Have you ever thought that scents can transform your mood and productivity? Smell is the strongest of the senses and is the most able to influence brain activity. Olfactory bulbs are part of the limbic system and directly connect to the areas of the brain that process emotion and learning. While most people think of aromatherapy as a tool for managing stress and creating a relaxing environment, selected scents can also be used to create a more creative and productive environment.
Aromatherapy or essential oils not only help improve job performance by health. This means employees are less likely to take sick time. Essential oils have anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Using these oils in an environment where there are a lot of people can help keep germs at bay. Inhaling essential oils activates the hypothalamus (the area of the brain which sends messages to other parts of the body). Simply inhaling a pleasant aroma can cause many changes in the body, activating the immune system, affecting blood pressure and stimulating digestion.
If you want to share the aromas try placing a drop of the essential oil in a bowl of hot water and place it in the middle of the table during a brainstorming session. If you don’t want to offend others, place a drop or two of the essential oil on a cotton ball and enjoy the smells yourself – and reap the benefits.
Here are some of the best productivity boosting scents:
- Lemon – This scent promotes concentration and has calming and clarifying properties that are helpful when you’re feeling angry, anxious or run down. Lemon also has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and can help fight sore throats and colds by boosting the body’s immune system and improve circulation.
- Lavender – This essential oil has calming properties that help control emotional stress. Lavender has a soothing effect on nerves and can relieve nervous tension and depression as well as treat headaches and migraines.
- Jasmine – Just like lavender, jasmine also is used to calm nerves. It is also commonly used as an anti-depressant because of its uplifting capabilities that produce a feeling of confidence, optimism and revitalized energy.
- Rosemary – This oil is a perfect pick me up smell. In addition to improving memory retention, rosemary has stimulating properties that fight physical exhaustion, headaches and mental fatigue. It is great for morning use to get you going.
- Cinnamon – The stimulating properties in cinnamon can help fight mental fatigue and improve concentration and focus.
- Peppermint – Use peppermint essential oils when brainstorming. Peppermint is an energy booster that invigorates the mind, promotes concentration and stimulates clear thinking.
The benefits of aromatherapy can be vast and versatile, but you want to make sure you are using the right scents for your needs. The simplest way to do this is to use more energizing scents earlier in the day, and more calming scents later on. Next time you need to focus on work and keep stress at bay, consider breaking out some of the essential oils listed above. You may be surprised on how it works to get you working.
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