It's hard to believe it's been one year since Canada's first Covid-19 case and we are still in the midst of a second wave in Ontario.
I'm seeing more and more fatigue/burnout/stress at my clinic as people are struggling to find ways to adapt to the new normal. Here are some tips on how to take care of your physical, mental and emotional health during the pandemic:
1. Try out a new hobby that you've been putting off. Whether it be baking, yoga, journaling or knitting, finding something new to focus on will help to keep your mind sharp and give you something fun to incorporate into your day.
2. Schedule your breaks if you work from home. Without a set lunch time and regular breaks by the water cooler, it's easy to work nonstop and overextend yourself.
3. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Even a short walk, simple stretches or moving to music in the room can help to boost your mood.
4. Take a break from your electronic devices. It's easy to get addicted to doomscrolling, the act of constantly consuming bad news online.
5. Pick up the phone and call a friend. We live in a world where texting is the preferable way of communicating with people. However, it can be difficult to pick up on someone's cues via text if the person on the other end is feeling down or sad.
6. Try incorporating acupuncture into your life. In addition to relieving stress, improving sleep, and managing pain, regular acupuncture can also help to boost your immunity.
AND YES, regulated health care professionals (ie. acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, naturopaths...) are OPEN. I've had a lot of people asking me since the second lockdown.
Lastly, I just want to thank all the frontline health care workers out there right now who are leading the fight against Covid-19. I know we are all starting to get lockdown fatigue and I'm hearing more and more people deciding to tune out the news or questioning if the media is sensationalizing everything. I am all for taking a break from negative news as it's important to recognize when it's becoming determintal to your mental health. However, I also believe it's important to at least be aware of the latest safety measures and to follow public health orders. Even if you believe you're young, you're strong, etc. we owe it to our grandparents, our parents, our doctors, nurses and support workers to keep them safe.
R.I.P Stefanie Van Nguyen and Yassin Dabeh
Wishing you all good health,
HK Acupuncture
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