I have personally struggled with whether or not I would write this blog.
The situation we all find ourselves in is like nothing I have ever faced. After almost 40 years on this planet, there is a silent killer sweeping across the globe that we really don't know a lot about.
We can't see it - but we hear it is coming.
We can't avoid it - germs just seem to find a way of spreading.
It is shutting down schools, businesses, churches, and sports.
It is isolating us in our homes.
I am confused and afraid.
I have gone down the rabbit hole more than I would like to admit. I have open tabs to the CDC and WHO. I have read all the articles scrolling down my news feed. I have watched my retirement savings plummet.
I have dug into the numbers and statistics, looking at them every different way. And I have seen opposing perspectives use the same numbers and statistics to validate their beliefs on the situation.
What has this done for me? I am not sure.
Because honestly my thoughts keep bouncing back and forth between selfish "this won't affect me and my family" and "this could devastate my small business" to a sense of civic pride and responsibility of "this will impact our grandparents, our sick, and our neighbors at risk."
And to make things harder, the one place I go for clarity - the gym - closed today. And I totally get it - they needed to do their part to help slow the spread of this virus. I would've made the same tough call.
But, I still needed to do something healthy for my body so I found myself doing something I rarely do - I went for a run!
And I am so glad I did.
During my run, I found myself in a sort of moving meditation. My mind cleared as I focused on my breathing and stride. Then, without even knowing it, my mind started sorting through all the thoughts about this situation we find ourselves in.
And the one unifying thought I kept coming back to was - I started Propello Life to help people on their journey to create their healthiest, best life.
And guess what?
All journeys have highs and lows - and this is one of the low points in many of our journeys. It is a time for us to come together, to do our part, and to lend a hand when needed.
It is an opportunity for all of us to rise above our "animalistic" self-preservation tendencies and let humanity shine through.
Regardless of how this all turns out, I made a personal vow on this run to lead by example and do the following. It is what we have been talking to our kids about during all of this uncertainty, and it's important for us as adults to focus on them as well:
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Maintain a Positive Mindset
- Are the social distancing actions being taken a huge inconvenience for me personally and for my business? Of course they are.
- But, looking beyond these surface annoyances, I have found joy in knowing that this situation has given me extra time with my kids. They are loving this time away from school as we are embracing this new reality. It has given me the opportunity to talk with them about this challenge we are facing as a society, making choices, and how we will respond as a family. And, it is providing me the opportunity to grow as a person.
- You can find positivity in every challenge you face - just take the time to look a bit deeper and you will find it!
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Practice Good Hygiene
- It never hurts to take a moment and reassess your personal hygiene habits. This situation has forced me to be more observant of how many times I touch my face, how long I wash my hands, how often I clean my phone, and many others. We have been able to reiterate with our kids the importance of good hygiene and explain why we do what we do to stay healthy.
- We have very limited control of how germs are spread, and it is certainly foolish to think we can totally stop the spread of germs.
- But we do have control over protecting ourselves and the ones around us by being mindful of our personal hygiene.
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Naturally Boost Your Immune System
- If good personal hygiene is our best defense with external methods, then our immune system is our best defense when the germs do find their way inside our bodies.
- There are things we can do year round to make sure our immune system is functioning at its absolute best. Check out the list below of the 7 steps to naturally boost your immune system.
7 steps to Naturally Boost Your Immune System
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Exercise Regularly
- Moderately intense exercise is shown to help boost your immune system - so move your body! You might have to get creative about where you do this with all of the closures, but you can go for a run, have a dance party, do an at home workout (many places and fitness instructors are offering a couple weeks of free workouts to do at home during this time), and any other way to get your body moving and your heart rate up.
- This also means that you shouldn't over do it. Like most things in life, moderation is key.
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Get 8 Hours of Sleep
- Sleep is when your body does it's recovery. Take this time to focus on having a good routine (for you or your family) to get the sleep that you need!
- You can also check out our blog The Importance of Sleep on Your Health to dive into this further.
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Stay Hydrated
- Staying hydrated helps keep your body functioning at its best, and this includes your immune system.
- Make a goal to drink a certain number of ounces of water a day and keep refilling your glass or water bottle.
- Drinking endless glasses of water not your thing? - then check out our Rejuvenating Aminos. They are loaded with electrolytes, low calorie, natural, and taste amazing! We have been keeping two pitchers - one with Aminos and one with water - on the counter for everyone in the family to come up and fill their own cups throughout the day. If what you want your kids to drink/eat is out in front of them, they usually gravitate towards it!
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Reduce Your Stress
- This is easier said than done. But stress does a number of really bad things on your body - especially, chronic stress - like lowering your immune system.
- Everyone can find their own ways to relieve their stress (whether it is working out, taking a bath, getting a massage), but if you need some guidance check out our blog Feeling Stressed? You're Not Alone.
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Limit Your Sugar & Processed Carbs
- Sugar and processed carbs are inflammatory to your body. And the immune system has to prioritize dealing with inflammation before it fights off infection.
- Normally this may not be an issue, but in times of increased exposure to sickness it may help to limit your sugar and processed carbs. This may be what you are craving right now, especially in times of stress, but try eating a piece of fruit or a couple dark chocolate chips to see if that satisfies your craving for something sweet.
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Limit Dairy Products
- Just like sugar and processed carbs, dairy products can be inflammatory for many people. Try limiting these foods and drinks when you are trying to boost your immune system.
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Supplement with Immune Boosting Vitamins & Minerals
- These vitamins and minerals are key to your immune system functioning at his highest.
- Not sure if you need them? - a simple blood test can let you know if you are deficient in any of these, and your health care professional can provide guidelines for your dietary needs.
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Vitamin D3 (plus Vitamin K1 for absorption)
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Magnesium
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Zinc
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Vitamin A
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Vitamin C
These are unique times we are facing, and we are being asked to step up and do our part. Even if you are not the "at risk" person, you have a responsibility to be a good person and good neighbor to take every action necessary to promote health for the world around you.
We will get through this.
We are strong.
You are strong.
Together, we can all do our part to get through this difficult time. And together we will rise!
Live For It.
Duke
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