While we’re obviously going through some very problematic times, we’re still here to type this blog post or read this blog post. So, that means we’re in the land of the living. And since we’re still functioning in this life, it’s time to do our best to take care of ourselves and get these bodies and minds into the best possible shape they could be in.
I currently have family members who are battling different kinds of ailments in their bodies but are hesitant to go see a doctor and get checked out. (And, I’m not encouraging it either. I totally don’t want to see anyone end up in a doctor’s office or hospital if there’s any way he or she can avoid it).
As a matter of fact, I’ve even cancelled and postponed dentist and doctor appointments for myself and some of my immediate family members, because I just don’t want us unnecessarily exposed to something that we can avoid by staying put.
And so, my family and I continue to do what we can to protect ourselves and others by distancing ourselves when and where we can and keeping outings relegated to stores (for essential shopping needs), work, and checking on family members that require assistance.
And here’s the thing. A lot of us may have extra time now to take care of ourselves — I mean, truly concentrate on doing those activities that can provide nourishment and healing to our whole being. I’m talking about, applying a true self-care routine to our daily routine and making sure that we’re taking advantage of the slow down in life that we may be consequently experiencing right now.
I would love for all of us to figure out how to self care those aches, pains, and worries away to where we could stay in the safe confines of our homes and treat whatever ails us, preventing exposure to further sickness.
And the more we can do to manage our health, the better. So further down the paragraph trail, I’ll provide a few actions that I’ve personally decided to take on (or am currently taking on) to get back to the natural way of doing things, which can only lead to better defenses against the breaking down of the body during a pandemic. Most of these items are no-brainers and should be activities that you and I participate in regardless of COVID.
But, I’m going to be honest here. Some of the items on the list are kicking my behind. I haven’t quite been able to master them just yet, even though a couple (drinking more water and getting more sleep) have been on my list of goals to succeed in and maintain for some time now.
And why haven’t I mastered them yet? Well, I keep using the obvious excuse that I’ve been so busy with new product development, getting my Etsy shop up and running, and managing new promotional strategies to draw traffic to all my Degrees of Maternity sites. But, WAIT! I’ll always have such excuses, won’t I? So, when do I start taking care of myself — when I’m physically in some kind of pain in the middle of a pandemic?
Nope! Like I stated previously, I’ve had several family members remind me lately that I’d better be doing things NOW to self care, so I don’t find myself in a helplessly compromised position of which I have no choice but to put myself at risk. And this very sentiment is what I want to drive home to myself, my family members, and YOU.
Let’s take the time to self care. And if our lives have slowed down due to circumstances beyond our control, let’s use our time wisely to focus some much-needed attention on preventative measures that we can take (without the help of health care professionals) to manage our own health. CONTROL WHAT WE CAN CONTROL, RIGHT?
Because if truth be told, the healthcare professionals don’t want to see us any more than we want to see them at this moment in time. And, I truly do give honor where honor is due. A lot of these courageous individuals have put their lives and the lives of their families in jeopardy and have essentially put their needs and wants on hold to care for others who, quite frankly, may not even appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made in order to care for them or anyone else for that matter.
It’s kind of sickening to me, when I think about the selfishness of individuals who are living in a time where thousands upon thousands of lives are leaving the land of the living due to this plague; and yet, they refuse to take precautionary measures to help protect themselves and others. I always keep saying that the imposition or so-called “infringement” upon one’s rights to hang-out, party, have summer fun, and basically do-what-you-want-no-matter-the-consequences isn’t nearly as bad as being dead in the grave and having no rights at all.
But, I digress. Let me get off of my soapbox. Whew! I feel better now that I got that out.
Anyway, here’s my list of suggestions for how we can get back to a more natural way of doing things that can, hopefully, lead us on a path of staying out of these medical facilities, especially during these unprecedented times. (Most of these suggestions require that we do some work instead of pushing it off on others.)
