Most people value their own health.
Since the earlier months of 2020, we have been inundated with information about how to remain healthy. However, it has also become a very confusing time to know what’s best for us, to stay healthy in a world still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
How do we know what to believe as truth?During this pandemic, we all are looking for wisdom.
There are parts of staying healthy that still apply today.
Ways to stay healthy before the coronavirus still hold true. Eating well, exercising and regularly maintaining good hygiene have always been in our best interest. Essentially, doing those three things should always continue, whether the coronavirus is still impacting our lives or not.
As for social distancing, we normally tend to do certain things to preserve our own health in public or even in our homes when there’s sickness. We naturally keep ourselves away from those who are sneezing and coughing a lot. If it is apparent someone is feverish, we definitely do our best to keep ourselves from catching it.
Then, it stands to reason that social distancing is important with people moving about in public, when too many don’t yet know if they even have the virus. They may be asymptomatic and pass it on to others, never knowing that they were a catalyst for someone else’s ill health.
This is why so many areas of our country are requiring masks again and strongly modifying or temporarily re-closing certain businesses and events. Valuing the lives of ourselves and of others, as well as doing all we can to have more “normalcy,” should cause more people to do all they can for the good of all of our nation’s citizens.
PHOTO BY RACHEL BASDEN
Most definitely, the coronavirus has caused new ways for us to protect our health.
You may be doing some of the recommendations or mandates put in place where you live. There may be times when you’ve gotten lax from remaining protective. It is possible you’re wondering what more you can do.
WAYS TO REMAIN HEALTHY AT HOME:
- Staying physically active
- Looking after our mental health
- Quitting tobacco
- Healthy parenting
- Good eating
Source: World Health Organizing
(clicking on the SOURCE provides more details)
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS:
- Wash your hands often
- Avoid close contact
- Cover mouth & nose with a cloth face cover in public
- Cover coughs & sneezes
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily
- Monitory your health daily
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(clicking on the SOURCE provides more details)
At this point, you may be thinking that none of the above is new to you. While that may be true, the virus numbers are rising in areas that didn’t have high numbers before and other areas are showing upticks of those contracting COVID-19 again. Why?
Now is not the time to get lazy.
As humans, we too often allow ourselves to get lazy, and in summer this happens often. While we may have done most of the preventable measures even before COVID-19, these times need us all to stay diligent in all the above areas.
Think about it. Which ones of these scenarios have you noticed in recent weeks?
* People going into stores and/or businesses without masks
* Large groups gathering together in public places
* Those exercising outdoors and not maintaining enough distance from others
* Visiting friends and/or family members without social distancing and/or wearing masks
Single experiences like these may not amount too many health problems for people, but with summer, too many are doing the above. Summer is usually when we want to just let loose. No matter the season, the cases in our country rising and governments trying to enforce the precautionary measures once again are occurring, when all we want is for times to improve.
Some aspects of staying healthy are within our control, but there are always unknowns.
I won’t bombard you with all of the possible unknowns that the pandemic has caused. The radio, tv, social media, people we talk to and so many other sources provide us with enough panic of what could or may happen. It’s too easy to allow ourselves to give into fear.
Even if you are not a Bible reader, Matthew 6:27 has great advice: “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” No, it doesn’t. It only worsens our mental health, which impacts our physical health if we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with the distress that worries instill.
This is not to say that we should not focus on the parts of life that are bad and that we need to know about, but it’s important to not obsess or overload our minds. That’s true any time of the year.
When it comes to our health, it is important to not put all of our attention on only the physical part of ourselves alone.
Most people are better aware of the importance of managing our mental health, but we still don’t do as much as we should. As real as our physical health is, the mental part of us is equally and at times even more essential.
What you feed your mind with the most is what your mind focuses on the most. When the mind has enough true, real and good information to zone in on, it allows the mind, soul and body to boost itself up, both mentally and physically. It provides balance during tough times.
Whether there is a pandemic or not, there are always ways to focus on positive, joyful aspects of life. Need some ideas?
Below are 215 of them included below from “215 Things to Be Thankful For in Life (Even if You’re Struggling)” which you can click on to find even more resources.
