Keeping it healthy, inside
Stay home, be healthy. New life, who dis?
We're making the most of our temporarily housebound lives. Taking this moment of reprieve as an opportunity to finally catch up on all the things pending, from health to housekeeping. Be it the closet reorg that’s yet to begin (because obvi there's always something more pressing or fun to do!), the passion project that’s been percolating but never started, QT with loved ones, that daily meditation, or the unread stack of books next to our bed. Well, ladies, now’s the time.
While making the most of our time indoors, we’re keen on keeping the mind and body in tip-top shape. Below are a few immune-boosting, body strengthening, and mind-calming tips to feel good for the next few.
Fun fact: During the Great Plague of London in 1665, Cambridge University shut down and Issac Newton had to stay home. At that time, he invented Calculus, parts of the Optic Theory, and the Laws of Motion. Also, Shakespeare wrote King Lear. Just saying, great things are on the horizon. What will you do?
EAT YOUR GREENS.
Priority one is to stay healthy physically. Aim for four to six cups of immune-boosting leafy greens, plus load up on other veggies and fruit. Easy tip: fill your freezer with green-based soups, plus frozen veggies & fruits to thaw and have on hand as needed.
ALL THE LIQUIDS.
But make them hot. Having warm water with lemon or tea every 15 min has been said to decrease the chances of a virus settling in the throat. Both the temperature of the water and the liquid itself acts to push anything suspect to the gut where 70 percent of the body’s immune cells reside.
VITAMIN D.
Deficiency in this vitamin is associated with increased susceptibility to infection, and sadly, given our digital era, most of us are deficient. Talk to your doc about dosage.
VITAMIN C.
When taken daily, studies have shown it reduces the likelihood of colds and flu. Ask your medical practitioners for a recommended dose.
ZINC CITRATE.
A supplement with zinc reduces colds and flu. The dose depends on age, ask a trusted medical guru.
MOVE YOUR BODY.
We love a fitness app, yes we do. Make sure to move your body until you work up a sweat for 30 minutes a day, at a minimum. Check out our fave at-home streaming workouts here.
MEDITATE OR READ.
If ever there was a time to take up meditating, or tackle that massive pile of books accumulating next to your bed, now is it. Instead of jump-starting your morning with emails, scrolling through social media, misinformation, fake news, or going into 'default mode', hold space for something else.
FACETIME.
Never have we ever FaceTimed as much. Stay connected with loved ones on the reg via video apps. Have fun with it! Check in over coffee, pour a glass of wine together at night or do a yoga session remotely.
SLEEP.
Get at least seven to eight hours every night. Making sure to get enough sleep every night will help keep your immune system strong and your mind clear.
CREATE A SCHEDULE.
This is a biggie. Don’t just wake up whenever and procrastinate all day. Instead, create a daily schedule to keep you productive and help make the most of your time. Feeling accomplished every day will make all the difference.
LIFE IN LEGGINGS.
Let's be honest, we’ve always secretly wanted to live in our leggings! If ever there was a time to take advantage, this my friends, is it. I mean, after all, you only have to look cute from the waist up for work video-calls and family chats.
WASH YOUR HANDS. DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE.
I mean, broken record over here, sawrrry, but it had to be said. Again. Word on the street is 20 seconds with warm/hot water plus soap. And, hit up the homemade hand sanitizer in the interim. To make your own, mix 1/3 cup pure aloe vera gel, 2/3 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, and a few drops of your fave essential oil.
GET INFORMED.
Lastly, go straight to the source for the latest in health information rather than playing a game of telephone or he said/she said. Check out the C.D.C. website.