Cooking from Scratch
Before there were all these fast food places, take-out establishments, and restaurants, families prepared meals inside the home. Try making cooking time a family affair. Assign different cooking tasks to different family members for preparing a home-cooked meal together. And just think. Your meal won’t be a mystery because you’ll know exactly what’s in eat, who prepared it, and how it was prepared. Plus, I can only imagine that the fruits of your labor will be much healthier for you because you cooked the meal from scratch instead of opting for the convenient, premade stuff that’s probably riddled with genetically-modified, chemically-saturated ingredients. Let’s not overtax our bodies and require them to work hard to break down and digest stuff that’s not even good for us. Cooking your own food is always the healthier option and the best option in times of a pandemic.
Drinking Healthy Substances
Before there were pops, sugary syrupy-flavored drinks, and juice blends, there was one of the most essential natural resources out there: water. Oh, and the juice straight from the fruit pulp is also high up there on the “healthy substances” scale. Basically, the more natural and the less processing involved, the better. Instead of buying what the eating establishments prepare or the stores provide all bottled-up and neatly stacked on their shelves, opt for drinking plain old water the majority of the time with 100% fruit juices sprinkled in sparingly. (I’ve even been experimenting with green drinks. The greens include raw spinach, kale, or romaine lettuce. And the fruit pulp and/or juice I use from fruits come from: apples, mangoes, strawberries, lemons, mandarins, and bananas.) But, my best advice is to make sure you’re drinking enough water in your day. I’m pretty sure you’ll notice a difference in how you feel when doing so. Water can’t help but to nourish, replenish, filter out the bad stuff, and so on. So, drink more of it. (I’m speaking to myself as I speak to you on this point.)
Exercising
Before there were gyms, people worked on their land or in their homes and pretty much did most everything by the use of their hands instead of having the latest technology or the most cushy equipment to simulate exercise activity. I’m not saying that using the exercise equipment at the gym is light work. I mean, I never went to the gym (preferred to work out in the comfort of my home or go for walks outside). But what I am saying is that, during a pandemic, there are plenty of other ways to get your workout in without the use of others’ indoor facilities and equipment. How about the two options I just mentioned: working out at home and walking around your neighborhood? You don’t even have to work out to someone else’s routine. You could make up your own exercises that work various areas of your body, get your heart rate up, and make you sweat. And going one further, make exercising a family affair and invite everyone to participate in the exercise fun. (As of late, I’ve even taken on the gardening duties for the plants and flowers in our non-edible part of the garden. Believe me when I say that I get somewhat of a workout every time I have to water, fertilize, pull weeds, and deadhead the plants.)
Getting Enough Sleep
This activity is one that seems to elude me as well as the water intake. But, I need to get this one in check. My health and well-being depend on it. I ain’t getting any younger and lack of proper sleep takes its toll on a person over time. It also leads to lack of productivity, lack of motivation, lack of focus, and just an overall yucky bodily feeling. So, getting my 7 hours has to become a priority very soon, whether I have a business or not. I guess the question to answer is would I rather have great health or great wealth? Well honestly, I’d like both. But if I must choose, I’d have to chose “health” every time. Because what good is it to have every material thing at your finger tips but lack the proper health to actually enjoy it? And since I know the right answer to the question I just posed, guess I’d better practice what I know to be true. What about you?
Using Downtime Wisely
Now, I like a good movie or two or three and can get lost in YouTube. And, there’s nothing wrong with have a little winding down, mindless entertainment. But, all the downtime shouldn’t be filled with those types of activities. For one’s well-balancedness (I just made up a word), I think it’s important to take times of relaxation to do different things that cater to different parts of your personal make-up.
During your periods of relaxation, it’s okay to close your eyes and take a little snooze; read a book that you’ve been wanting to read; watch an educational documentary that you’ve been wanting to watch; sit on your porch, patio, or deck and bask in the sun rays; medicate on the Word of God; engage in family game nights; and take leisurely walks around your neighborhood.
In other words, use your downtime to feed your mind, body, and spirit. And all the suggestions for these leisurely and enjoyable activities can be conducted in the sanctuary of your home or close to your home. No field trips to the nearest movie theater, bowling alley, or amusement park are needed.
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