If you wake up in the morning feeling just as tired as you did last night or if the pitter patter of raindrops fail to lift your flagging spirits chances are that you are affected with work-related stress more deeply than you think. Your daily dose of ‘perk-me-up’ pill doesn’t seem to be working anymore, meditation and yoga are too demanding for your office. Are you fighting a losing battle? No, say experts. For those looking for a convenient and faster way of combating stress at the work place, there is Aromatherapy. Let’s find what this science of smell can do for you...
“Aroma therapy is a holistic treatment that works as a natural stress buster that can be easily fused into your work environment with immediate positive benefits for conditions like lack of concentration, depression, agitation and of course stress,” says Dr. Naresh Arora, Aromatherapist, Chase Aroma Therapy.
Essential oils that form the basis of this treatment are derived from flowers and have calming effects on the central nervous system, thereby relieving you of stress and increasing concentration levels. Some of the aroma oils that work best to relieve office stress include the following:
Lavender Oil: It is a stress buster that not just wards off tension but also relieves you of mental exhaustion and agitation arising out of office nuances. It also improves concentration.
How to use: It can be used in a diffuser, which heats the oil and allow its molecules to harmonise with the atmosphere to keep you relieved.
If a diffuser is not available, then put just a drop or two of lavender oil on a cotton bud or tissue paper and place it near your work station. Soon you’ll find the fragrance working for you. Not just this, studies show that scenting your office with Lavender essential oil can even reduce computer errors by at least 25 per cent.
Quantity: 1-2 drops
Neroli Oil: This oil is best to calm a fatigued mind. It frees you of sluggishness and mental strain by improving your sleep.
How to use: The best time to use Neroli oil is the moment you lie on your bed. Just put a drop of the oil on your pillow and let it work to give you a soothing sleep.
Quantity : Less than 1 drop
Geranium oil: This flower based oil works to keep a tab on crisis, confusion and anxiety. It tranquilises your state of mind and boosts the immune system.
How to use: The best way to use geranium oil is to create your own spa with it. Add it in a tub full of lukewarm water and soak yourself in it for 20-30 minutes before going to bed.
Quantity: 3-4 drops in bath tub.
Basil oil: This oil is ideal to fight the effects of negativity, burn-out and intellectual fatigue. A regular use ensures better concentration, clarity of thoughts and a bounce of enthusiasm to keep you going at work.
How to use: Take a bowl of water and put less than a drop of Basil oil in it. Now, soak a towel in it and then use it to wipe off your body, specially the exposed parts of your body before going to sleep.
Alternately, you can also put one tenth of a drop of this oil behind your ear and feel the fragrance giving you a relaxing effect.
Fennel Sweet Oil: If you are experiencing a lack of creativity or feeling bogged down by over work, then fennel sweet oil is for you. This one will remove all kinds of mental blockage, clear the mind and motivates you to work with a fresh mind.
How to use: Again, it can be used in a diffuser placed in the room or on a cotton bud.
Quantity: 1-2 drops
Rosemary oil: Loss of memory, lethargy and strain can be treated with rosemary oil. It gives you energy, and gives a boost to the immune system.
How to use: It can be used in a bath or in a diffuser.
Apart from these, if you have any other favourite essential oil, you can use it in the following ways in your office:
1. A few drops of oil on the cardboard tube inside a roll of toilet paper works well to ensure a nice smelling bathroom.
2. Want to spread the scent around? Simply keep cotton ball dipped in essential oil between your business card box and there - you have scented cards!
Word of caution: The aroma oils are known to the world as the most refined form of medication, as mere smell of these can have positive effects on a patient. Keeping in mind their effectiveness, here comes a warning from Dr. Arora, from Chase Aroma Therapy “Taking care of the quantity is extremely important. If the right quantity can help you relieving the stress, an excess of a particular oil can affect BP levels - the person can go into depression, or can feel dizzy and can even faint at times. Less usage of these oils has a remedial effect while excess can be poisonous.”
Aromatherapy has been touted as an excellent stress buster and a productivity and efficiency booster world over. The combinations are vast and the possibilities are only limited to your imagination...so let it do wonders!
