Maximising the Power of Aromatherapy: How Small Habits Create Big Results

The frustrating world of helping people change

One of my biggest frustrations as an aromatherapy practitioner has been, what they call, ‘client compliance’ – a fancy term for getting people to actually use the blends I make!

It sounds bizarre I know.

Someone comes to see you for a specific issue they want help resolving or managing, and then they end up doing nothing with either the products you make them or the advice and recommendations you give. And unlike when a doctor prescribes you a medication, most of these issues weren’t life or death. They were people trying to sleep better, or manage their emotions, or fix a skin issue. Stuff that you really want to do better, but your life still goes on if you don’t.

At first it used to get me incredibly frustrated.

I would put so much effort into getting to understand my client’s needs, crafting them the perfect blend and creating a beautiful treatment plan filled with recommendations. Then I would check in with them after a few days and I would hear things like “oh, I haven’t tried it yet” or “oh I did it for a couple of days and it was great, but I just haven’t had time”.

Or, many of them would follow the plan religiously and realise the immense benefits and be looking and feeling fabulous. Then I would check in with them a couple of months later and they were either back where they were before or sometimes, in a worse spot asking for the same help and remedies again.

Judgement turns to understanding

I could be quite harsh in my head back then.  “Well, that was a huge waste of time” or “Good luck with that” were common things I would hear in my head as I was trying to convince them to try it again, continue with something new or as I made them a new blend.

And whilst I would still put 100% of my time and energy into the plan for each client, I started to get a little disheartened about why people do that.

Why do they pay good money for beautiful, hand-made, specifically designed products, and then not use them? Why do they get themselves into situations where they have such poor mental or physical health, but then not take the simple steps to start pulling themselves out of it?

I went down a rabbit hole of psychology and research, looking at whether it’s all linked back to self-esteem, what happened to you as a child, internal programming etc etc. But I couldn’t distil it all down to something practical, that would actually make a difference.

And whilst I’m sure the psychology side is important, the number one thing I now understand that was de-railing all those brilliant intentions was that one little word – HABIT.

Humans are absolute creatures of habit.

It’s how our brains conserve energy and how we can autopilot our way through so many daily activities without giving them any conscious thought. And whilst from an evolutionary perspective it works, it’s pretty unhelpful when you’re trying to get someone to either change an existing poor habit, or form a new, healthier one!

And it was around this time that I learned about the concept of habit-stacking.

I first saw the term when reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear – one of my favourite books of all time!  He explains habit stacking as a way to capitalise on a structure and cycle that already exists in your brain. Or to put it another way, whatever you already do without thinking, add something small to it consistently, and eventually it will become part of the same habit.

Doesn’t sound too revolutionary, but boy it changed my life and the way I approach treatment plans with my clients!

How I started habit stacking

I realise, looking back, that I subconsciously applied habit stacking when I first started trying to build stronger morning and evening routines. It took a bit of trial and error to get right even for something as simple as applying a sleep oil.

I started out keeping the oil downstairs near where I fill my water glass before bed. I thought this would be a nice time to do it, giving me more time to smell the scent as I made my way upstairs to do my teeth, brush my hair etc.

But what I found was that, more often than not, I would completely forget the oil - so programmed was my brain to mechanically just fill that water bottle! And then I would get upstairs and, of course, who could be bothered to go back downstairs again!

yeah.. not going to happen

So, then I thought, where could I put it upstairs that would work?

Next I tried keeping it next to the bed.

Again, some nights, I was so tired that I would just flop into bed and go to sleep, without even a passing thought for the oil. Or I’d get in, get all comfy and warm, then realise I’d have to either sit up and do the whole ritual, or again, dismiss and go to sleep.

Clearly, still not working!

Then I realised that the one thing I did on absolute auto-pilot every single night was brushing my teeth. It was sometimes so auto-pilot I would get into bed and have to really think hard about whether I did it or not!

So, I started keeping the oil right next to my toothbrush – no effort required to get it, I’m already upstairs, I haven’t settled down anywhere that requires effort to get up. As an added bonus (at the risk of TMI), I usually pee just before bed, which means I’m already sitting down making it easier to reach my feet to apply the oils…perfect!

Fast forward to now and it’s like they have become one step. One habit which I rarely, if ever, forget.

That’s what we call effective Habit Stacking!

I applied the same concept to my morning routine. I have my body brush on the bench next to the shower, my pure EO soap in the shower, and replacements in the closest possible proximity to the shower. And my range of beautiful oils on the bench right where I can see and reach them with absolutely zero effort.

This has enabled me to seamlessly integrate each step into my routines, without breaking a sweat or making any additional effort.

This is now my number one advice to every client. Well, actually its my number one advice to most people I meet who want to make significant changes in their life - Start small, identify simple, daily rituals you have that you barely even think about and incorporate into them the new thing you want to do.

And especially my clients who want to incorporate these beautiful gifts from nature into their daily routines to both start and end their day in the bliss of natural scent. Make it seamless:

• Have a rollerball in each handbag/purse you use

• Keep the body oil near where you dry off from your shower

• Keep your inhaler in your gym bag for an instant lift

• Keep your diffuser oil by your bed and your night body blend wherever you change for bed!

• For remedial blends like a pain blend for your knee or a skin blend for your face, have it close to where you are most likely to use it – again, gym bag for pain blends, cosmetic pouch for face oil, in the car for calm on the way to work – wherever it makes sense for you

Keep it simple! Not like this...

The cool thing about habit stacking is also that there’s no ‘right’ way to do it.

Every individual on this planet has their own unique routine and things they do. You have absolute control over how you choose to habit stack. It’s not a guideline you have to remember or a plan you have to execute. Add the oils to things you already do, in places you already access and you will see success.

And as James Clear so eloquently puts it, “every action you take is a vote in the box for who you want to be”. Every time you remember to use your oils, the beautiful dimension they will add to your life will be reward enough.

But making that vote really count by sticking with something everyday also means you are exponentially improving the changes of improving your own health and wellness, one change at a time.

If you're interested in finding out more about blends that might support you and whatever emotional or physical issues you are facing, reach out to me anytime at askme@blendsbyem.com

Have a beautiful week!

Emx