Homeschool Overwhelm? Try 3 Aromatherapy Survival Tips

By Caryn Gehlmann, Clinical Aromatherapist

Today we’re talking about how aromatherapy can ease homeschool overwhelm. Parents who are teaching their children at home need all the support they can get. While some families thrive with routines and dedicated learning spaces, others are new to the experience and finding the transition to homeschooling a bit challenging for both parents and kids. Aromatherapy can help create a calmer, more balanced atmosphere for everyone.

Education of children is near and dear to my heart, so I’m excited to share 3 simple aromatherapy tips to help make the homeschool journey a little smoother. (They work beautifully if you’re working from home, too!) And yes, you guessed it… I love working in 3’s!

Tip #1 Create a Comfortable Learning Environment with the Right Scent

The right learning environment can make a huge difference for your child’s ability to concentrate on their schoolwork even when they’re at home. Parents are getting really creative about different ways to set-up learning stations at home, like this mother of three in an article on PopSugar who works from home and now has three kids doing schoolwork from home as well.

But what about creating a learning environment with the right aroma? You could use an aromatherapy diffuser, or an even simpler solution is to place a few drops of your child’s favorite scent on a cotton ball and place it near their learning station.

Which scents should you choose to calm homeschool overwhelm? Each child is different and will have different preferences. Try to find a scent that makes their “space” feel warm, welcoming, comfortable, and just plain smell good. Most kids like the uplifting choice of citrus, like e3’s Revitalize, to perk them up when they’re lagging. e3’s Concentrate blend promotes mental alertness, concentration, and focus for many. You can also have your child’s favorite aromatherapy roll-on at their desk when they need it — Be Calm, Lavender, and Pick Me Up are some kid favorites. And with this kind of pick-me-up aromatherapy, you don’t have any of the side effects of caffeine!

Tip #2 Deep Breathing and Scented Stretching to Relieve Homeschool Overwhelm

Many parents are trying to incorporate exercise into their daily school curriculum. However, taking quick breaks throughout the day for deep breaths and stretching can be reenergizing for you and the kids.

This tip works for anyone, anywhere, whether you’re a teacher, parent, grandparent, or child. If you feel like you’ve “hit the wall” or need a “feel-good moment” pick out a bottle with your favorite essential oil or blend and take a deep breath. Sounds super simple but the benefits of deep diaphragmatic breathing (a.k.a. belly breathing) are profound. Learn more about the Health Benefits of Diaphragmatic Breathing and suggestions on how to do it.

When it comes to stretching, I like this suggestion on Well & Good called the Wring the Towel stretch. They recommend doing it once every hour. What I would add is to take an inhale of your essential oil of choice before you do your stretch. This will help you breathe deeper and get more out of your stretch. Or make it even more fun by doing a 3-minute dance break.

Tip #3 Create Spa Moments at Home

When you’ve been juggling work, kids, and endless to-dos, even a few minutes of calm can make all the difference. Instead of needing a whole spa day, you can give yourself little spa moments right at home to recharge and reset.

Since scent is deeply tied to memory and mood, essential oils are a beautiful way to bring in that sense of relaxation. Find a blend that helps you feel centered and peaceful, then diffuse it to create a spa-like atmosphere in your space. No diffuser? No problem! Make a simple spritzer with essential oils and water, and mist it over bath towels, pillows, or even in the air to transform an ordinary moment into a soothing retreat.

How are you planning to deal with homeschool overwhelm? Please reach out to me and let me know if you have any other aromatherapy survival tips or share them on our Facebook page with other parents. And feel free to download our new workbook, The Art and Science of Blending Essential Oils.

Psst… if you want to explore aromatherapy with your child as a fun project, grab an Art of Blending Essential Oils Kit and have a great time mixing and matching. One grandmother of three grandchildren bought kits for each one, and they said they had a wonderful time. Lakita and I were even going to join them via Zoom for a little bit, but their internet connection failed. Let us know if you’d like us to join your Blending Party!