What's on your mind today?

Hollis100

@juliemouse83 So sorry this is happening to you (and all of us). Your health, and the health of those around you, is the most important thing right now. The federal government is arguing now about extended benefits -- hopefully they will act soon. Take care of yourself and let us know how you're doing.

BMcC9

SuziQ113 wrote: »

...
I felt it was in my best interest to break out the to do list of things that seem to never get done and start chipping away at it. It has definitely help both my body and soul to keep busy by continuing to make positive changes while staying safe. It has also helped with the boredom.

Thinking YOU might get on with some of those "never seem to get around to it " chores but don't know where to start?

I have 2 things for you:

1.


Now that you have finally gotten "a round tuit" ... there's an app for top to bottom DYI house clearing .... at least, I KNOW there's a website, that PROBABLY also has app / twitter / etc. (I just checked - there are Youtube presentations by the author!)

Unfortunately, it isn't a "point and shoot" app. It's more like a guided checklist. I have owned the cd audiobook at home for a while now.

http://www.throwoutfiftythings.com/

The trick is .... "one thing" means "one category of something" So that stack of more than 36 magazine subscription back issues about a long-abandoned hobby-interest only counts as "one thing"

And "throw out" means "leave your custody / property" You might regift, donate, sell, put in municipal recycle program, whatEVER.

The book is in amazon (both paper and e-book); the workbook to help guide your project is downloadable; it takes you room-by-room through the common spaces in everyone's home.

BMcC9

Post a snap of any "???????" items you find in that kitchen junk drawer or back of a spare-room closet shelf.

I remember finding a "assemble your own rubber stamp kit" like for stamping your return address on envelopes .... remember .............. when "snail mail" was the norm?

juliemouse83

I’m starting to see a trend. When I am stuck at home on the weekends, I find that I’m at the mercy of whatever the news wants to share, but when I am at work, I feel much more plugged in, even if our safety huddles are via conference call.

There is also the commonality of our “shared predicament,” if you will. Our hospital used to be kind of clique-y, in that there used to be a perceived hierarchy of importance by most of us. Those barriers are gone, almost overnight! ❤️ It’s as if we all woke up one morning and realized, “We are healthcare! All of us, from Environmental Services to Support Services, to Transport, Imaging, NA’s, RN’s, Admin and doctors! We are in it for the long haul and we are in it TOGETHER!”

There is much more co-mingling within all the ranks, albeit at a safe distance. Scrubs of all different colors are now seen together, and it is wonderful! We come from different socioeconomic backgrounds, different religions, cultures and political affiliations, but this virus has brought us all together with common fears and most importantly a common goal. I don’t ever think I’ve been as honored and proud to work in healthcare as I am at this moment!

BMcC9

BMcC9 wrote: »

the coping-while-stuck-at-home strategies I referenced a few days back will be posted by this evening North America EST

As promised, here they are for easy future reference. I am following @SuziQ113 's lead and giving titles while putting the rest inside spoiler envelopes so that you can read or not when and as you choose.

TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

• Stay informed, but follow news coverage about COVID-19 in moderation. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
• Make time to step back and consider how to take advantage of unexpected flexibility in your daily routine.
• Stay connected. Talk to friends or family about your feelings and concerns.
• Maintain healthy relationships and respect other people’s feelings and decisions.
• Show support and empathy to those dealing with difficult situations.
• Identify what is within your control and try to direct your energy towards what most worries you within your own control.

Reminder – Helping you and your family stay healthy

To help keep yourself and your family healthy, please continue to practice good respiratory health: •Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
•Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm and dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
•Clean the following high-touch surfaces (such as toys, phones and remotes) frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
•Limit all non-essential trips and avoid crowds whenever possible.

