The importance of overall wellness durning COVID-19.

By Karen W.

There’s no doubt that we are currently living in an unprecedented time in history, and the impact of COVID-19 has left many of us dealing with a great amount of uncertainty. Now more than ever, we are searching for ways to stay healthy and calm in order to benefit not only ourselves and our families, but the greater global community that we’re all part of. 

While we can and should consider supplemental ways to boost our immune systems during this time, the importance of the building blocks of overall wellness, such as getting a good night’s sleep, cannot be understated. Not only does getting proper rest help us cope with stress more effectively, a thorough night’s sleep also allows our body to create and release a type of protein called cytokines, which target infection and inflammation throughout the body, boosting our immune response.

If you’re finding it hard to get enough shut-eye right now, here’s some holistic wellness tips to get the rest your body needs.

Skip the screen time: Try to avoid looking at screens (phones, computers, televisions) for at least an hour before you’re planning to go to bed.  The artificial light emitted by these devices can delay your bodies release of melatonin, a sleep inducing hormone.  Try reading a book or magazine instead!

Create a sleep routine: It might sound silly, but having a routine before bed can help notify your brain that it’s time to start winding down. This could include your nightly hygiene activities, reading, and drinking a cup of tea (non-caffeinated teas that contain chamomile and lavender have sleep-inducing qualities).

Meditate or practice yoga: Following a short meditation practice (even 5 minutes) or completing a short yoga practice created for night-time (yin yoga is one example) can help quiet the mind and body.

Use natural sleep aids: Some essential oils, such as lavender and valerian, are known to aid the body in falling and staying asleep. Smelling and rolling a mix of these ingredients on the temples, wrists, and under the nose can greatly benefit those who have trouble falling asleep or who find themselves unable to sleep through the night. Check out Forces of Nature Sleep Well to receive these benefits in a compact, easy to use Roller Ball. We hope these overall wellness tips helped!