Be Kind to Yourself and Your Health
By Erin Peters
Get outside and stop stressing about numbers on a scale
As we continue to settle into this odd, new lifestyle, you may be starting to realize that you need to put more of a focus on your health and wellness. Your focus on your wellbeing may look differently now than it did at the beginning of the pandemic. Now more than ever it is imperative to focus on what you are doing for your health. This year so far has probably brought on a lot of stressors for you, friends, family, and especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Our country’s stress has no doubt influenced your mind or body in one way or another. How you channel that stress will influence how your body reacts moving forward.
Stop Saying, “Quarantine-15”
Have you heard the phrase, ‘Quarantine-15’? If you have not yet been enlightened, it refers to weight-gain over the last five months as a result of quarantine. You may have heard your friends say, “It’s just my quarantine-15!” when referring to weight gain caused by being cooped up inside.
Let’s start by looking at this phrase and figuring out where we are. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. We are living through a crisis, which means… trauma! Trauma can manifest in a variety of ways, but depression and/or anxiety are major effects. This can make you not want to face the world or take care of yourself. Feeling overwhelmed is a common feeling for a lot of people right now. Focusing on your weight is an unnecessary stressor, and not just during the Coronavirus. Stressing about a number on a scale is not the way to be healthy. Someone’s health cannot be tracked down to a number. Health is about making good decisions for your mind and body. So eating less processed foods, exercising more, taking time to be mindful, and connecting with people you care about are great ways to start that healthy mindset. It isn’t worth it to be stressing out about gaining weight or losing muscle because we are living through a crisis. Be kind to yourself, stop using the phrase, “Quarantine-15,” and enjoy investing in you!
Give yourself lots of grace, but also know that you need to be responsible for your own wellbeing! Whether that means seeking out a counselor, setting aside time to meditate, or finding a friend to go on walks with, you need to know how to take that next step. Make a list of ways you can invest in your health, and stick to it. It is important to know the difference between being kind to yourself and making excuses.
Kat MacDonald enjoying her favorite dessert after a long day… It’s all about balance!
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Have you ever spent a night destroying a Ben & Jerry’s pint of ice cream and then felt guilty about it the next day? Why did you feel that way? Was it because of the fear of weight gain, or just the overall unhealthy feeling in your body? Again, weight gain and weight loss should never be the main goal. How you feel overall is the most important. At the same time, sometimes you need to get after a pint of the Tonight Dough ice cream and that’s okay! Figuring out balance is where you need to start.
Feeling guilty after eating is not healthy. We are meant to enjoy and savor good, fresh foods. Sure, you may feel overly full and therefore lethargic, which makes you not want to overindulge again, but know that you don’t have to make that feeling a regular thing. Everything needs to be done in moderation. This includes exercise, rest days, eating junk food, eating healthy food, sleep, socializing, time with your partner, video games, and so on. It isn’t healthy to spend all your time on just one thing.
I always hear people in exercise classes or at the gym saying things like, “I’m here to work off that burger I ate yesterday!” And my response is, “Why?” You were not put on this Earth to exercise off every delicious meal you eat. Enjoy your food and exercise because it makes your body feel good. Exercise is a celebration, not a punishment.
Janohn Clower, Counselor at Chenowith Elementary, practicing some mindfulness after leading teachers in a yoga class last winter
Meditation
Part of exercising and having a healthy body is having a healthy mind. Is meditation something you have tried recently? If not, why not? Meditation can be really challenging for some people, which deters them from trying it.
Being mindful and meditating is all about being present. Being present can sometimes be uncomfortable! But that is why it is so important. It gives you an opportunity to focus on your breath and really work on being present in the mind and body.
You might still be skeptical, and that’s okay. It takes time to understand mindfulness, and it is something I struggle with too. Always wanting to think about what’s next, plan, and move forward is a challenge for a lot of people. However, spending time connecting with your mind and your body is such a beautiful thing. It just takes hard work, like anything else. Janohn Clower, counselor at Chenowith Elementary School says, “For me it helps to restore my energy and be grounded in the present moment.” Give it a try and see what you think! A variety of yoga studios and gyms in town offer mindful yoga classes, so check it out!
Using an app to guide your meditation can be really helpful. Below are some great options, which you can enjoy with your kids as well when they need to calm down or refocus:
Waking Up (subscription cost, but you can request a free year)
Buddhify
Calm
Atmosphere
My Life Mediation
Audible guided meditations
