Self care at a crucial time

I usually write about some sort of body detox or cleanse in the Spring, however, it feels trivial with the state of the world right now.

Many of us are experiencing an overwhelming amount of distress with regards to the war in Ukraine. I have been truly moved by the collective, global response of support toward Ukrainians. However, there are countless others who are not so lucky to receive such media coverage, representation, and global support. I stand with Ukraine, and with all who continue to be harmed by systems of oppression all over the world.

On top of collecting donations for the Red Cross, I want to offer a few suggestions to take care of our spirits inside of our own bodies that can be put into practice right now.

My first recommendation is to take an adaptogen to help our systems withstand stressors. I am currently taking Ashwagandha powder in my morning oats or smoothie to better help my system feel less of a shock when stressors arise in my daily life. It helps give me the space between being reactive and responsive.

The second recommendation is to protect your immune system. Stress, specifically our stress hormone Cortisol, is the strongest deterrent of a healthy immune system. Astragalus is a great herb to keep your immune system functioning high. This herb is best taken for 14 days and then a five-day break and then repeat. This gives your system a chance to acclimatize to the herb.

Thirdly, I am trying to commit to carving out 10 minutes per day to meditate. I listen to The Calm app and it helps me clear my mind (temporarily!) and set an intention for the day before I get swept up in busyness. I highly recommend setting an alarm on your phone for a daily sit to just breathe and really be present with all that you have going on in your body.

My fourth recommendation is to read James Clear’s book – Atomic Habits. This book was life changing forme.Itissoeasyforusalltogetstuckinthelowsofour own realities and have a hard time coming out of them. Clear outlines how small intentional daily habits get you to the goal self that you want to be. He uses an example of a lady who wanted to be healthier, which I see in practice all the time, and instead of rigorous dieting or exercise she simply made all of her choices throughout the day from the perspective of “ what would a healthy person do”. These small tweaks brought her to her goal of wellness by creating sustainable daily habits.

Lastly, I think it is important to monitor our news intake. I’m not saying to dissociate from what is happening in the world, but tailor it to an amount of information that your nervous system can tolerate. For me, this means no news in the mornings and only allowing myself about 15 minutes to catch up on the days events later in the day.

I am wishing you all a beautiful start to spring and to take care of yourself with compassion and patience.

Be well,

Dr. Kate Hunter, ND