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De-stressing with essential oils
Being a student can be stressful, with exams, revision and coursework all piling up at once and making it hard to relax. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to deal with stress, from making more time to chill out, to using some destressing essential oils.
In this article, we take a look at aromatherapy for stress and how this can help students to relax and ensure their brains are in top condition for their exams.
What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is an ancient healing treatment which uses natural plant extracts and essential oils. As the name might suggest, it’s the smells of these extracts and oils that are believed to have multiple benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety, to alleviating pain and improving sleep.
Aromatherapy can come in many shapes and forms, including oils, diffusers and bath products. At Collegiate, you can purchase both essential oils and a diffuser as part of The Wellbeing Collection and The Luxury Collection lifestyle packs.
Common essential oils for stress and anxiety include patchouli, jasmine, lavender and neroli, although you are encouraged to use whichever scent works best for you, as long as the smell has a calming effect on your mind and body.
You can also apply aromatherapy products directly to your skin using a roll-on, such as the pulse points on your wrists and temples. We then absorb the oils into our bloodstream, along with their healing properties. If you want to use this form of aromatherapy, always read the label beforehand and do a patch test on your skin first to check for a reaction.
How can aromatherapy help me?
Students are well-known for being stressed and sleep-deprived. If you’re currently a student, you’ll likely be familiar with the consequences of too much work and not enough sleep. If you’ve tried other methods to reduce stress, aromatherapy may be just the thing you need to help you calm down and relax, especially if you have important exams coming up.
Simply taking a few minutes out of your day to practice aromatherapy can make a significant difference to your concentration, mood and stress levels. You can even do it from the comfort of your student accommodation.
If you’re a parent, consider buying your child an essential oil diffuser or a demister for their bedroom to encourage them to de-stress. There are many different shapes and sizes online, and hundreds of different oils to accompany them. You could also create a care package to give them the chance to have some quality relaxation time.
How to de-stress and relax more
If your exams are on the horizon and you’re starting to worry, don’t panic. As well as aromatherapy, these student stress essentials will ensure you’re on your top game.
Firstly, turn your student accommodation into a sanctuary of calm. Invest in some fairy lights to create a cosy feel in your room, and dim your main light if you are able to. Stick motivational quotes on your walls or create a vision board with images of your goals on it to make you feel on track. Next, music has been proven to reduce stress and boost mood. Create a playlist of your most relaxing tunes and listen to them while you revise.
You should also try to create a healthy balance between studying and having fun. If you’re working too hard and pushing yourself to the limit, stress is inevitable; whereas if you take too much time off, any last-minute cramming will only make you feel worse. Achieving a balance is key for reducing stress.
Finally, meditation or mindfulness are both really effective ways of reducing stress. Take 10 minutes out of your revision session to sit still and focus on your breathing. Concentrate on each sense in turn and count how many times you breathe in and out. There are lots of podcasts or apps available to help guide meditation, so why not download a couple?
So, if you’re feeling the pressure, try out some of the tips above. Aromatherapy may well be your key to inner zen.
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