Physical distancing has immobilized us from going about our normal lives and routines. As a result, we are gradually slipping into a sedentary lifestyle where tension and discomfort build in our bodies and anxiety and negative thoughts infiltrate our minds.

In one of our recent 30 Day of Happiness live streams, we connected with Andrea McFadden of Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm who talked about the importance of self-care and kindly shared some home remedy tips on how to instill calm and nourish our bodies using simple yet effective practices and recipes. Here are some wellness tips she recommends that can be easily implemented at home.

SALT OR SUGAR SCRUB

Now more than ever, proper hand hygiene is essential to keeping ourselves healthy and minimizing the spread of germs. But all of the scrubbing and sanitizing does quite a number on the skin, and we're willing to bet your hands feel as much like sandpaper as ours! This simple salt or sugar scrub provides gentle exfoliation with deep moisturization and requires only a few basic ingredients you likely already have in a cupboard at home.

STEP-BY-STEP:

• Put one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a small dish.

  • Sunflower, safflower, grapeseed or avocado are all nice options.

• Add one tablespoon of salt OR sugar to the dish.

  • If you're using salt: try mixing coarse and fine salt for a delightful all-over body scrub!

  • If you're using sugar: your lips might enjoy a scrub too!

• Add 5 drops of pure essential oil.

  • Our favourite blend is 3 drops of lavender essential oil with 2 drops of lemongrass or sweet orange.

• Mix well and start scrubbing!

You can use this at your sink and do your hands and forearms, right up to your elbows. Sit on the counter and treat your feet, or sit on the edge of your bathtub and give your legs a polish.

Do it slowly with steady pressure and feel it work into your skin and muscles. When you’re done, just rinse it off, pat your skin dry and apply your moisturizer. It might not be a trip to the spa, but it'll feel pretty close!

HERBAL MASSAGE OIL

There's no right way to feel right now, but increased stress and anxiety due to the current global situation may be causing tension headaches, neck and shoulder tightness, and difficulty concentrating. The mindful process of creating a simple herbal oil offers a couple minutes of escape while the end result can help to relieve some of that tension through massage.

Rosemary & Lemon

For this recipe, you'll need a mortar and pestle.

Add one tablespoon of fresh rosemary leaves into your mortar, followed by a two-inch strip of lemon peel, torn into small pieces. Slowly grind with your pestle until the air is fragrant with herbs (about 3 minutes). Measure out two tablespoons of sunflower oil into a small jar and stir in the ground rosemary and lemon. Let your oil sit for 1-2 hours before using.

Violet & Coconut

At this time of year, violets can be found popping up in the grass on lawns and around garden beds. Collect one tablespoon of fresh violets and mix into a jar with two tablespoons of warmed coconut oil (you'll want it to be liquid when you add the blossoms). Let your oil sit for 1-2 hours before using.

AT-HOME DIFFUSER

Diffusers are a wonderful way of imparting natural aromas through a room - we love switching between our two essential oil blends for Tranquility and Focus. However, you certainly don't need a diffuser to create a calming, natural fragrance in your home, and this simple recipe uses ingredients straight from the kitchen!

• Into a small saucepan place the following:

  • 2-3 inch piece of lemon peel

  • 3-inch piece of rosemary

  • 1 tsp of vanilla extract

• Pour 2 cups of boiling water over, stir and turn to low on your stove element. Be sure to set a timer for 20 minutes to ensure your pot doesn’t run dry!

All that's left to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the aroma as it spreads through the room!

Although the current state of the world can be terrifying and draining at the moment, allocating a pocket of our time at home to tend to our physical and emotional needs can certainly lift our spirits and soothe our minds and bodies. Not only can these self-care practices help us cope with isolation and stress, but they also keep us feeling our best all year long. We’d like to thank Okanagan Lavender & Farm for sharing these useful wellness tips. May all of us stay safe, healthy and positive.

To learn more about Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm and how you can practice self-care and wellness at home, visit their blog here.