Ultimate Accountability Challenge April 2020

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What's on your mind today?

RangerRickL
RangerRickL Posts: 8,469 Member
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This is where you can share what's on your mind. Recipes, ideas, workouts, anything that you think might be helpful to others.

Maybe, you've tried something that has worked for you in the past and would like to share it with the group. Maybe, you have a NSV (Non Scale Victory) that you would like to share with the group. Anything that you feel comfortable sharing or anything that you feel comfortable asking the group with help....this is the place to come.

The GOOD!! What NSV did you have this week!!
The BAD!! So what....you ate the whole thing!!
The UGLY!! That darn scale went through the window this week....it deserved it too!!

So, what's on your mind today??
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Replies

  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    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.
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    Hello everyone.

    I moved my grateful list to this area since it is what is on my mind today.
    • I am grateful for another healthy day.
    • I am grateful for a place where I can safely shelter. There are many who do not have a place to wash their hands.
    • I am grateful for this quiet time. It has made me more aware of what is really important.
    • I am grateful for the commute time savings (yes, repeat from yesterday). I was able to scrub down the balconies during the time I would normally be on the road.
    • I am grateful for the cold front moving through this morning. It brought a nice, heavy rain. My garden will certainly rejoice over it.

    @BMcC9 - Thank you for the shout out. I love the spoilers because they can also make a long post a little more manageable. Thank you for your positive and coping posts.

    @RangerRickL - Thank you for keeping us going.

    It is off to the races for me. I have a "commute-time" project to start and must get ready for work.

    Hugs to all and prayers for those in need.

    Tips for Working Remote
    PS: Many here are new to remote working and are still adapting. Here are some suggestions for making it an easier transition.
    • Dedicate a spot in your home for work. This helps to distinguish between your work life and your home life. If you cannot dedicate a spot - turn off the laptop and put it away.
    • Stick to your routines. Eventually we will (G willing) go back to our places of employment. Get up at your normal time and complete all of the normal things you would do in the morning.
    • If you are normally on the road for 30 minutes use the 30 minutes to do something. Eventually you will be commuting again. You do not want to have a week or two of adjusting back to a commute schedule.
    • Get dressed. One does not have to wear a standard work uniform. Changing out of yoga pants back in to yoga pants does not assist with transitioning from home to work life. I live in Florida where summer is on its way. My remote uniform is a pair of shorts and shirt (and, yes, a bra - well, maybe 3 days a week - LOL!). For the guys, if you shave every day - shave every day (well, like my bra thing, maybe every other day)

    Me Following My Own Advice
    Picture of one of my weekend projects. I had been meaning to get rid of this desk for a long time. It is too big and I have outgrown it. On Friday I realized I needed a work space because the laptop on my kitchen counter 24-7 was not good for my soul. Instead of getting rid of it I dismantled part of it and created a work space. The paintings are from "Painting with a Twist" outings. I am no Picasso, but both bring memories of fun times and are colorful.

    The first picture details the pieces I took off and put out for bulk trash. The second is my new space.

    y1q2dh8nsl3z.png
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @alligatorob
    You are an inspiration. All of your hard work is paying off. Congratulations!
  • BonnieHosk85
    BonnieHosk85 Posts: 2,552 Member
    Congrats on Onederland, @alligatorob!!

    cykhwzmq6mnw.jpg
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    Does anyone else remember "Art Attack" ? Originally out of Britain from ~1997 to .... very recently still running, I think. When my now grown son was 5, it was just starting out here in North America on CTV.

    I just found that MANY of the episodes are on Youtube. They are full of "make art with stuff from around the house" ideas and there is always one huge "can only see what it is from waaayyyy above" project that the host did.

    It is fun to watch, only ~20 minutes per episode (no commercials) and might even prompt your kids to try something non-electronic to pass the time on a rainy day.

    Who knows, it might even prompt "don't have kids at home" ers (like me) to try something .... it's not like anyone else will ever SEEE you doing it ..... ;)
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    I like how you think, @SuziQ113 Down-to-earth and grateful to be so (aka "no acrylic nails like many in SFL" immediately followed by "have supplies to do my own pedicure and manicure")

    What would be a barest-bones list for a home-spa type self-pampering?

    Some of us may not even realize we HAVE "some of that stuff" at home already ..... or have seen it recently enough, but never thought to add to the cart on the way to the check-out ...
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    lamlamsmakeover wrote: »
    Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? YES (outside geocaching) ......

    Geocaching??? If my part of the world allows for certain level of get-outside-at-a-distance ....how does one "exercise outside geocaching" ?
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @BMcC9
    Will respond in more detail later. I'm on the clock right now. But here's a simple and natural face mask.

    Finely ground regular oatmeal-use that coffee grinder in your kitchen cabinet

    Honey- Antibacterial

    Lavender or Rose Oil - not neccessary - Lavender is antibacterial and moisturizing, rose oil refines skin texture and helps maintain moisture. Make sure the oils are pure....many of the aromatherapy oils contain a bunch of junk.

    Mix 1 tablespoon oats with 1 tablespoon honey and 2 drops of either oil. Add H2O to make paste. Apply to face and allow to dry. Apply H2O to fingers and rub to remove. Note I usually shower off it's much neater.
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    WOW! I already have the oatmeal and honey (and coffee grinder ... :D ) Since the oil is an option .....

