Striving for Wellness in 2021

The year 2020 threw a complete wrench in my world. The year was crazy and did not get any better. From the coronavirus, my mental and physical health, everything I knew was changing and I needed a way to fix it.

Fitness

The global pandemic that is CoVid-19, created the need for fitness alternatives. For a couple of years, I was using a 24 hour fitness facility after work and while I wasn't really getting great results, I was sociable, trying different routines and getting my heart rate up and some muscle.

During the lockdown, I was able to walk outside when the weather was cooperative and I invested in a little pilates bar that was advertised on Instagram. It worked, but it wasn't what I really needed.

I wanted to get back to the gym. I wanted my treadmill, the weight stations and to watch the little old man that always used the treadmill next to me.

As the lockdown in my state ended, I began receiving messages of what my fitness center was doing to keep clean and be a safe place to exercise during the pandemic.

I wanted to wait a few weeks just to see how things went. But during that time, and still, the numbers of infection, death and hospitalizations due to CoVid-19 have risen. Many in my community are anti-maskers and still believe that this is either a hoax or if it was meant to get them, it would and there was nothing a mask could do to help.

I am so thankful my employer moved to a work from home environment. I go to a grocery store that enforces mask wearing. I do curbside pick up for meals. I do very little. But what little I do, I remain safe. As a person with asthma issues, and parents with medical issues, I want to be safe. I don't want that virus. I don't want to unknowingly bring it home.

I was able to purchase a smallish walking pad treadmill. It's not what I used at the fitness center. But, I'm able to get in some steps and miles each day.

Making sure I get on and keep increasing my steps and miles is the current goal. Using my Apple Watch to track steps, miles and heart rate, and entering little races on Yes.Fit, these have helped. Once I have that built up, I'll be able to set some more specific goals during the year.

Therapy

As I began working from home, I ran into some periods of time where I would have time to think and really reflect on my thoughts. With the major civil unrest growing and lack of leadership in the United States, I was growing anxious and the more I sat and reflected on things current and from my past, the more frustrated, upset and angry I was getting.

It wasn't a good time. I did not want to continue down this path. But I wasn't sure what to do.

Over the summer, I began seeing advertisements for online based therapy services. They put you with a licensed counselor in your state and you just talk with them.

I have finally found one that I am comfortable in talking with. While I am not completely cured of my anxiety or thoughts, I have learned ways to deal with them better. From just talking it out, to journaling and developing a positive mindset, I am on a better track.

I will definitely continue therapy in 2021. Even though it can get expensive, it's worth it.

Meditation

One of the better coping techniques I gained this year is practicing meditation. It didn't become a must-do until kind of later in 2020, but now, I have to do it.

My therapist mentioned breathing techniques and mediation as a well to reset the mind and get some clarity. He started with Box breathing. It's taking in a breath through your nose for 4 counts, hold for four, release the breath for four. You repeat this four more times. This is how you start and you can learn the method on the Oak app through Box Breathing. You can alternate the number of counts and length of time you do this and it's really clearing. I've found that if an anxiety attack is coming on ... if I am not too far along, this is a good way to make that attack subside.

As the year went on, I noticed I was needing more and was able to get that through Headspace. This app became so popular during the pandemic they have even developed meditations for issues specific to the time we are living through.

Reading the daily thought or listening to the daily meditation or popping into a group meditation was a great start. But once you start looking around, there are specific meditations for things such feeling burned out, worry and even ones to help with creativity.

There are meditations specific for kids who are also experiencing great anxiety as their worlds have been totally changed without going to school full time or able to speak with their teachers or classmates face to face. It's awful for them.

I also find the nighttime options are pretty great as well for winding down, listening to calming sounds and stories. There is even an item to listen to if you get awakened in the middle of the night, which I did recently ... the offering helped me wind back down. I don't know if I would have ever gone back to sleep otherwise!

Meditation has been one of the most important things I gained in 2020 and it will be something that I carry with me for the rest of my life as it has been life changing. Try it!