A few tips to take care of you this winter

For most of us, the cold, winter winds and the COVID-19 pandemic are putting our bodies and minds to the test. In order to help us get through the rigours of winter, it is necessary to adapt our lifestyle and how we care for our bodies.

Since the beginning of lockdown, the amount of time spent in front of various screens has increased, particularly among workers, students and children, and with-it eye fatigue, also referred to as computer vision syndrome or digital eye fatigue by Optometrists¹.

Follow our tips to keep your eyes healthy^2,3:

• Keep your eyes healthy with nutritious foods: Eat lots of leafy greens such as spinach, collard greens and kale.
• Stay active: Exercise will help you stay healthy, especially by reducing your risk of diseases that can affect your vision such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Rest your eyes: Looking at a screen for long periods of time can tire your eyes. Give them some rest by taking a break every 20 minutes and looking at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• If despite all these good advices your eyes still need relief: Relieve your eyes with the homeopathic medicine Optique 1: it will help relieve mild irritation and/or eye fatigue due to prolonged use of screens.

The period we are currently living through can also cause stress and difficulty to fall asleep or occasional sleeplessness. If you are subject to some sleep disorders at the moment:

Here are a few tips to improve the quality of your sleep⁴:

• Exercise: A brisk walk or sports activity every day, ideally in the morning, will help you sleep better at night. In fact, studies have proven that exercise stimulates the effects of natural sleep hormones such as melatonin.
• Book your bed for sleep: Don’t use your bed as a desk to answer your calls or emails. You should also avoid watching TV late at night in bed. Your bed should always remain a place to fall asleep, not wake up.
• Define a bedtime ritual: Even as an adult, having a set of rituals before going to bed will help you sleep. Rituals send a signal to the body and mind that it will soon be time to go to sleep. Take a bath or listening to relaxing music, for example, will help.
• If despite these advices stress is still disturbing your sleep… Take Quietude tablets, a homeopathic medicine for minor sleeping disorders.

During these long months, the cold weather outside and the heating in our homes or in the car also have repercussions on our epidermis.

Fortunately, here are a few tips to take good care of your sensitive skin⁵ :

• Protect yourself from the cold in winter. Avoid prolonged exposure to cold, wind and drafts without being properly dressed.
• Cleanse your skin morning and night using a mild cleanser, if possible, one designed for sensitive skin, and avoid soaps.
• Avoid long, hot showers. Hot showers can melt and strip the skin of its natural protective oil barrier.
• Moisturize your skin morning and night. The choice of a moisturizing product should not be taken lightly; ask your pharmacist or cosmetician for advice to help you make the right choice.
• Protect your skin from the sun in summer and winter. Use a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 30.
• Avoid microdermabrasion, exfoliants, purifying masks and any other unnecessary treatments or products. Sometimes caring for your skin can mean giving your skin a break.
• And for skin and nasal mucous membrane irritations such as those resulting from excessive blowing of the nose, consider Cicadermine! Cicadermine is a homeopathic medicine without antibiotics that promotes healing and relieves chapping, sores and redness.
• Protect yourself from the cold in winter. Avoid prolonged exposure to cold, wind and drafts without being properly dressed.

These homeopathic medicines may not be suitable for everyone. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

Sources:

1. Syndrome de vision informatique (fatigue oculaire numérique) | The Canadian Association of Optometrists
2. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/keep-your-eyes-healthy
3. https://opto.ca/fr/health-library/5-aliments-pour-des-yeux-en-sante
4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/sleep/8-secrets-to-a-good-nights-sleep
5. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin