How to Care for Ourselves in Uncertain Times
By now you might be tired of the “home-improvement” mantras that are flying around.
“Now you have time, how about you lose some weight, start a new workout routine, get a degree in meditation or how about clinical psychology?”
Yup, we can forget that we are in forced quarantine and not on a voluntary extended vacation. I can understand the desire to make sense of the craziness we are collectively experiencing right now to be productive despite the change of workflow and to use the new-found time that some are experiencing for something of value. But we are also experiencing a lot of loss around this quarantine. The loss of our routines, our freedom, perhaps weddings or other events, maybe even our health or the health of loved ones. It is a time that has brought up all sorts of emotions- fear, sadness, frustration and boredom. To pretend that all this is not happening would be to deny our real emotions and human experience.
And yet there is something to be said for the importance of keeping ourselves safe and sane during this time. And part of keeping ourselves safe is keeping ourselves healthy. There may be much that we cannot control right now but thankfully this is something we can control!
Eat clean–
It’s not about your weight, it’s about nourishing yourself mind and body. Our food choices not only impact our weight, but impact our health and just as important right now, our mood!
- Opt for lots of colors- eating a variety of fruits and veggies will provide you with all the different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help keep you healthy. Also studies show a higher consumption of fruits and veggies have a lower incidence of depression.
- Consider 2 servings of fatty fish like salmon in your diet per week which is a lean source of protein and has omega fatty acids that can boost mood
- Opt for good carbs like grains and beans that help stabilize blood sugar in place of processed carbs that give you a short term energy boost followed by a crash.
Remember that this is not an all or nothing proposition. You don’t need to do everything all the time in order to reap its benefits. Do your best, when you can, knowing it is the best thing for you.