Building Mind-Body Resilience in the Midst of Crisis
There’s no question that 2020 has been quite a significant year. It has forced sudden changes, opened our eyes to injustice, made us seriously think about the state of our health, fueled isolation and fear, and no doubt contributed to more stress and anxiety.
I’ve heard the words “pivot” and “shift” more these past few months than ever before!! And we’ve all had to pivot and shift our lives in some way.
One thing I’ve noticed is that throughout everything our world has come up against some people grow in resilience while others sink deeper into fear. Which group do you fall in?
For me, I’ve been in both, but for the majority of this time, I’ve been growing in resilience. And it’s due to the information that I’m feeding my mind and the way I’m taking care of my body.
When you’re living under the influence of fear, anxiety, stress, loneliness, your immune system is weakened and you become more susceptible to environmental threats. These feelings also contribute to sugar and alcohol cravings and poor sleep, which further suppresses your immune system and fuels even more stress and anxiety. So it becomes a vicious cycle.
It’s time to take your power back. The one thing that is not being discussed as much as it should be during this worldwide threat is the importance of protecting and strengthening your immune system and cultivating a healthy mindset.
The messaging has been all about isolation, separation, social distancing, and covering our face rather than building a resilient immune system that can withstand threats. That’s what it’s designed to do, and when it’s functioning optimally, your immune system is far more protective than any external "protective" measure.
Wouldn’t you rather feel empowered and confident in your body’s ability to fight off threats instead of feeling the need to hide from them?
That’s why I’m going to share with you some of my top practices for building a strong, resilient immune system and a healthy mindset.
Nutrition
It goes without saying that you must fuel your body with nutrient dense food if you want to be healthy. Nourishing foods also help you manage stress better. In general, incorporating a plant-based protocol with lots of colorful organic vegetables and fruit along with a lot of healthy fats and some high-quality protein (animal or plant-based) is what you want to aim for. Ditch the processed junk and refined sugar.
Supplements
Even when you're eating a super clean diet, you're not getting optimal nutrition from food alone. That’s why you need proper supplementation to enhance and optimize your health, boost brain function, improve sleep, support the gut, and strengthen your immune system. While everyone’s needs are different, some fundamentals that I recommend and personally use daily are:
Whole-food based multivitamin and mineral - supports healthy immune function, supports healthy metabolism and cellular energy, fights free radicals
High Quality Omega Complex - Provides immune-boosting nutrients, promotes heart and circulatory health, supports healthy function of the brain, eyes and nervous system
Antioxidant Complex - Supports healthy response to oxidative stress in cells, healthy cellular immune function, mental clarity and brain function
Digestive Enzymes - promotes healthy digestion and absorption of nutrients
Probiotics - promotes healthy gut and immune function
For added immune support, you may add in extra Vitamin C and D3.
Click here to view the Healthy Habits Kit which comes with my recommended supplements and my favorite immune enhancing, mind balancing essential oils.
Essential Oils
Just like with supplements, essential oils are a must! I feel super empowered and protected with my oils. I know they are supporting me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here are a few of my go-to’s for daily support:
OnGuard - immune supporting oil blend
Frankincense - immune and cellular support
Adaptiv - calming, anti-stress oil blend
Lavender- calming, sleep support
Lemon - cleansing, detoxifying oil, supportive for immune, digestive, and respiratory systems
Breathe - respiratory support oil blend
Digestzen - digestive support oil blend
Click here to see the Healthy Start Kit that comes with the top 10 oils for supporting your health.
Breathwork
I’m all about simplicity which is why I love breathwork so much. It doesn’t get much easier than using your breath to shut off stress and boost your immunity. Rhythmic diaphragmatic breathing helps to reduce stress immediately, promote lymphatic drainage, stimulate self-healing, and reduce anxiety and depression. Most people do not breathe properly and it's detrimental to your health. Click here to take my free breath quiz to see if you're breathing correctly.
Sleep
Getting good quality sleep is essential for a healthy mind and body. If you’re not sleeping well, then it needs to become a priority. Here are some tools to help you sleep better.
Use essential oils like lavender, frankincense, Serenity, or Adaptiv at night. Apply them to the bottom of your feet and diffuse by your bed.
Practice 10-20 minutes of relaxing breathing exercises before bed.
Turn off your electronics 2 hours before bed.
Don’t watch the news at night!!! (And limit your news intake during the day.) Also alternate your mainstream media with alternative news sources so you can gain different perspectives.
Move
Finally, we need to move. I’m not talking about super intense CrossFit workouts everyday. I’m simply saying to move your body. That may be a walk outside, gentle yoga, or dancing. Just move your body in some way each day. This is a great way to get the lymphatic system moving which is part of your immune system that cleans out toxins and protects you from infection and disease. Movement and exercise also help to reduce stress.
Now don't beat yourself up if you're not doing any of these things right now. That's okay! Awareness is the first step and now it's time to take action. Pick one of the areas above and start there. If you want help, support, and guidance click here. Whether it's essential oils, breathwork, or health coaching that you're interested in, I'm here to help you out.
