Winter is fast approaching and for many that means cold and flu season. Yuck! There is nothing I hate more than having to slow down to beat a bug. I usually end up convincing myself that it is the Universe’s way of telling me to slow down and practice some self-care. However, when we take a few minutes here and there with preventative self-care, I’d like to think it’s possible to avoid the big slow down.
- Wash your hands! Washing your hands is even more effective than most hand sanitizers that use drying alcohol (and some even contain cancer causing triclosan). Whenever possible, wash your hands with soap and warm water.
- Stay warm (vs letting your body temperature drop too drastically). I know this is something we heard our moms yell out the door as we left for school and to play with our friends, “don’t forget your coat, you’ll catch a cold!” Turns out, this is true! 1 in 5 people carry rhinovirus (the most common cause for the common cold,) in their nose at any given time. A study done at Yale said that by a simple 5 degree drop in temperature just inside the nose, your body’s immunity response in inhibited. Scarves and hats go far beyond fashion!
- Vitamins and supplements. For most of us, winter means that fresh fruits and veggies are no longer in abundance – which means that our daily intake of vitamins, minerals and those awesome phytonutirents is going to drop. While it is ideal to get most of your vitamins and minerals from fresh fruits and veggies, you can choose to take a food-based supplement that will help ensure your body is getting all the building blocks it needs to keep your immune system in tip-top shape. Some of the best vitamins/supplements to include are: vitamin C, vitamin D3, zinc, a probiotic, and an omega 3 source (among others!). I encourage you to research food-based supplements as they often times are more easily absorbed than chemically reproduced supplements.
- Exercise. I know that it’s easy and almost natural for our activity levels to drop with the decrease in daylight, but you must fight the urge! Exercise is good for us – it releases endorphins that make us happy and relieve stress AND most activities promote at least some natural detox. Our bodies are great at cleaning themselves out, even more so when we are stretching and twisting and encouraging the lymphatic fluid to flow. My favorite winter activities are: yoga or simple stretching, jump roping and bundled walks when there is sunshine.
- Take time for self-care every day. Stress and not-so-positive emotions do not strengthen the immune system. I challenge you to do at least one thing every day that is for you and makes you happy. Whether it’s five minutes of journaling or meditation, a bath with yummy essential oils, or a half hour of guilty-pleasure reality TV – do it and do it for you! And don’t feel bad about it later, even for a second. You deserve it and owe it to your good health.