KICKING THE CORONA RUT

Residents of Lake Forest, welcome to a new month in the neighborhood. As of now, the summer has been hectic in the sense that the Coronavirus pandemic is still raging. On a positive note, however, people are beginning to dig in, and are figuring out their “lockdown leisures.” 

I am here to tell you, however, that if you’ve gotten into the lockdown rut, there is still time to set yourself free!

There is no better time than now to set yourself on a course for total and unequivocal self-improvement. After doing some research, I’ve found a few ways to keep bettering yourself during these trying times. It essentially boils down to eating better foods, staying active, and avoiding those entertaining-yet-distracting electronics. And by electronics, I don’t mean toasters and alarms — I mean cellphones, laptops, and televisions.
Firstly, the food and drinks. During the pandemic, you have no excuse not to begin eating better! Before the pandemic, maybe so, but now it is imperative that you eat foods and drink drinks that contribute to the integrity of your immune system. For example, enjoy foods and drinks that are high in Vitamin C! Studies have shown that regular, high-doses of Vitamin C can help boost the effectiveness of your immune system. Here are some deliciously healthy foods in the Vitamin C Category: oranges, broccoli, guavas, yellow bell peppers, strawberries, fish, nuts, and blueberries. Some of these foods can be blended together to create a delicious smoothie to cool down after being in the summer heat, such as oranges, blueberries and strawberries.

I do not recommend blending fish and peanuts together. 
With that being said, now is the time to avoid fast food (including store-bought processed food), sugary drinks, and desserts. Maybe now is the time for you or your family to start eating more home-cooked meals! 

Secondly, Lake Forest residents of any age should be getting plenty of exercise every day! Even just 15 minutes of activity every day is better than none at all. Maintaining a healthy heart is important, especially if you were to become sick. Lake Forest has extensive hills and sidewalks that you are free to walk on at your discretion. Those hills are calf-killers! (No cows were harmed during the writing of this article.) As a resident of Lake Forest, you also have access to our tennis courts, swimming pools, and the golf course -- all of which can offer you a potentially great workout.
 
Thirdly, it is important that we all do our absolute best to have a consistent sleep schedule. In a world where humanity is consistently over-stimulated by social media, text messages and emails, it can become a habit to check your phone right before bed — or even to use your phone in the bed. However the studies are clear: exposure to blue light, the type of light which is emitted from your cell phone, directly before attempting to fall asleep, can significantly affect how easy it is for you to fall asleep. Moreover, even upon falling asleep, exposure to blue light directly before sleeping can affect the quality of your sleep. So instead of using your thumb to scroll through social media before bed, try using it to flip the page of a book! Try putting your phone away at least an hour before bed.
Lastly, we should remember to take care of the soul. Religious or not, meditation is very important for all human beings. It keeps us centered, and helps us to remember our place in the world.

​I hope that you will consider these health and wellness tips. I have no doubt that if you heed this information, you will soon ahead have a clearer mind and a healthier body. There is no time like the now! Stay safe, stay healthy, and God love you.