Sleep, Stress & Sadness
Sleep, Stress & Sadness
Stress, restlessness, and lack of joy often create a challenging cycle. Excessive pressure can lead to insufficient sleep, leaving us weary and tense. So, how can we transform this cycle? Here we will explore choices for maintaining a tranquil mindset during the day and achieving restorative rest at night, paving the way for a joyful life.
Consider these insights:
- Approximately 32.8% of adults in the United States fall short of the recommended seven or more hours of sleep each night. That's nearly one in three adults experiencing sleep deprivation.
- Around 40% of adults report unintentionally dozing off during the day at least once a month.
- A significant 8 out of 10 Americans frequently or occasionally encounter stress in their lives.
- A mere 4% claim to never feel stressed.
While everyone holds their own secrets to well-being, I offer tips, techniques, and essential oils I have found effective that can empower you to choose calmness and stability in your daily life. These practices promote healthy sleep habits, enabling you to awaken refreshed and content.
Stress, restlessness, and lack of joy often create a challenging cycle. Excessive pressure can lead to insufficient sleep, leaving us weary and tense. So, how can we transform this cycle? Here we will explore choices for maintaining a tranquil mindset during the day and achieving restorative rest at night, paving the way for a joyful life.
Consider these insights:
- Approximately 32.8% of adults in the United States fall short of the recommended seven or more hours of sleep each night. That's nearly one in three adults experiencing sleep deprivation.
- Around 40% of adults report unintentionally dozing off during the day at least once a month.
- A significant 8 out of 10 Americans frequently or occasionally encounter stress in their lives.
- A mere 4% claim to never feel stressed.
While everyone holds their own secrets to well-being, I offer tips, techniques, and essential oils I have found effective that can empower you to choose calmness and stability in your daily life. These practices promote healthy sleep habits, enabling you to awaken refreshed and content.
Our Winks Count
Does sleep really affect our health?
The quality of our sleep profoundly impacts our overall health, influencing aspects such as the risk of diabetes and heart conditions. When energy levels are chronically depleted, individuals may find themselves prone to mistakes, compromised judgement, opting for less nutritious foods loaded with fats and sugars, and experiencing weight gain.
For those choosing to maintain a healthy weight and enhance vitality, aim for more than 7 hours of restful sleep. Fewer hours can lead to diminished performance, moodiness, and poor decision-making, accelerating cognitive decline.
As daylight shortens, we naturally transition into the comforting cocoon of winter—a time to retreat inward and nurture our essence. With diminished sunlight, our body's rhythms undergo transformations, notably affecting Vitamin D levels, energy, and mood. The inviting warmth of essential oils echo of sunnier times, enriching our seasonal wellness. This vibrant essence fosters optimism and warmth, harmonizing our senses as we journey through the cooler months.
Our Winks Count
Does sleep really affect our health?
The quality of our sleep profoundly impacts our overall health, influencing aspects such as the risk of diabetes and heart conditions. When energy levels are chronically depleted, individuals may find themselves prone to mistakes, compromised judgement, opting for less nutritious foods loaded with fats and sugars, and experiencing weight gain.
For those choosing to maintain a healthy weight and enhance vitality, aim for more than 7 hours of restful sleep. Fewer hours can lead to diminished performance, moodiness, and poor decision-making, accelerating cognitive decline.
As daylight shortens, we naturally transition into the comforting cocoon of winter—a time to retreat inward and nurture our essence. With diminished sunlight, our body's rhythms undergo transformations, notably affecting Vitamin D levels, energy, and mood. The inviting warmth of essential oils echo of sunnier times, enriching our seasonal wellness. This vibrant essence fosters optimism and warmth, harmonizing our senses as we journey through the cooler months.
The Morning Sets the Mood
How you start your mornings has a huge impact on the remainder of your day. It can even be a very good indication of how you will end your day. If you wake up with your mind already racing, frantically rushing around trying to get things done for yourself and everyone else with your nerves on edge, you are setting yourself up for a day that will be much the same.
