How to Survive the Coronavirus
Whether you fall on the not-too-concerned side or the sky-is-falling side, it’s hard to deny the fact that our world has suddenly changed overnight. No movie theaters? No gym? No Smashburger?! Things just got real.
But we’re certainly thankful for the precautions that are being taken by our government and businesses to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
We’ve put together a quick guide of some things you may be interested in during this time of isolation.
DIY Cleaners
Perhaps some of you are just now realizing this may be a thing and sauntered into the grocery store to get yourself some much needed home supplies. To your chagrin, you had to leave the grocery store still in need of those supplies.
Not to fear, there are some sanitation needs that you can handle with a few common grocery store items.
DIY Hand-Sanitizer
If your store is out of hand-sanitizer, grab yourself a bottle of rubbing alcohol and aloe vera and you’ve got a recipe for killing germs! Add in some essential oils to boost the antimicrobial, antibacterial properties and you’ll never go back to store bought (okay…probably not true. But this will do in a pinch).
⅓ cup aloe vera gel
⅔ cup rubbing alcohol
4-5 drops each of thyme, lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree oil
Mix until blended and place in a sealed container for use. When using, make sure to cover your hands completely and let air dry.
DIY Surface Cleaner
1 cup rubbing alcohol
¼ cup vinegar
20 drops tea tree oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Mix together in a spray bottle and get spray-happy! Consider using a clean rag instead of paper towels, since our paper products are on the low-end of supply right now.
The essential oils in both of these recipes have natural disinfecting and antimicrobial properties. Besides..they smell good!
Quick and Easy Air Sanitizer
1 lemon cut into slices
Pot of water
Essential oils such as tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus
Put the lemon and pot full of water on to boil. Bring just to a boil and reduce to a very low simmer. Add in 4-5 drops each of the essential oils and let simmer all day long for a great smell and a natural air cleaner. Make sure to check the pot often to refill water.
Immune Boosters
Even though you may be taking precautions to stay home, it never hurts to give your body a little extra help. Here are a few simple things to keep your immune system running on high.
Deep Breathing
That’s right! You don’t need anything to do this immune booster. Did you know that deep, intentional breathing actually helps boost our bodies ability to fight germs? Give it a try.
- Sit up straight with shoulders back (but not too much…don’t be stiff).
- Now activate your diaphragm with a big slow breath (you can tell you’ve activated it when your stomach pushes out).
- Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth (but nice and slow)
- Do this breathing exercise 10 times, three times daily.
It only takes a few minutes, but the reduced stress in your body will help your immune system focus on it’s primary task – keeping you healthy!
Cold Showers
Yes, the pain of cold water sounds unappealing. But it’s been proven that exposing our bodies to cold temperatures can increase our immunity. The warm and cold water causes our blood vessels to constrict and dilate, strengthening the immune system.
This doesn’t mean your entire shower has to be cold. Do your normal cleaning routine and then end the last 1-2 minutes with cold water. You’ll be amazed at the added benefits of alertness and improved mood!
No Sugar
This one is hard for most of us, but sugar is one of the worst things you can consume when trying to ward off sickness. Sugar puts your white blood cells into a coma of sorts. Meaning, your body’s natural bacteria fighting troops are too incoherent to do their job when you come in contact with germs and bacteria. For just a few weeks, stay away from the sweet treats!
If you must have something sweet, have it after a workout and a high-protein meal, as the protein slows down the metabolizing and your tired muscles can use the sugar for recovery.
Instead of sugar, consume lots of fruits with Vit-C and antioxidants (citrus and berries).
Economy Props
We have many dear friends that own small businesses and the impact of this virus could potentially be devastating to their livelihood and dreams. Consider doing as much as possible to support these businesses that have been the most affected by the virus – restaurants, bars, gyms, family fun centers, event centers and tourist attractions.
The tendency for all of us will be to conserve our spending out of fear. But it’s that fear that causes the continual downward spiral of economic disaster. I challenge you (and myself) to continue putting into the strength and health of local small businesses. Here are a few ideas for the next few weeks:
Gift Cards
Eventually, we’ll all be able to get back to our favorite restaurant. Get a gift card for that occasion now! And while you’re at it, buy a few more for gifts throughout the year. Or decide that your gifting strategy for the 2020 holiday season will be local small business gift cards. Buy them now and be the first to have your holiday shopping done!
In-Store Supplies
Perhaps your favorite restaurant sells it’s famous BBQ sauce in bottles, or the microbrewery sells it’s beer in local liquor stores…buy those items now to enjoy at home! Coffee shops closed? No problem…buy their fresh roasted beans for your own delicious coffee at home.
Future Party Planning
Perhaps you’re the type that always does the birthday parties at home. Consider switching it up this year. Buy a party package now for one of the local family fun centers – CityRock, Springs Climbing Center, SkyZone, Summit, etc. There are a plethora of great options available. Get your party scheduled now, even if it’s a ways out, to keep their cash-flow in the positive.
Promote the Business’s Online Presence
Now is a great time to be intentional about the small businesses online visibility. Check out their website and really familiarize yourself with their story and services. Click around and stay for a while! This helps their organic SEO.
Leave them a positive review on Facebook, Google My Business and Yelp!
Engage with their posts on social media. Like, comment, share…this all goes a long way to keep them visible and top-of-mind. While it’s not placing money in their pocket, it’s keeping them digitally alive so when the doors open again, they may have gained in visibility.
And please…if you Google a specific business and they happen to have an ad that is still running, please don’t click on that ad to get to their website. They are paying for each click! Find them in the organic listings to save them a little money.
Take-Out
Of course, take-out is always a prime option. No need to stop eating your favorite meals from the cafe down the street. Order take-out and don’t forget to tip!
Just Enjoy Your Loved Ones
In the end, take advantage of this time at home with fewer distractions and more time to focus on your loved ones. Don’t spend all your time consuming the fear (and often faulty information) on social media about the virus.
Read a book out loud together, play games, watch a fun documentary, make homemade bread, go for a walk outside (yes…you can still leave your house!), build an obstacle course in your backyard, identify birds in your backyard…you know…the stuff they used to do in the good ole’ days.
And please call us at Krakofsky Team Realty if you need anything at all. We may not have toilet paper to give you, but we can certainly try and fight off the hoarders for a few rolls if you’re in need!