    Speaking of clocks, I am "off to work" myself now.
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @MBcC9
    Put Mani/Pedi information in spoiler because it is rather long. And, may contain too much information.
    There are many things we have around the house typically used in a salon for either a standard manicure or pedicure. Some suggestions for either….

    Manicure – Nail polish remover, small bowl for soaking, nail brush, nail clippers, nail file, orange stick/cuticle trimmer. Remove nail polish, soak hand in bowl of warm water, dry, clip and/or file nails, gently push cuticles back with orange stick. Cuticles should not be cut, pushing them back a little should be enough, if not use the fine side of a nail file to gently file the excess. Hang nails can be filed or trimmed with nail clipper (careful). Once both hands are done scrub up with nail brush and dry. Prior to putting on nail polish go over nails with nail polish remover. This takes all of the oils off of the nails and nail polish stays on longer. Clear base coat, two coats of color, another clear coat, and allow to dry. Or keep clean and natural (my norm).

    As far as polishes are concerned I recently fell in love with Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel. Nail tops do not need to be filed, it dries very quickly, and no special lights are needed. Once one gets the hang of the brush, it’s flat, your nails do look professionally done. No base coat needed. They claim the polish lasts up to 14 days, but I find 10 max when I use it for a manicure.

    Those with acrylics/gels it is going to be tough. Best way is to soak nails in acetone polish remover and gently file away. Follow up with a manicure. Sally Hansen’s Miracle Nails (it is a clear coat) for about a month or two before nails will be normal again. Or just let them grow out and file down tips periodically.

    Pedicure – The same tools are used with some changes/additions. A dish pan works well for soaking feet and both can be soaked at the same time. Most spas use Epsom salts in the water – they add eucalyptus oil for the “spa” smell and color so it’s “fancy”. Remove polish and soak both feet. Work on one foot at a time while the other soaks. Use same process. Areas under nails, along the side, can be cleaned out with orange wood stick. Some cuticle pushers have an end that can be used for this too.

    If one does not have a foot file very fine sandpaper can be used to smooth the rough spots on the bottom of feet. Paint or not. I used the Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel last week when I gave myself a pedicure and the toes are looking pretty good. If feet are especially dry – go back to what our moms and grandmothers did……petroleum jelly and socks or cotton hand gloves. If you hate the thought of oil byproducts on your skin olive oil works great too!
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    Thank you, @SuziQ113 ! Hope others will make use of it too!
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    "Recognizing and naming an issue is the first step in dealing with and/or diffusing it"

    @SuziQ113 you have recognized, analyzed, categorized, and NAMED OUT LOUD (in written form to us) what your "waking up sooooo early" issue is.

    YAYYYYYYYY YOU!!! Bravo Zulu!!
    Now that you have confirmed to yourself that it is most likely a "system setting your body just plain would pick in the absence of imposed outside structure" .... GO with it!

    Block out the structured-hours your work schedule demands - but reframe the rest.

    MAYYYYYYbe:

    Think of it as "practicing for retirement-hours (when there will be NO outside time-structures imposed)
    OR
    Get something you find "necessary-but-a-chore" like perhaps laundry "out of the way" so that you don't have to spend time on it "after work"
    OR
    Just sit still with your cat, savour your morning brew, and journal / meditate / pray / whatever is your preferred "peace-of-mind / self-centering approach" as you mentally prepare for what the day will bring.

    Only you know what might be a Right Fit approach for YOU moving forward.

    I am grateful that you have found a major key to you, and that (from all you have posted to date) you seem to be a type who will be able to leverage that information to chart a course correction in the direction of your choice.
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    YIKES! Gotta "get to work" myself!!
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    Our season is soooo far behind you down there in SFL .... I am grateful that with a bright sunny 11 C (~51 or 52 F) the last of our snow in the back finally melted .... B)
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @MBcC9
    52F is our winter! I actually wear boots! Well, not "real" winter boots. I am terribly spoiled living in SFL.
  • BonnieHosk85
    BonnieHosk85 Posts: 2,552 Member
    Love your poem and your attitude of gratitude, @TerriRichardson112!
  • Bill70sStrong
    Bill70sStrong Posts: 1,142 Member
    edited April 2020
    Yes, I enjoy reading everyone's posts and seeing the pics, love the positivity!
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @TerriRichardson112 Thank you for sharing your poem.
  • SuziQ113
    SuziQ113 Posts: 1,520 Member
    @BMcC9
    Thank you for sharing your grateful list. I am finding it helps me set the day and reminds me there is something good happening every day.

    Congratulations!!!!!! Wedding day shape! That is a real mile marker.
  • BMcC9
    BMcC9 Posts: 4,451 Member
    juliemouse83 wrote: »
    ....


    So on to the good stuff. I am grateful for:

    ☀️My husband, who has been cooking yummy food for me.
    ☀️The warm, gorgeous weather and my hammock.
    ☀️My Kindle and my love of reading.
    ☀️My friends who have been regularly texting and phoning to check on me.
    ☀️My loyal, loving pack of 7 dogs who have not left my side.
    ☀️The much needed time away from work.
    ☀️My personal blog that allows me to chronicle this journey. Writing is such a great outlet!
    ☀️This group!

    So, yeah. There are more things on the positive side than the negative.

    Stay home, stay well! 💖❤️💖❤️

    PPPLLLEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEE post some pics of that loyal, loving pack of 7 dogs!

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