Managing your Mental Health in Times of Uncertainty

The nature of the developing events related to COVID-19 can leave us all feeling anxious and uncertain.
When our daily lives undergo changes, it can affect our routines, thought patterns and therefore be unsettling. Looking after your emotional well-being is an important practice.
Caring for ourselves involves the attitudes, behaviours and actions that we take to maintain or improve our well-being. These may include an array of strategies aimed at nurturing the body, mind and spirit. When we are in balance, in all facets of our lives, our body, mind and spirit are in harmony. This implies a commitment and investment to know oneself, to responsibly and mindfully manage our personal resources, and to recognize our limits and choose healthy actions.
Below you will find some strategies for supporting both your mental and physical well-being in times of uncertainty:
•Meet your basic needs, ensuring you are eating healthy, drinking plenty of fluids and getting regular sleep. If you are biologically deprived, you may be at risk of endangering your mental health.
•Take frequent breaks. Go for a walk, listen to music, read a book and/or talk with a family member/friend.
•Be mindful of your alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and sugar consumption.
•Limit or avoid looking at news and media related to the situation at hand.
•Connect with your supports. Talk to your colleagues; connect with family and friends to support each other. At times like these, we tend to isolate ourselves out of fear and anxiety. Tell your story and listen to others.
•Respect one’s differences. Some people need to talk while others prefer to be alone. Recognize and respect these differences in yourself and in others.
•Practice a self-care check-in. Pay attention to depressive thoughts and/or signs of stress in yourself. If you experience prolonged sadness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive thoughts, or feelings of hopelessness, it is important to seek support.
•Identify what is within your control. Worrying about things that are beyond our control is not useful.
•Be aware of your emotions such as fear, grief, guilt, frustration, exhaustion and so on. When you notice these emotions, work with a family member or colleague to develop a self-care plan. A plan will include activities you have used previously to overcome difficult situations such as regular exercise, meditation or journaling.
•Devote a moment of each day to reflect on the uniqueness of this time and to make decisions for tomorrow.

Resiliency promotes courage, empathy, compassion and humility.

Building up your resiliency includes pausing, stepping back, taking a breath and taking time to recheck our thoughts, ideas and feelings. Being aligned in our values, intentions and current reality are skills that we acquire. Self-awareness, including the ability of introspection, practice of listening and engaging in various reflective tools are key to maintaining optimal mental health.
Qualities that may emerge include:
•the attitude of not knowing all of the answers;
•being open to discovering what will work best in the given situation;
•accepting things as they are - without judgment;
•having the willingness and courage to accept that a decision was, in hindsight, the wrong one;
•willingness to adjust the course without a need to blame or self-criticize; and,
•having realistic expectations of one’s own performance, including the ability to take responsibility and take steps towards “starting over”.

At times, we undergo stress that exceeds our ability to adapt and to remain in balance. Sometimes, this may bring anxiety born of feeling powerless in situations beyond our control. Real or perceived powerlessness, the inability to cause or prevent change, may contribute to our feelings of vulnerability.
Neglecting or ignoring our health and well-being will negatively affect our resilience. Sometimes, talking to a mental health professional can help you regain a healthy perspective on the current situation and its impact on you.

BMcC9

Here are the coping-while-stuck-at-home strategies from my office Workplace Wellness people.

Mostly fairly common sense, but often just being able to see an official checklist laid out gives a feeling of reassurance and a target for modelling.

I am following @SuziQ113 's lead from March = giving titles while putting the rest inside spoiler envelopes so that you can read or not whichever one you feel you need, when and as you choose.

TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

• Stay informed, but follow news coverage about COVID-19 in moderation. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
• Make time to step back and consider how to take advantage of unexpected flexibility in your daily routine.
• Stay connected. Talk to friends or family about your feelings and concerns.
• Maintain healthy relationships and respect other people’s feelings and decisions.
• Show support and empathy to those dealing with difficult situations.
• Identify what is within your control and try to direct your energy towards what most worries you within your own control.

Reminder – Helping you and your family stay healthy

To help keep yourself and your family healthy, please continue to practice good respiratory health: •Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
•Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm and dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
•Clean the following high-touch surfaces (such as toys, phones and remotes) frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
•Limit all non-essential trips and avoid crowds whenever possible.

