Im-You-Nity
Welcome to another episode of The Care, your "biweekly" Healthy Habit suggestion. It's a funny thing -- I was a little confused about what to call something that happens every other week. I thought "biweekly" meant "twice a week" and it turns out it does and it also can signify "every other week" ...?!? Google says, "with a little care, you can use 'bi-' with no risk of creating confusion". Ha, ha -- not so sure about that, but now you know, for sure, when I use the term, I mean every other week.
Back to the topic at hand -- with another COVID variant making its presence well-known, I thought it would be a good time to review some self-care around staying well. While I happen to be confident about being vaccinated, I also encourage everyone to take some responsibility around going above and beyond that. Ultimately, if we are healthy and in good shape, we will be able to deal with the virus, if we happen to
contract it, or we can avoid it altogether. Here are my tips:
Wear a mask in public places, especially in crowds. Remember to change up your mask by replacing the disposable ones daily or washing the heavy cloth ones regularly. I also recommend putting a drop of either Thieves oil (Young Living) or OnGuard (doTerra) inside the mask. It smells good and boosts your defenses.
Get enough and good quality rest and sleep. This might be a good time to check your bed -- is your mattress old and uncomfortable? How about your pillows? Make sure you wash your blankets as well as your sheets. What's getting in the way of a good night's repose? Shut down your electronics at least an hour before bedtime.
Vitamins! Personally, I think Vitamin C and Vitamin D3 are a good place to start. It's also a good idea to have some blood work done to see where you might be deficient. Check in with your primary care provider and ask about being tested.
Watch out for processed "food" -- a lot of what's sold out there in boxes and bags in the center aisles of the grocery store is not really food and it's not nourishing you. In fact, your body works harder to figure out what to do with it. Shop around the edges of the store and especially make sure to eat lots of veggies. Remember, there's no such thing as junk food -- it's either junk or it's food.
Move! Go for a walk. Have a dance party by yourself or with some friends or family. Find some form of exercise that you can get into. Research has shown that movement increases your killer T cells (immune cells) and can even increase the effectiveness of vaccines. Just remember, "killing" yourself at the gym doesn't serve you -- over exercising can increase inflammation. Find a nice, happy medium.
Check in and see if you are an optimist or a pessimist. If you're leaning toward the latter, see what you can do to develop a more positive mindset. When I take people through my Get Your Laugh Back Program, our goal is to feel better and look at life through the rose-colored lens of hope and confidence. For some, this means exploring spirituality or even just hanging out with more people who have an encouraging outlook. Being optimistic has been shown to help us live longer and healthier, experience less stress, and have better relationships.
I hope some of this is helpful. But, why did I title this Im-You-Nity? For the simple reason that while we may all be sharing a lot of the same ups and downs, we are all unique. While some of you might struggle with sleep others might be snoozing like babies, for example. Remember that one size does not fit all. Do some research and acknowledge what would best help you. Be honest about your own areas that need a little kind attention and always, be care-full.
If you feel like you need support or a boost, contact me so we can set up a complimentary Discovery Session. I really want you to feel and be your best!
Happy Healthy Habit Hump Day,
