In the middle of a pandemic when so many things are demanding a share of your attention, it’s never been more crucial to find effective ways to focus. If you’ve found that your daily coffee or energy drink isn’t going far enough to bring the focus you need, essential oils can be a great way to bring an emotional boost and quiet distractions.
Whether you prefer to apply them directly to your skin, add them to your drinking water, diffuse them in your air or even add them to a spray bottle, essential oils can be a great way to enhance positive feelings and eliminate stress and anxiety. Here are seven essential oils for focus, mental clarity, and calm to help bring you peace wherever you go.
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint can always bring a zip of energy to any space. It’s the essence of refreshment, and it has the same effect on our environments as it does on our palates. In essential oil form peppermint can help with inflammation and mental blocks, cooling our systems down and sweeping out stagnation. A 2013 study showed that peppermint essential oil can even improve exercise performance when added to drinking water.
A warning to pet owners: some studies have found that peppermint, like eucalyptus, can be toxic to cats. If you have cats in your home, you might want to choose another scent to ensure the safety and comfort of your four-legged friends.
2. Rosemary Essential Oil
If you’ve ever walked by a rosemary bush outside, you know how instantly calming its scent can be. As delicious as it is when added to our meals, it’s also great for focus in essential oil form. One study found that rosemary helped improve short term memory, especially when related to numbers. Another study found that rosemary can also impact brain activity and overall mood, meaning that this essential oil is great for providing a boost inside and out.
3. Grapefruit Essential Oil
Bright and energizing, grapefruit’s refreshing scent can help create the perfect start to any day. The smell of grapefruit can bring a deep sense of cleansing and clarity, and can help you better focus on the day ahead. Grapefruit essential oil is a known focus and mood booster, clearing our minds of negativity and decluttering our thoughts where they may be stuck or stalling.
4. Lemon Essential Oil
Citrus scents are often a go-to when you need a mood boost; lemon has always been associated with feelings of positivity. The smell of lemon always summons the image of a freshly cleaned home where everything is in its place. It can create the same effect for minds that are struggling with concentration or anxiety, allowing a calm, uplifting spirit to prevail.
5. Frankincense Essential Oil
Historically sacred, Frankincense was once as valuable as gold. For centuries it’s been praised for its health benefits as an anti-inflammatory; now we know that it’s also a powerful stress reliever. One study even showed that Frankincense has the potential to improve both short term and long term memory. The deep woodsy scent of frankincense in essential oil form is great for providing focus, grounding and a sense of peace.
6. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is potentially one of the most powerful scents in the world. Everyone has a fond memory associated with lavender, whether it’s of a childhood toy used for soothing, a favorite perfume or lotion, or the perfect spa day. Lavender has a long history of being used to promote calm and aid sleep, but less well known is its ability to help us focus. Because it reduces stress and anxiety, lavender can leave our minds clearer, making us more able to focus on tasks at hand.
7. Basil Essential Oil
For an herb that’s a staple in many of our favorite meals, basil might not be the first place you’d look when considering holistic alternatives. However, basil has a host of health benefits from reducing inflammation and digestion to improving gut health and promoting healthy skin. Basil can also have several mental benefits including the reduction of depression symptoms, tension relief, and improved focus. For best results, experts recommend rubbing basil oil on the back of the neck and the temples.
8. Lemongrass Essential Oil
An intoxicating aroma, lemongrass always carries an air of cleanliness and freshness. It’s a fighter of stagnation, sweeping through spaces and making them feel brand new. Between its usefulness as an anti-inflammatory and its ability to provide immense mental clarity, lemongrass essential oil should be a staple in anyone’s cabinet.
9. Sandalwood Essential Oil
Warm and rich, the scent of sandalwood can transform any room into a spa, making it easier than ever to feel relaxed and at peace. Sandalwood oil can promote clearer skin, help treat insomnia and headaches, and can even make houseplants healthier. However, its mental effects might be even better. A natural mood-enhancer, sandalwood has been used in meditation practices for centuries. It’s thought to have a direct impact on the mood centers of the brain, helping to boost positive emotions and reduce stress and anxiety. If you’re looking for a spa day in a bottle, sandalwood essential oil can help you relax and let go of stress, guaranteeing you’ll emerge more focused and prepared to take on the day.
Whether you’re looking for holistic ways to improve your focus or just trying to create a more peaceful environment at home, essential oils can bring so many benefits to our lives. One of these essential oils could be the missing component to your most productive lifestyle; you’ll never know until you try. If you have a different essential oil that has helped you to focus or feel more mentally clear, be sure to let us know below.
