Maybe you relate with one of the following examples. You want to get up, and settle down to work but cannot. Or, perhaps the opposite is true- you just can’t stop working on your project and mellow out. In the first example you want to write but for some reason you just don’t feel inspired to. Looking around your room you notice things like the shades drawn, a cluttered desk, clothes on the floor, and the trash can is full. You think about the many other things to do, more important than writing. Your inspiration is drowning in the stinch from week old garbage. Maybe you’re holding multiple jobs, but nagging thoughts question whether you’re doing enough- making you feel anxious or depressed. It is stuff like that that can get in the way of you working on and completing your book. There are many hats you were as a self-publisher. You are the idea person, writer, editor, publisher, marketer, project manager -the list goes on. Combine that with daily challenges inherent in merely existing and it can sometimes feel like too much. In the process of chasing your dreams of becoming a successful self-published author, we have got to be careful not to burnout. We have got to practice self-care or we can wear ourselves out.
Or are you more like the second example. Maybe you’re used to being up late nights, burning the candle on both ends to make it happen. You are heavily in pursuit of your dream all night. Then you are having to get up and continue the grind at your gig the next day, because being an independent author is not paying real money yet. You’re out of balance because of the bouts with depression and anxiety. I have had my own. I wished I could bury them under my hard work. I felt overwhelmed by a desperate desire to succeed. My restless thoughts would carry on, sometimes, all night. I thought that getting up to try and do more on my book project helped me. But all I really needed was rest. Besides my work was not good when I was tired. I needed something to help pull my attention away from emotions I ran from. This would lead to those late night and early morning nightmares. Truthfully, I was dealing with both scenarios at different times. I suffered from restless and overactive thoughts and emotions. I thought that getting up to try and do more on my projects helped me, when all I really needed was to rest. But then there were the instances I could not get settle down enough to write because of the distraction of a disorganized external environment.
After having had countless experiences like those prior mention times, that I discovered the benefits of essential oils. I wasn’t looking so much for a productivity booster, as I was looking for improved mental health. The oils helped with that. Besides my work was not good when I was tired. I had thought I was burying my worries under my work on my book projects. The work was always my go to for that. But then it was starting to take over my sleep and rest time.
If you need to be able to focus more on your work there are some oils that are recommended for that. Sarah Muzzillo, who gives self-care and writing tips says “A whiff of invigorating peppermint can quickly awaken your senses, helping you focus on your writing. Adding drops of joyful lemon and earthy basil, two oils that also support attentiveness, makes for a dynamic focus blend to diffuse or roll.”
But it is also important to know how to let go when appropriate. There are essential oils blends that encourage the mental focus of our creative energy. And there are other blends that assist with transitioning to down time so we can rest. They can allow you to move into rest mode. Getting proper sleep and rest help prevent wild mood swings. I found a short list of helpful oils and their attributes Kathleen Moulton:
“Here are a few I’ve used:
lavender — calming and relaxing
citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruit) — energizes, promotes alertness and concentration
peppermint — invigorating, energy booster
eucalyptus — mental exhaustion, lethargy, stress
tea tree — stimulates the brain and provides blood flow
rosemary — headaches, fatigue, tired eyes, focus, memory
basil — wakes up the mind”
My positive experience with essential oils, like Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree and others is enough for me to continue with using them. But you will need to do your own research on the myriad of mental health benefits from the many different oils available. I find that the sent of some oils not only help during writing sessions, but at any stage of the self-publishing journey. For instance, during the upload phase, when the frequent appearance of error messages from a self-publishing company require you to “pack your patience”- shout out M.K. Williams. Lastly, I must mention that you should consult your doctor before trying essential oil for yourself, especially if you are on any medications. Good health is, truly, the real wealth. Your abundant health is the check you’ll cash in the future.
By Aderemi T. Adeyemi
Work cited:
Sarah Muzzillo (August 28, 2023) “3 Essential Oil Blends to Support Your Writing Practice” Read Poetry,
https://www.readpoetry.com/3-essential-oil-blends-to-support-your-writing-practice/#:~:text=To%20support%20focus%E2%80%94blend%20peppermint%2C%20lemon%2C%20and%20basil&text=A%20whiff%20of%20invigorating%20peppermint,blend%20to%20diffuse%20or%20roll.
Kathleen Moulton (September 27, 2013) “Aromatherapy To Help You Write”, on the website Writers On The Move,
https://www.writersonthemove.com/2015/09/aromatherapy-to-help-you-write.html
