Heads up, Pausers: We’ve got another discount offer for you this week!
Covid-19 has infected millions of Americans of all ages — and flu season is right around the corner. Our immune system weakens with age, so there’s no time like the present to power it up, which means doing more than just social distancing, washing your hands and wearing a mask.
Building your immunity is a marathon, not a sprint. Lifestyle changes you make today will get you to the finish line. Let’s get started.
Sit Less
Sitting and binging on Netflix might feel like a reward at the end of (yet another) long day; however, every single hour spent watching television reduced your life expectancy by 21.8 minutes, says one study. Others say that sitting for more than eight hours a day, with no physical activity, puts you at a similar risk of dying as obesity and smoking. It’s that serious.
Here are 5 exercises to offset the ‘S’ word.
Drink coffee
No need to feel guilty about your coffee habit: For years, coffee had a bad rap as an unhealthy habit, associated with ills like stunted growth, heart disease and even, cancer. But attitudes are changing, due to research that shows coffee’s myriad health benefits. It’s rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, flavonoids and other health-boosters and is linked to a lowered risk of type-2 diabetes. (Data on decaf is somewhat limited; however, experts think it is beneficial as well.)
Still, keep your consumption within sensible limits, since overdoing it can lead to some not-so-great stuff like insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, muscle tremors and more. The FDA suggests no more than 400 mg of caffeine a day, which is equivalent to about four 8 oz. cups of coffee, 10 cans of soda or two energy shot drinks. (We prefer you stick with coffee.)
Sleep more
Sleep is one of the best roads to immunity, especially if you log between 7 to 8 hours of good quality zzz’s each night. Get less than six hours of shut-eye a night and you’re more likely to catch a cold. Keeping your bedroom dark, quiet and cool (around 65 degrees Fahrenheit) plus a few of our favorite sleep hygiene tips can help get you there.

Photo by Peter Secan on Unsplash
Eat right
Eating a wholesome diet is wise to keep your immune system at its strongest — that means plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Many experts tout garlic and ginger for their health benefits, as well as yogurt, almonds, turmeric and green tea. Oh, for all the sweet tooths out there, some studies say cocoa can have a good influence on the immune system too.
Get your flu shot
We don’t have a COVID vaccine yet, but we do have an effective flu shot. Get yours now. (The CDC recommends waiting until September or October to get yours to be protected as long as possible through flu season, so now is the time.) The flu can overwhelm our healthcare system even in a normal year — and this is not a normal year, so do your part.
Besides, you don’t want a double-whammy and get hit with flu and COVID at the same time. Seriously, you don’t.
For a Pause
I recently enjoyed a virtual taste test compliments of Almond Breeze, hosted by my pal Bonnie Taub-Dix. I tasted four of its calcium-enriched 16 awesome varieties (including chocolate and banana!) and was floored to learn about all the health benefits of almond milk. (It’s an excellent source of vitamins D and E and a good source of vitamin A.) #drinkup.
Are you sick of cooking yet? Freshly delivers healthy, chef-cooked meals right to your doorstep. Pop them in the microwave and you’re good to go. If you want to give them a try, use our special Pausers discount. (Use code THEPAUSE for $15 off each of your first four orders (a $60 total). Cauliflower-shell Bolognese, anyone?
It’s raining, it’s snowing…cocoa! The cocoa fairy has scattered her dust in this little Swiss town. That’s one place I’d like to be.
Even if you can’t get back to your gym yet, you still can get in some workouts.
One More Thing
Comedian John Mulaney on his Boomer Dad’s (non-existent) circle of friends.
Wait ’til you get to be our age, young man.
Until next week, stay well, stay healthy, stay safe.
See you next time!
xoSheryl&Jennifer
Let's get physical, physical.
I wanna get physical.
Let's get into physical.
—Let’s Get Physical, Olivia Newton-John
Know someone who could use a Pause? Why not share us with them? Thanks so much!