National Wellness Month
August is National Wellness Month, celebrating all things healthy and mindful! Read on to discover how implementing small changes in your daily life can improve your overall wellness.
What is wellness?
Wellness can be defined as practising healthy habits daily to achieve improved physical and mental health outcomes, shifting from merely surviving to thriving. Several areas of your lifestyle impact on wellness: exercise, sleep, nutrition and mindfulness. By making small, simple changes on a daily basis, you will be well on your way towards reducing stress levels and achieving your goals.
Exercise
As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of daily exercise as it is a great way to improve both physical and mental health. Unsure of where to start? Try starting with a brisk walk, opting to walk upstairs instead of taking an elevator or yoga. Essential oils such as Lavender, Black Pepper, Peppermint and Rosemary can help relieve muscular aches if they occur. Also available at SOiL is an Arnica Athletic Organic Massage Oil, which is formulated with arnica, rosemary and black pepper essential oils to ease tight and sore feeling muscles. This oil can be used as a bath or body oil.
Sleep
It is well documented that sleep and health are related. Without enough sleep, we cannot function effectively. It is essential to our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, and is essential for good physical and mental health. There is no set amount of sleep that is suitable for all; some people need more sleep than others. Sleep patterns relate to the regularity and timings of our sleep habits; if we get into a pattern of sleeping at set times then we are more likely to have established a routine, There are small changes you can make to your nightly routine for better quality sleep:
Aromatherapy: Try relaxing with lavender or chamomile essential oils
Reduce caffeine intake. Try to avoid caffeine at least 8 hours before sleeping
Create a restful environment
Reduce blue light exposure, given off by devices such as smartphones and televisions
Nutrition
From a young age, we are taught that eating well help us to look and feel our best. However, we are not always told that good nutrition can affect our mental health too. A healthy, well-balanced diet can help us think more clearly and feel alert. An inadequate diet can lead to fatigue, stress and depression. One of the first steps in ensuring you are getting well-balanced meals and snacks is to pay attention to how you feel when you eat and what you eat. If you find that eat more when you are stressed, it may be helpful to write down your feelings instead. By doing so, you may discover what is actually bothering you. If you struggle with eating, it may help to schedule five or six smaller meals instead of three large ones.
Mindfulness
The more you tap into your thoughts, you may become more aware of how you react to stressful events! Practising mindfulness is good for the body and mind and can help you focus. Why not take a moment each day (or as many times as needed) to consider how you are feeling and understand why you feel a certain way . Practising mindfulness can also help to reduce anxiety and depression.
For the planet
Wellness is not just about making better choices for ourselves, it’s also about making better choices for the planet. When we use sustainable materials, purchase products that were ethically soured or manufactured and support cruelty-free brands, we help lead the way to a better future: Cleaner air, cleaner oceans and a more diverse animal and plant population. One of the most important things we can do is to ensure the products we buy are fair-trade. This means that fair prices are paid to the producers of products in developing countries, helping to achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships, and to avoid exploitation.
Please note that All SOiL essential oils are intended for external use only. Unless otherwise advised by a medical practitioner. Do not use undiluted on skin. Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. If sensitivity occurs discontinue use. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or under medical supervision seek professional advice before use. Please keep out of reach of children.
SOiL advocates the responsible use of essential oils. We grow and source the finest quality essential oils from around the world to supply you with pure, potent plant extracts for aromatic and therapeutic applications. Essential oils are many times stronger than the plants they are derived from and are far more concentrated than the herbal tincture extracted from the same plant.
Accordingly, we recommend that you avoid oral use/ingesting pure essential oils without seeking professional advice beforehand. The issue is not the quality of the essential oils you take orally – there is no such thing as a ‘therapeutic grade’ of essential oil nor is one brand of essential oils safe to ingest over another brand. The issue is safety and even though essential oils are 100% natural, plant-derived extracts, they are botanical medicines which have the potential to cause harmful side effects when taken orally. Essential oils should only be prescribed for oral use in a clinical setting, by a suitably qualified practitioner.
There are many methods of obtaining the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of essential oils, namely; inhalation, massage, skincare preparations, bath and compress. If you require individual advice on oral use/ingestion or in relation to a specific medical condition, we recommend you consult a qualified practitioner, as described above.