I can feel my chest getting tight. My anxiety is at an all-time high. This is supposed to be the most joyous time of year, but my mind won’t stop racing. I know I can’t protect them from everything. But can I bear the guilt if anything happens? I really don’t even know what is normal anymore. For the first time I can hear my children mimic my fears, both external and internal. I can’t shield them from all of these things. I will choose to be proactive, rather than reactive.
Back to school can be exciting, but this year has brought on a new level of stress. There is so much change and shift. New experiences, new routines, and new exposures. How can we cope? Check out a few of my tips and tricks on what to add to your back-to-school shopping list for a successful and healthy start!
Our Home, Our Sanctuary
Start with creating a safe place of peace in your home. This is beneficial for both parents and children. Many times simple things around the house can minimize tension. Start with things like decluttering and incorporating aromatherapy.
Decluttering can actually increase energy, time, and even save money. For many families, even little ones’ clutter can cause chaotic thoughts. Chaotic thoughts can lead to added stress. So set time to organize and eliminate unnecessary things.
Aromatherapy is exactly what it states in its name. It is simply therapy using your sense of smell. There is a direct connection from what you smell straight to the emotional and memory centers of the brain. All the other senses pass through another part of the brain first for processing. It then prioritizes the information and determines what to do with it. Touch, taste, sight, and sound are all filtered and information is prioritized. The sense of smell, however, does not have this filtering process making it the most powerful way to enhance the emotional state.
Daily Wellness
Supporting a healthy body starts with consistency and routine. It doesn’t make sense to eat one piece of broccoli and think that we will be sustained with the nutrient value for the rest of our life. In the same way, it is imperative to fuel the body every single day with beneficial nutrients. Sadly, even with a healthy diet, we still often are not receiving the basic nutrition to stay well.
Whether our little ones are heading to a building or their home school desk, it’s important to start the day with good nutrition. According to kidshealth.org, “Skipping breakfast can make kids feel tired, restless, or irritable. In the morning, their bodies need to refuel for the day ahead after going without food for 8-12 hours during sleep. Their mood and energy can drop by midmorning if they don’t eat at least a small morning meal.”
My Family’s Back-to-School Shopping List
Supplementation is a great way to give some added nutrition. This is not a replacement for food, but simply a complement. Be sure to only use whole food supplements and bonus if they’re infused with essential oils. Some great supplements to start with are vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, and probiotics. These supplements support both emotions and the immune system.
- Vitamin C: Because our bodies cannot manufacture vitamin C, we can benefit by consuming this powerful antioxidant daily. Vitamin C can play a role in normal immune and circulatory functions, help to strengthen connective tissues, and promote overall health, vitality, and longevity.
- Vitamin D: Be careful when choosing a vitamin D supplement as many are synthetic. Vitamin D helps support bone growth, healthy muscle, mood and hormone regulation. It also plays a key function in respiratory health, and through its innate and adaptive defense mechanisms, supports the body’s respiratory immune system.
- Magnesium: Magnesium helps promote a calm state, reduces restlessness, eases occasional irritability and sleeplessness, and improves focus and mental clarity in the home and in the classroom. It is a powerhouse mineral commonly used for muscular and cardiovascular health as well. Click here for more about magnesium for kids.
- Probiotics: Probiotics help to develop good immune and gastrointestinal health. The top benefits of probiotics for kids include their ability to improve digestion and boost the strength of the immune system.
It’s important to talk with your child’s pediatrician before starting any kind of new regimen to understand proper methods of use and dosage. Read more here from the Cleveland Clinic on supplements for kids.
We Are in This Together
I believe that together we can make our way through the unknown. It starts with sharing these resources. As we learn from one another, we build a greater confidence. We realize that we are not alone in these feelings. Be at peace knowing no matter which way the battle leans, we have a strong fight to combat.
What health-related items do you have on your back-to-school shopping list?
