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I have been a hairstylist for almost 20 years, and working in that close of proximity with the public has made me really aware of how many people are constantly sick in the winter! And how many people go out in public and share their germs with the unsuspecting people who come in contact with them. One thing I have learned is that it is a lot easier to stay well than to try to get better after you are already sick. Over the past few years I have really focused on boosting my wellness rather than trying to treat symptoms after I already have something, and I have seen great results!
My first couple of years in the salon I was sick at least once a month. Like, staying home from work sick. That just wasn’t going to cut it, so I did some research and instituted some easy habits into my routine that have kept me a lot healthier through the winter months. These are just some simple wellness ideas that anyone would benefit from incorporating into their routine.
Taking Supplements
Ideally we would all eat a balanced diet that supplied us with all the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to stay healthy, but most of us could use a little help. I have become faithful about taking my vitamins and supplements to support my wellness, and I have seen great results. Vitamin D, vitamin C, minerals like magnesium, and most importantly a probiotic. Somewhere around 60-80% of your immune system lies in your gut, or gastrointestinal tract, so what you are taking and eating is very important to supporting wellness!
Exercising Regularly
One of the most important things you can do to support wellness is exercise regularly. Exercise not only helps to maintain a healthy weight, it can help lower stress, balance hormones, and boost the immune system. When I take this component out of my wellness regimen, I notice immediately!
Drink Tea
Drinking tea has become a welcome habit in my routine, and it supports my wellness in several ways. First of all it has helped me to cut back on a glass of wine at night and instead reach for a warm, soothing cup of tea. My go-to brand of tea Is Bigelow because they have so many great flavors and varieties and are easy for me to find. Plus they are a family-owned company that makes their tea here in the USA.
Last time I was in Walmart I picked up a couple of boxes specifically for this cold and flu season. Lemon Ginger herbal tea actually contains probiotics, so what better flavor to sip to support wellness! And their I Love Lemon blend contains vitamin C. Bigelow also has a great selection of green teas, which are my favorite to sip throughout the day because green tea is very hydrating.
Get Some Sleep
Getting a good night of sleep is vital to staying healthy. I am an insomniac by nature, so there are some intentional things I do to set myself up for a good night of sleep. I work from home most of the time, and I was in the bad habit of burning the midnight oil and then trying to go straight to bed. My mind would race with everything I hadn’t gotten done, and it wasn’t conducive to a restful sleep. Now I make myself quit working at least an hour before bed. I like to relax with a cup of tea, this week my favorite is Bigelow’s Sweet Dreams chamomile tea, and a book. This is a relaxing way to allow my brain to wind down and to get myself as calm as possible. I also set a pretty strict bedtime for myself. It can be tempting to stay up late watching a movie or use a night off to catch up on work, but since I am faithful about going to bed at the same time my body is used to falling asleep no matter what is going on.
Cut Out the Stress
Nothing will wear your immune system down faster than stress, so find ways to cope with it and cut it out of your life. Several of my suggestions above will help combat stress, like going for a walk or relaxing with some tea. Identify what things in your life are triggering stress and do what you can to minimize them. That may involve cutting some things out of your schedule, or limiting the amount of time you are around certain people.
If these suggestions are coming to you a little late and the crud has already hit your house, you can still put several of these into practice. Add those vitamins and minerals to your diet, and try stirring a spoonful of honey into a warm cup of Bigelow tea. I recommend I Love Lemon for when you are under the weather! This will help to soothe the throat, and warm you up from the inside out.
Check out this Bigelow page for more information on their mission and why I am proud to drink their tea and share it with you. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter. Do you have any tips for boosting winter wellness? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
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