Something that I have learned recently is that I am rather healthy. I eat healthy food over junk, I always stock fruits and veggies like it’s going out of style, but I don’t exercise much anymore. My lack of exercise has a lot to do with the inability to. I know, another woe is me article about not having the time to exercise. But my situation makes it true. I cannot get my 4-year-old to walk or run with me, in fact, I can barely get her to listen to me which stresses me out like crazy. I am really looking forward to her starting school in the fall, but this is the crux of my weight problem. I am too stressed out all the time. Add into my daily life applying to MFA programs and starting to look at job postings, my stress is through the roof.

When I try to talk to my boyfriend about it, he starts acting like I’m a whiny princess. Meanwhile, my stress builds and builds until I’m forever grouchy. But I cannot expect him to always understand, he is a first responder. I couldn't fathom the stress he deals with on a daily basis and I don't want to. This situation is not helping my health or our relationship. Actually, it is hurting both. Destressing is something that we both need to figure out, but I can only worry about my own stress. As much as I may want to, I cannot help him with this, he has to help himself. So do I.

So now I am stuck trying to figure out what to do next. There are many options, options that cost money, prescriptions that only hide the problem or I could suck it up and wait until I get the free time so I can destress. And that could be a long wait.

Lately, I have taken to drinking tea. Yes, it’s because I have high blood pressure, but also because it is something that does relax me. I have been stocking up on assorted chai and herbal teas with a few different types of green and white in the mix. I have also started using essential oils in my diffusers. It doesn’t always help, the tea and essential oils, but when they do I feel amazing. I get more done around the house and find myself more relaxed doing my chores.

To stick with my resolution to be as Ayurvedic as possible, I looked in my small selection of Ayurvedic books. Scott Gerson includes a very brief introduction to using essential oils as part of an Ayurvedic lifestyle in his book Ayurveda; The Ancient Indian Healing Art. Unfortunately, this is limited. His book seems to focus on how aromatherapy works and a brief selection of oils for each dosha, but he doesn’t focus on applying this knowledge. Amrita Sondhi’s Modern Ayurvedic offers a brief section on essential oils as well. While her section is briefer thanGerson’s, it has practical usage added to it.

Unfortunately for me, it still isn't what I am looking for. I am looking for a list of essential oils that have been proven to help with stress and weight loss. So I did a google search and found that Bergamot was on lists for both stress and weight loss. I love Bergamot, so I’m adding it to my diffuser now with Grapefruit, Cinnamon, and Ginger. After that, I am going to bake some cookies for teacher appreciation week, get some housework done and read. Maybe fit a bubble bath into that. Reading in the tub with a cozy cup of tea is the most relaxing thing I can fit into today.