It’s that time of year!
One day we hit 50 degrees here in South Dakota, two days later we’re at zero. On Saturday we’ll be back into the 40’s. All of these temperature swings can wreak havoc on our emotions AND our bodies.
It can zap our energy.
It can cause moodiness.
Good News!
We are gaining daylight! Have you noticed? I certainly have. When my two Golden Retrievers start getting impatient to go outside at 6:30am, I see some daylight already.
Warmer days will be here before we know it. I’m ready for them. We can probably assume, though, that we’ll continue to ride the weather roller coaster along the way.
There are steps we can take to help regulate ourselves and stay on a more even track.
Exercise produces endorphins which are the “feel good” hormones. Plus, getting enough exercise tires you out and will help you sleep better at night. Go for a walk if outside conditions allow, or get up and walk around the house, do some stretching, find a yoga video on the internet that suits you, or simply run- in place, do some pushups, jumping jacks, go up and down stairs if you can or do some lunges or squats. Get out to a mall that allows walkers. Find a walking buddy and get out and move. Do you have a dog? They would love to accompany you on a walk!
Get outside! Taking a break from screens and getting outside for movement, sun exposure and fresh air also helps us sleep better and can boost our mood.
Take Vitamin D. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin. It’s always good to have your doctor check your vitamin D levels. Quite often we are deficient, especially this time of the year.
Eat a healthy diet. Let’s face it. Our food is our medicine or our poison. It’s really that simple. Sweet treats, carbs, comfort foods….they may provide immediate gratification, but eating these actually make you feel worse. Instead, focus on a healing diet. Lean protein, leafy greens, and vegetable can help keep hormones in check and boost serotonin levels. Also make sure you are getting Omega 3 fats. Omega-3 fats can improve mood and memory. They also help you stay physically healthy.
In addition to these steps, I love to use my essential oils. These little bottles of pure power are like messengers to your whole body. Essential oils have a unique ability to penetrate cell membranes and travel throughout the blood and tissues. Some of my favorite oils are citrus oils because they are so uplifting. To wrap this up, I’m sharing one of my favorite oil rollerball blends that I carry with me.
I like to call this my Happy Camper blend…
In a 10 ml rollerball bottle mix:
10 drops Joy (a Young Living blend)
6 drops Ylang Ylang
4 drops Orange
4 drops Lemon
Top these oils off with a carrier oil such as Young Living’s V-6 carrier oil, almond oil, or fractionated coconut oil. Roll this blend over your heart, across your chest and on pulse points for an uplift in mood!
I really love using essential oils around our home. We’ve ditched scented wax warmers, candles and air fresheners and our health is so much better since we did! If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to me. I’d love to connect with you.
- 8 drops Thieves essential oil
- 8 drops Lemon essential oil
- 6 drops Oregano essential oil
- 4 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 4 drops Melaleuca Alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil
- Top it off with Young Living's V-6 oil and place the roller on the bottle.