Gary Young developed something he called the Great Day Protocol. It uses four specific oils to support our emotions, promote feelings of harmony and joy, and guard against negative energies that disturb our thoughts and send our emotions into a tailspin. You can also use these oils to combat occasional sadness. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these oils can do. Use all four early in the morning, following the application instructions given, to have a Great Day!
Valor - Promotes a feeling of courage and self-esteem and helps to balance the body’s energies. Use this oil each morning on your wrists and cupped over your nose and inhaled as you set your intentions for the day, visualizing what you want to accomplish and seeing yourself completing it.
Harmony - Helps to create a positive attitude, reduce stress, and repel feelings of discord and chaos. Apply this oil over your solar plexus, the area just below your sternum and above your belly button while setting specific intentions to harmonize with those around you.
Joy - A calming, uplifting aroma that is used to bring joy to the heart and mind. Place a couple of drops in your hand, inhale through your nose, then rub over your chest (heart).
White Angelica - Creates deeper feelings of security and protection by offsetting the negative energies that work to bring you down and invade your personal space. This oil will be your ‘shield’ as you navigate your day striving to stay stress-free, balanced and relaxed. Place a drop in your hands, rub your palms together, breathe in deep, then rub your hands over the crown of your head, down your neck, shoulders, and midsection, all the way to your toes as if you are putting up an imaginary shield.
You are now ready to tackle anything the day throws at you!
The Morning Sets the Mood
How you start your mornings has a huge impact on the remainder of your day. It can even be a very good indication of how you will end your day. If you wake up with your mind already racing, frantically rushing around trying to get things done for yourself and everyone else with your nerves on edge, you are setting yourself up for a day that will be much the same.
Gary Young developed something he called the Great Day Protocol. It uses four specific oils to support our emotions, promote feelings of harmony and joy, and guard against negative energies that disturb our thoughts and send our emotions into a tailspin. You can also use these oils to combat occasional sadness. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these oils can do. Use all four early in the morning, following the application instructions given, to have a Great Day!
Valor - Promotes a feeling of courage and self-esteem and helps to balance the body’s energies. Use this oil each morning on your wrists and cupped over your nose and inhaled as you set your intentions for the day, visualizing what you want to accomplish and seeing yourself completing it.
Harmony - Helps to create a positive attitude, reduce stress, and repel feelings of discord and chaos. Apply this oil over your solar plexus, the area just below your sternum and above your belly button while setting specific intentions to harmonize with those around you.
Joy - A calming, uplifting aroma that is used to bring joy to the heart and mind. Place a couple of drops in your hand, inhale through your nose, then rub over your chest (heart).
White Angelica - Creates deeper feelings of security and protection by offsetting the negative energies that work to bring you down and invade your personal space. This oil will be your ‘shield’ as you navigate your day striving to stay stress-free, balanced and relaxed. Place a drop in your hands, rub your palms together, breathe in deep, then rub your hands over the crown of your head, down your neck, shoulders, and midsection, all the way to your toes as if you are putting up an imaginary shield.
You are now ready to tackle anything the day throws at you!
Mid-Afternoon Slump
Despite your best efforts, you may still have days where you find yourself slipping into the abyss of negative reactions, occasional anxious moments, and stress-filled interactions with others by mid-day. Have no fear... Stress Away Roll-On is here! This is the perfect oil to have on hand for those moments that sneak up on you and create chaos.
One swipe on the wrists or back of the neck and 30 seconds to stop what you’re doing and breath in the sweet scent of Lavender, Lime, and Vanilla will have you relaxing on the beach with your feet in the sand! When you snap back to reality, you will find yourself feeling calmer, more relaxed, and ready to tackle the rest of your day with ease.
When we breathe in the scent of a pure essential oil, it has a direct effect on our emotions. Our sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly connected to the emotional center of our brains. This gives us the power to retrain our brains, focus our thoughts on the positive, and release the negative emotions that have been stored there that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Stress Away is not the only oil that can help you get over that mid-afternoon slump. Here are some others to try...
