Change in Direction 2.0: Regaining Traction

       Feeling in disarray, out of alignment, out of 'rhythm'? It's not your imagination--you are! This, due to the persistent and pervasive 'changes in direction' (see 7-6-20 post) the pandemic has assaulted us with for months now. So how does one regain their bearings and/or traction in such an atmosphere? In my professional and personal experience a decent starting point is a mindset that is not novel to this current set of circumstances, but transcends time and place. I borrow here from a current radio commercial representing such an overarching perspective: "A crisis is not a time for panic but a time for problem solving and effective decision making" (otherwise you will panic and in turn deem yourself ineffective).

       In turn, I offer you, in the midst of so many uncertainties (or 'viral vicissitudes' once again!), an immediate and accessible opportunity to (re)build on the most tangible of certainties, which I otherwise refer to as the three 'building blocks of life'--building blocks which form a strong foundation (or not), from which we might experience more stamina and sense of control over our lives. A foundation which for most of us has been shaken by the pandemic. Let's face it, if the most diligent students and most dedicated of athletes have reported to me the past few months that they have fallen off their routines, lost their rhythm, and in turn started doubting their dedication, what chance do the rest of us have? That is, their most basic of routines involving appetite (what, how much, and when we eat/drink), our sleep/wake cycles (whose hasn't gotten a bit out of whack?), and exercise/activity level. For most of us, all three of these have become misaligned and also offer immediate opportunities for enhancing our quality of daily life until we are allowed a return to complete normalcy. Sounds simple, huh? It is!

       In the midst of uncertainties, doubts, and even despair, I once again offer you certainty and a personal  guarantee that even making slight adjustments in the any of the 'big three' will help you regain a sense of self-control. While the opportunity to go to the gym, visiting your favorite health food store, or maintaining a bedtime routine for your children (of all ages!) have become complicated by the pandemic, our respective abilities to sustain healthy habits in all three areas have not been prevented. The rest is on us, limited only by our imaginations (people have been discovering all kinds of creative ways to sustain rigorous exercise, as well as nutritious recipes with what they are finding in their cupboards) and our 'willingness'. Any enhancement in these areas also has important implications for other 'systems', such as gastrointestinal, circulatory, concentration-attention-memory, and most importantly at this time and place, our IMMUNE SYSTEM.