Tips for an Essential Oil Newbie

I’m sure you’ve been hearing all about essential oils lately. They seem like they’ve sprouted up almost over night, but in actuality they’ve been around for years. I was completely shocked when I learned that too. I had only stumbled upon them recently when my friend Jaimi from The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide started using them and introduced them to me.

At first, I thought they were simply another way to make your house smell good. I couldn’t have been more wrong about that. They have literally changed everything about our daily life. My family uses them for everything.

If you follow these tips for an essential oil newbie you’ll be well on your way to starting your journey into the essential oil world and using Young Living essential oils.

KNOW THAT YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL OVERWHELMED IN THE BEGINNING…AND THAT’S OKAY

I know being overwhelmed sucks. No one wants to be bombarded with more than they can handle, but the truth is there is a ton of information out there about essential oils. There’s even more information about how to clean with them, cook with them or add them to your beauty regimen.

The uses for essential oils are endless.

Which is both a blessing and a curse. It’s awesome that there are so many uses for essential oils, but at the same time trying to sort through all the information out there can be a slow process. And if you’re anything like me, a jump-all-in, do-all-the-things, impatient type of gal then you understand how hard it can be to reign yourself in. It can be hard not to get overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of information and uses and recipes for essential oils.

So remember that you most likely will feel a little overwhelmed, but it’s completely normal. It’s actually expected and that’s why there are so many resources and classes to help you get over the overwhelm and dive into using your oils.

TAKE IT IN SMALL STEPS

The good news is that you can take small steps and still get all the amazing benefits that essential oils have to offer every day. I find taking small steps challenging, but it really worked with learning and using the oils on a daily basis.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten was to start small. So one day I diffused lavender and then the next day added a drop of lemon to my water in the morning. The next day I applied an oil topically. So that’s what I did. I started with one thing and everyday would add something else into my daily regimen. And before I knew it I was just using them without thinking.

I also used a reference manual daily to learn what essential oils are used for different physical and emotional symptoms. This helped me become better associated with what ones are used internally, topically or aromatically and where to apply them.

THERE’S A LEARNING CURVE

There are some things you’ll have to learn as you start to use essential oils. For example, I thought essential oils were simply for diffusing and making your house smell naturally clean. I was completely shocked to find out that you can use them aromatically, topically and internally (please see disclaimer at bottom).

Then there’s different types of oils you can use for different things. If you’re in need of a pick-me-up you can diffuse peppermint. If you have a stomachache you can rub digize on your stomach. If your little one is congested you can use a blend of eucalyptus and a carrier oil and rub it on their feet.

START TRYING ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPES

In the beginning, I was so nervous to try out essential oil recipes I found. I didn’t want to waste my oils or mess up. But I found that it’s actually pretty hard to mess up most of the all-natural recipes I’ve found. Since they’re made with natural ingredients you can play around with different amounts and add more or less based on your needs.

So far I’ve made toothpaste, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and household cleaners. I use them everyday and I finally am starting to live a more natural life…because of the oils. I have a list of other recipes I will be trying with essential oils including shampoo, conditioner, lip balm and a natural bleach.

It’s awesome that I can use my oils to reclaim our household.

DON’T WAIT TO START TRYING

When I first received my Young Living kit in the mail I was timid about using the oils. I diffused an oil here or an oil there. You might be surprised to find out that my kit sat in the cabinet for a couple of months before I really started to jump in and use them.

WHY?

A couple of reasons.

First, they’re expensive.

I’m being honest, right? And I know that many others have had the same hang-up when they first started. In the beginning, I feared using too much of the oils too quickly because I didn’t want to waste them or have to purchase them again too soon (my attitude on this quickly changed).

Here’s the thing they seem expensive until you realize just how much money you spend on household cleaners, daily beauty things, medicines and prescriptions. Guess what? It’s cheaper (and healthier) to buy essential oils than it is to continue to buy all the stuff our society sells to us. For example, I’ve started making my own dishwashing detergent and not only is it a couple of dollars to make but my dishes and dishwasher are actually cleaner than when I purchased dishwashing detergent for $4 or $5 a bottle.

Secondly, I wasn’t an “expert” on using them.

How did I possibly know what I was doing with them?

That’s the best part about using Young Living essential oils…You don’t have to be an expert. It’s more of a learn as you go and grow and learn some more. I’m incredibly shocked by how much I’ve learned over the last three months using my oils daily.

Third, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to dedicate to learning more about the oils.

Instead of overloading myself I simply started with one essential oil recipe and went from there. I started by making a simple DIY natural household cleaning spray that I love and use everyday. Then I searched for another recipe for toothpaste and made that. You get the picture. I simply dedicated a little bit of time slowly.

So what do you think?

We’ve all been newbies at something and getting the hang of using essential oils is no different. Click here to read more about my personal journey with Young Living essential oils and learn how you can get started today too!