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There’s a common saying that we’re the sum of our habits, and that’s true! In fact, we spend at least 40% of our days doing the same things in the same situations - in other words, our habits determine much of what we do. No matter what your routine is, it’s fair to say that you likely have room to create more healthy habits. Here’s how to build healthy habits with essential oils as your secret weapon.

 

Healthy Habits to Start With Essential Oils

1. Curb Cravings for Healthy Eating

Nutrition is important for both your physical and mental wellness. That means the more whole foods we eat - think fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds - the better we look and feel. Yet processed foods, like chips and cookies, are formulated specifically to keep you craving them. 

You can use essential oils to help you kick the junk food cravings, helping you stay on track with healthy habits around food. One study showed that inhaling grapefruit essential oil decreased food intake in mice because of its effects on the sympathetic nervous system. Just diffuse a few drops before and during a meal to help you be more mindful of your appetite.

2. Motivate for Movement

Sometimes getting yourself moving is the hardest part of a workout. You can use essential oils to get motivated! Just dab a few drops of peppermint essential oil on your wrists or diffuse it. After you’re done, be sure to rub lavender or juniper berry into any aching muscles, as their anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce soreness.

3. Boost Sleep

Getting enough good quality sleep is an essential healthy habit. Sleep is when your body recovers, so it impacts every other part of your life. You should aim for at least seven hours each night. Help yourself sleep better by maintaining good sleep hygiene - that means having a set sleep routine, avoiding screentime near bedtime, and skipping afternoon caffeine. You can also diffuse lavender essential oil or the Relax blend to help you drift off.

4. Drink More Water

Although it varies depending on your gender and size, it’s generally recommended that you drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day. But drinking all that plain water can be difficult and boring. If you’re looking for how to build healthy habits around water, the answer is essential oils! Just add a drop or two of any citrus essential oil you like. Lemon and orange are great options to add a little fresh flavor that gets you excited about hitting your water goals.

5. Kick Bad Habits

Part of creating healthy habits is saying goodbye to bad ones. Depending on the habit, essential oils can help. For smokers, black pepper essential oil has been shown in studies to help reduce nicotine cravings. 

 

You can also use essential oils to distract you or change the environment in which you normally do a bad habit. For example, if you tend to lay on the couch and watch TV all day, you might add some grapefruit essential oil to a diffuser to change the room’s scent. The oil’s fresh, energizing scent can help change your thought pattern and get you off the couch.

6. Ease Stress

Part of how to build healthy habits is also making sure you have a comfortable mental space to do them in. Sometimes, the new healthy habits can make you feel anxious and stressed, especially if they’re totally new to you. You can ease that stress with essential oils. Likewise, perhaps a healthy habit you’re trying to build is creating a relaxation routine in the evening. Whatever the purpose, essential oils can help calm you down.

It’s important to note that everyone finds different essential oils relaxing, so you might need to try a few to find what works for you. We recommend a mixture of bergamot and lavender for a lightly floral and citrus uplifting scent. You can also try frankincense, rosemary, ylang-ylang, and chamomile. 

7. Say Goodbye to Toxins

We’re surrounded by toxins every day, from common household cleaning products to the air we breathe. One of the best healthy habits to start is to look for ways to minimize that exposure. You can easily begin in your home by using our Fresh Breeze Blend, which can deodorize and detoxify your space. Use it in a diffuser or create an air freshener spray to use on fabrics and surfaces.

Now you know how to build healthy habits with essential oils, all that’s left to do is start! Whether you want to begin with your eating habits or sleep routine, try to start small and take it one step at a time so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Once you have a habit down for a few weeks, you’re ready to move on to the next. Before you know it, you’ll have plenty of healthy habits that come naturally to you!