Peace & Calming - A great oil to help you and even your kiddos work through and lessen their feelings of occasional stress and being overwhelmed.
Bergamot - Used to elevate your mood and found in other amazing blends like Acceptance, Believe, Gratitude and Harmony.
Vetiver - Grounding and calming, helps to overcome stress from past emotional trauma.
Lavender - Relaxing and balancing, helps to improve concentration.
Use these oils as needed throughout the day by diffusing in the office, putting a drop in your hands or breathing in from the bottle, or adding to your favorite piece of diffuser jewelry.
Mid-Afternoon Slump
Despite your best efforts, you may still have days where you find yourself slipping into the abyss of negative reactions, occasional anxious moments, and stress-filled interactions with others by mid-day. Have no fear... Stress Away Roll-On is here! This is the perfect oil to have on hand for those moments that sneak up on you and create chaos.
One swipe on the wrists or back of the neck and 30 seconds to stop what you’re doing and breath in the sweet scent of Lavender, Lime, and Vanilla will have you relaxing on the beach with your feet in the sand! When you snap back to reality, you will find yourself feeling calmer, more relaxed, and ready to tackle the rest of your day with ease.
When we breathe in the scent of a pure essential oil, it has a direct effect on our emotions. Our sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly connected to the emotional center of our brains. This gives us the power to retrain our brains, focus our thoughts on the positive, and release the negative emotions that have been stored there that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Stress Away is not the only oil that can help you get over that mid-afternoon slump. Here are some others to try...
Peace & Calming - A great oil to help you and even your kiddos work through and lessen their feelings of occasional stress and being overwhelmed.
Bergamot - Used to elevate your mood and found in other amazing blends like Acceptance, Believe, Gratitude and Harmony.
Vetiver - Grounding and calming, helps to overcome stress from past emotional trauma.
Lavender - Relaxing and balancing, helps to improve concentration.
Use these oils as needed throughout the day by diffusing in the office, putting a drop in your hands or breathing in from the bottle, or adding to your favorite piece of diffuser jewelry.
Early Evening Downtime
Finally... supper is finished, homework is done, sports practices are over, the kids have been bathed and are tucked snugly into their beds... you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you...
- Let your mind wander back to everything you did not accomplish that day
- Continue to stress over that argument or phone call that did not have a satisfactory outcome
- Already find yourself being anxious about everything you have to do tomorrow
If this you, it is pretty safe to say you are not going to find much peaceful rest waiting for you on the other side of those eyelids.
What if your downtime went something like this instead... you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you...
- Celebrate everything that you crossed off your to-do list
- Feel at peace with the way you handled every situation you faced because you were able to stay calm and relaxed
- Find yourself looking forward to tomorrow with anticipation of all the blessings that await you
Sound too good to be true?
It does not have to be! If you get into a routine of using your calming oils throughout the day, and set your intentions and your mindset to focus on the positive, you will set yourself up for one of the best night’s sleep you have had in a long time!
Here are a few tips to help you chill out during your evening downtime:
- Turn off your phone
- Sip on some hot tea - add even more benefit with a drop of Lemon Vitality
- Take a relaxing bath - add one cup of Epsom salt with 10 drops of Lavender
- Aromatherapy - get your diffuser going with some of the calming oils we talked about in the last post
- Light stretches - nothing over the top, just some light stretches or Yoga poses to help ease the tension in your tired muscles and add in some Frankincense and PanAway to your feet for a more relaxing feel.
Early Evening Downtime
Finally... supper is finished, homework is done, sports practices are over, the kids have been bathed and are tucked snugly into their beds... you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you...
- Let your mind wander back to everything you did not accomplish that day
- Continue to stress over that argument or phone call that did not have a satisfactory outcome
- Already find yourself being anxious about everything you have to do tomorrow
If this you, it is pretty safe to say you are not going to find much peaceful rest waiting for you on the other side of those eyelids.
