There’s just a few weeks left before school starts again. Where did the summer go I ask you!? It seems like school only just ended amiright?
It’s that time of year to squeeze in last minute family vacations and you guessed it, the dreaded back to school shopping spree. Now, I don’t have children of my own, but I can tell you from watching my own mother scramble to get us kids prepared for school that she looked a bit ragged, burned out, and just desperate for some peace and quiet. I mean, how many parents actually come out of back to school shopping unscathed? Well, you can be one of those mythical unicorns with help of essential oils.
Essential Oils for Back to School
I’ve seen quite a few blog posts out there that talk about essential oils for back to school for kids, but what about Mom and Dad? I’m positive they could use a bit of Peace and Calming, Stress Away, or heck, just slather on that lavender stat! It’s not just the kids that need extra support in this day and age, we’re all under the scrutiny of our peers to work harder, push ourselves further, and prove our worth to others. It’s all very demanding. Throw in a bit of chaotic shopping to help your kids succeed in school and you’ve got the icing on the cake. Unless of course you have very well behaved kids…. I know my siblings and I weren’t, sorry Mom!
So, here’s where we put the balm on those frazzled nerves to help both parents and students for back to school. Not only are there oils for general stress and anxiety, there are also oils for better sleep and better focus!
My Favorite Essential Oils for Back to School
Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil is one of the best EOs to use for sleep and relaxation. It promotes a sense of calm euphoria as you crawl into bed that carries you off to restful meaningful sleep. I like to diffuse it while I read in bed to help soothe the day’s troubles and relieve stress. It works well for both adults and children.
Chill Pill
This is a blend that comes in both a spray and undiluted essential oil. It contains a wonderful blend of sweet orange, lavender, patchouli, peppermint, basil, and roman chamomile that synergistically work together to instill a sense of calm in the middle of chaos. Feeling stressed? Take a chill pill!
I like to diffuse Chill Pill at home or use the spray, but you can also add a few drops to a cotton ball and place it in the car to calm not only yourself but your children as well!
Energy
Energy Synergy is an amazing blend that helps give you a boost when you feel your energy beginning to ebb. It contains an uplifting blend of blood orange, peppermint, lemon, ginger, eucalyptus, and Egyptian geranium that gets your booty in gear so that you can face the day with better clarity and focus.
Add a drop to your diffuser necklace (do not get it on your skin if it is exposed to sunlight, read more here), diffuse it, use the roll-on version, or make a 3% dilution in your favorite lotion. You can learn about diluting essential oils here.
Lavender
Of course, lavender has to be on this list! It’s only the most versatile essential oil in existence and it’s no exception in the stress relief department. Dilute it in some carrier oil and apply it to yourself and your children during back to school shopping (or any other outing for that matter) to calm hyper children and relieve stressed parents!
Lavender is also an amazing oil to use for sleep troubles as well so be sure to diffuse it before bedtime. You can read more about how to choose the best diffuser here.
Nighty Night
Speaking of restful sleep, this Nighty Night blend is the bomb dot com when easing excited/anxious littles to bed before school. It’s a blend of lavender, marjoram, mandarin, cedarwood, patchouli, clary sage, Roman chamomile, and blue tansy that helps your child fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night. You can apply it as a chest rub diluted by adding 3 drops to 1 tsp of carrier oil or diffuse it for 30 minutes before bed.
There is also an adult version of this blend called Sleep Aid that contains some potent essential oils to help induce restful sleep.
Panic Button
I find myself using this aptly named blend on a daily basis. What can I say, I’ve got turbulent emotions! I bet some of your children have the same affliction at times and when they do, use Panic Button to quell those emotions fast.
This blend contains lavender, lemon, mandarin, petitgrain, rose, and neroli which work synergistically to level out your emotions, instill a sense of calmness, and to promote better clarity. This is great to use for kids who are anxious about starting school, public speaking, and general anxiousness.
I typically carry around the spray version of this and use it generously as needed, but you can also get it as an undiluted oil.
Peace and Calming
I’m positive that most people have heard of this blend since it’s so popular. Peace and Calming is a blend of tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, patchouli, and blue tansy essential oils that bring calmness and a sense of routine to your daily life. It’s one of the best blends for creating a relaxing atmosphere for your children so it’s great to use when you need them to settle down a bit.
Add it to their diffuser necklace, make a spray, or apply it topically diluted in carrier oil (3 drops in 1 tsp of oil) and massage it on areas NOT exposed to sunlight.
This blend is great for parents to diffuse in the evening after a long day.
Peppermint
If the day has gotten the best of you and you have a pounding headache, peppermint dabbed on the back of the neck will bring quick relief. You can also take a sniff straight from the bottle to clear your mind and wake up the senses. This can be used the same way for children if they’re dragging their feet.
Rosemary
If you or your child struggles with their attention span then rosemary is the EO for you! Sometimes you just need that extra boost of clarity not only while at work but during any type of chaotic situation. When you need to keep things in clear order, reach for a bottle of rosemary and take a few deep inhales. It will instill focus AND reduce cortisol within seconds.
I find that inhaling the scent of rosemary straight from the bottle to be the quickest and easiest way to use it. 3 deep breathes should do the trick for both parents and children.
Self-Esteem
For those of us who need a bit more confidence and courage to face the day Self-Esteem is there to help! This unique blend contains spruce, frankincense, blue tansy, and rosewood to help lift your spirits and evoke self-worth and courage. If you have children who struggle with feeling like they don’t fit in at school, diffuse this blend as they get ready for school.
Stress Away
This is one of my favorites and I use it multiple times a day. Stress Away is a blend of copaiba, lime, cedarwood, vanilla, ocotea, and lavender essential oils that smell divine and instill a sense of calm and relaxation.
The copaiba in this blend amplifies the potency of the other EOs which makes Stress Away so effective.
For adults, you can use the roll-on blend as needed. For kids, you can add a drop to a diffuser necklace, diffuse it at home, or place a few drops on a cotton ball and place it in the car on your errands.
Thieves
This is an oil I recommend using daily on the bottoms of the feet for both children and adults to help support the immune system both in and out of school. Back to school shopping can be a messy and germy business… I mean, how many kids have touched that box of crayons? Thieves has got your back with its blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils.
To use on the feet or underarms, add one drop of Thieves EO to 1 tsp of carrier oil for both children and adults. Do this before leaving the house on your adventures!
Worry Free
This blend is akin to Self-Esteem in the way that it helps calm negativity and anxiety. Worry Free is a blend of lavender, marjoram, ylang ylang, sandalwood, vanilla, and roman chamomile that help relax the mind and steels you against life’s challenges.
Try adding a few drops to running bath water or use the roll-on blend for adults, or diffusing it for children before bed who are experiencing worry, anxiety, and fear about starting school.
These are just a few essential oils for back to school that may help both children and parents during this hectic time of year.
What have been your favorites?
Be sure to check out these posts below for more tips and tricks:
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD FOCUS USING ESSENTIAL OILS
Memory and Concentration Blend
SOS Allergy Nasal Inhaler
Immune Boosting Blend for Colds and Flu
Homemade Hand Sanitizer- Alcohol Free!
This is great! Moms definitely need support too for back to school shopping and I love some of the oils you mentioned. Lavender is a must for me for any stressful situation but I will definitely have to give some of the others a try!
Wondeful! I hope you give the other EOs a go. Such life savers 🙂