Blog Category: Stress

No matter which side of the mask debate you’re on, we can all agree on one of the downsides . . .

Even if you brush and floss like the Tooth Fairy, within just a few minutes of wearing a face trap, your mouth can feel stale. That’s likely from breathing in freshly exhaled carbon dioxide instead of fresh air.  But it doesn’t have to be that way—there’s a better way to wear a mask.

I‘ve been adding essential oils to the inside of mine. I use a blend of Peppermint, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Wintergreen to create a cooling sensation for the mouth and throat.  The naturally occurring constituents eucalyptol, menthol, and methyl salicylate give the extra bonus of helping me breathe deeper. It’s like an effervescent breeze through a grove of eucalyptus trees.

The easiest way to apply these oils is to use the pre-blended Raven essential oil. This blend has long been known for the chilly, minty experience it creates when applied topically, inhaled, or diffused. We love to make DIY chest rubs with Raven in the winter season for that same reason—with zero harsh chemicals!

So naturally, Raven is the perfect blend of oils to make a Mask Refresher Spray. It’s small enough to carry in a purse or backpack, and it will even make it through airport security. My family has found that just a few sprays helps us to be less irritable while doing what we need to do.

Here‘s what you’ll need to make your own.

5 ml perfume spray bottle

10-15 drops Raven essential oil blend

1/4 t. witch hazel

Distilled water

Directions: drop oils into the bottle. Add witch hazel, then fill almost to the top with distilled water. Spray the inside of your mask liberally as needed.

You could also make your Mask Refresher Spray with different oils based on your family’s needs. Try Lavender or Peace and Calming when you’re feeling anxious, Peppermint when your tummy feels off, or Thieves anytime you need those powerhouse molecules inside your body.

If you’ve been drinking coffee or you haven‘t had an opportunity to brush your teeth after lunch, put a drop of Peppermint Vitality oil on your tongue. 

Ready to get your own oils? Contact me below!

Be oily and be well,

Nicole

Our thoughts create our feelings. Our feelings create our actions. Our actions create the results we see in our lives. So . . .

Negative thinking = Negative results

AND

Positive thinking = Positive results

I can tell you from first-hand experience that wallowing in a pit of discouragement, hopelessness, and despair is NOT the way to see good results.  And that’s tough when we have 24-hour news and a social media feed that are full of discouragement, hopelessness, and despair. We listen to the drumbeat of negativity, and we are filled with negative thoughts and emotions. Our focus on the negative reaps more negative.

Do you feel it too?

Sister, we’ve got to take our negative thoughts captive* and be ENCOURAGED! It starts with filling our minds with positivity and releasing our stress and negative emotions. I want to help you do that today.

Could you use 21 days of encouragement? Each of the 21 days, I’ll give you an encouraging thought, along with a beautiful quote and graphic and an optional journaling prompt. Why a journaling prompt?

Studies show that the very basic act of putting your pen to paper and your thoughts into written form has the power to inspire positivity, boost mood, reduce anxiety, increase immune function, and even improve memory. And I’ve only scratched the surface of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits from journaling!

Just click this link to sign up for either an email or a text each day for the next 21 days. You’ll also get a free journal to download and print for the series.

 

 

Looking forward to better days!

Be well,

Nicole

If I never hear the terms “challenging” or “unprecedented” times again, it’ll be too soon. “New normal”? I’ll take the old normal, thank you very much.

This whole mess in the world has done a number on me, making me feel like I’m living in an alternate universe. I’ve cried in the middle of the Chick-Fil-A parking lot and Target’s toiletry aisle and sobbed on my knees in the shower holding another handful of loose hair. I know first-hand the effects of stress on your body, and I decided I needed a mindset reset.

Maybe you do too. If so, join me for a Three-Day Mindset Reset Challenge in my healthy living group over on Facebook called How to Be a Modern Hippie.

I’ll be posting a daily challenge each morning, along with some helpful tips and an affirmation. Everyone who goes through the challenge with me live each of the three days will be entered to win a fun prize at the end. But if you don’t catch it live, no worries—it’ll live on in the group indefinitely.

Who’s with me? Join my group!

Be well,

Nicole

Ready for some more wellness tips? Check out my free guide to Simple Strategies for Wellness in a Mad World.  

We’re in stressful times, for sure. Moms are on edge about all the things. We would give our very life for our kids, but . . .

I don’t know about you, but I was NOT ready for this myself.  If that's you, check out this free guide to discover a few ways we can make this season as painless as possible. It can be done . . . it just takes some intention. 

Want more info? Let's chat!

Be well,

Nicole

Fear. Anxiety. Stress.

You misplaced your purse. 

The phone rings at 2 a.m. 

Your child is chasing a ball toward the street just as a car turns the corner toward your house.

In that moment of panic and fear, your heart begins to race, your breath quickens, and you probably develop some super-human strength.

You are, indeed, wonderfully made. Those immediate responses are from your hypothalamus, a tiny control tower in your brain, kicking into gear and telling your body to send in the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. These stress hormones trigger your body’s “fight or flight“ response that God designed to prepare you to react quickly in an emergency.  

But what happens when anxiety, fear, and stress linger? That’s when your health begins to suffer.  Prolonged stress can cause a host of health issues, including weight gain, depression, headaches, insomnia, and diabetes and can take a toll on your digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems. It’s critical that we get anxiety under control before we see the negative impact.

So what are a few simple shifts we can make to manage our stress, especially when what is causing it is beyond our control?

First, B-R-E-A-T-H-E. Inhale for a count of ten, hold it for three seconds, and exhale slowly.
 

I’m a firm believer that whatever we focus on increases. We can’t always eliminate the bad things going on around us, but we can choose to change our focus. Is there a bright side to the situation? Focus on THAT!

Keep a gratitude journal. Studies show that people who practice gratitude experience less stress. Start your day with prayer, then write down three things you thankful for, but make it something new each day. 

Employ relaxation techniques. Whatever causes you to EXHALE, do that! Think hot bath with epsom salt, a hike, a massage, intimacy . . . you decide. 

Take control of SOMETHING! I’m a control freak, so when things are happening around me that I can’t change, I master something. Clean a closet, purge the pantry . . . anything that gives you the feeling of order.

The important thing is to get control of our anxiety and fear naturally before they cause health issues. I help women discover a lifestyle of natural wellness, and I’d love to help you!

Sister, there’s a better way to live this life!

Be well,

Nicole