Good study habits are hard to get.

A deadline or test can bring our best procrastination skills, a sudden hunger craving, a Netflix binge, or cover our head under the blankets and sleep the day away.

For the teens in my house it’s one part getting down to it and one part how effective are we when we do actually hit the books. Finding the right homework helper tools is key to getting good grades and enjoying school.

Set Your Timer

One of the best tricks to stay alert and focused is actually to take breaks. Not big long breaks, but short, quick times to refocus the brain. Run up and down the stairs to get something, do 10 jumping jacks, take a 10 min power nap. Set your alarm to take a 2 minute break every 20 – 30 minutes and your brain power will soar. My eldest is the queen of study breaks – I learn a lot from her.

Smell and Memory

The other trick to stay focused is to work on the subconsious level of the brain through your sense of smell. Our sense of smell is directly linked to memory and activates the area of the brain that helps us memorize and learn new information. Have you ever experienced a flood of memories from freshly baked bread, your grandmother’s favourite perfume, or a savoury dish from your childhood?

In addition to this memory response, our brain cells and connector sites respond to stimulation from our brain to keep us alert, improve brain function and calm and settle agitation that prevents us from staying focused.

I found this out quite by accident one day when I thought I put Balance Blend in my diffuser just to keep me sane with so many things to get done. I ended up having one of my most productive days even though it involved many hours at a computer. The blend I actually put in – also started with B thus the confusion… was Breathe.

This little magic Breathe Blend contains Peppermint, Lemon, Ravinsara, Eucalyptus, and Cardamom amongst other ingredients. I normally use this blend for stuffy noses and snoring family members. But on this day the mental fatigue aspects of these oils were super powerful. This in now one of my go-to blends when I need to focus for long periods of time.

What is it about these oils that work?

There is not one aspect but several that make essential oils important study buddies.

Stimulants – Peppermint and spearmint plus the citrus oils have energizing and stimulating properties and help to keep us alert.

Clarifying – Basil, Cilantro, Cypress, Rosemary and Eucalyptus help to clear and focus the mind.

Calming – Lavender, Wild Orange and Petitgrain help to soothe and calm anxiety so we can be productive instead of anxious and worried.

Restorative – Frankincense and Juniper Berry are restorative in nature and help to restore brain function while keeping us feeling grounded and present.

For more on how Essential Oils help with brain function check out this article; Top 10 Essential Oils for Brain Fog.

You can choose to keep it simple and add a few drops of Breathe to get on with your day or you may find one of these blends to be even more productive. Give them a try, get the kids involved in creating their favourite blend and give them that little extra boost to score an A on their next exam.

Homework Helper Diffuser Blends

Study Mode
3 drops Lime
2 drops Rosemary
1 drop Peppermint
1 drop Basil
2 Frankincense

Crystal Clear
3 drops Lemon
2 drops Douglas Fir
2 drops Basil
2 drops Frankincense
1 drop Clove

Focus Power
2 drops Peppermint
2 drops Wild Orange
1 drop Ginger
3 drops Balance
2 drops Rosemary

Homework Helper
2 drops Frankincense
2 drops Peppermint
2 drops Rosemary
2 drops Wild Orange

Study Boost
2 drops Basil
2 drops Rosemary
3 drops Lemon

Genius Zone
2 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Lime
1 drop Frankincense

Diffuse these blends when it’s time to focus, concentrate and learn new things.

Print out the recipe page so these are handy when you need them.

Comment below on which is your favourite blend for studying? Do the essential oils make you smarter too?

Want to find out more about getting safe and effective essential oils for your home? Book an essential oil consultation and we’ll discover your best options for oils that safely support you and your family.