what sounds the most soothing to you at the moment.
Wrap up in a blanket; cocoon yourself. Not only will this warm you up, but pulling an afghan around your body can make you feel very protected and soothed. You might also want to invest in soft flannel sheets and a heavy comforter to cover yourself in bed.
Buy an inexpensive fountain. The sound of water cascading is very relaxing and pleasant to the ears. In recent years, affordable small desktop waterfalls have become available.
Wear your favorite outfit. Put on your favorite cozy sweater or the skirt that people always compliment. Wearing attractive clothing can be a great pick-me-up for days when you aren’t feeling at your best.
22. soothing scents to rejuvenate yourself
The smell of warm cinnamon buns sends me from zero to crazy in ten seconds flat. Just one sniff of the aroma triggers all kinds of emotions. It’s amazing how the scent, even if the cinnamon rolls aren’t anywhere in sight, creates a frantic need to eat them. Other aromas are comforting to me. I love to light a jasmine-scented candle. I inhale slowly. The smell of lavender is also amazingly soothing. It isn’t as yummy as a piece of pie. But a small whiff can create an instant Zen mood.
—Melanie
The ability to smell is hardwired in the brain in a very different way than the ability to hear, see, taste, or touch. Scents are processed directly by the brain instead of being relayed through other brain structures, as with your other senses. Memories are often triggered by scents because they affect the
hippocampus
, the brain structure that stores memories. Smells also impact the
amygdala
, the brain organ that mediates emotions. This is why a whiff of freshly cut grass may bring back very powerful memories of being a kid playing outdoors. The smell is encoded in your brain along with your memories and emotions.
Versions of aromatherapy have been around for a very long time. The ancient Greeks and Romans relied on essential oils as perfumes. The original Olympic athletes rubbed scented oils into their muscles to soothe tension. Aromatic oils were well-known staples in ancient Eastern medicine. There are many references to the use of oils in the Bible. In recent years, these ancient practices of aromatherapy have been tested and found to have physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits (Moss et al. 2008).
In general, soothing scents have many positive effects. A pleasant aroma acts quickly to soothe you, much like food. Its effect is immediate. Pleasant aromas have no side effects, in contrast to drugs and antidepressants. It can’t hurt to try some. Although catching a whiff of hot brownies can cause a lot of tension and make you afraid that you might overeat, many aromas don’t have that effect. They don’t generate any worries about weight gain.
~self-soothing technique~
Sensational Scents
If the scent of baking bread or sizzling bacon stimulates your appetite, try curbing it with changing the scent entering your nose as quickly as possible. Scents can be administered in two ways: absorbed through the skin or through olfactory channels.
Go to a health food store and investigate the essential oils. Look for 100 percent essential oils, which are the substances linked with soothing and calming tension. Stash some in your desk at work. Take a few whiffs when you’re tempted to take an afternoon stroll to the vending machine. Or carry a bottle in your purse.
Don’t know which scent to choose? The most soothing scent is said to be lavender. Other soothing scents are chamomile, rose, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. But, keep in mind that what smells good to you is a matter of personal preference. Test a few scents and find one that works for you.
For the worried eater or night eater: Wash your sheets with a hint of lavender. Lie down on the lavender-scented sheet for a while when you need to decompress emotionally or when you are tempted to stress eat. The scent also may help
Wrap up in a blanket; cocoon yourself. Not only will this warm you up, but pulling an afghan around your body can make you feel very protected and soothed. You might also want to invest in soft flannel sheets and a heavy comforter to cover yourself in bed.
Buy an inexpensive fountain. The sound of water cascading is very relaxing and pleasant to the ears. In recent years, affordable small desktop waterfalls have become available.
Wear your favorite outfit. Put on your favorite cozy sweater or the skirt that people always compliment. Wearing attractive clothing can be a great pick-me-up for days when you aren’t feeling at your best.
22. soothing scents to rejuvenate yourself
The smell of warm cinnamon buns sends me from zero to crazy in ten seconds flat. Just one sniff of the aroma triggers all kinds of emotions. It’s amazing how the scent, even if the cinnamon rolls aren’t anywhere in sight, creates a frantic need to eat them. Other aromas are comforting to me. I love to light a jasmine-scented candle. I inhale slowly. The smell of lavender is also amazingly soothing. It isn’t as yummy as a piece of pie. But a small whiff can create an instant Zen mood.
—Melanie
The ability to smell is hardwired in the brain in a very different way than the ability to hear, see, taste, or touch. Scents are processed directly by the brain instead of being relayed through other brain structures, as with your other senses. Memories are often triggered by scents because they affect the
hippocampus
, the brain structure that stores memories. Smells also impact the
amygdala
, the brain organ that mediates emotions. This is why a whiff of freshly cut grass may bring back very powerful memories of being a kid playing outdoors. The smell is encoded in your brain along with your memories and emotions.
Versions of aromatherapy have been around for a very long time. The ancient Greeks and Romans relied on essential oils as perfumes. The original Olympic athletes rubbed scented oils into their muscles to soothe tension. Aromatic oils were well-known staples in ancient Eastern medicine. There are many references to the use of oils in the Bible. In recent years, these ancient practices of aromatherapy have been tested and found to have physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits (Moss et al. 2008).
In general, soothing scents have many positive effects. A pleasant aroma acts quickly to soothe you, much like food. Its effect is immediate. Pleasant aromas have no side effects, in contrast to drugs and antidepressants. It can’t hurt to try some. Although catching a whiff of hot brownies can cause a lot of tension and make you afraid that you might overeat, many aromas don’t have that effect. They don’t generate any worries about weight gain.
~self-soothing technique~
Sensational Scents
If the scent of baking bread or sizzling bacon stimulates your appetite, try curbing it with changing the scent entering your nose as quickly as possible. Scents can be administered in two ways: absorbed through the skin or through olfactory channels.
Go to a health food store and investigate the essential oils. Look for 100 percent essential oils, which are the substances linked with soothing and calming tension. Stash some in your desk at work. Take a few whiffs when you’re tempted to take an afternoon stroll to the vending machine. Or carry a bottle in your purse.
Don’t know which scent to choose? The most soothing scent is said to be lavender. Other soothing scents are chamomile, rose, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. But, keep in mind that what smells good to you is a matter of personal preference. Test a few scents and find one that works for you.
For the worried eater or night eater: Wash your sheets with a hint of lavender. Lie down on the lavender-scented sheet for a while when you need to decompress emotionally or when you are tempted to stress eat. The scent also may help
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