What if your downtime went something like this instead... you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you...
- Celebrate everything that you crossed off your to-do list
- Feel at peace with the way you handled every situation you faced because you were able to stay calm and relaxed
- Find yourself looking forward to tomorrow with anticipation of all the blessings that await you
Sound too good to be true?
It does not have to be! If you get into a routine of using your calming oils throughout the day, and set your intentions and your mindset to focus on the positive, you will set yourself up for one of the best night’s sleep you have had in a long time!
Here are a few tips to help you chill out during your evening downtime:
- Turn off your phone
- Sip on some hot tea - add even more benefit with a drop of Lemon Vitality
- Take a relaxing bath - add one cup of Epsom salt with 10 drops of Lavender
- Aromatherapy - get your diffuser going with some of the calming oils we talked about in the last post
- Light stretches - nothing over the top, just some light stretches or Yoga poses to help ease the tension in your tired muscles and add in some Frankincense and PanAway to your feet for a more relaxing feel.
Hey Mr. Sandman
If you have followed all the tips and used all the oils we have talked about, you should be calm, relaxed, and ready to sail right into Dreamland! But maybe you’re not. It can be difficult for some to completely turn their minds off and get into a state of full relaxation, and if that is you, we have something for you, too! Enter Deep Night Essence, click here to find out all about this product. This supplement is your bad dream’s worst nightmare! This one little capsule combines four powerful essential oils known for their sleep-enhancing properties along with naturally-occurring melatonin to help you enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
Rutavala and Tranquil are two roll-on blends that also help to calm the mind and body, ease the tension of the day, and usher in a peaceful night’s sleep.
- Rutavala is a blend of Lavender, Valerian, and Ruta.
- Tranquil is a blend of Lavender, Cedarwood, and Roman Chamomile.
Speaking of Roman Chamomile, this oil deserves to be singled out and talked about all on its own. I am sure you have heard of or maybe even tried Chamomile tea before, right? What effect did it have on you? If it made you feel calm and relaxed, imagine that times 100?!!
Roman Chamomile has the power to calm the crankiest babies, relax the most restless adults, minimize the biggest feelings of fear and worry, stabilize the most out of whack emotions, and foster the ability to release your most negative emotions. This one is worth stocking up on!
Another night-time fav is Dream Catcher. This blend may help you or your kids sleep more soundly. It can protect you from negative dreams that tend to steal your vision.
Once you oil up, if you find you are still having a hard time relaxing your mind and your thoughts are still racing, here are a few other things you can try:
- Journaling - getting your thoughts on paper helps to get them out of your head. Keep a journal on your nightstand and put the brakes on those racing thoughts by jotting them down.
- Gratitude - Instead of laying in bed thinking of all the things that could go wrong, force yourself to focus on all the things that have gone right. Need some help? Apply your Gratitude oil to your wrists and inhale
- Get Up - If you find yourself tossing and turning and becoming more and more restless, getting up and finding a simple mundane task to accomplish, applying an essential oil, or even grabbing an adult coloring book can be just the thing to calm your mind enough to be ready for sleep.
Hey Mr. Sandman
If you have followed all the tips and used all the oils we have talked about, you should be calm, relaxed, and ready to sail right into Dreamland! But maybe you’re not. It can be difficult for some to completely turn their minds off and get into a state of full relaxation, and if that is you, we have something for you, too! Enter Deep Night Essence, click here to find out all about this product. This supplement is your bad dream’s worst nightmare! This one little capsule combines four powerful essential oils known for their sleep-enhancing properties along with naturally-occurring melatonin to help you enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
Rutavala and Tranquilare two roll-on blends that also help to calm the mind and body, ease the tension of the day, and usher in a peaceful night’s sleep.
- Rutavala is a blend of Lavender, Valerian, and Ruta.
- Tranquil is a blend of Lavender, Cedarwood, and Roman Chamomile.
