Feel Safe(r) Wellbeing Boosters
We’re in the middle of “life as we’ve never known it” and it’s been hard to focus or just feel normal (and essentially **safe**) with so many distractions and uncertainty hovering over us in what feels like a collective dark night of the soul.
The alarming numbers on worldometers.info, the news reports, the sobering emptiness of the streets outside, mixed feelings about staying in (but we must).
This is difficult. But not impossible. I hope things are much better in 2-3 months. For now, it’s one foot in front of the other as we keep each other strong & carry on.
Re “lockdown” – it’s a prison term. Yes, our movements are restricted – for our own safety. I prefer safe harbour, safe seclusion or safe retreat. Whatever we call it, it’s where we need to be right now.
I’m switching off from the news now to focus on work (including the 2020 Mama & Baby Awards which open on 1 April, a reminder that kind to the planet products that are good for us and future generations have never been more important), reading, cooking (with fewer ingredients than usual), watching Deepak Chopra, Rich Roll, Amanda Ellis, Jay Shetty and Eckhart Tolle on YouTube (among them).
I’ve compiled a list of Beauty Shortlist wellness winners which are useful – especially now – to balance our energy and minds…like relaxing himalayan bath salts and CBD oil to stress lessening supplements and lovely aromatherapy. I’m studying flower essences and if you fancy a fascinating read, check out Dr Edward Bach’s book Heal Thyself (an exceptional man, ahead of his time).
This too shall pass. Like all the many viruses, “plagues” and wars before. And the planet is starting to breathe again. The birds are still singing.
If anxiety is bubbling up, breathing exercises, exercise, and supplements like magnesium, valerian, passiflora, or CBD oil or some of the Bach remedies can be very helpful.
So here’s what’s been working for me:
1) A varied but consistent routine while staying home.
2) Lots of, but not overly obsessive, cleaning: surfaces, clothes, bathroom, kitchen, etc
3) Exercise – walking
4) Cooking, music (big one!), YouTube (meditations, Bob Marley (so perfect for taking the heat off the current state of things and helping lower your heart rate), Chris Martin, music documentaries, spirituality, interesting podcasts, etc) and reading.
5) Breathing exercises. I like “inhale to the count of 5, exhale ditto 5” but there’s box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4) and others, whatever feels best
6) Magnesium, Epsom Salt or Himalayan salt baths – occasionally.
7) I am wearing gloves and a mask for food shopping. Other than a daily walk I don’t go out.
8) Magnesium, CBD oil and passiflora and soothing/funny content on the iPad before bed with a few drops of lavender oil in the oil burner.
9) Keeping in touch with friends digitally and we’re recording messages rather than typing them, it feels better (I live alone and what I would give to have a dog right now!)
10) Grounding – which means standing or walking bare feet on grass or rocks, beach, earth, etc for 20 mins a day or you could just stand with your back against a tree. Nature is the best healer. She’s a wonderful tonic for soothing nerves and calming your limbic system.
11) Comforts & Joys (like some of the products featured) can really help. Spa/safe sanctuary items like reed diffusers, a gorgeous bath soak, candles, body oils, aroma-centric facial oils.
12) Freezing veg, like courgettes and broccoli (both of which need to be blanched first). And you can freeze avocados too (scoop out the two halves and pop in a freezer bag).
Calming the limbic system is so key right now. The BIGGEST two actually for me have been NOT WATCHING OR READING ANY CORONAVIRUS NEWS and EXERCISE, with healthy eating and soothing, spiritual or amusing content a close second.
And frequently sanitising digital devices, keys, door handles, gates, the fridge handle, etc. has become routine now.
My hands are suffering from the frequent washing and sanitiser so I’ve added a drop of olive oil to hand creams and applying olive oil directly to any dry patches.
WHAT I’M TAKING AT THE MOMENT (supplements)
Elderberry, Zinc, Oregano, Nigella, Garlic, Curcumin, Olive Leaf Extract
Vit C, Vid D3, Vits B
Passion flower and Valerian (sleep)
Rhodiola (stress)
TEAS I’M DRINKING LOADS OF
Lemon balm (anti-viral), eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, chamomile (not keen on chamomile but it’s good before bed) and spicy chais.
Keeping hydrated is super important always but particularly now.
How are you holding up?
If you missed them, check out the #TogetherAtHome music series on YouTube. Chris Martin’s is manna for the soul, I watched it this morning. Just his voice is soothing! And Charlie Pugh…
Coldplay’s “Yellow” came on the radio last week when I was feeling very isolated and a bit apprehensive about everything and it reset my energy almost instantly. We are lucky to have souls like Chris in our world, I remember seeing Coldplay live about 18 years ago, I can still feel the energy in the air that evening.
Stay safe. This will pass. We just have to go through it to get out of it. It’s a heartbreaking series of events but eventually the good news will eclipse the bad. How ironic and significant it is (I think) that the virus threatening breathing is helping our planet breathe again.
Last but not least, there’s wisdom in the saying “Keep It In The Day”. Today is where we are, not tomorrow, not yesterday.
How are you getting through this?
Take care xx