Our New Normal: How We’re Staying Safe This Summer
For the foreseeable future, especially as we head into summer, life is going to be pretty different. To see what we are doing to make a new normal and stay safe this summer, keep reading!
This post is sponsored by Alba Botanica but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Things. Have. Changed.
I don’t think anyone on this planet would argue that things are completely different than they were just a few short months ago. Word and phrases like ‘social distancing,’ ‘quarantine,’ and ‘safer at home’ are part of our regular vocabulary now, where they might have seemed like a foreign language back in February.
While we’ve been sad and grieved over all the changes, I think most of us are ready to wash our faces, dry our tears, and start adjusting to a new normal of sorts.
Creating a New Normal
So we all know that the end of the school year was off-the-charts-crazy. Nobody was prepared to be thrown head-first into the lion’s den of online learning and unexpected homeschooling. Hopefully, it will soon be behind you if it’s not already (we graduated preschool this weekend, so yay!)
But what does this different universe we’re living in mean for the summer? And even more, how can we continue to protect ourselves and our family and stay safe while having some semblance of normalcy?
My Big Takeaway
All this extra time with an empty schedule has given me lots of time to think. One of my big takeaways from all this is how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle. Having a healthy lifestyle and healthy habits is the biggest defense against any kind of virus or sickness.
It’s always been on my radar, but now, it’s beeping loud and clear. And I’m listening.
My Summer Protocol
I’ve given this some thought, and here are a few ideas of what I’m doing with my family (specifically, my 5-year-old twin boys, since it’s mostly us together during the day).
1| Lots of Time Outdoors
I was relieved to see that, when the shutdown orders came through, that our governor declared outdoor activity an ‘essential activity.’ That’s a no-brainer for us!
Vitamin D from the sun, fresh air, and nature is just so good for us, as well as the exercise we get from walking, biking, hiking, and swimming.
And while I love being outside, in Tennesee, the sun is intense in the summer. As someone who’s had melanoma in the past and a history of skin cancer in my family, sunscreen is a must.
For that, we are going with Alba Botanica. I love this product for a few reasons, especially because it lines up perfectly with our healthy lifestyle choices.
Alba Botanica is 100% vegetarian and filled with botanical ingredients. I love that this sunscreen is free of oxybenzone, octinoxate, PABA, nano-sunscreens, and Vitamin A. It’s also free of ingredients that have negative impacts on coral reefs as well as cruelty-free, so it’s earth-and-animal-friendly, too.
There are lots of varieties that work perfectly for our family – I love the Hawaiian Coconut Clear Spray, SPF 50 (nothing says summer more than a coconut!). Sprays are my favorite, as they are perfect for wiggly boys, and there is also one specifically for kids, Kids Clear Spray Sunscreen SPF 50.
There is also a Alba Botanica Aloe Vera Hawaiian SPF 45 Sunscreen, that you can rub on instead of spray, if that’s your method of choice!
Not only that, but there’s Very Emollient Sunscreen for Kids SPF 45, which is perfect for their faces.
These sunscreens are biodegradable and have 100% natural fragrance! Love knowing that I’m not hurting my kids my causing them to breathe in harmful chemicals while trying to protect them from the sun! It’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it ideal for the pool or going to the lake.
There’s also Sensitive Fragrance Free Clear Spray SPF50 option as well, perfect for hiking, especially if you’re worried about bugs being attracted to a sweet scent.
And as a skin-cancer survivor, it means a lot to me that it’s recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
You can get this right at Walmart – in-store or online, for a fantastic price!
2| Healthy Eating
I’m all about immune support these days, and one of the best ways to build a strong immune system is through healthy, natural food. Sugar and processed foods do so much damage to our bodies and immune systems. By eating real, whole foods and cutting out sugar and processed food (OK, at least trying to minimize it), I know that our bodies are getting stronger to fight whatever viruses that we may come in contact with.
And if we have to get packaged food, it’s the organic choices that I’m going for.
3| Having a Healthy Mindset and Spirit
There’s such a huge mind/body connection. If we have a lot of anxiety and toxic thoughts, we are doing a lot of damage to our bodies as well. And that only weakens our immune systems and causes us to be less able to fight disease and other harmful things in the environment.
While the quarantine has caused us to slow down, the good part from that is that it’s given me a lot of time to rethink some of my toxic habits. Here are a few things that are helping me stay grounded and positive:
Gratitude: There’s so much to be thankful for. While things aren’t always ideal, we have been abundantly blessed. It helps to take a few minutes throughout the day and be thankful for all I have: a job, a healthy family, plenty of food, a house to fill with memories, an area we love to live in.
Living in the Present: The future is too heavy to deal with. If I try to plan ahead too far, it’s only a cause for frustration because everything is so uncertain. I have today. I have my family. We are provided for. We are safe.
Staying focused on today, being present with my sons, is SO good for my mental health. I have ZERO control over what happens next, over so many things. Letting go of that and just being at peace with where I’m at right now does so much good.
Enjoying What I Have: It’s true, we always think that getting the next thing will make us happy. But we probably have more than enough already. And most of the things that make us happy are simple: hugs from our kids, texts from our friends, a warm cup of coffee first thing in the morning, a beautiful sunset coming through the window, a walk through nature. If we look around us, we’ll see lots to enjoy. And that’s great for a healthy mind and spirit.
Having Margins: OK, so a lot of these margins were forced upon us. Nobody planned to have a blank calendar for 2 months or more.
But can I say? I have really liked not having to be anywhere and never being in a rush. Now that things are opening up, I’m much slower to start rushing around again. I want to be more intentional in having a more relaxed-paced lifestyle.
There certainly have been stresses with the quarantine, but when life is busy, there’s a lot of stress, too. I liked having that stress eliminated, and I plan to have more control over that.
Prayer: This is personal for everyone, but talking to God about my day, my worries, and asking Him for wisdom is so helpful. It takes the burden off of me to have all the answers on how to best protect my family and solve our problems. I can trust that He hears me and that He will help me do what’s best for all of us.
Maybe a Brighter Normal?
While life is really different now, we might actually have a chance at a reset. It’s like someone shoved a stick in our hamster wheel, and the world came to a grinding halt. The gears are starting to churn again, but we have some control over which ones start up, how fast, and how often. That may be the blessing in disguise after all.
For me, my boys are starting kindergarten in the fall (well, July), and these are my last days home with them before we cross the finish line on this stage. I am going to make the most of it.
If you’re looking to make some healthy changes for your family this summer, there are many baby steps you can take, and just knowing you’re doing something can bring a lot of peace of mind. Switching to a fantastic, good-for-your-family product like Alba Botanica Sunscreen is a great first step. Easy to implement, and it will make you feel good that you are proactively protecting them while enjoying time together.
What is your new normal? What are you doing to keep your family safe this summer?
I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below!
