by Brian Lawrence

It was the second week of March 2020 when Allen Berg and I decided to go to Las Vegas for a Catersource Conference. This was right at the beginning of heightened awareness about COVID-19 when conventional thought was keeping your hands clean and wearing gloves would adequately protect against the virus. Right from the get-go, I decided to wear a mask at the conference, and I didn’t participate in any of the Las Vegas nightlife. I remember sitting in my hotel room when I heard on the news that the NBA would suspend the rest of the season. That was my wake-up call that this was serious, so I booked a flight early and came home.

The moment I got home, my well-informed son told me that the CDC had asked people to quarantine. That was the beginning of my entry into the COVID world of fear and anxiety, which I stayed in much longer than many people. I get all my booster shots, and I still wear a mask, to this day, in public places.

Over the last few years, I’ve researched other ways to protect myself beyond just wearing a mask. I want to share some of those ideas with you because I realize that despite the rise in COVID cases as of the publication of this blog post, most people have had enough and just want to live a normal life. I have to admit that I’ve taken a step back into the Wild Wild West and now go to restaurants and gatherings, but there isn’t any time that I don’t do something to protect myself.

September and October are big wedding months and could contribute to the spread of the virus. Here are some ways to potentially protect yourself with or without wearing a mask.

Use Taffix Nasal Spray

Taffix nasal spray works to create a barrier over the mucous membranes in your nose to prevent you from inhaling a virus. Taffix helps prevent influenza and rhinoviruses in addition to COVID.

Use Nozin Nasal Spray

Nozin is similar to Taffix in that it’s a nasal spray that both disinfects and protects the nasal passages against numerous viruses, including COVID-19. Nozin is a 12-hour formula that works using an alcohol base rather than antibiotics. The makers of this easy-to-use spray claim that it kills 99.9% of germs in the nasal cavity.

Use Listerine

This tried and true mouthwash doesn’t just promote good oral health. Listerine’s antiseptic qualities have shown promise when studied in COVID-19 prevention. While it’s not yet been determined if Listerine is fully capable of killing the virus, the alcohol-based mouthwash is good to keep on hand. Since germs form in the throat cavity, it is a good practice to gargle after being with a large group of people.

Maximize Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is a great way to boost your immune system, minimizing the likelihood you’ll suffer from serious virus symptoms. The Mayo Clinic recommends that adults get 7 or more hours of quality sleep per night. Melatonin is a really good option that is non-addictive to help improve sleep. Good sleep hygiene is important like trying to go to sleep and wake up the same times every day.

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, excessive alcohol consumption may damage lung cells, which could prove costly with a virus that attacks the respiratory system like COVID-19. Reducing alcohol consumption is one way to keep your immune system functioning properly, increasing your odds of overcoming COVID-19 without long-term effects.

Take Extra Vitamin C

Adults and children alike benefit from supplementing vitamin C. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that prevents toxins from increasing inflammation in your body. Vitamin C may not prevent infection on its own, but it can boost your immunity, which may help shorten your illness. The Wellness Formula is a high-potency vitamin Combined with other minerals and herbs.

Take Probiotics

Probiotics help improve gut health and your overall immune system function. The “good bacteria” present in probiotics work to strengthen your intestinal barrier and stimulate cells. You can find probiotics in supplements or foods like acidophilus milk and yogurt.

Use a Personal Ionizer

Personal ionizers are air purifiers that emit negative ions into the air, which attach to virus particles, causing the particles to become heavy and fall to the floor. These personal devices range in size and utilize HEPA filter technology.

Moving Forward

I will be continuing to live my professional life exhibiting at conferences at Wedding MBA and speaking at DJ Collective to showcase my website / SEO expertise, but being mindful is here to stay for me and that would include wearing a mask. Hope you find these resources helpful. If you have any questions or comments reach out to me at [email protected].