Happy Cinco de Mayo! And welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. I recently returned from a business mastermind retreat where one of the themes we discussed was how to stay connected to our passion and our higher purpose in the face of the overwhelming demands we often face in our businesses (not to mention the sometimes unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves).

One of the presentations got me thinking about all the different ways our energy can be drained –sometimes without our even being aware of it. Obviously, if we spend our time doing things that don't make us very happy or that keep us disconnected from the people and things we love, it's not hard to see how that can drain us and make us feel tired and uninspired. But what about the less obvious drains –the ones that we don't pay much attention to because they've become so ingrained and a part of our every day living?

If you're a multi-tasker like me, or you're plugged in and wired for the digital world with it's constant demands, then I think you'll appreciate the tips in this week's article to help you plug those energy drains! Don't forget to check out our Cinco De Mayo specials too.

Yours in health and prosperity,

Donya

CINCO DE MAYO SPECIAL: Buy 1, Get 1 Free 8 oz Body Washes

Fighting Fatigue: 7 Tips to Help You Plug Your Energy Drains

When someone asks you how you are, what's your typical response? If you're like most people your typical answer is probably "super busy," "tired," "overwhelmed," "stressed," or all the above. All of these are closely connected and usually happen sequentially, or simultaneously depending on your personal circumstances. Either way, you are not alone.

In the age of digital communications, 24-hour news cycles, social networks, email, and smart phones, we've become a wired society swirling in a relentless stream of information that demands our time and constant attention. At the same time, a sluggish economy means many of us are working longer and harder than ever before, multi-tasking like crazy, and left wondering where the time went.

The irony is that you're probably not even aware of how much time you spend every day dealing with stressful situations and how much of a toll that stress is taking on your body and your health.

So how can you get a leg up and reclaim your energy and vitality? The first step is to identify the conditions and patterns that consistently drain your energy and plug them. Here are 7 tips for plugging some common energy drains:

1. Check in and Take a Breather
   
   Shallow breathing is a basic but frequently overlooked energy drain. Most people take shallow, rapid breaths, using only about a third of their lung capacity, but your body needs a good supply of oxygen to properly metabolize food and create energy at the cellular level. If your cells aren't producing enough energy then everything slows down and drags you down in the process.
   
   On the other hand, deep breathing slows your heart rate, which immediately calms and grounds you, lowering your blood pressure in the process. So awareness of your breath is the place to start.
   
   Click here to read the full article.

Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:

• Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
• Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
• Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
• Hand-made locally in northern California

Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.

Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics - which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.