The clocks changed early in the month and just like that, it seemed like all the light was sucked out of the day. Weather turned dull and rainy, and the day is over well before 5 pm. I'm sure I'm not alone in finding these short, dark days very dull and sad. I found myself having a hard time getting things done, and I suspect probably I'm not alone.
When you live in the north where daylight is so short for a good part of the year, you need all the help you can get to power through the dark. Here are my best tips and recipes for lighting a fire (i.e., finding motivation to do stuff) in the dark days of autumn and winter.
Two tips to start us off: any blend that incudes CITRUS OILS and/or SPICE OILS will be very helpful for moving us into action. That means blends like On Guard, Harvest Spice and Holiday Joy are also great to diffuse at this time of the year. There are also a few FLOWER OILS that are very action oriented. My top favourites? Roman Chamomile and Blue Tansy! Check out all my favourites below, but also have fun experimenting with your own blends and potions.
#1: Motivate Blend
This blend was specifically formulated for its emotional benefits. As a combination of some of the most uplifting and invigorating essential oils, the synergy in this blend lifts us out of dark-induced inertia, so we can get stuff done. Put it in your diffuser and let the aroma do its magic. Better still, don't tell anyone in the house that you're doing it, and watch them get to those tasks that they have been dragging their feet on. There is a roll-on version of this blend as well, which you can use as a personal fragrance.
#2: Passion Blend
This is another blend that was formulated for its emotional benefits. Passion uses the pathway of spice oils to get us moving. Find your passion for life, even in the dark. Diffuse a few drops in your home, or use the roll-on version as a personal perfume. (As a side benefit, I find Passion blend to give me very effective pain relief when I have an arthritis attack in a joint. The spice oils seem to help get circulation moving.)
#3: Brave Blend
The Brave blend from doTERRA's Kid's Kit comes only in a 10 mL roll on. You can see in the graphic below how the four oils in this blend contribute to a brighter, bolder emotional aspect. Use it as a personal fragrance whenever you feel overwhelmed, fearful or unmotivated.
#4: Roman Chamomile and Wild Orange
We think of Chamomile as a sweet little flower that helps people to calm down, but did you know that it was used in Ancient Rome to give soldiers courage during battle? This ain't no sissy flower! Combine Roman Chamomile with a citrus oil like Wild Orange, Clementine, Grapefruit or Tangerine to give that lazy feeling a one-two punch. Use a 1:1 combination, either in the diffuser or topically.
#5: Blue Tansy
Blue Tansy is also a member of the chamomile family, so it's no surprise that it has some of the same properties as Roman Chamomile. Emotionally, it is known as the "Oil of Inspired Action" and there is even a 30 Day Challenge you can follow, to test out Blue Tansy's inspirational properties for yourself. I think that there is no better time than November to do a challenge like that!
I hope that you will try some or all of these suggestions in the final months of 2025, or whenever you need some extra motivation, inspiration, or get up and go. Let me know in the comments which ones you try, and how they work for you!
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