Scent-sational

It can feel hard to carve out 30 minutes of "me" time in the morning. Particularly in the winter, when it can feel like the perfect morning is staying glued to the bed. It reminds me of the old Folgers commercial. "the best part of waking up..." wasn't just drinking the coffee. It was about the smell. On this journey of perfect mornings, today is about the nose.

Find ways to add wonderful smells to your morning. Maybe it's a cup of tea or oil diffuser. Body wash or lotion purchased just because of smell not because they are necessities. Candles, potpourri, or just good old flowers. It doesn't matter what you use so long as it works for you. Take 5 minutes (or however long you like) to breathe deep slow breaths. Really pay attention to fully inhaling and exhaling. Even after you're done with the exercise, the smell will be there lingering in the background, helping to bolster the day.

The effects of aromatherapy and deep breathing are very centering and calming. This is practice can be done anywhere you can take your smell with you. Small vials can be purchased to carry a small amount of a smelly-good with you. Managing, nourishing, and recharging your energy is the best way to stay ahead of stress and illness.