- Holidays where you can spend time with the important people in life.
- Having a romantic partner or spouse who is there for you
- Being surrounded by friends and family
- Your children
- Having access to clean, drinkable water
- Not being hungry and having an abundance of food
- Having a roof over your head and safe place to live
- Your parents who raised and molded you in the person you are today
- Kindness from strangers and random acts of kindness
- Mistakes that helped you grow as a person
- Modern conveniences that weren’t available even a century ago (electricity, indoor plumbing, air conditioning)
- Having full use of your senses like eye-sight, hearing, and taste
- A new book
- Not being hungry and having an abundance of food
- The ability to learn something new
- The kindness of strangers
- A warm campfire on a cold night camping
- Feeling of acceptance
- The beauty of a work of art that moves you
- Making a final payment on a loan
- A nice hot shower
- Healthy foods
- Equality and diversity
- The voice of a friend or relative you have not seen in a long time.The ability to work from home -in your pajamas
- A beautiful sunrise
- The sound of a song you love
- Simply relaxing and playing a board game with friends or family
- Catching up with your favorite blog
- Having a personal routine that helps you accomplish tasks efficiently
- The smell of freshly baked cookies
- Creating a gift for a family member with your own two hands. (crochet, woodworking, art etc.)
- Surprises
- Access to the medication you need to stay healthy.
- Free time on your “to do” list
- A hot cup of tea
- A home that is free of clutter
- The sincere appreciation of others
- A movie that makes you laugh
- Amazon Prime
- The mother who gave you life, nurtured you, loved you, taught you and supported you.
- Seeing your favorite band in concert
- Free apps like Todoist that can organize your life
- An ice cold beer after a hot day working in the yard.
- Questions in emails that can be resolved in a single sentence (this one always makes me happy.)
- New clothes
- The joy of rewarding yourself after completing a difficult task.
- The values handed down to you from your parents
- Entrepreneurs who constantly create technology that makes your life better
- Love that lasts a lifetime
- A really comfortable chair
- Realizing it has been YEARS since you have wanted a cigarette
- Knowing how to make a budget – and sticking to it!
- Visiting an amusement park.
- Snow days
- Respect from others
- Paydays
- Dancing for the pure joy of life
- Someone enjoying your writing/art/creativity
- When you’re the recipient of a random act of kindness.
- Thank you notes
- Fresh popcorn — especially in a movie theater
- A favorite memory that you cherish
- An office desk with a great view
- Pizza
- The sense of accomplishment when you complete a difficult task
- The ability to complete a bucket list (If you don’t have one, here are 553 ideas.)
- Puppies
- The feeling of uncontrollable laughter.
- Great Ted Talks
- Being pushed to “think outside the box”
- A massage
- Teachers who spent the extra time to give you the knowledge you have today
- Taking a morning walk
- Bathing in a nice warm hot tub or thermal spring
- Fuzzy socks
- Your dog or cat snuggling with you when you feel bad
- Faith
- Having easy access to clean drinking water
- Chocolate
- The ability to spend time on a hobby you love
- Enjoying an episode of your favorite TV show
- Hugs
- The ability to learn from your mistakes
- A stranger opening the door for you when your hands are full
- The fresh smell of clean sheets
- Freedom of speech
- Coloring to relieve stress
- A colorful sunset
- The honesty of a child
- Happy people who make us happier simply by their presence
- The feeling of accomplishment when you stop procrastinating and complete the task you have been avoiding
- Memories of your first kiss
- Enjoying a movie marathon
- The freedom of choice
- Internal strength
- A child’s face after they get a present
- Spellchecker
- Being in love
- Foreign cultures we can visit and learn from
- Having a vibrant imagination
- Meeting up with your friends for lunch
- That new car smell
- Being accountable for your actions
- Trying new things. (even if it is simple – like a new cup of coffee)
- Old photographs
- Technology – for allowing us to stay closely connected with friends and family regardless of distance
- Netflix and other streaming service options that provide an abundance of viewing options
- A safe landing after a rough plane ride
- Positivity — even when things are difficult
- Visiting new places, especially ones you’ve always dreamed of seeing
- Getting a full night’s sleep (If you struggle with this, then here are 17 ways to fall asleep easier.)
