It was back in 2017 that I started to really experience what so many refer to as “winter blues”. Of course, in winter the days are darker longer and we spend more time indoors due to weather. Seasonal affective disorder is also something you might have heard and that absolutely comes with a heaviness at this specific time of year. While I don’t believe mine is to that degree (and there are differences between the two), I do struggle with feelings of fatigue, mental fog, and lack of motivation. Combatting winter blues with essential oils is something I began doing in the winter of 2020.

Our first winter in Tennessee was in 2019. And if I am being honest, it was probably my darkest one. The weather here is much colder than the desert which of course we knew, but experiencing it for the first time is different. It was overcast and rained a lot that year and I was also working a lot. My life was spent inside day after day and it absolutely got to me.

I had just purchased my first few oils that fall, but I didn’t know enough to use them for support in this specific area in combatting winter blues. So fast forward to the winter of 2020 and it was a whole different ball game. I had been using oils that past year, getting familiar with them, and educating myself on different ways they could be utilized to truly help. This allowed me to have a game plan and tools in my arsenal moving into winter to ensure I was in a better space and not struggling with winter blues.

Before I get into the specific oils I have found helpful, I do want to mention a few things that are so important if you struggle with winter blues. And these are things that I have to make sure and stay on top of and push myself to do because they do make such a difference.

Important daily habits in combatting winter blues

1. If the sun is out, I am out. Even if I have to have five layers on. Feeling that on my face and skin, soaking in that vitamin D naturally – it is so huge. Not just for mood, but for our literal health. Hello, immune support!
2. I find a way to move my body, get my heart rate up, and sweat every day. This is huge to release those endorphins to increase energy levels and boost mood. It is also so important to sweat out toxins and heavy metals.
3. As much as I am a night owl, I push myself to stick to a stricter sleep routine as much as I can. With managing Blair’s diabetes, this doesn’t always look perfect, but I do my best.
4. I also make sure to eat nutritious foods and take my supplements. Nothing makes winter blues worse than getting sick and being under the weather. When I stay on top of my wellness game, I have a much better time protecting myself against all the germs and sickness that gets passed around.

Alright, so let’s chat a few specific oils that I also have found so beneficial to have on hand in the goal of combatting winter blues.

My favorite essential oils to combat winter blues

THIEVES

As I mentioned, getting sick only makes matters worse in the winter blues department. I do everything I can to keep my and the family well this time of year and Thieves is a huge part of that in our home.

Not only is it infused in our cleaning products, our toothpaste, even our cough drops, but we also apply it topically every day for added immune support. It is an incredible blend of spices and herbs that we know for their immune-supporting qualities. Ingredients like cinnamon bark, clove, lemon, and rosemary.

If I do feel something coming on I love using Thieves in a wellness tea to help kick things as quickly as I can. All I do is boil some water and add freshly squeezed lemon, some manuka honey, fresh ginger, and 2 or 3 drops of Thieves oil. It does wonders! And of course, diffusing Thieves throughout our home helps support all of us.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

SACRED MOUNTAIN

It’s true what they say about the healing powers nature can have. We all feel it when we are in it so utilizing the oils from trees makes sense to find upliftment. At least that has been true in what I have found support with and for what.

Sacred Mountain has Cedarwood, Balsam Fir, Spruce, and Ylang Ylang in it. I diffuse this during the day as well as in the evening to help with better sleep. I am so much more restless in the wintertime and getting good sleep is a struggle. This oil has helped a lot. I will also drop it onto the crown of my head to help with my energy levels throughout the day.

ORANGE

Citrus scents are a wonderful tool for natural mood boosts. Studies show that simply smelling them can have powerful effects on our mental health. And I have a soft spot for Orange oil. It’s the most glorious, fresh scent and pairs so well with so much. I’m always diffusing this, especially at my desk, and I also add it to one of my go-to perfumes. 

They say orange can also help relieve stress and anxiety. So, I mean, give me all the orange oil, you know? Wink!

PINE

Again with the tree oils. I’m telling you, nature is pretty cool. Pine itself has many benefits for health (just do a search over on PubMed). As an oil, it can be used to reduce stress and anxiety while also helping to eliminate fatigue and promote mental clarity.

This is an area that I feel affects me the most and I have found so much support with this one oil. It’s another one that I diffuse specifically at my desk a lot to help me stay focused.

VALOR

This oil will forever have my heart. Why? Because this specific oil and what I heard it did for others was the reason I wanted to try oils at all. I had just gone through a complete nervous breakdown from burnout and overworking myself for too many years. I was left with health ailments that included anxiety that I never had experienced before along with extreme digestive issues. That mind-gut connection is oh-so-real. And then before I healed from that we were surprised with our Sweet Brooks. So, as you can imagine, postpartum on top of everything else didn’t really help.

I was aching for support to help with anxiety, but as a personal choice, wanted to find something outside of traditional medication. Valor has been such a sweet and tender find. One that I turn to daily even still. It has an incredible effect on nervous tension and overwhelm while also boosting mood and releasing negative emotions.

There is a testimony by Dr.Tom Reed that I just love and what his patient experienced when he used Valor in his office with him. I have shared it before on Instagram and you can find it right here.

NORTHERN LIGHTS BLACK SPRUCE

A very grounding oil and I love using it for calming my mind. According to research, black spruce is also said to support adrenal glands during times of stress and fatigue. No wonder I find it to be so helpful! And it’s another great one to boost your mood.

This is one of the oils I also use in my Anthro blend.
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If you are a friend here who also struggles this season, I hope what I shared is helpful in some way for you! Combatting winter blues with essential oils and also keeping to a few daily habits have really changed the game for me.

Have you found specific things to be helpful for you?