Spring is Challenging this Year

Spring is officially here but this year we, along with the rest of our world, are facing a great many challenges.

We are starting a period with some common challenges to those faced during winter isolation and we need to try and take care of ourselves. I live in Manitoba where our northern winters often lead to a lot more time spent indoors as well as increased isolation. Cabin fever is real. People start to stay home more because of the weather, and some of us do not respond well to the lack of light, and as a result, we stay home even more. People might even show signs of Seasonal Affective disorder and Depression or other health-related issues.


Social distancing, self-isolation and actual quarantine are necessary and are occurring all around the world right now. Fear of illness and loss and financial loss are real issues. People are concerned and afraid that they might not have the necessities of life such as milk for their kids, prescriptions and even toilet paper. How this will all evolve with time is unknown and a lot about what is ahead for us as individuals are genuinely outside our control. All this adds up to massive stress and many concerns for us personally and for our world. Things have rapidly changed.

What we need to look at now is what we CAN do. How can we address our physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellness? We need to think positively and plan actions for what we can do for our families, our communities and ourselves.

I want to use this blog to start sharing ideas for Leading A Healthy Life during challenging times. I also plan to share more simple projects and ideas suitable for individuals and families, children, people with special needs. I also want to give support to all those fantastic people, like my co-workers, who work with older adults.

I am huge on personal goal setting! I think it is more critical than ever right now, and it is also essential to set up a routine. It might be quite a flexible plan, but still, a reason to get up and do the activities that keep you and your loved ones healthy and keep your mood elevated. 

What I want you to focus on is creating two different lists. 

Get yourself out two pieces of paper and label them:

1. TODAY (no matter what time of day it is right now)
2.  THE NEXT 5 DAYS

On the today sheet

• Just make some decisions about what YOU need to do.. and check them off as you do them. Heck, give yourself stickers if you want to. Decide what is for dinner, if that is your responsibility today, and when you want to serve it. When are you taking your medications, when are you taking time to meditate or do yoga? Decide if, for today, it is okay to watch TV programs as a marathon. Decide on bedtimes. Decide what time to set your alarm clock for tomorrow. What else is on your mind?

On the 5-day sheet 

• Consider reaching needs outside your home. Do you need to order anything? Do you need to go to work? Do you need to contact people and cancel any commitments? Do you have plans to help others in your community during this crisis?

• Consider the people who live with you. Do your kids need home study supplies, do they need to practice their instruments, or perhaps want to take up a new hobby. Do you need to set up an online meeting for anyone? Do you need to review your plans for your Kids TV and online time? Do you need to set aside quiet time with a loved one just to be together? How about having a family meeting about how you might handle your meals and snacks with the current changes in living, Decide who gets to feed the cat or walk the dog and when?

• Consider your own needs. What do you need to happen in the next five days, JUST FOR YOU! It might be an exercise plan; it might be daily phone chats to keep in touch with your friends? Do you, like my youngest daughter, find baking relaxing and want to look for new challenges in your cookbooks? How about some tea time, or time for music, or relaxing in a bubble bath?

I am going to go now and work on my new hobby, watercolour painting. It helps keep me calm and happy.

Take good care of yourself!

pictures in this post courtesy of Pixabay