- Home cooked meals
- The pride of owning a home.
- The first flower of Spring
- Home cooked meals
- The pride of owning a home.
- The first flower of Spring
- Having a morning routine that gives you energy throughout your day.
- The weekend
- Happy memories from your childhood
- A unseasonably warm winter day
- Long drives listening to a great podcast or audiobook
- Therapy
- Real honesty
- People who care about the environment, human rights, and animas
- Meditation
- Your car after it has been cleaned and detailed
- Getting a facial
- Grandparents
- Being forgiven for my mistakes
- Finding unexpected money in your pockets
- Sitting down for dinner time with family
- Aromatherapy
- The fresh smell of a Christmas tree
- The snooze button
- A sibling who listens to your problems without judgement
- Kittens
- Acting like a kid again
- Sharing a smile with a stranger
- Overcoming your fears
- Fall when the leaves change colors
- Going for a swim in the ocean
- People who go out of their way to try to make us happy
- Clean air
- Apps that help you save money (Here are 17 good ones)
- Dreamers who never give up
- The sounds and smell of the ocean
- Fresh healthy smoothies
- Good hair days
- Uncontrollable laughter
- Having a mental health day
- The heavy ozone scent right before and after a thunderstorm
- Driving and getting nothing but green lights
- Cell phones
- Spending the night in a fancy hotel
- God
- Blinkist
- A warm cup of coffee
- Doing something spontaneous
- Getting your most important task completed early
- Cheering for your favorite team
- Having a picnic with your family
- Wearing something that makes your feel confident
- Wearing a pair of comfortable shoes
- Getting positive feedback from other
- Poetry
- Having a roof over your head
- Doing work that matters
- Taking a power nap
- Discussing old time times with an old friend
- Participating in a hobby you enjoy
- Watching a funny Youtube video
- Having the ability to read
- Having good friends who you can share good times with
- Quirky family traditions
- Craft beer
- Couponing, travel hacking, and other unique ways to drastically save money
- The convenience of Amazon shopping
- Feeling hope
- Feeling inspired (If you don’t feel inspired, then here are 23 motivational podcasts that can help)
- Laughing so hard it makes you cry
- Healthy children
- Forgiving others
- The perfect playlist (Check out these 35 motivational songs you can add to this list)
- The smell of lavender
- My Fitbit pedometer
- Peace of mind
- The successes and accomplishments that you’ve achieved in your life
- Money in the bank
- Family vacation
- Good health
- Time to practice mindfulness
- The amazing scale of the universe
- Flying a kite
- Hearing good news
- Lists and organization
- Kindle
- Refreshing herbal teas
- Air conditioning
- Hiking trails where you can get out into nature
- A sincere apology from someone who hurt you deeply
- Honest conversations full of deep questions and getting to know someone better
- Showers with strong water pressure
- Walking on the beach
- Quiet time
- Free Wifi
- Overcoming anxieties
- Journaling (Here are 59 ideas to help you get started)
- Farmer’s markets and local craft fairs
- Books so awesome they keep you up all night reading
- Apple pie
- Feeling like a kid again
- The billions of stars on a clear night sky
- Remembering the people you have loved
- People sharing your stuff on social media
On a final note, it is always better for our health when we live in community with others.
Never forget the power of talking to or interacting with friends or family. If you can’t access those people in person, the pandemic has shown us all the power of virtual meetings online. There are forums like Facebook Messaging which are free to other sources like Zoom which are free for 45 minute intervals or allow for larger chatting or interacting time for a fee.
Whether life is difficult or you’re experiencing something wonderful, having connections with others is good for our health.
What about times, like late at night when it might be more difficult? Never underestimate the power of talking to God, even if it’s your first time or you don’t feel like you’re on good terms with Him.
As this verse in Psalm reminds us, no matter what we are going through, God will always be with us, everywhere we go and at any time. May that provide some peace to your health.
As with all of my blog posts feel free to COMMENT, to FOLLOW my blog and to SHARE. I value you taking the time to read my posts.
Rachel's Reflections 