How to make mask-wearing more pleasant

How are you doing with wearing your mask?

I recently started struggling with wearing my mask for 5-6 hours a day while at the office: I had tenderness around my ears, it felt stuffy inside my mask, my jaw felt tight and sometimes I had headaches.

Luckily, I know a lot of great self-help tools and started to use some techniques that really helped, which I'll share with you today.
 

Guasha to clear tension around the head

Guasha is a massage technique which is done using a simple Chinese soup spoon and any kind of pain-relieving, circulation-activating lotion or oil. Here is a short video demonstration on how to use these tools to work out the tension around your ears, jaw, and neck which can come from wearing a mask for extended periods of time. This technique is helpful for headaches and jaw pain in general, regardless of whether these symptoms are being aggravated by mask-wearing.

Turn your mask into an aromatherapy dispenser 

Adding a drop of your favorite essential oil onto the side of your mask makes for a much more pleasant experience while wearing it. Depending on how you are feeling that day, you can choose an oil that will support your mind and body.

• Use lavender for its soothing effect if you are feeling anxious and stressed.

• Use peppermint or spearmint for an energizing effect if you are tired or unfocused.

• Use orange or grapefruit for an uplifting, cheerful effect if you are feeling down or sad.

I would recommend using only one drop of essential oil and dabbing it near the edge of the mask, so the scent doesn’t become too overwhelming or cause any eye irritation.