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One of the problems I ran into a few years back when working from home, was the amount of anxiety and frustration working from a home office bought. Far from being a walk in the park, I was getting restless, anxious and tired sitting down for more than 1600 hours per year at home.
One solution then that massively helped was investing in my own wellbeing by using essential oils in my home office. With their being hundreds of different types of oils out there what are the best ones for a home office? And what are the benefits of using essential oils? Keep reading to find out more!
(Just a heads up a lot of people reading my blog are in the process of designing their own home office. If you want to save some of the painstaking time I did in designing my office, you can find my recommended products here)
Tea tree oil
So tea tree oil is most commonly known for a lot of it’s medical benefits, being used to treat things like acne and fungal infections.
Whilst this is super safe to put on your skin and apply, one of the last things you probably want to do in your place of work is rub tea tree moisturizer on your body.
Instead, use something like an infuser. Tea tree oil has the lovely benefit of reducing sinus congestion so if you feel bunged up working in a home office this would definitely help. My first choice would be using tea tree oil.
Sandalwood oil
Any frequent readers of my blog know just how much I rave about the pomodoro technique whereby you work in 25-minute blocks.
Sandalwood oil will fit in nicely into those 5 minute breaks, and using an infuser will help you relieve any stress you might be feeling or can help you calm down before an important virtual meeting or call.
I usually use these before any pre-schedule calls with any prospects and It definitely works.
One of the major benefits of doing this when you work from home is that you don’t have to worry about the smell annoying anyone else so make use of sandalwood oil when you can!
Lemongrass oil
Probably the biggest problem anyone who works from a home office frequently is lack of mental clarity.
A lot of us who work remotely, work in roles that by nature, require us to stare at a screen for several hours a day without getting much fresh air outside.
As such, one of the first things we lose that our loved ones will notice is poor mood.
One of the best oils to change this would be Lemongrass.
Lemongrass has a tonne of great properties such as reducing ulcers and reducing pain relief – both of which will obviously put you in a poor mood.
Whilst this works best via a massage, you can still get a tone of great benefits using an air diffuser.
Lemon grass is also fantastic at getting rid of any unwanted smells you don’t want lingering around your home office.
Cedarwood Oil
I’ll be honest, cedarwood oil smells amazing hence why I’m putting this one slightly higher up the list.
Like the other essential oils, cedarwood has a number of anti-fungal and benefits however in a home office cedarwood oil reminds me of the outside and so having the smell of nature in your home office can go a long way to making you feel refreshed and close to the great outdoors.
I personally like to spray a little on my work desk which keeps me going for the day!
Rosemary Oil
A lot of the time, us remote workers have to be in charge of our own schedules.
Trust me when I say the amount of times I’ve forgotten about my task lis,t only comes back to a few angry messages in more than I care to admit.
That being said if you have a lot on your plate and need help in the memory department, look no further then rosemary oil.
Whilst rosemary oil has all the benefits of the other oils, it also has the added bonus of improving your memory so infusing this in your home office can definitely go a long way.
Jasmine Oil
Jasmine oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils out there and with good reason.
Jasmine oil has calming properties and is a good choice for anyone working from an office in s stressful environment ( hello forex traders, programmers, salespeople and other remote workers)
Unlike a lot of other oils, there are actual studies into the neurological effects of jasmine oil on mood, with a study finding that the use of aromatherapy with jasmine oil saw an improvement in mood, energy and focus.
Check out this study from the Journal of Health and Research for further reading.
Lavender Oil
I’m pretty sure at some point in your life you must have used lavender in some capacity, and for good reason. It’s one of the most versatile flowers we have out there.
Lavender oil is fantastic for us remote workers, as we tend to get a loss less sleep then our office based counterpart by way of us working longer. The longer you work the less sleep you get according to a recent study.
Sadly, insomnia is a real price to pay for us remote workers and so by using lavender oil in your home office is one of the fastest way to help calm your mind.
Use these near the end of your work day as you start to wind down and you will find yourself sleeping a lot better.
