It's November. Which... is not the greatest time of the year for me. Sure, I always look forward to visiting my family in the U.S. for Thanksgiving later in the month. And this year, we had an extremely mild autumn, so summer truly felt like it had been extended a few extra weeks. I can't complain about that. But other than these two somewhat minor bright sides, November is probably my least favorite month of the year.
Ever since I was in my early 20s, I have struggled with feeling abnormally lethargic and, at times, anxious and even achy, this time of year. Although I avoid falling into the rabbit hole of Googling health symptoms and self-diagnosing, it's become fairly evident to me that I deal with some form of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or "SAD."
Those of us who live in the north are more than familiar with this particular affliction. Even if you have never suffered from it, chances are if you live in a cold, dark climate, someone you know has. Essentially, it occurs in individuals, like myself, who have reasonably normal mental health conditions for most of the year, but when the days grow shorter, we tend to experience symptoms that are akin to depression.
From over a decade of trying to figure out how to navigate the dark, murky waters of November, I've learned that there are a few things help me a lot:
- First and foremost, investing in good light... I purchased this one from Amazon a few years ago and have been really happy with it.*
- Doing yoga. A lot. In fact, I try to do yoga every day, even if it's just 10-15 minutes. I notice a huge difference in my mood for the rest of the day, and week. On a day to day basis, I follow videos on YouTube, but if possible, I try to go to at least one yoga class every week in-person. The bonus of doing this is that I actually have an excuse for owning such a huge collection of leggings, which are basically my daily uniform.
- Eating fresh foods and vegetables... which may seem obvious, but the struggle this time of year is real because I tend to crave as much pasta, bread and cheese as I can grab as the temperature drops and winter creeps ever so closer.
- And, essential oils.
In recent months, I have gotten very into aromatherapy. I purchased a diffuser in the summer and haven't looked back. So when my normal November blues set in a week or so ago, of course the first thing on my mind was to look for essential oils that might give me the boost I need to make it through this time of year.
After doing a bit of research, I found that there are a plethora of different oils that people enjoy using to soothe their SAD symptoms. A few of the most commonly mentioned ones seem to include:
- Citrus oils such as lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, bergamot, etc.
- Neroli
- Ylang ylang
- Juniper
- Lavender
- Clary Sage
- Cardamom
- Basil
- Rose
I wanted to find oils that I could comfortably diffuse in the daytime. Since I work from home, I often have my diffuser going during the workday. So, comforting oils, like lavender, while amazing in the evening, are prone to making me far too sleepy to be practical during the day.
Over the past few weeks, I've tried most of the ones listed above, as well as a fair few others. I ended up discovering my own blends that work well in fighting off the moodiness, glumness and sluggishness that I experience this time of year, but don't make me so drowsy or "relaxed" that I can't be productive during the workday. My favorite oils are:
- Cypress - This has quickly become one of my favorite essential oils to put in the diffuser. From the cypress tree, one of my favorite pairings is with a rose essential oil. When paired with rose, the two blend to provide a soft, soothing scent. Cypress is said to relieve stress and stimulates feelings of happiness. No wonder I have been reaching for it lately!
- Rose - Rose has always been one of my favorite scents. I purchased my rose essential oil from a local distiller, and I find it pairs beautifully with cypress. Although it definitely is reminiscent of a spring/summer scent, I find it is soothing year-round. In fact, that is why I reach for this essential oil: it's soothing, without making me feel drowsy. Note that I do find many rose essential oils are quite heady, so one drop is usually enough.
- Clary Sage - Clary sage essential oil is extracted from the clary sage plant (salvia sclarea), which is native to Europe. It is said to boost self-esteem and provide a more optimistic and positive outlook on life. It's also said to soothe anxiety. It is no wonder this is one of my favorites to combat the issues I experience this time of year!
- Sandalwood - Sandalwood, in addition to being one of my favorite scents, period, is frequently used to promote mental clarity. It is also said to be a memory booster as well as relaxing and calming. This is the perfect solution for staying mentally focused during my workday and a great antidote to anxiety.
- Frangipani - Extracted from a beautiful tropical flower (plumeria), this is a scent most associated with tropical getaways, no doubt because it is profuse in Hawaii. I think this is why I enjoy sneaking it into my November blends: if I can't actually escape and go on a tropical beach vacation this time of year, at least I can make my house smell like I am somewhere delicious and warm and sunny. Its actual benefits are as a relaxant, particularly for nerves and muscles, which I find helpful because I have back pain that flares up this time of year. But I enjoy using it mainly because of its tropical associations. Since it is frequently used in perfumes, this is another essential oil that I have to be careful not to overdo in the diffuser: one drop is definitely enough!
- Vetiver - Ah, vetiver. One of my favorite "base notes" in blends, vetiver has an aroma that reminds me of moist soil (in a good way!) and is most useful this time of year because it is calming and grounding. Vetiver is also said to improve symptoms of ADHD and anxiety, which makes it really useful when battling against SAD symptoms.
- Juniper - I love juniper. The essential oil is said to transmute and transform you and your energies, and protect you from "low vibrations." I need all of the protection I can get this time of year!
- Cedarwood - Cedarwood is another of my favorite essential oils of all time. Note that I use Juniperus virginiana, or Virginia Cedarwood oil, as I prefer it over other types. It is said to improve focus, uplift and nurture.
My favorite blends:
- Cedarwood, juniper and geranium - this is so soothing and I find myself making up this blend on Fridays to help "ease away" a busy week.
- Frangipani and sandalwood - this smells like an instant vacation! I tend to reach for it early in the week to chase away the added "Monday blues."
- Cypress, rose and clary sage - this is a wonderful staple that I use all of the time during the workday: it's soothing, comforting and pleasant. If you don't have clary sage, just cypress and rose together are also lovely.
- Vetiver and lavender - although I tend to steer clear of lavender during the workday because it can make me drowsy, I find that when paired with vetiver, it seems to provide a lovely, soothing effect, especially towards the end of the workday. Cypress is also a nice addition to this woodsy, earthy combination!
I hope these suggestions help ease some of the stresses, tensions and general blues experienced this time of year!
Disclaimer: The content of this post is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be health advice or provide guidance on the proper use of essential oils. Discretion should be exercised if using essential oils.
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