Tag: health

Finding sanctuary in the storm

As if life isn’t chaotic enough, March brings its own kind of crazy. As poet John Clare observed in the March entry of his “Shepherd’s Calendar”,

“March month of ‘many weathers’ wildly comes,  

In hail and snow and rain and threatning hums.”

When the internal and external climates are swirling, we need a place to take shelter.

Insight Timer has lots of FREE* resources for meditation, motivation, yoga, and relaxation. With many different hosts, there should be someone that matches any mood, goal, or vibe. There are even live sessions, which creates an immediate connection that may be missing in our day-to-day.

* The only payments on Insight Timer are voluntary donations

How to make Self Care fun

Our lives seem to be getting busier and busier. There is much to do, and less time to do it in. Frequently that leads to stress and anxiety as we struggle to fit everything into our day. I know I’m not very good at prioritizing taking care of myself. Hopefully these apps will help make it easier to fit in time for self care.

1. Aloe Bud

Aloe Bud  is an easy way to make sure you’re taking care of yourself every day. The app sends gentle nudges throughout the day, reminding you to drink water, eat, reach out to friends and more. Instead of guilting you if you aren’t doing well, Aloe Bud encourages you to celebrate even the small victories.

You can download Aloe Bud in Apple’s App Store.

2. ToDon’t

The ToDon’t app might sound like the opposite of self-care, but hear me out. The app works on getting you to procrastinate bad habits or what you don’t want to accomplish that day. ToDon’t could potentially help you avoid bad choices like checking social media or letting laundry pile up.

You can download ToDon’t from the App Store or the Play Store. 

3. Calm

Whether you live with anxiety or just had a busy day, Calm can help you find a few moments in the day to feel peaceful. The app offers hundreds of meditations on topics including anxiety, stress, sleeping, forgiveness, gratitude and more. The sessions range from three to 25 minutes long. The app is free to download, but in-app purchases range from $15-$80.

You can download Calm from the App Store or the Play Store.

4. Lumosity

If you play games to distract yourself or wind down from a long day, this could be for you. Lumosity lets you play games, learn and improve your mind all at once. The app includes puzzles, memory games, logic problems, meditation techniques and more. As you play, you can track your progress while learning your strengths, weaknesses and cognitive patterns.

You can download Lumosity from the App Store

We will make it through this. It’s up to us what we look like on the other side.

Most of my job involves talking with Doctors and Nurses across the country. I talk to practices big and small, general medicine and specialists. I frequently ask them about COVID-19, out of curiosity and a desire to increase my own understanding. This is what I hear universally.

This is not just a simple virus. Yes, it’s a virus, but it’s very different from what we have seen before. The symptoms and contagiousness are dramatically worse than the Flu.

The regular flu already costs the US between $1-5 Billion annually in economic damage, not to mention the loss of life. I can’t imagine the economic and health impact Coronavirus would have on the economy if we just let it run rampant. Hospitals were already short staffed and overworked just dealing with the usual health issues we face. What happens when the demand for services outstrips the supply by an order of magnitude? Then the people providing the services start getting sick and dying, lower the availability and quality of care? Hospitals all over the country and world are at or near capacity, even with the dramatic reduction in non-COVID sicknesses and procedures. Opening up too soon would just make it worse.

I know it’s hard. I know businesses are struggling. I know people are struggling, I’m one of them. I see my family struggling also. I want this to be over SO BADLY. Just wishing for it to be over won’t make it so. We all have to do our part to keep this thing in check.

I hate COVID. I hate what it’s done to our society, our economy, our friendships, our children, and our mental health. I want it to be over. I’m struggling, I see my kids, my friends, my acquaintances, my country and my world, all struggling.

Remember, I’m not basing this on media talking heads or political grandstanding. This is what I hear from the mouths of Doctors and Nurses all over the country. The threat is real. I wish to God it wasn’t.

I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind with this. I think people who are going to listen have already, and those who won’t listen aren’t going to start now. But maybe, just maybe, I can be part of keeping the conversation going in a respectful and loving way.

Let’s hold on for just a little while longer. Hold onto your family, friends, and community. We will get through this, but only by loving and respecting each other will we come out better for it.