Many people are currently quarantined at home, whether they have COVID-19 or someone in their household is showing symptoms. Here are a few things to do to improve your quarantine experience and boost your immune system during this time.

1) Meditate, Do Self Care, and Relax. This is the time to calm down your sympathetic nervous system and allow your body to rest and heal. This will help boost your immune system and will help you feel better mentally as well. Trust that all will be well, and to take this time to improve your health, both mentally and physically.

Remember, that 80% of the immune system is housed in the gut. This means that we have to keep our gut healthy to keep our immune system strong!

2) Stay hydrated with healthy fluids. This is a great way to keep your body supported if it is fighting off an infection. Healthy fluids include water, herbal teas, coconut water, and orange juice due to its high vitamin C content. Be aware of sugary drinks or those with a lot of artificial sweeteners as they can do more harm than good.

3) Stay moving! Whether you prefer gentle stretching or outdoor walks, try to move a little every hour. If this means walking around while on a conference call or taking mini 5-minute breaks each hour, let your body stretch and move to release tension – both physical and emotional!

4) Stay in contact with family, friends, or co-workers through Facetime or text. This can help boost your sense of community and social interaction while still maintaining social distancing of 6 feet. Research has shown that community helps us boost our immune system. Just because we can’t be physical with all of our loved ones right now doesn’t mean we can’t still have that connection and its benefits!

5) Get enough sleep. Just because you are quarantined doesn’t mean you should stay up all night on a Netflix Binge! Make sure you are getting you 8 hours and that you listen to your body as more sleep may be necessary to fight off a virus. If you feel the need to take a nap, then nap! This is a time to rest, recharge, and listen to your body. For many type-A people (myself included!) this can be tough, but look at it as an opportunity to take care of yourself and in return, other’s health will benefit as well.

6) Eat immune-boosting foods. This means bone broth and healthy soups, colourful fruits and veggies, and keep your sugar intake low. There is something to be said for chicken soup helping you when you are sick. This is not just an old wive’s tale – bone broth contains many minerals and nutrients that help keep the gut healthy (where 80% of your immune system is located) and can help ease a sore throat due to it being a hot liquid.

7) Do yoga or gentle stretches. Getting moving is very beneficial for moving toxins through your lymph system. This means that some child’s poses and downward dogs are excellent for helping your body cleanse from the inside out. Of course, yoga is also good to calm the mind and allow the body to deeply rest. I would set a timer for 5-10 minutes of yoga to start out. Even focusing on your breathing is enough to calm down, and is beneficial for your mind-body health.

8) Take some time to journal. This can be a great time to be reflective or write down your feelings if you are feeling anxious. Many of us do not take the time we would like to tune into our thoughts and feelings. If you are at home, take 15 minutes to write down how you’re feeling during this different time we are in. This should allow you to feel lighter.

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