Essential oils have been hailed for their therapeutic properties for centuries—though in recent years with the surge of self-care, they’ve grown increasingly popular for their profound ability to promote health and wellness. If you’re new to the essential oil game, these are naturally-derived oils sourced from the distillation of plants. With dozens of essential oils and essential oil blends, these natural remedies can be inhaled through diffusers, and some can also be ingested or applied to the skin. Maintaining an extensive myriad of uses, these three essential oils can easily be incorporated into your daily routine throughout finals week to deliver some much-needed mental clarity and de-stressing.
Peppermint Oil
Fresh and invigorating, peppermint oil’s refreshing aroma will give you a much-needed energy boost. Whether you’re experiencing the mid-day studying slump or are having difficulty waking up to start the day, peppermint oil is a versatile essential oil to promote productivity throughout finals.
To alleviate the studying-induced headache we’re all too familiar with, gently massage some peppermint oil onto your temples. You can also utilize this oil to relieve muscle soreness—especially for the accumulating tension we carry in our shoulders while spending hours at our desks typing up final papers.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is most widely known for its cleansing properties—both physically and mentally. Incorporating tea tree oil will boost your mood and ignite focus, which is especially important when trying to clear your mind and concentrate on looming exams, papers, and presentations. Slowly breath in tea tree oil for a few moments to achieve mental clarity and acquire the motivation you need to power through your assignments.
It’s no surprise that the stress of final exams (and consequently, fluctuating hormone levels) can cause breakouts—and tea tree oil is a great way to combat this. With a cotton ball or Q-tip, apply a few drops of tea tree oil to the afflicted area on your face to reduce redness and inflammation.
Lavender Oil
This fan-favorite oil has a peaceful floral aroma that instills an overarching sense of calm. Finals are undoubtedly a stressful time of the semester that tends to induce a week of anxiety—but lavender oil is an easy tool to keep this uneasiness at bay. Apply the oil directly to your wrists, the nape of your neck, or rub a couple drops across your pillow case to calm your mind and body before bed. It’s important to take physical and mental care of yourself this week, and getting in a sufficient amount of sleep plays a large role in doing so. This oil can also be added to herbal tea as an additional relaxant, and will help to curb the anxiety that we all tend to amass at this point in the semester.
We know that finals are the stressful and chaotic home stretch of the semester—but remember to take care of yourself and keep your eye on the prize (the prize, of course, being the amazing summer that lies ahead). Good luck on finals, Falcons!