How to Stay Sane During The COVID-19 Pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rollercoaster of emotions. The government and media have fueled both fear and optimism, as many unknowns collide in a confusing narrative influenced by political parties and conspiracy theories. It’s enough to cause a mental health crisis even for those least vulnerable to the virus. That is why it is important to maintain positive mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It takes some conscious effort, but you can stay sane during these worrisome times by taking the following actions. 

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5 Ways to Maintain Positive Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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1. Eat a Healthy Diet

What you put into your body comes out of your body in more ways than one. Processed foods, alcohol, and other unhealthy ingestibles stress your mind, your gut, and your metabolism. Many people neglect healthy eating habits when there is a crisis, but this pandemic is lasting too long to use it as an excuse for unhealthy choices. Mental health requires a clear mind, and eating poorly creates brain fog. It’s understandable to turn to snacks and other vices when things are uncertain, but it can have significant negative consequences. 

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2. Maintain a Consistent Schedule

When you are staying at home, it’s easy to remain in your pajamas all day, stay up late at night, and sleep in every morning. Pretty soon, being productive is no longer a reality. Even if you are going to work, getting up early and maintaining a steady sleep-wake cycle is good for your mental health because it fortifies life’s natural rhythm. 

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3. Exercise Regularly

Elevating your heart rate is good for cardiovascular health, but exercise also reduces stress and depression. A gym membership can do wonders for your physical and mental health. If you can exercise outdoors, even better. The sun will provide Vitamin D that protects your immune system. 

4. Take a Break from the News

Between the news media, the election, and social media, there’s a lot of ugly on the internet. Many people require some connection to the online world in order to perform job duties, but everyone can benefit from a break. Unplug, even if only for a couple hours a day. Your mind will thank you.

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5. End Toxic Relationships

Lastly, don’t try to hang on to toxic relationships. If you have someone in your life that is berating your choices during COVID-19 or who generally makes you feel bad about yourself, cut them out. Life is too short to waste energy on these people. Take care of yourself by requiring respect from everyone in your inner circle.

Positive Mental Health and Happiness are Possible, Even During the Pandemic

It is important to remember during this pandemic that positive mental health and happiness are possible during this time. The news is filled with tales of “unprecedented” and “dark” times, but you can still maintain your peace of mind, and your world can be whatever you choose to make it. Times can be hard, but taking care of yourself ensures the best possible outcomes. To stay up to date on the latest healthcare news, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog.

To learn more about how to maintain positive health, enroll in the course entitled, “How to Prevent Medical Conditions Caused by TOXIC People in Your Life (and Be Healthier!)” offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy.

Six-Part Health Series (Part 5): 10 Things You Can Do for Your *Family’s* Health in 2020

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In this age where most parents have to work long hours to make ends meet, and have to live paycheck to paycheck, raising a family isn’t easy. With this in mind, here are a few simple things you can do to help ensure your family’s health in 2020. 

1. Make Sure Your Family Washes Their Hands!

Washing your hands is the most basic thing you can do to keep unwanted germs from entering your system and making you sick. Skip the harsh antibacterials 24/7; save the antibacterials for work. Simple hand soap will do the trick. 

2. Be Sure Your Family Eats Healthier Foods More Regularly.

Fast food is convenient and tastes great. However, it is not a replacement for a nutritional meal. Get more of the fresh fruits and vegetables on your family’s plates and cut back on the processed foods. Your stomach will thank you. 

3. See That Your Whole Family Gets Yearly Checkups.

Even if nothing is wrong, yearly check-ups are essential for all members of the family. Many illnesses can be thwarted before they begin during a yearly checkup. 

4. Schedule Playtime.

Exercise is essential for cardio health. Increase the time you spend chasing the kids around. It will help your heart!

5. Treat Your Family to *Occasional* Snack Foods.

Deprivation only makes the want of the denied items stronger. Allow junk or snack foods occasionally. Everyone deserves a well-balanced treat!

