Aromatherapy to Help Manage Work Stress & Anxiety

By Caryn Gehlmann

It’s great to come home at the end of the workday to enjoy a relaxing aromatherapy bath. Or maybe you use aromatherapy on the weekend by diffusing your favorite scent, or while exercising, cleaning your home, or other activities. But what about incorporating aromatherapy into your workweek to help manage work stress and anxiety?

Don’t think of it as one more thing to put on your to-do list. Sometimes, the right scent at the right time can be just what we need to have a better day. And let’s face it, stress at work happens to most of us, so if there’s something simple we can do to recenter ourselves and show ourselves a bit of compassion, it’s worth it!

Showing yourself self-compassion in the morning getting ready for work, while you’re at work, or on your way to and from work, doesn’t need to be difficult. Take a look at three easy suggestions below that will help you not just manage work stress and anxiety but thrive during your workweek!

e3’s “Bright Morning” Spritzer

• 1-ounce bottle with atomizer spray cap
• 10 drops e3 Female Harmony blend* or Ylang Ylang essential oil
• 1 oz (30 ml or 600 drops) Carrier Oil (Fractionated Coconut or Sweet Almond are generally light enough to spray through a spritzer cap without clogging it)

Add essential oils to your glass bottle and then add the carrier oil. Shake well. After you shower in the morning, spritz onto your skin, then lightly massage evenly into your arms, legs, and torso.

*Additional blends we recommend: e3 Skin Care, Nerve Calming, or Peace.

e3’s “Take a Breath-Break” Aromatherapy Blend

2 parts Bergamot
1 part Lemongrass
1 part Petitgrain

Add essential oils to your aromatherapy inhaler, or add a few drops of each to a tissue to keep in your pocket. Whenever you need a pick-me-up, hold the inhaler or tissue under your nose, and take a deep breath, pause, then exhale slowly.

Additional pre-mixed blends we recommend: e3 Mood Rescue, Nerve Calming, or Stress Relief.

e3’s “Stress-Free Commute” Aromatherapy Recipe

• 1-3 Drops Peppermint
• 1 Natural stone diffuser, cotton ball/pad, or tissue

Add essential oils directly to a natural stone diffuser or a cotton ball/tissue. Hang or set stone diffuser in an area where the oil will not come in contact with the car’s interior, or stuff the cotton ball or tissue into an air vent with the essential oil side facing out. (Some oils can harm the finish of your vehicle, so be careful to avoid direct contact.) Take deep breaths while driving.

Additional pre-mixed blends we recommend: e3 Stress Relief, Pick Me Up, or Breathe Easy.

Have you already been using aromatherapy to help manage work stress and anxiety? We’d love to hear about it! Join our e3 community on Facebook and share your favorite tips for making work more relaxing and enjoyable, whether they incorporate aromatherapy or not. Find more DIY recipes in our ebook, Listen to Your Nose: An Introduction to Aromatherapy. Feel free to download your copy right now.