Almost two years since this was originally published, it remains true today! Hang tight, folks. This too shall pass.
Heather
What You Can Do
As COVID-19 is declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, as markets crash, as just about everyone wonders whether to quarantine themselves and their families, let’s all take a moment…. to just breathe.
Seriously: Close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out.
None of us knows where this is going. But here’s a friendly reminder that this is a virus, and as such, you are not powerless in its path.
In fact, your immune system is likely to remain strong if you and your loved ones take some common sense precautions. Alongside measures such as washing your hands and avoiding large groups of people, there are a number of simple, everyday steps you can take to stay healthy.
Most of all, don’t panic. Anxiety has real physical consequences that can negatively impact your health. We’re on our way to solving this together, and yes, it may get worse before it gets better, but we’re strong enough to handle it. We are.
10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Stay Healthy
Start every day with half a lemon squeezed into a glass of warm water. Add a pinch of cayenne if you wish. Lemon gives you a blast of Vitamin C, the ultimate virus-buster, while cayenne is anti-bacterial and immune boosting.
2. Following your lemon water, sit in a quiet place and breathe deeply & mindfully for 5-10 minutes (more if you can manage it). Deep breathing cues the immune ‘rest and repair’ response. If you find yourself getting anxious, repeat as needed through the day.
3. Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine. If you can’t manage to get outside, take Vitamin D.
4. Eat enough quality protein. Protein is the building block for the cells of your immune system.
5. Work those essential oils: oregano, ‘thieves’ blend, lavender, tea tree, and lemon. Infuse liberally around your home or office.
6. Hedge your bets by cooking with lots of fresh garlic (it’s anti-viral and bacterial). If you’re feeling under the weather, take a teaspoon of honey with a minced fresh garlic clove and repeat as necessary.
7. Get enough quality sleep (p.s. please, please get your electronics out of the bedroom)!
8. Take Epsom Salt baths. Easily found at any pharmacy, epsom salts are chock full of magnesium, a muscle relaxant. They’ll remineralize you, calm you down, and give you the gift of a blissful sleep.
9. Limit your intake of the news. Checking a reliable source once or twice daily keeps you informed without the anxiety (or hysteria) that accompany the constant updates.
10. Keep calm and carry on. Previous generations did it. We can too.
