How essential oils can make you more productive

Right now there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get things done, feeling like your to-do list never gets any shorter is normal, and we all know how that feels.

Turbulent times add to the stress and strain of modern life and this, in turn, can effect productivity, so it would be great to find some sustainable ways to help us to fulfil our obligations productively, sadly some methods just add to the problem. But some can make you more productive, like using essential oils.

Try these simple tips and hacks based around the use of essential oils and feel ready to take on the world! Or at least your to-do list.

Your sense of smell

Your sense of smell is a powerful sense-memory simulator and can also have positive effects on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, which supports productivity.

Brain specialists tell us that our Olfactory bulbs, which lie in the frontal lobe are part of the limbic system and directly connect by nerves to the areas of the brain that process emotion and learning.

Essential oils, all contain chemical products that have specific properties that induce reactions in our brain that are all interlinked with decreased productivity. The trick is to choose the right essential oil or combination of oils for the task.

For example, Linalool found in lavender is known to reduce stress, and reinforces mental clarity, which allows individuals to focus on the task at hand. Beta-caryophyllene – a terpene found in ylang-ylang has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties which help to boost your mood.

We have scanned the list of ingredients in essential oils and have chosen a combination of oils that are powerful enough to make a difference to your mood; the suggestions are for use in a diffuser or vaporiser – electric or manual reed diffuser is perfect.

Essential oils to boost productivity

Grapefruit oil – (Citrus × paradisi) is present in the peel of the fruit. A member of the Rutaceae plant family, grapefruit is a cross between the bitter pomelo and the sweet orange.

Grapefruit oil is a popular choice; it invigorates and uplifts when used. Aromatherapists like this oil because it has cooling, cleansing and decongesting energy just right to stimulate productivity.

Ylang-Ylang oil – (Cananga odorata) comes from a yellow flower from the Cananga odorata tree grown in Indonesia, Madagascar and the Philippines. The smell is sweet and intense, instantly recognisable for its distinctive floral aroma.

The therapeutic effects of ylang-ylang essential oil include feelings of happiness, a relaxed demeanour. One of the lesser-known impacts of ylang-ylang is a sense of heightened anticipation, and this, in turn, boosts productivity.

Rosemary oil – (Salvia rosmarinus) a common plant around the world, this plant has a strong scent emitted from purple flowers and silver-green leaves.

Rosemary oil is the perfect pick me up, slightly astringent. It is the ideal oil for fighting fatigue, and the symptoms of exhaustion, the oil even helps with headaches.

Cinnamon oil – (Cinnamomum verum) is a popular choice, derived from the bark or leaves of the Cinnamomum verum tree and the Cinnamomum cassia tree; these elements distilled create the oil.

Using cinnamon oil in a diffuser has stimulating properties and can also fight mental fatigue and improve concentration and focus.

More tips

To be productive, we have found a combination of strategies work best. Use any one or a blend of the essential oils in a diffuser or vaporiser while exercising.

To be productive, you need two types of exercise, mental and physical. Whenever possible, try to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. Physical activity is brilliant for stimulating your brain, and lifting your mood, getting you ready to meet the day with a positive mindset.

If you’re exercising outside, add a few drops of your chosen oil to a tissue or cotton wool pad and put it in your pocket. You can even buy diffuser necklaces that have fibre pads within them for this purpose.

You can’t be productive if you’re overtired. A rested brain is a fertile brain but if you can’t sleep, just try to relax. Consider meditation or mindfulness, and remember to breathe: only by sitting quietly and listening to our breath, you can give your brain a break and get back the productivity that is missing.

Often the answers to our problems don’t have just one answer, and it’s a combination of solutions that effectively tackle the issues.