Speaking of Roman Chamomile, this oil deserves to be singled out and talked about all on its own. I am sure you have heard of or maybe even tried Chamomile tea before, right? What effect did it have on you? If it made you feel calm and relaxed, imagine that times 100?!!
Roman Chamomile has the power to calm the crankiest babies, relax the most restless adults, minimize the biggest feelings of fear and worry, stabilize the most out of whack emotions, and foster the ability to release your most negative emotions. This one is worth stocking up on!
Another night-time fav isDream Catcher. This blend may help you or your kids sleep more soundly. It can protect you from negative dreams that tend to steal your vision.
Once you oil up, if you find you are still having a hard time relaxing your mind and your thoughts are still racing, here are a few other things you can try:
- Journaling - getting your thoughts on paper helps to get them out of your head. Keep a journal on your nightstand and put the brakes on those racing thoughts by jotting them down.
- Gratitude - Instead of laying in bed thinking of all the things that could go wrong, force yourself to focus on all the things that have gone right. Need some help? Apply your Gratitude oil to your wrists and inhale
- Get Up - If you find yourself tossing and turning and becoming more and more restless, getting up and finding a simple mundane task to accomplish, applying an essential oil, or even grabbing an adult coloring book can be just the thing to calm your mind enough to be ready for sleep.
Sweet Dreams
Thank you for choosing to explore this guide on Sleep, Stress & Sadness. By prioritizing your well-being, you are setting the stage for a life filled with abundance and joy. Our journey together with Young Living offers a myriad of opportunities to enhance your daily life.
For our valued Young Living members, you know the transformative power these products hold. For those considering joining, there's a world of advantages waiting for you—why pay full price when you could enjoy significant savings? Reach out to me, and I'll gladly guide you through these exciting options.
Remember, the path to wellness begins with a single step. Whether you're continuing your journey or just starting, I am here to support you in weaving these enriching oils and products into the fabric of your life. They have been an immense blessing in mine, and I am sure they will be in yours as well.
When you're ready to embark on this empowering journey, I am thrilled to assist in setting you up for success. Click the link to join our community, and let's embrace the vibrant life you've always deserved.
Looking forward to connecting with you soon.
Sweet Dreams
Thank you for choosing to explore this guide on Sleep, Stress & Sadness. By prioritizing your well-being, you are setting the stage for a life filled with abundance and joy. Our journey together with Young Living offers a myriad of opportunities to enhance your daily life.
For our valued Young Living members, you know the transformative power these products hold. For those considering joining, there's a world of advantages waiting for you—why pay full price when you could enjoy significant savings? Reach out to me, and I'll gladly guide you through these exciting options.
Remember, the path to wellness begins with a single step. Whether you're continuing your journey or just starting, I am here to support you in weaving these enriching oils and products into the fabric of your life. They have been an immense blessing in mine, and I am sure they will be in yours as well.
When you're ready to embark on this empowering journey, I am thrilled to assist in setting you up for success. Click the link to join our community, and let's embrace the vibrant life you've always deserved.
Looking forward to connecting with you soon.
Young Living Essential Oils
The Company I Choose Every Time!
Here's Why!
Young Living Essential Oils
The Company I Choose Every Time!
Here's Why!
Quality Matters
It is vital to know what goes into the products that you are using on a regular basis. Young Living monitors the process in their plant-based products from seed all the way to seal. They are actually the only company with a seed to seal guarantee and promise. They abide by very strict guidelines to fulfill this promise to us.
- Plant material that is grown on corporately-owned farms or carefully vetted partner farms (that you CAN visit!)
- Sustainable farming and sourcing practices, providing the purest oil
- Great care is taken to preserve and protect natural resources
- Hand-weeded fields and ZERO use of pesticides
- Oils that retain all their natural constituents and therapeutic properties
- Use of food-grade distillers with state-of-the-art design and distillation methods
- Low pressure and low-temperature distillation, without the use of solvents or synthetic chemicals
- Rigorous testing on each batch by internal labs and third-party facilities
- Oils that are carefully reviewed through every step of production in order to meet or exceed industry safety and purity standards (beyond organic!)
