Do you often find yourself in a situation where you find yourself zoning out of conversations, meetings, or classes? Alarmingly, this is a common occurrence, especially for those who make excessive usage of smartphones and screens. Experts(1) believe that as the brain rewires itself to adapt to keep up with switching tasks, it loses attention.
Aromatherapy for focus is grabbing the attention of several individuals who wish to get their focus back on track. Seemingly, there are nearly 100 commonly used essential oils that can grant a range of health benefits, along with improving focus.
Here’s our take on the best essential oils:
Lavender is often associated with inducing relaxation. Moreover, a Japanese study(2) highlighted the use of lavender essential oil for focus by reducing stress and stimulation.
Mix 2mL of lavender essential oil with 10mL of carrier oil and apply it to your temples, wrist, or dab it under your nose.
If you find yourself losing focus, apply the lavender essential oil, take a short break, and then get back to work.
The refreshing, citrusy aroma of lemon essential oil is enough to jolt you out of your mind-wandering sessions. A study(3) indicated that workers who inhaled lemon essential oil not only worked faster but made fewer errors!
Combine water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio and add 3-4 drops of lemon essential oil to the liquid. Store it in a spray bottle and spray some on your desk or surface. The fact that this also contains antibacterial property is another bonus point in its favor!
Spray the lemon-vinegar solution twice or thrice a day at your desk to stay more attentive at school or work.
If you find yourself losing track of conversations because of fatigue, then peppermint essential oil can help regain focus as it can help recover from mental and physical tiredness(4).
Combine 5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil to two tablespoons of carrier oil and massage the blend over your palms. Cup your hands over your nose and mouth and take a deep breath for a few seconds.
Inhale the peppermint oil blend whenever you feel like you are beginning to lose focus due to tiredness.
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” said Shakespeare in his famous tragedy Hamlet. Rosemary has often been associated with better memory and improved focus. A 2016 study(5) noted that students who made use of rosemary essential oil scored 5-7% higher in their memory tests.
Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your diffuser and inhale the fragrance. Alternatively, you can also dilute it with a carrier oil and apply it topically.
Use it daily to notice a significant improvement in your focus.
Clary sage is one of the best-known essential oils for focus and is touted for catalyzing mental clarity. This belief is further supported by scientific studies(6) that registered that the usage of clary sage essential oil improved cognitive functions.
Combine a few drops of clary sage essential oil with the carrier oil of your choice. Massage the oil blend all over your feet, especially around the top of the toes.
Massage your feet with clary sage every night before going to bed to extract the full benefits.
Ylang-ylang essential oil distilled from the Cananga tree is helpful with improving focus. The floral, sweet smell of ylang-ylang and its topical application relaxes the mind and sharpens focus(7).
Add about 7 drops of the ylang-ylang essential oil to a litre of boiling water. Position your face above the vessel and cover up with a light towel. Inhale this steam for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Try this remedy as and when required.
Here is a recipe for the perfect essential oil blend for focus:
Mix all the essential oils and store the blend in an opaque bottle.
[ Read: Essential Oils for Focus ]
If you find yourself reaching out for a cup of coffee to improve focus, you may first want to give essential oils a chance. These essential oils will not just enhance your focus but will uplift your mood and boost your energy levels.
5 best essential oils for studying include
Basil essential oil is rich in linalool, which is a compound that not only reduces stress but also reduces memory loss. Hence, it could be a good choice for better concentration.