Whoa, Nelly! There’s a lot of information out there about the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. It can get a little overwhelming, so I’ve compiled my favorite tips for living a happy, healthy life during this crazy pandemic.
Symptoms
COVID-19 (aka SARS-CoV-2) is a novel (new) string of the Coronavirus family. Here’s a handy chart of symptoms comparing Covid-19 vs cold, flu, allergies.
Because it spreads so easily, social distancing is super important to help prevent healthcare system overload and protect lives but if you’re freaking out about the death rate, here’s some good news. An encouraging new study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases estimated that the death rate of all infected will be 0.66%, a little higher than the flu which is 0.1% (kids under 9 have the lowest death rate at 0.00161%).
Well, that’s a relief. Still, it’s important to take precautions and follow the CDC’s guidelines for everyone’s safety—especially the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Prevention
While the virus spreads primarily through droplets (generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes) studies suggest coronaviruses may persist on surfaces.
- Cardboard: 24 hours
- Plastic/stainless steel: 72 hours
Cell phones are huge germ carrier so disinfect your phone. 🦠
Maintain social distancing (6+ feet apart)
Stay 6 feet apart from others outside the home and wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing might be difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). Here’s how to make one (so we reserve surgical masks for healthcare workers). 😷
Wash hands — the right way!
This is a great video for kids (and even adults) on how to properly wash your hands and fight germs.
Hand sanitizer is good to have on-hand when you don’t have the option to wash your hands. Here’s a homemade hand sanitizer recipe using 3 simple ingredients.
- 2/3 cup 70%+ Rubbing Alcohol or Isopropyl Alcohol (also for cleaning Tesla car seats)
- 2 Tablespoons aloe vera
- 20 drops Germ Destroyer Essential Oil.
Mix ingredients and put in container of choice. (refill one of those hand sanitizer containers that clips to your bag or one of those travel shampoo bottles). For higher % alcohol, add more aloe vera (for example, with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol go with 3 parts alcohol, 1 part aloe vera gel).
Don’t touch your face.
(human average is 20 times / hour 😳)
Easier said than done, but since viruses mostly enter our bodies through our eyes, nose, and mouth it’s a good time to break this dirty little habit.
- Post a reminder note while sitting at your desk or watching TV
- Put something in your hand (carry a tissue or wipe)
- Add a scent to our hand soap or lotion
- Don’t resist the urge, just touch something else (like your arm)
- Keep your hands busy when sitting still (for example, sort mail while watching TV) or interlace your fingers and put them on your lap.
Boost your immune system.
(bonus: also great for cancer prevention)
- Vitamin C: from supplements or foods like orange, kiwi, lemon, guava, grapefruit, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, papaya, cantaloupe, strawberries
- Vitamin D: either from the sun or supplement (also a top cancer prevention vitamin 😍)
- Essential Oils: put a few drops of germ fighter and frankincense in your diffuser
- Don’t Stress: mental stress suppresses our immune system so do whatever helps you stay calm and carry on (meditation, prayer, social media distancing 😉)
- Eat Healthy: citrus, broccoli, garlic, yogurt, spinach, fish (also top cancer prevention foods)
- Exercise: 30-60 minutes six days a week, walks, online yoga, rebound to your favorite song.
- Sleep: Get plenty of rest (have a tech curfew and read before bed)
- Laugh. If you’ve read our post about laughter, you already know that laughing boosts your immune system. Watch comedies, stand-up.
Stay Home
You’d think this #stayhome thing would be a cinch for a homebody like me, but turns out being on lockdown isn’t easy. Here are some of the things that have made it bearable and even downright enjoyable for my family.
- Be prepared. It’s the scout motto for a reason. Having a simple meal plan and household essentials on-hand is a big help (but please don’t be a hoarder).
- Be helpful. There’s a lot of info sharing and “door drop-offs” going on in neighborhoods. Is there something you can do to support someone or brighten their day?
- Wear PJs all day. Why get dressed if you’re not going out? And ladies, why wear a bra? Freeboobing helps our lymphatic system (that transports infection-fighting white blood cells throughout our body)
- Have pizza night. Who doesn’t love pizza and a movie on a Friday night? For us, that means a funny movie, veggie cauliflower crust pizza, and yummy organic popcorn (thanks Costco!)
- Get organized. Use this time to organize, learn, or create something new. I finally got around to organizing my son’s room (because easy access to games, crafts, toys, and puzzles is essential during a lockdown). What have you been wanting to organize, create, or learn?
- “Homeschooling”. When my son’s school first closed, this was me. Since then, we’ve embraced more of a Montessori style (self-directed) and teaching life skills (cooking, cleaning, laundry). Win-win. 🙌
- “Me” time. If you’re like me and cherish alone time, schedule time in your day for self-care or uninterrupted time to focus on something you’ve been wanting to do (like write a blog post).
- “We” time. On “Weekend Wednesday’s” hubby and I typically sit on the terrace at sunset, chat, enjoy a glass of wine and/or some healthy snacks. Do you schedule social time with people you live with or or online? It’s important to connect with other humans.
The Silver Linings
Yes, this health crisis is scary and sad but there’s also a whole lot of goodness coming out of this!
- Record breaking pollution cuts
- Nature rebalancing
- Health + wellness focus
- Appreciation + innovation
- People sharing, caring, creating
Our earth will be greener, cleaner. Our gratitude greater. Our world reunited. 💚
Disclaimer: I am not a health professional. This guide is based on my thoughts and experiences at the time of writing. Please visit Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for the latest and greatest.
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