And the best part… if the oils do not meet these high standards they are rejected and will not be bottled as a Young Living product. Check out more info on their Seed to Seal promise at Seed to Seal.
Quality Matters
It is vital to know what goes into the products that you are using on a regular basis. Young Living monitors the process in their plant-based products from seed all the way to seal. They are actually the only company with a seed to seal guarantee and promise. They abide by very strict guidelines to fulfill this promise to us.
- Plant material that is grown on corporately-owned farms or carefully vetted partner farms (that you CAN visit!)
- Sustainable farming and sourcing practices, providing the purest oil
- Great care is taken to preserve and protect natural resources
- Hand-weeded fields and ZERO use of pesticides
- Oils that retain all their natural constituents and therapeutic properties
- Use of food-grade distillers with state-of-the-art design and distillation methods
- Low pressure and low-temperature distillation, without the use of solvents or synthetic chemicals
- Rigorous testing on each batch by internal labs and third-party facilities
- Oils that are carefully reviewed through every step of production in order to meet or exceed industry safety and purity standards (beyond organic!)
And the best part… if the oils do not meet these high standards they are rejected and will not be bottled as a Young Living product. Check out more info on their Seed to Seal promise at Seed to Seal
Usage & Safety
Throughout this information, I have suggestions for oils and products you can use every day to support your wellness. Before we dive into specifics, let's talk about usage and safety.
AROMATICALLY: Put 6-8 drops of an oil or a combo of oils in your diffuser. The diffuser will send the oil into the air and fill the room with your essential oils.
TOPICALLY: Apply essential oils to your skin. Diluting first is recommended. A conservative dilution would one drop of essential oil with 10-15 drops of coconut, grape seed, or almond oil and then apply it to your skin.
Citrus oils like Lemon are photosensitive. Please avoid sun exposure for 12 hours after application to areas where you have applied citrus oils topically. Avoid putting essentials oils in the eyes or ears directly.
INTERNALLY: Young Living oils are pure and are labeled as Generally Regarded as Safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Because of their purity, some people like to ingest their oils to avoid "smelling" like an oil, or to support their body from the inside out.
There is no right or wrong way. Chose one and try it out! Try out each option to see which one(s) you prefer.
Usage & Safety
Throughout this information, I have suggestions for oils and products you can use every day to support your wellness. Before we dive into specifics, let's talk about usage and safety.
AROMATICALLY: Put 6-8 drops of an oil or a combo of oils in your diffuser. The diffuser will send the oil into the air and fill the room with your essential oils.
TOPICALLY: Apply essential oils to your skin. Diluting first is recommended. A conservative dilution would one drop of essential oil with 10-15 drops of coconut, grape seed, or almond oil and then apply it to your skin.
Citrus oils like Lemon are photosensitive. Please avoid sun exposure for 12 hours after application to areas where you have applied citrus oils topically. Avoid putting essentials oils in the eyes or ears directly.
INTERNALLY: Young Living oils are pure and are labeled as Generally Regarded as Safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Because of their purity, some people like to ingest their oils to avoid "smelling" like an oil, or to support their body from the inside out.
There is no right or wrong way. Chose one and try it out! Try out each option to see which one(s) you prefer.
- Information obtained here is meant for educational and informational purposes ONLY, and to motivate and empower you to make your own wellness journey based on your own research and partnership with your healthcare provider.
- The statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
- Young Living is no longer using "100% Pure" or "Therapeutic Grade" coined phrases when speaking about their oils or products; however, you will still find the same premium essential oils you expect from Young Living backed by their Seed to Seal® quality commitment.
Linda Bradbury
Young Living Brand Partner #1121117
Ankeny, IA 50023
USA Contact Me
© Linda Bradbury. All Rights Reserved.
