon Slump
Despite your best efforts, you may still have days where you find yourself slipping into the abyss of negative reactions, occasional anxious moments, and stress-filled interactions with others by mid-day. Have no fear... Haven Roll-On is here! This is the perfect oil to have on hand for those moments that sneak up on you and create chaos.
One swipe on the wrists or back of the neck and 30 seconds to stop what you’re doing and breath in the sweet scent of Lavender, Lime, and Vanilla will have you relaxing on the beach with your feet in the sand! When you snap back to reality, you will find yourself feeling calmer, more relaxed, and ready to tackle the rest of your day with ease.
When we breathe in the scent of a pure essential oil, it has a direct effect on our emotions. Our sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly connected to the emotional center of our brains. This gives us the power to retrain our brains, focus our thoughts on the positive, and release the negative emotions that have been stored there that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Haven (Called Stress Away) is not the only oil that can help you get over that mid- afternoon slump. Here are some others to try...
Early Evening Downtime
Finally... supper is finished, homework is done, sports practices are over, the kids have been bathed and are tucked snugly into their beds... you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you...
- Let your mind wander back to everything you didn’t get accomplished that day
- Continue to stress over that argument or phone call that didn’t go your way
- Already find yourself being anxious about everything you have to do tomorrow
If that’s you, it’s pretty safe to say you aren’t going to find much peaceful rest waiting for you on the other side of those eyelids.
What if your downtime went something like this instead... you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you...
- Celebrate everything that you crossed off your to-do list
- Feel at peace with the way you handled every situation you faced because you were able to stay calm and relaxed
- Find yourself looking forward to tomorrow with anticipation of all the blessings that await you
Sound too good to be true? It doesn’t have to be! If you get into a routine of using your calming oils throughout the day, and set your intentions and your mindset to focus on the positive, you will set yourself up for one of the best night’s sleep you have had in a long time!
