What Successful Lessons learnt from COVID that can support our physical health & well-being?
At a time when some are still struggling to transition into their new normal we can Incorporate lessons learned into our daily lives. By looking at things we should ensure we maintain.
To support our health & well-being through a good balance of self care. Specifically targeting those with LTHC’s & Disabilities
In Part One we looked at success and how COVID has provided positive outcomes. Then focused on Healthcare provision, Science and Health Charities.
In Part Two we continued with Sport/Exercise, the way our TV viewing has changed and E-Learning materials.
Part Three Coincides with the launch of the Time To Heal Physical Health & Well-Being Page, which can be accessed here. We’ll cover some self care, a love of nature and climate change.
Physical Health & Well-Being
At the heart of those with LTHC’s and/or disabilities is our actual physical health. We have already looked at how COVID has been successful through healthcare delivery, charity provision, knowledge and scientific research development. Here we look at ways to maintain good health as we all adjust and return to our new normal. With many still finding it tough to get out and some thrust back into rushed and busy lives we can maintain a good balance. Self care, connecting with nature and doing your bit for Climate change can give you a much needed slice of tender loving care!
Sanctuary - Self Care
You may have already seen the TV advert for this one? But it’s all about connecting Women with self care which we know is so important. This report by Nigel Taylor reports that;
Called ‘This Counts’, it builds on Sanctuary Spa's “heritage of understanding women, their lives and their challenges”. The new campaign is born out of its own national survey. This reveals that while 94% of UK women have felt the benefits of taking time out for themselves, 61% on average, are only managing to achieve a little over 17 minutes a day of self-care.
Of those surveyed, 84% predict this won't change in the next six months and 15% believe this amount of time will actually decline. When asked how much time they’d ideally like, the average was 51 minutes and 9 seconds a day.
So The forward thinking Sanctuary Spa is recommending;
'25-a-Day', 25 minutes of self-care across the day. The new campaign highlights how self-care doesn't have to be about unachievable yoga poses or forever out-of-reach, long weekend health retreats. “It's about attainable moments of joy that anyone can experience throughout their day. Simple acts and moments of self-care”.(https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Sanctuary-spa-launches-self-care-campaign,1331237.html)
And of course there are plenty of products to choose in order to help you meet this goal! You can purchase from the online Official Shop, even getting 10% off your first order. Or if you prefer numerous places stock the products. If you have a Boots Advantage card then shop there and get yourself some extra points towards your next purchase!
Out With Nature
Here Daniel Lavelle explores A Month Of Walks inspired by The University of California, who feel let ‘awe’ is an element missing from our lives! He reports that;
‘Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, thinks I am in the right place. “It’s hard to think of a single thing that you can do for your mind and body that’s better than a little dose of awe,” he says. It was Keltner and a team of researchers who published a paper that found that awe can reduce stress, help inflammation, increase creativity and sociability and make you happy. “To me, that all says we urgently need to find awe.”’https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/04/the-wonder-stuff-what-i-learned-about-happiness-from-a-month-of-awe-walks
This sent Lavelle on a journey of his own to explore his local area but making mistakes! Had he read the guidance and not thrown himself all in to treks up huge inclines, he would have utilised the search for ‘awe’ better and, on an easier pathway by walking for just 15 minutes and taking photos of anything he had noticed, even a tree in a local street! The article is fascinating and well worth a read. Plus if you do want a trek then their are many benefits as he found himself!
Climate Change & Hitting Multiple Goals in One Go!
Not a day goes by without the impact of climate change being presented through the news, TV adverts and TV programmes. Being a sitting audience this has really taken over during lockdown and raised awareness. Whilst the Government is planning towards Glasgow and the COP26
Conference we can all take simple steps to help. Just watch an advert break, make some notes and it’s go time! So theories like having one meal a week without meat or using reusable cups, planting a tree are all supposed to help on a personal level. These actions can all aid our mental health and support the physical as well.
Many companies are now looking to promote their contributions to the climate change agenda. Promoting and linking what’s so important to their products in innovative ways in a bid to gain our custom. Mc Donalds highlight the use of their cooking oil to furl their trucks, using plastic from happy meals toys to produce outdoor play areas, Persil show ways to recycle plastic and, Morrision’s giving vouchers for schools to enable children to learn about and, grow their own fruit and vegetables.
One poignant one though is also connected to an elderly man re-entering society after time away. The Co-Op show how an elderly man leaves the house to head to his local Co-op with one plastic bag to place in a bin outside his local store. Whilst showing a simple way to recycle, it paints a wider reasoning than that. He only visits the bin outside before turning to go home but greeted by name by a worker. His first steps back outside. A small step but significant. Some natural vitamin D and some exercise as well. You can view the advert here.
Summary!
So this series concludes! Showing that despite COVID being at the forefront of our lives and affecting us all in so many different ways, much success has been achieved throughout and things that are sustainable. So despite all the doom and gloom associated with the pandemic we can also celebrate some change. Perhaps a different way that we live and some positive steps we have taken in whichever area we have touched on or the many we haven’t! We have merely touched on some of the main points but you’ll find more links and tips on the Time To Heal Physical Health & Well-being Page!
The All Important links!
The Sanctuary UK - Self Care Campaign
The Sanctuary UK
The Guardian - What I Learnt About Happiness From A Month Of Walks
Climate Change
Cop26 - Homepage