New Year’s resolutions. Not a fan! It’s not that I am so perfect that I don’t need to make changes to be better, to do better; I work on that daily. Most resolutions tend to revolve around addressing lifestyle and health issues. Frankly, for one to say s/he’s going to go on a diet, eating healthily every day is a recipe for disaster; a set-up to fail by virtue of putting too much pressure on oneself to make ‘quick changes’ on the spur of the moment — “it’s a New Year, I can do this!”
Sadly, people frustrate their efforts by not having a well thought out plan in place that contributes to ensuring success large or small. That being so, resolution makers would be better served taking stock of what’s going on in their life that is causing them stress. What’s happening that is uplifting and has contributed to them feeling good about how things are going generally. To that end, journaling may be a tool which would be a great complement to a few daily lifestyle changes. It’s a way to keep track of progress; a record of the ups and downs, hits and misses. Key is not to beat ourselves up if we didn’t quite get there on any given day. There are still lots of days left to do better.
Working around the impact COVID-19 has imposed challenges. Many people find themselves over-eating by virtue of being home alone with the fridge and then get into a panic about their mindless hand to mouth action, which doesn’t help. Take a breath. Relax. Have a glass of water. Actually, that’s not a bad idea! Most of us don’t drink enough water and that deficiency alone contributes to the body confusing thirst with hunger. So we overeat, but never drink the glass of water. Think! Smoking cessation also benefits from boosting water intake. Coffee and colas do not count; both actually dehydrate.
As we settle in to the early days and weeks of 2021, there’s one thing we can control. Watering the body boosts performance. Back in the 70s while attending university, I was able to successfully avoid colds and flu by keeping myself well hydrated; as well, room humidification was critical to dorm survival amongst all those other young women. My late Dad, the doctor, gave me a tip that would contribute to reduction of incidence of flu or colds — hosing the nose, as I came to call it; a tip I shared with many of the gals on my floor at STU’s Vanier Hall. Swish a clean cloth in a bowl of lightly salted boiled water. Wring out the cloth and place it over the nose with head tilted back. Once you feel water droplets go to the back of the throat, raise your head and gently blow the nose. Through winter months, repeat a few times daily. Try it. It does work! Those devices advertised on television pose certain risk; they absolutely must be sterilized between uses otherwise the user is drawing up bacteria-laden steam into the sinuses. In some cases, that has proven fatal.
In the age of COVID, keeping the air sufficiently humidified is critical to ensuring that germs can’t attach to nasal passages. Bugs love dry spaces to snuggle into and breed, so make drinking 2 full glasses of water each morning a resolution. Water that resolution again with an investment in a good humidifier to keep the air you breathe healthier. I recently purchased an easy to maintain table-top humidifier with remote control. Every time I get up to do a walk about or a spine stretch, I stop at the sink to get a pitcher of water to top up the humidifier. Morning and evening, I hose my nose — there is no way I’m going to risk a ‘bug invasion’ when I can do something so simple to prevent it. Flu shots and COVID vaccines are critical adjuncts to appropriate care but what we do day to day is of utmost importance.
Though I never make specific NYs resolutions, I am committed to looking after myself, going a bit OCD with the various protocols I have in place to remain healthy. Living on my own, with no daily help, compels me to be purposeful about self-care. Top notch nutrition, walk abouts, spine stretching and several times daily mug of hot lemon water with clove and honey are staples. The other day, I sliced several lemons, froze them on a baking sheet and then bagged. Two slices in the cup with a few cloves and a few teaspoons of honey is just the ticket. A splash of spirits in the drink at last call is a perfect end to the day to promote restful sleep.
Bottoms up!
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, the boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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