Your mind is jumping around like kids in a jump house at a birthday party after loads of sugar consumption, you can't seem to string two coherent sentences together, and yet you still have a ton of work to get done. (I bet you can't even remember what you just read.) What do you do?

I wouldn't reach for a third cup of coffee (it might keep you up all night). And please leave those god-awful energy drinks alone!

Instead, try using essential oils for focus. Essential oils can stimulate the brain through a somewhat complicated chemical process but have an almost immediate effect to improve focus, concentration, and motivation. Sound too good to be true? It's not!

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Essential oils for focus

These are the three main essential oils to support focus and concentration found in one of my favorite premade blends by doTerra..."Thinker" which is great for kids and adults. (It's found in their kid's collection of roller bottles.)

Vetiver

Vetiver, often called the "oil of tranquility", is native to India and has been used in traditional medicine by various cultures for thousands of years. It has a very earthy, smoky, woody, exotic smell and a little goes a long way! Extracted from the root, vetiver has a nice grounding energy.

Emotionally, vetiver is very soothing and calming and is often used to unwind or de-stress. Vetiver’s potent properties are great for relieving mental exhaustion while enhancing the ability to focus and concentrate.

Peppermint

One of the most popular essential oils, peppermint has been found (see study) to help stimulate mental clarity, improve focus, concentration, mental performance, and memory.

The aroma of peppermint oil is stimulating and intense, but pleasant to most. It may be wise to avoid peppermint at bedtime due to its invigorating nature.

Rosemary

Many people are familiar with rosemary for its great culinary uses, but there are far more benefits to this refreshing herb. This evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean area can calm the mind, improve focus, battle stress and relieve anxious feelings. Rosemary has also been shown in studies to improve cognition and mental alertness, and it may temporarily improve memory recall as well.

The doTerra "Thinker" blend

The 3 essential oils for focus I mentioned above are combined with clementine essential oil in the "Thinker" blend. You can get this cute little roller bottle for kids (and adults) directly from doTerra (open a wholesale account and save 25% or more) and use it topically as needed.

My 3rd grader loves to put some on for afternoon homework or guitar practice. At that time of day, after being in school for 8 hours, it gives him a little brain boost and reduces his mental distractions.

The roller bottles (there are 5 other blends made especially for kids) are super easy to throw in a purse or backpack and use whenever and wherever. However, sometimes it's nice to have another option too...

Copycat Recipe for "Thinker" blend

While I love the roller bottles, I love me some diffusing action even more! Especially when it's time to really grind out some productive work at home.

The "Thinker" Blend Recipe

This is my copycat version of doTerra's Thinker blend. Although they use Clementine essential oil, it's not for sale as an individual oil (at the time of this writing). No worries, you can easily substitute Tangerine as I did!

• 2 drops Rosemary essential oil

• 2 drop Vetiver essential oil

• 2 drop Peppermint essential oil

• 2 drops Tangerine essential oil

How to use this blend of essential oils for focus

Diffuse

Add this blend to a diffuser and diffuse while studying, reading, or during any activity requiring more focus and attention. You can also use the blend when you are feeling scatterbrained or constantly distracted. You know, for cases of chronic monkey brain! (Am I the only one feeling like this every day??)

Apply topically (diluted)

You can also dilute this recipe and make your own roller ball. Simply add the recipe as written above and dilute with fractionated coconut oil in a 10mL roller bottle for adults. For kids, use one drop of each essential oil and dilute with fractionated coconut oil in a 10mL roller bottle.

Apply topically (undiluted)

If you don't have sensitive skin, try adding one drop of each oil in the palm of your hand, rub together, and cup over the nose and mouth for 30 seconds. This is sure to give you a brain boost!

Don't have one of these oils?

No worries! Here are some substitutions you can try.

• No Vetiver? Try Cedarwood

• No Rosemary? Try Basil

• No Peppermint? (seriously?) Try Spearmint or Douglas Fir

• No Tangerine? Try Wild Orange or Lemon

Now, go get focused!

P.S. Do you want to find out how to save 25% on essential oils?