Pace is key to social society re-entry
As things start to open up, I want to call awareness to how we reintegrate back into ‘real life.’
The pandemic has brought many challenges to us all over the past 16 months while also teaching us to slow down.
Patients and friends of mine alike have mentioned how COVID has shown them that life doesn’t have to be so busy.
Many parents that I speak to have expressed how nice it is to not be over-programmed with kids. So how do we keep this slowness and also re-enter into our old way of habitual living? Here are my recommendations on a smooth and healthy reintegration of body, mind and spirit:
1) Take it slow – This is going to be such a huge transition for so many of us that our nervous systems and adrenal glands will be overwhelmed. Try to just schedule one or two things/outings per day and let your system and senses ease back in. A friend of mine that lives abroad scheduled a previously typical Saturday with four or five activities and had to lay in bed for the next two days! This is a real thing – our systems are not used to numerous outings – pace is key!
2) Increase your sleep by just 20 minutes – Research shows that when introducing a new habit, the brain needs more sleep time to process. So adding just an extra 20-40 minutes will help your brain better reorient to your new habits and integrations. Remember it’s like re-learning how to ride a bike!
3) Take some liver support – As most of our new found freedom will likely include seeing friends and family, this will likely include alcohol (at least in my family!) My recommendations would be to take a Milk Thistle based supplement or tincture which helps the liver detoxify and process toxicity (and fun!). Silymarin by Seroyal is a great one and safe to do about 2 caps/day.
4) Protect your nervous system – This has been a very stressful year and a half for most. Diving into a packed schedule will likely send your system into ‘fight or flight’. Two beautiful remedies that I use often to calm my nervous system and reset my predisposition to ‘fight or flight’ are Tilia Tomentosa (Silver Linden Bud) and Ficus Carica (Fig Tree). These two remedies work synergistically together to calm the system and teach it that it is safe and not in danger while doing regular activities. Gemmotherapy is the brand that we carry at the stores which is a concentrated bud remedy of both of these herbs.
5) Incorporate a meditation practice – It can be short – even just 10 minutes to get yourself back in your body and present to what is going on with you. This daily reset is so important and helps you take things at a slower pace when life gets busy. I use the Daily Calm app, it’s 10 minutes daily and truly one of the most balancing things that I do for myself. I set my day up around it to ensure I get it in in the mornings to set my day up.
6) Take care of your physical body – So many of us are used to being sedentary through COVID while working from home. This causes havoc on your physical body. Be sure to schedule in body work – Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Osteopathy, Chiropractic etc. Put those unused benefits to work for you and take good care of your achey body.
I am wishing you all the best for a healthy and happy start to the summer and reintegration back into life!
Kate Hunter is a Naturopathic Doctor who practices in Creemore, and is the owner of The Creemore Apothecary wellness boutique.
