As we head into a Christmas that is quite a change from usual, my thoughts turn to how different this entire year has been. I know I’m one of the lucky ones - being retired has meant dealing with fewer challenges than those who are still working. My fellow pharmacists, like so many health care workers, have had extra work and worries, trying to continue full health services while keeping themselves and their clients safe.
It seems like a good time to express thanks for the hard work of so many who are trying to keep the virus under control and minimize its impact as it continues to spread. I’d like to chime in with them to encourage everyone to help and to show their appreciation by doing everything they can to prevent virus transmission. Especially for front line health care workers in hospitals, fewer cases of COVID will mean their jobs will be safer and more manageable. So many hospital workers are exhausted and stressed way beyond normal.
Postponed plans…
I was really looking forward to going to Halifax to see our daughter’s beautiful new home and spend time with our family there. But, despite somewhat reduced cases (only 7 new cases yesterday, as I write this), central Nova Scotia is still under travel restrictions. Visiting there is not recommended, and 2 weeks of self-isolation would be required after our return.
So, unless conditions magically change, our visit will be postponed. As my husband says, we can go any time – it doesn’t have to be now. And our daughter has already given us several delightful video tours… with wonderful commentary!
But we are able to get together with my in-laws who live nearby. They’re a retired couple like us who mostly stay at home as the health experts advise. We also get together occasionally with a few of our (also retired or working-from-home) neighbours, keeping our “bubble” to about 10 people, as recommended now that we have only a few travel-related cases here in New Brunswick.
New Year’s resolutions?
So, I expect we’ll have extra time this holiday season that we can use wisely or waste away with worries. I read an Australian “midlife blogger”, Leanne, who writes the weekly blog, “Cresting the Hill”. She describes an alternative to New Year’s resolutions that I hadn’t heard of before: instead of traditional resolutions, at the beginning of each year, she chooses a Word of the Year… a word that will focus and inspire her throughout the year to move forward with her goals, new and old. It sounds like an interesting way to plan for a new year. I might just try it!
For 2021, I think I might choose “Health” as my word of the year – both mental and physical health (as you can’t have one without the other). I want to focus on Health for the environment, too, as we can’t be healthy without a healthy planet. Environmental health is a topic I’ve been wanting to write about, so perhaps you’ll be seeing more blogs from me about this topic in the coming year.
Holiday recommendations:
Meanwhile, here are a few holiday recommendations I came across that might help to keep your mind in a good place even if you can’t be where you want to be…
1. Sleep – When we don’t sleep enough, we are more likely to feel negative when things aren’t ideal, and just can’t feel our best when we’re overtired. A short nap (15 to 30 minutes) can help us increase energy and improve our outlook on the day, too.
2. Stay active – Although you may need to psyche yourself up a little to get outside when it’s cold and windy, fresh air and exercise can improve mood and contribute to good health, both mental and physical.
3. Address loneliness – When you contact friends and family, you’re not just helping to prevent yourself from being lonely… you’re helping someone else too. Whether you prearrange a time for a call, send a text or just ring and see if they have time to chat, the holidays are a time to reach out to others. Just a 5-minute call to say hello can bring happiness and connection. I’ve even gotten back to traditional snail mail a little – getting a card or letter can lift someone’s spirits for several days, as it can be re-read and enjoyed again and again. I think I’ll start writing more letters, even if I end up sending them electronically, but I like the idea of surprising others with a note or letter on real paper.
4. Eat well – Holidays and overindulgence go together. And there’s growing evidence that what we eat can influence our moods. Here’s a fun fact: did you know that turkey contains lots of tryptophan, an amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin (the substance increased by some antidepressants)? Some suggest that the tryptophan content of turkey may be part of the reason why we feel sleepy and contented after a big turkey dinner…
5. Align expectations – Some of us are at greater risk than others, should we become infected with the coronavirus, and need to take greater precautions. Others are returning to normal prematurely, due to “COVID fatigue” even though numbers of infections are peaking in many areas. Don’t hesitate to have a conversation about your comfort level regarding risk of exposure to the virus and respect the choices of others who decide to stay home. Although the holidays are important to many of us, as my husband says, it’s only a day, and we can celebrate later or enjoy the holiday in different ways. Keeping a small “bubble” this year can mean much less suffering later.
6. Limit “doomscrolling” – This is a new term being used for scrolling endlessly through bad news on the internet. While we want to keep up on current virus trends and recommendations, some are advising we should set a time limit for this somewhat depressing activity, then move on to more positive activities. I find it’s helpful to read about things we can do to make a difference… hence, this little list! But, especially before bedtime, read something happy or uplifting to help set you up for a good night’s sleep.
Although this will be a very different Christmas for many of us, making an effort to eat well, stay rested, and keep moving can help keep us healthy, mentally and physically. Even though we can’t gather together as we usually do this year, by reaching out in different ways, we can help others and ourselves enjoy the warm feelings of the holiday season.
So, this will be my last blog for 2020. Like many bloggers, I’ll take a bit of a break over the holidays when most people are too busy to read anyway! I’d like to wish you all happy holidays and a healthy and joyous new year in 2021, as we all recover gradually from the events of this unusual year. I can’t help thinking it will all make for interesting stories to tell our grandchildren who are not yet born… how everyone wore masks, washed their hands many times a day, and didn’t travel or visit hardly at all for a whole year to prevent spreading a nasty virus. And how almost everyone in the world lined up to get a vaccination that would protect us from the virus.
Hopefully we can also tell stories about how scientists learned what we needed to do to prevent another virus from jumping from animals to humans and wreaking havoc across the world again…
Stay safe, stay home and stay well until we have it all under control, and I wish you a happy and healthy 2021! Jeannie
Articles:
Christmas 2020: How to protect mental health – Medical News Today
Cresting the Hill – Leanne in Australia
The role of diet and nutrition on mental health and wellbeing - Cambridge University Press
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