One thing I have learned in the past 5 year living with a chronic illness and studying to be a naturopath is the importance of getting fresh air and sunshine. How many days do we stay inside playing with our kids, watching TV, cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry to name just a few? How many days do we actually spend an hour outside? Some people don't even realize how healthy it is to be outside. Some people are just too tired to go. Since, I also have chronic fatigue, I know this feeling well. I have to force myself out the door. (I am always glad I did go because inevitably, I feel better.) Our family and I try to get outside afterschool and on weekends, we do however nix this idea when the pollens are high. Usually we can escape the pollens in Tucson by driving up to Mt. Lemmon and enjoying the air up at 8000 feet. Often times people with MCS forget the importance of getting outside or they just feel too sick. Yesterday, I took my homework with me to the park and sat and read. I found that I retained more information while I was sitting outside and studying, even with the kids running back and forth than I do when I am sitting in my home with the kids in school. I have decided that I am going to the park when I can to do my course work and projects.
Another great thing to do is to remember to open your windows. On a beautiful day, I like to open the windows and doors. I believe that it cleanses your house, removing chemicals and toxins from the indoors. We do this a lot in the fall, winter and spring. Once our temperature here in Tucson breaks 100 degrees we head up to the mountain for our fresh air. The mountain is a wonderful place to escape the extreme heat of the desert. If we can't drive to the mountain on the weekends we spend time outside in the evening looking up for falling stars and star gazing.
One last thing I want to mention, we often times exercise, meditate and do yoga in gyms and in our homes. We forget that these activities can be done outside in a beautiful quiet serene place. Free of stress. I love doing activities like these outside because my brain fog lifts and I feel so much better. Relaxation can also be achieved in the great out doors. Takes some blankets and find a shade tree or a sunny spot and just lay and watch the clouds drift by.
Thanks for reading, have a beautiful day.
2 comments:
Good advice Anna and I try to get some fresh outside air everyday. But today I have stayed indoors in my PJ's c'os everwhere is frozen outside - come see! Have a great day.
I hear you on this post! I leave Chicago winters now, because it is just too hard to get enough fresh air! Great blog. :)
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