11 Ways to Support Your Immunity (5 min read)
Hygiene - Yes, wash your hands. You need to be doing this anyway, virus or no virus. However, a few extra washes never goes amiss. Clean door handles and surfaces a little more regularly too. Devices, keyboards and mice, wash towels more regularly - identify the high use items and clean them. Be mindful of touching your face, and resist the urge to hug people you come into contact with. It might feel a bit awkward, particularly if you’re a hugger, but if it supports the reduction in the virus spreading by flattening the curve then it’s worth giving it a whirl. That said, always trust your instincts and instead of fear based practices, start from the place of well-being, feeling assured and confident in the choices and actions you take, knowing they will only support and help you and others.
Sleep - Optimize your sleep (we can help here), get consistent sleep, choose not to skip on sleep because you have so much to do. Your body needs its sleep and you need it to be optimal, especially during this time. With lack of sleep not only does your body take on more stress which you can feel, your ability to make clear choices and effective decisions is sub-optimal. When you skimp on sleep or deprive your body of it, decision making, performance, and capability are all impacted.
Meditate - If you’ve never tried meditation now could be the time. (We can also help here too.) It’s not about getting your mind to be empty or quiet, it’s just about letting it be, let it think the things it wants and with meditation you can let those thoughts rise and fall without jumping on board and making stories out of them. To experiment individually, try Calm, Headspace, Inscape, or Insight Timer until you find one that works for you. Meditation is proven in releasing and calming anxiety.
Journal - With a pen on paper process all the emotions, fears, and thoughts you are feeling and sensing by writing them out. When I began this activity more than a decade ago I was fearful that by writing down my fears they’d come true. That’s a myth, and your brain playing tricks on you. Writing shifts the fear and is more of an acknowledgement to your entire being that you have heard what it’s trying to tell you. When you respond to it by writing the fears they release gently and you end up feeling calmer and lighter. The clarity then comes to you about what you need to do.
Move - Exercise, this is such a big one, build into your new routine a way to incorporate even more movement. Add in the gym, running, cycling, daily walking, stretching at home, yoga, pilates, peloton.. in classes or via webinars, do lunges while drying your hair, side kicks while washing up, running up and down the stairs (if you have them). Whatever your thing is, find a way to move your body. This keeps your cells happy, your immunity supported, the feel-goods running, and your mind and emotions processed. Are you an over-thinker? Get moving, it will help.
Drink Water - Drinking water with lemon is incredibly hydrating and helps your body release toxins and carry off things that don’t need to hang out in your system. Hydrate all day long as much as you can.
Get Creative - Believe it or not, the act of getting creative will give your entire body a rest from the incessant conversation and worry about what’s going on. Your mind and body need a rest and when you distract yourself with a creative endeavor your body responds. It lifts your mood, brightens your day, and gives you something to feel good about. There are many creative things you can do at home on your own, but we have taken that up a notch and we’re running creative experiences remotely for entire teams. Think creative kits delivered, and live webinar teaching and engagement.
Bask in Nature - Take walks in nature, find ways to be outside, the movement will help, and the peace and tranquility that trees, florals, and fauna bring is rejuvenating. If you don’t have access to be in nature, look at images of the outdoors, bring in plants and fresh flowers home. Imagine yourself in nature and your mind and body will believe you are actually experiencing it.
Cleansing Foods - The beauty of being at home presents itself with an opportunity to cook, choose to bring in more fruits and vegetables. Experiment, give your mind a rest from the overload of things to do, or the worry, and focus on making something that isn’t made in a ‘plant’ but is a plant. Feed your body with foods that enrich it and fuel it. Start the day with warm freshly squeezed lemon water to fire up the engines, reduce your coffee intake - maybe this is the opportunity to ween yourself off coffee for a bit, you’re at home after all. Feeding your body, feeds your mind, and lifts your spirits making you feel good.
Visualization - Imagine your body as an amazing and healthy being, full of vibrancy, strength and health. Imagine a golden sparkling globe around you that acts as a force field (for our sci-fi friends) to protect you and loved ones from anything you might be worrying about, see and really focus on how it feels to be protected and safe. Bask in that. This is a great technique to do as you fall asleep at night.
Positive Talk - Identify 3 people in your life that no matter what, you always leave the conversation with them feeling lighter and brighter. Make a note to call or video chat with them all at least once a week - particularly as you begin to settle into a home working routine. It’s important to surround yourself with positive conversation and people when situations feel bleak, your immune system responds to this too, so make a conscious choice and put it in your calendar to call those people - even if you end up leaving them a voice message, the act of you stepping into feeling good when you think about them and calling them will make a difference to you, and them.
Be well, pursue thoughtfulness
Birch Cove is not a medical or therapy based business, we do not offer guarantees of any kind. We are not responsible for the well-being of businesses or individuals that read, watch, or hear our content, or take part in sessions, or use our services or the services we highlight. Birch Cove and our Collective members are not responsible for the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals we interact with directly or indirectly. We work to share best practices that inspire healthy living and revitalize a quality of life. If you personally are feeling unwell seek professional medical advice, and follow the CDC guidelines as appropriate.