As much fun as the holiday season is for families, it can also be stressful and not just for adults. I’ve noticed that for the last week or so my boys have had shorter tempers than usual as they prepare for Christmas concerts at school, rush around to their final activities before the holiday break and create crafts, cards and gifts for loved ones. And honestly, I have just as much trouble staying mellow lately. Between cleaning the house for the holidays, planning visits from family and friends and cooking up treats, I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. But I do have a few simple methods for minimizing stress, and these are my top three!

Aromatherapy

There’s nothing better than a soothing scent to help minimize stress. My personal favourite aroma when in the mood for relaxation is lavender but since it is the holiday season, I tend to favour more festive relaxation at this time of year! Vanilla, cinnamon and orange are all aromatherapy oils that are used to help reduce stress, and all are also common aromas during Christmas! When the entire household is feeling irritable, I’ll combine a few drops each of vanilla and cinnamon essential oil in a diffuser to fill the whole house with the peaceful, soothing scent. And when I just need a bit of balance myself, rubbing a drop of essential oil on my neck just behind my ears lets me enjoy the benefits of the aroma all day long. [Read more…]