Is this “Stay at Home” order getting you down?

So many families are living through tough times due to being confined in our homes and having to social distance. 

Its starting to get old, right? 

These are hard times for sure and it's stressing out a lot of parents and kids.

Parents are worried they can't pay their bills, or worried their money will run out due to not being able to work. Social isolation is a big deal! 

With stress and anxiety comes more raising our voices, flying off the handle or becoming more agitated! 

Kids in particular are stressed and confused as well. They become anxious and scared due to their routine being totally disrupted. They don't fully understand the dangers of a pandemic. 

They are questioning everything…

Mommy, why can’t I see mom-mom and pop-pop? Why can’t I play with my friends? When can I go back to school? So many why’s! So many questions! 

Stress and tensions are going through the roof!

So how do we deal with stress?

For me personally I find that listening to music is a good way to focus and improve my mood.

When I am cleaning my house I will put on some good inspiring praise and worship music. I turn up the volume and I go to it!

It makes the job at hand not near as mundane and boring. There's s just something about worship and music for me that helps to calm and clear my mind. 

Gratitude Plays A huge Part.....

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – Proverb

When we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.

Sunlight  triggers the release of hormones in your brain. Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting your mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. Without enough sun exposure, your serotonin levels can dip. 

Go outside and surround yourself with nature.

I enjoy bringing things like rocks or branches and flowers indoors. Even a picture, photograph or screen saver on my computer depicting a beautiful, calming scene can help remind me of nature. 

Take time every day to take a walk. 

Breath deeply....filling your lungs with oxygen while listening closely to the sounds of nature. 

Take notice of the birds chirping, a squirrel or rabbit scurrying around or the trees blowing in the wind. 

Take time to smell the roses" or the fresh cut grass. Pick some wildflowers – you might even see flowering weeds poking up through sidewalk cracks.

All of these small things can bring Peace and Calm to your mind and soul.

Aromatherapy and using essential oils can aid to your well-being. 

Lavender oil is known to calm and relax. (one of my favorites) but then again I have many favorites!

Fragrances can evoke memories of happy times and reduce your stress.

If you come to my house you will most likely smell the scent of oils drifting through the air as you walk through the  front door. Thats because I pretty much diffuse 24/7

A soaking bath is another way to relax and unwind and.... release and let go of stress and tension. 

Add a few drops of essential oils to your bath water and you've just created your own spa!

Rest easy knowing that the natural plant extracts in essential oils offer healthy therapeutic benefits without chemicals.

I personally use a lot of Young Living Essential Oils. I wonder sometimes how I ever did with out them...Seriously!  

I'm either putting them on my body, or diffusing or even ingesting the vitality oils.

They don't call me the Oil Gal for nothing! 

Oils are a great way to calm down the the entire house-hold.

When life becomes hectic and chaotic and feels like it's to much to handle....I remember what my Mom always told me.....    “This too shall pass” 

Below are some great oils to calm your mind and soul....Enjoy....Take a deep breath and use your oils.

1. Lavender is a common herb that’s found in everything from body care treatments and lotions to culinary delights. When this oil is added to the bath, it’s wonderful for stress and anxiety reduction, and has historically been used for headaches and insomnia, too.
2. Ylang-ylang is a lesser-known essential oil that is quite helpful for stress and anxiety. For a dreamy bath oil combination, try mixing ylang-ylang with lavender, rose, or sandalwood.
3. With clary Sage oil added to your bath, you’ll instantly feel your layers of tension melt away. Try it after a stressful day at the office. Clary sage pairs well with orange, lavender, geranium, and sandalwood.
4. Orange essential oil is made by compressing orange peels. Some surprising uses for this well-known aroma include muscle relaxation as well as anxiety and stress reduction.
5. Rose essential oil is thought to be calming for your skin and nervous system. Try combining rose oil with chamomile, sandalwood, or clary sage for a serene wash before bed.
6. The scent of Sandalwood is commonly known as a perfume. But stories of its healing properties span everything from coughs to indigestion to insomnia! Adding sandalwood essential oil to your bath can help reduce anxiety and stress after a long day.