When Life Gives You Lemons… Keep ‘Kale’ & Carry On

As we all settle into the reality of an uncertain (near) future, I wanted to take a moment to reach out and share with you a few thoughts and reminders around health and wellbeing which ARE within our control and have NOT been cancelled.

Yes there is anxiety and panic, but it’s in times like this we are called upon to remain calm and BE the measured and decisive leader for ourselves and our loved ones. Fear and worry negatively impact the immune system.

I believe it starts with being intentional about the little things we can incorporate in our daily routines.

Here are a few examples:

• Start each day with warm lemon water and morning meditation. Guided meditation apps are plentiful. Insight Timer app is my go-to and Sarah Blondin or Pura Rasa are some of my current favorite guides.
• Write out a plan for the day. With kids home from school, I know I can easily fall into a lazy fair summer routine where days go by and I get nothing done and everyone ends up spending too much time on screens. How can we empower everyone to get in on a much-needed house project (declutter a space, organize family pictures, etc) and or a family game?
• Get out in nature and move your body. The spring weather is inviting us outside to enjoy! Imagine if this was happening in December. Be grateful for the life that is erupting in our backyard.
• Stay mindful of media consumption. There is a healthy balance between knowing what is going on vs. allowing ourselves to overindulge in every single news flash.
• Be intentional about what you put into your body. We are being reminded to wash out hands and sanitize surfaces but I think that it is important to take it a step further and limit sugar, white flour, alcohol and processed foods – these foods will only suppress the immune system and add to your anxiety. Instead, focus on adding more immune-boosting foods wherever you can – garlic, ginger, blueberries, leafy greens, bone broth, goji berries, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and turmeric.
• Get comfortable with meals that are not your norm. If / when supplies of your regular foods get limited, be confident that innovation and creativity will kick in. Hey, you might discover a new favorite meal. Something easy and simple. I’m thinking for me it may involve those cans of wild salmon and sardines.
• Take immune boosting supplements consistently – Vitamin A, C, D, Zinc and Astragalus.
• Get an ample amount of sleep! Our body does most of its healing and detoxing during sleep, so optimizing your sleep routine is incredibly important. Get off screens an hour before bed.
• Before going to bed, write in a gratitude journal. Bring out all the big and little things that went well or reasons to be grateful. When you focus on problems, you will have more problems. When you focus on possibilities, you will have more opportunities!

Lastly, keep thinking of all the things you CAN do. Now that we’re not commuting, running out to endless sporting events (you’ll relate if you have kids in sports) or other gatherings, it means, more time for that slower pace of life we often crave, but tell ourselves we can’t have because we’re too busy. And beyond all, always show love and compassion to yourself and others.

If you’d like the support of a wellness community as we walk on this uncharted path together, I invite you to join a Facebook group I’m starting. This will be a place where we can inspire and support each other as we all do our best to keep ourselves and loved ones physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy.

Yours in health,
Linda