6. Make Sure Everyone Gets Yearly Flu Vaccines.

Controversial, yes. However, vaccines can help prevent many diseases from entering your immune system. From measles to flu and chickenpox, these injections protect us. 

7. Stay at Home When You’re Sick.

It’s a no-brainer, but difficult to follow through. Stay at home when you are sick. Passing it on to another family isn’t a good option. Losing money and time at work hurts, but your work suffers as much as you do. 

8. Take Time Off Together.

Take the time to just be a family, whether it be vacation time, a weekend outing, or a holiday adventure. Just be with each other. It will increase your happiness and decrease stress. 

9. Increase Outside Activities.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Increasing the amount of outside playtime increases vitamin D in your system. This can lead to stronger bones, not to mention better mud pies. 

10. Get More Sleep and Stay on a Regular Sleep Schedule.

Balance is the key. Your body rejuvenates itself while you sleep. Lack of sleep can cause major issues for both kids and adults. Hit the pillow early and wake up prepared for your day. 

You may already be doing some of these tasks at home. Incorporating others will help ensure your 2020 goes smoothly. Health is important to maintain for both you and your family. Follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog for more ways you can have a better 2020. 

Give Your Child the Gift of Health: 3 Good Health Habits To Teach Your Children From Day One

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As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. Your child will carry the lessons that you teach them with you for the rest of their lives. These lessons will probably (and should, definitely) include healthy habits to ensure that your child lives a safe and happy life. Here are three good habits to instill in your child while they are young and some tips for making sure these healthy activities become habits that become a part of your children for the rest of their lives.

1. Teach Your Kids Good Hygiene

Depending on your child’s age, you are probably somewhere in between being fully responsible for their hygiene and being mostly removed from their cleanliness habits. While most adults understand the things that they need to do on a regular basis to maintain good hygiene, these habits are normally not instinctual, and they need to be taught. Teach your children the importance of brushing their teeth, washing their face, bathing regularly, and most importantly, bathing thoroughly. Teach them how to avoid using strong perfumes and other strong scents that may be offensive to others, especially in close quarters, such as riding on buses, trains, and planes, and sitting in the classroom.

Teach your children these life lessons about hygiene while they are still young, and you are still responsible for your their hygiene. As they grow older, make sure to continue to check in with them, verifying that they have maintained the habits that you taught them early on about maintaining good hygiene. Before you tuck them in at night, ask them if they’ve washed up and brushed their teeth. If they haven’t, it might be helpful to brush your teeth along with them until they get into the habit and becomes instinctual.

2. Teach Your Kids to Exercise Regularly

Part of being healthy is being active. Get your child interested in sports, or any activity that helps them become physically active on a regular basis. It is a good idea to show them that exercising can be fun, while they are young. As they grow older, they may lose interest in sports. If this is the case with your child, encourage them to go for a walk or find another activity that will get their heart rate up for at least 30 minutes a day. Make it a natural routine, so it won’t feel like an obligation, and exercise won’t feel like a chore, or an interruption in their daily routine later on, when they become adults.

3. Teach Your Kids to Eat Right

Establishing good eating habits early on, is an important part of maintaining your child’s health. While many kids don’t like to eat certain vegetables, such as broccoli or brusell sprouts for example, that doesn’t mean that they don’t want to eat any vegetables. Sometimes you can mix certain vegetables together, some they like, others they don’t like, to make eating vegetables more appealing to them during dinner. Make sure that your child understands the importance of fruits and vegetables and the difference between a healthy snack and a “treat,” something they get just once in a while.

It’s easier to form healthy habits than it is to undo unhealthy habits, so getting your child off to the right start in their journey to health is vital to maintaining their health later on.

For more information on maintaining good health by eating fruits and vegetables, enroll in the course entitled, “How to Prevent Disease in Your Body (By Eating Fruit and Vegetables!)” offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy.

For more informative articles on healthcare, be sure to follow the Avidity Medical Design blog.