Here is how I take care of myself during these winter doldrums that try to take over.
I try to be proactive with our health.
We see social media statuses of all our friends with sick families, and we’re over here giving you stinkeye and crossing our fingers against the ickies.
We don’t like going to the clinic to be told which medicines to pick up at the pharmacy. We like homeopathic care, but prevention is best.
During these dark days of winter when the “bugs” like to burrow into the moist, warm snuggly mucous membranes, I like to ward off that potential with a few tricks.
5 ways I am proactive about my health:
1. A Sun Lamp.
I really love my Philips goLite. It really does “Help to Alleviate the Symptoms of Winter Blues.” The special “BLU energy light” helps me when the short winter days are dreary, cold, and rainy. It’s portable and rechargeable and durable.
I use it for 20 minutes every day, usually between lunch and breakfast. I have noticed that I am much more energetic and cheerful than previous winters.
2. Supplements.
We love superfood smoothies, cod liver oil, and essential oils. My girls take iron and D. The kids take a liquid multivitamin.
These supplements help us to perform at our best while they supplement our diets, maintain our healthy immune systems, keep our energy and sugar levels stable.
3. Exercise.
Regular time outside and being active at least thirty minutes a day helps keep our bodies healthy. This is a struggle for me and I need to try to do better and be a better example for my kids to follow. I want to stay strong and healthy for my kids.
I plan to implement some fun fitness into our school days, even inside if the weather is just too miserable to venture out.
4. Eating well.
We really can heal with food. I like to keep homemade stock on hand. We eat real food and not the processed junk I grew up with. I love introducing new foods and fun recipes to the family so we can have a fun, healthy, tasty variety. We love eMeals for their simple meal plans: Healthy Meal Plans to Match your Active Lifestyle.
I get up and make hot breakfasts most mornings and my husband is great about doing this on weekends and his days off. This helps us all start our day off right.
We’re into juicing and the kids know that colorful food is healthy food. They like to arrange their plates in pretty patterns.
We drink lots of water. It helps having that neato little dispenser in the freezer door.
We like to have tea time and listen to music and poetry about once a week. This is a fun, easy way to try new foods.
We don’t make our kids clean their plates. There isn’t always dessert. Water is the drink available at mealtime. We don’t have regular snack times every day. It’s normal and ok to get hungry between meals. The kids know they can almost always have yogurt, nuts, cheese, fruit, or veggies if they get hungry during the day.
5. Getting enough sleep.
I’m very little use to anyone before 7 AM. I don’t like mornings and if I can, I will sleep until 8 in the morning.
We send our kids to bed before 9 PM and often by 8:30 so they get enough sleep. It’s harder in summer when the sun doesn’t set until very late. In winter, it’s easier since the light is gone by 4:30 PM, but we have activities and dinner…then reading and prayers.
Alex usually doesn’t make it through the reading time.
I try to get in bed by about 10:30. There are nights I stay up reading or working, but those are now rare and it’s best that way.
Going through this routine helps everyone get prepared to sleep.
To ensure everyone stays asleep and sleeps soundly, we apply dreamy-scented essential oils and make sure everyone is warm and snuggly.
Each evening, I like to make sure the kitchen is clean for a happier morning. I often set the coffee pot for the morning. I make sure the floors are clear and homeschool goals are printed for the next day.
If we do get ill, we have an arsenal of essential oils and home remedies. Fluids and rest usually help us get going again quickly.
by David Stewart, Ph.D.
