Home Alone: DIY Wellness

A healing massage is out of the question when you’re sheltering in place on your own. So is a conventional yoga class.

Still, there are ways to give yourself the care that enhances your sense of well-being.

For a refreshing pampering session at home, I made a Honey Lemon Sugar Scrub (recipe sourced from Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ spa brand, Serene Spa & Wellness.)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of sugar

1/2 cup of sweet almond oil

4 teaspoons of lemon juice

4 tablespoons of honey

4 drops of lemon essential oil

Directions:

Combine sugar and sweet almond oil in a large bowl. Mix well. Add lemon juice and stir thorough. The result: a gentle exfoliant that rinses off nicely in the shower and leaves the skin smooth and nourished with just a hint of energizing citrus.

For wellness pick-me-ups throughout the day, aromatherapy does the job quickly and efficiently.  I simply apply essential oils to my wrists and other pulse points and indulge in some quiet meditation. I like the essential oils by Vitality, particularly the roll-on versions. Among the oils that soothe, calm and heal, I choose lavender and tea tree: the lavender because inhaling it just makes me feel good; the tea tree oil because I think of it as an all-round purifier.

Washing and over-washing hands is necessary, but the process does dry the skin out. When hands need simple moisturizing, a good choice is Parfums de Marly’s Delina hand cream. It’s made with coconut oil and is paraben-free, leaves the hands hydrated but not greasy. The fragrance is light, with top notes of bergamot, nutmeg, rhubarb and lychee.

For medical workers on the front lines regular hand creams only provide limited relief. Gloves in a Bottle is a unique product, a shielding lotion that actually bonds to the outer layer of skin, filling in any gaps and protecting skin for up to four hours while washing and sanitizing until it needs to be reapplied. Hospital workers have said that it is the only thing that helps heal their bleeding hands after a shift where they are constantly washing them—so I have given it to family members who need this kind of relief.

Spending so much time indoors, I try to make sure that the air I breathe—especially in small spaces is as clean and clear as possible. I open windows whenever weather permits and run my air purifier 24/7.

And now I have added  Azuna Fresh, a non-toxic tea-tree-oil-based healthy air solution that clears my apartment of irritating and immune-system-weakening toxins, including mold, mildew and bacteria.

As I mentioned previously, I like tea tree oil because it has strong antiseptic qualities that can boost and support the immune system.

The tea tree gel is contained in attractive hand-crafted jars with perforated tops to deliver the, Azuna delivers these air-cleaning benefits to the surrounding air without using harsh chemicals   Azuna Fresh uses natural air-flow and a slow-release gel formula to deliver the air-cleaning benefits without using harsh chemicals  The co.      a fabulous productwe want to make sure that the air we breathe—especially in small spaces like bathrooms– is as clean and clear and free of mold and bacteria.

Each jar lasts 60–90 days and is sold either for individual rooms ($14.99/unit) or as a whole home kit that treats four rooms for 4—6 months ($99).

Since I am cooking a lot more than I was before this in-home confinement, I’m trying to cook healthy while at the same time enhancing the flavors of whatever I make.

A cast iron skillet is a must-have for searing steaks, chicken and other proteins. My Anolon Vesta cast iron skillet is the best thing I own for its ability to take and retain high heat. At 10 inches, it’s the right size for making one or two portions. It’s oven-and broiler-safe and it has two pouring spouts that allow me to remove accumulated fats without making a mess.

What I especially like is that no seasoning of the skillet is required. My Paprika Red version is colorful and cheery, with a high-gloss porcelain enamel interior. Swell to cook with and easy to clean. Retail is about $70. https://anolon.com/collections/vesta-cast-iron-cookware/products/vesta-cast-iron-frying-pan

And finally, to combat those negative feelings that sometimes overwhelm during times like these, I have some helpful tips from life strategist and fitness expert, Andrea Marcellus.

She recommends any one of the following for a quick mental vacation:

1. Check off something on your to-do list for a dopamine hit.
2. Nourish your body with food. Make beautiful, nutritious meals that transform a mundane meal into an act of self-care. And when you indulge, skip the guilt and shame.
3. Make time for exercise, even if you only have 15 minutes while making dinner. Be proud of what you accomplish, no matter how minor it may seem.
4. Read the first page of any book on your shelf. Reading forces your brain to create mental pictures instead of worry.

Stay safe #togetheralone.