7 Wellness Tips For Cold and Flu Season
The holiday season is just around the corner, and let’s face it: who has time to get sick and run down? Ironically, the busiest time of year is also the time when we’re most likely to get ill (seems like a cruel joke, if you ask me!), so I thought I’d take a moment to talk about all things wellness.
The term wellness has been tossed around a lot (and I mean ALOT) in the past few years. It seems like every celebrity is jumping on the “wellness bandwagon” and Influencers from around the world are preaching their versions of what taking care of oneself means to them, and you know what? I’m here for it!
I firmly believe in the power of self-care since you genuinely can’t care for others until you’ve cared for yourself. However, I think the idea of wellness can sometimes go a bit overboard. Do you think I have time to make a weekly trip to an isolation water tank? Monthly sound baths sound nice, too, but not when I have two kids to care for and a household to uphold!
So, I’m taking it back to basics for today's blog. As a busy mom, wife, and entrepreneur, I know that finding time to care for yourself can feel overwhelming, but here are a few ways that I’ve been able to practice my version of wellness on a daily without it feeling like another task on the laundry list of to-dos.
VITAMINS + SUPPLEMENTS
Vitamins and supplements are a great way to keep your immune system up, especially daily ones like probiotics. I know many people are apprehensive about whether or not they really do anything. Still, in my honest opinion, they work behind the scenes to maintain your health rather than turn you into some superhuman. Some of my favorite probiotic brands include Hilma and Seed! As for vitamins, I love Care Of. This brand customizes your vitamin routine based on your personal needs. Not only that, it’s a subscription product, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to go pick them up on your next grocery run!
REMEDIES
If you feel yourself getting sick, or simply want to maintain a healthy weekly habit, I recommend a simple, all-natural remedy that has been my go-to for years. Ready for it?
Ginger. Cayenne. Oregano Oil.
Mix it up, have a spoonful, and let those healing properties do their thing.
EXERCISE
Okay, obviously, exercise is a no-brainer when it comes to wellness, but I totally recognize that going to the gym or to a pilates class isn’t always in the cards. For this reason, I love my online YouTube fitness gurus to get my body moving at home, even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day. A little goes a long way! Some of my favorite girls are Sami Clarke and Britany Williams if you’re looking for a new online trainer.
HAIR/BODY CARE
If you follow me on social, you know that I have been getting my hair braided a lot more recently! I love how much freedom it allows me each day; not having to worry about styling my hair before leaving the house has been an act of wellness in and of itself. That being said, the braids mean I need to take much better care of my scalp, and Act + Acre Scalp Detox is the one! Whether you have braids or not, I highly recommend using them for some scalp love. If you’re in the mood for a protective style and don't know where to start, I highly recommend following @thebraidedlife on Instagram.
In addition to hair care, I absolutely love the products from LINNÉ for all things body wash, lotions, and oils. Give yourself 5 minutes every night to lather up; I promise you, you will feel much better than you did before. Use code BRANDYXLINEE for a LINNÉ discount and BRANDYJOYSMITH15 for your very own Act + Acre products.
MEDITATION
Incorporating a bit of meditation into your day is a great wellness practice, and personally, I love using the Headspace app! When storytime just won't end, and you need a break, I highly recommend their meditations for kids by Elmo, which Liam and Norah love when falling asleep.
RITUALS
One of the things I learned at the last Camille Styles retreat was the importance of creating rituals and how you can incorporate them into your family routines. Family rituals help you connect with your family and make every day a little more special! For us, it’s a dance party before dinner! These little acts of joy can really contribute to an atmosphere of positivity and wellness for the whole family. Eventually, I would love to get into a ritual with the kids where we take a minute every morning to meditate and set our intentions for the day; maybe when they are a bit older!
ALCOHOL ALTERNATIVES
The holidays are pseudonymous with indulgence, from wine to food. While these things can make us happy in the moment (who doesn’t love a few glasses of wine and a piece of cake?), they aren’t necessarily helping us in the wellness department.
Instead of boozy night after boozy night, I like to switch things up a bit with some marijuana or mushrooms. Smoking weed is a great way to wind down without feeling the hangover the next day, and psilocybin mushrooms are great if you’re looking to have a fun night with friends, also sans the hangover.
One of my favorite weed brands to check out is Selfies! If smoking weed isn’t your jam, I totally understand and would recommend opting for a natural wine instead of the traditional, sweet ones available at the liquor store, such as Cherries & Rainbows Organic Sans Soufre Red Blend or Avaline to help reduce the hangover. Additionally, you can look for Italian wines with the label DOCG. Make sure all four letters are there. That is the highest standard for Italian wines.
Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season! Remember, you can’t do it all for everyone else until you’ve first taken care of number one. What are some of your go-to wellness tips heading into cold and flu season? You know I’m always down to adopt some new routines and habits!
xo BJS