Managing your Mental Health in Times of Uncertainty

The nature of the developing events related to COVID-19 can leave us all feeling anxious and uncertain.
When our daily lives undergo changes, it can affect our routines, thought patterns and therefore be unsettling. Looking after your emotional well-being is an important practice.
Caring for ourselves involves the attitudes, behaviours and actions that we take to maintain or improve our well-being. These may include an array of strategies aimed at nurturing the body, mind and spirit. When we are in balance, in all facets of our lives, our body, mind and spirit are in harmony. This implies a commitment and investment to know oneself, to responsibly and mindfully manage our personal resources, and to recognize our limits and choose healthy actions.
Below you will find some strategies for supporting both your mental and physical well-being in times of uncertainty:
•Meet your basic needs, ensuring you are eating healthy, drinking plenty of fluids and getting regular sleep. If you are biologically deprived, you may be at risk of endangering your mental health.
•Take frequent breaks. Go for a walk, listen to music, read a book and/or talk with a family member/friend.
•Be mindful of your alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and sugar consumption.
•Limit or avoid looking at news and media related to the situation at hand.
•Connect with your supports. Talk to your colleagues; connect with family and friends to support each other. At times like these, we tend to isolate ourselves out of fear and anxiety. Tell your story and listen to others.
•Respect one’s differences. Some people need to talk while others prefer to be alone. Recognize and respect these differences in yourself and in others.
•Practice a self-care check-in. Pay attention to depressive thoughts and/or signs of stress in yourself. If you experience prolonged sadness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive thoughts, or feelings of hopelessness, it is important to seek support.
•Identify what is within your control. Worrying about things that are beyond our control is not useful.
•Be aware of your emotions such as fear, grief, guilt, frustration, exhaustion and so on. When you notice these emotions, work with a family member or colleague to develop a self-care plan. A plan will include activities you have used previously to overcome difficult situations such as regular exercise, meditation or journaling.
•Devote a moment of each day to reflect on the uniqueness of this time and to make decisions for tomorrow.

Resiliency promotes courage, empathy, compassion and humility.

Building up your resiliency includes pausing, stepping back, taking a breath and taking time to recheck our thoughts, ideas and feelings. Being aligned in our values, intentions and current reality are skills that we acquire. Self-awareness, including the ability of introspection, practice of listening and engaging in various reflective tools are key to maintaining optimal mental health.
Qualities that may emerge include:
•the attitude of not knowing all of the answers;
•being open to discovering what will work best in the given situation;
•accepting things as they are - without judgment;
•having the willingness and courage to accept that a decision was, in hindsight, the wrong one;
•willingness to adjust the course without a need to blame or self-criticize; and,
•having realistic expectations of one’s own performance, including the ability to take responsibility and take steps towards “starting over”.

At times, we undergo stress that exceeds our ability to adapt and to remain in balance. Sometimes, this may bring anxiety born of feeling powerless in situations beyond our control. Real or perceived powerlessness, the inability to cause or prevent change, may contribute to our feelings of vulnerability.
Neglecting or ignoring our health and well-being will negatively affect our resilience. Sometimes, talking to a mental health professional can help you regain a healthy perspective on the current situation and its impact on you.

BMcC9

epangili wrote: »

BMcC9 wrote: »

epangili wrote: »

......

P.S. I accidentally posted this in yesterday's date. Losing track of which day is which with the waiting, lengthy time indoors with no hard deadlines.

At least the daily-change-subthread format of UAC can help with that! .... maybe star only two or three days in a row, and every day remove the star from the earliest after you post?

Yes agree! Good idea but I like reading the tardy people too...

in which case ..... use stars to jump you to the current days, then click on the Main UAC banner (at the top of each daily thread) and then on "show all discussions" to see if any new entries on UNstarred subthreads.

BMcC9

How DO you manage to grow your garden?!?

DH and I want to (try yet AGAIN to) grow a bit of a vegetable patch this year, but every time that we've tried in the past, all we ever managed was "buffet for local suburban small furry creatures" and NEVER got to harvest anything for ourselves.

I will be needing additional guidance on this through April (and May, and June, and ... ) but am currently looking for

"best way to protect seeds-to-sprouts" that can carry over to "protect sprouts as they grow and produce" so that DH and I can make a list of what to get at the local "DIY Lawn&Garden Department" nearest us.

We are pre-supposing that there won't be so many "buy pre-sprouted seedling" options and outlets as usual this year. We are far enough north that there is no telling about that yet, so are working with the "buy those seed packets" logistical plans and options.