Lemon and Bergamot
Another terrific essential oil to use from a home office that I feel sometimes gets overlooked by some of the others on this list.
I would use Lemon and Bergamot oil as a way of freshening up the office smell with a zesty citrus tang.
Lemon and Bergamot oil also have the added benefit of helping reduce stress in aromatherapy sessions so you can smell fresh whilst you destress.
Word to the wise however, if you decide to use this be warned to never use this as is and always mix with a different oil as it has been linked with photo sensitivity.
Eucalyptus
Take note of any beauty ad on TV and I’m daily sure eucalyptus won’t be that far away.
Eucalyptus oil can be a fantastic choice for a home office which is humd.
Most of us (myself included) live in an apartment and so it’s not uncommon for us to have a hard time breathing when cramped into a small flat.
Eucalyptus oil out of all the oils here is the best when it comes to aiding in reducing coughs and clearing your chest so definitely consider looking into if you have a dust filled home office.
Orange oil
Finally we come to good old orange oil.
Whilst you might not have realised that there are essential oils made out of oranges ( don;t worry I was ignorant to this to until a few weeks ago) , using orange oil is great at just changed the smell of your home office,
While it has some great anti-fungal properties the smell of oranges does a very good job of getting rid of the other smells from your home so be sure to check it out if you home office has a problem smell.
How to use essential oils in your home office?
The best way to use essential oils in your home office would be with an aroma air diffuser that gently diffuses the oils in the air as your day goes on. A good alternative to this would be to use an atomizer to spray the oil in your home office. Use the air diffuser a few times per week for 30 minutes at a time.
Infusing your oils into the air will be the most effective way of using essential oils for a home office as this will not require you to give yourself a lengthy massage to gain all the benefits with the air infuser doing all the work.
So what are the best air diffusers out there, I’ve put together a table below which should help:
| Diffuser | Why |
| Ultrasonic diffusers | Ultrasonic diffusers do not require any water to be refilled, instead they use tiny micro sound vibration to break up the oil into a fine mist leaving less for you to need to clean up. |
| Personal diffusers | Personal diffusers are probably the best choice for those of you with a small office. Especially if you don’t want your entire home to smell of the oil. |
| Portable diffusers | These are great if you are on the road a lot. If you work from a home office it’s likely you may need to meet clients or be on the road, if this is the case a portable diffuser can do a great job at getting your aromatherapy session in on the go. Definitely opt for those which have a USB functionality. |
| Cool Mist diffuser | If it’s winter or if you have a cold home office, cool mist diffusers can be a great choice for keeping the air around you humid and can help avoid you catching a flu. |
Once you have decided what oil and diffuser you would like be sure to use it a few times a week for 30 minutes at a time.
A lot of these diffusers do have a continuous option however in my opinion ensuing you use them in light burst is probably the best option.
How much do essential oils cost?
The average cost of a 15 ml container of essential oil is $30. Largest sizes will cost more and the rarer the plant and oil used the more expensive the cost. It is not uncommon for some rare oils to cost as much as $100 per 15 ml container.
What is the best essential oil for your home office pod?
The best essential oils to use in a home office would have to be Lemongrass oil and Lavender. Lemongrass oil It has been linked to raising mood and energy which is important for you to stay focused during your work day. Lavender oil can then be used near the end of your work day to help you relax.
Benefits of using essential oils in your home office?
Essential oils have a huge number of medical benefits including:
- Boost your energy levels
- Reduce migraines
- Help you sleep
- Get rid of fungal infections
- Be used for antibacterial properties
- Help improve depression and anxiety
Issues of depression, lack of sleep anxiety, and tiredness can all be attributed to a lot of remote home office workers so investing in essential oils can be a great way of mitigating some of the downsides to remote working.
Finally a lot of people reading my blog want to know what products I recommend for a home office/remote working. You can find out my recommendations here and learn how I make money whilst working remotely on the side here.
The content on this on this site has been written by Fehed Nicass who has over a decades worth of experience in sales and has worked remotely for the past 2 years.