Take Care: Self and Child Care in the Age of Coronavirus
Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably well aware of the novel coronavirus aka COVID-19, the respiratory illness that has infected and killed thousands, tanked global markets, and continues to stump government officials and doctors alike. Labeled by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic earlier this week, the coronavirus has resulted in school closures, event cancellations, and an entire society that’s on edge.
For me however, coronavirus has highlighted an unfortunate and alarming reality: basic hygiene isn’t so basic. Proper personal hygiene practices such as washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and staying home when you’re sick is all of a sudden breaking news, triggering a personal hygiene great awakening that’s comforting to see gaining traction, but also concerning to know wasn’t previously being practiced.
So why are most of us innately reactive in the way we manage personal care?
We give our kids medicine when they don’t feel good; we go to the doctor when something hurts. We change our diets or start exercising when we’ve crossed the threshold of feeling comfortable and confident in our bodies. Modern medicine is inherently reactive, relying on patients to contact their medical provider when noticeable symptoms or issues arise, and physicians to treat the symptoms complained of by their patients, rather than addressing the underlying cause of the illness; but;
What if we approached caring for ourselves and our families actively rather than passively?
What if we focused on steps to prevent and ward off illness and disease rather than waiting for symptoms to appear to seek treatment?
I think everyone, including myself, could benefit tremendously from proactive and intentional management of our health.
Here are three quick ways to more intentionally and proactively take care, for your sake and the sake of your family, because as the old saying goes, if you stay ready, you won’t ever have to get ready.
Be Informed
If the age of coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s the importance of being informed about current affairs, global markets, and most importantly, our health. With the increased availability of information online and more than 400,000 healthcare apps, we have more access to health data than ever before.
The accessibility of health-related information empowers us to become active participants in our health and the health of our children, proactively monitoring and managing our health and wellness on our terms and in our own time. Knowledge is power, so feel empowered to stay informed and engaged in your family’s healthcare!
Go digital - Use apps, wearables, and/or at-home digital solutions to keep track of important health and wellness data related to you and your little ones. Some of my favorite health apps include Sleep Cycle, MyFitnessPal, Drugs.com Medication Guide, and Symple Symptom Tracker.
Do your homework - Independently research you and your family’s ailments prior to doctors’ visits so you can ask better questions and be more informed about your options for treatment.
Schedule and attend regular checkups - While sites like WebMd are a great resource for getting and staying smart about your health, it’s no replacement for regular examinations and annual checkups. Just like our cars require oil changes and regular inspections every few thousand miles, our bodies require the same regular attention and inspection. This keeps our families healthy and gives us —and the experts—knowledge of our current health situation and a chance to catch any issues before they become a major problem.
Maintain a copy of your health records - Get and maintain copies of your medical records. You and your family’s records contain lots of important information about your current and historical health conditions, from your blood pressure or weight over time to diagnoses and treatments, and while you may remember some of the details, there’s nothing like having the real thing.
2. Be Aware
Situations can change quickly. You need to not only be conscious of current events and your surroundings, but also your body and your children’s bodies.
Listen to your intuition - That little voice that tells you when something is wrong, is who I like to call Dr. Me. Unbeknownst to you, Dr. Me is on call 24/7 and often understands your health and your family’s health better than any physician. So, hear her out!
Know when to seek help - Immediately seek professional guidance when your body tells you something isn’t right. We’re typically the first line of defense, so listen to your mind and your body when it comes to you and your family’s health. Also, listen to your little ones; they’re very smart and will tell you what they need and when they need it.
3. Be Well
Whether we realize it or not, life is a summation of our choices; if we want to change or better understand our results, we should look to the choices we make everyday. Two fundamental choices that can alter our health and lives are what we put into our bodies and how we use them.
Eat Intentionally - Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, keto, or like me, a good ole fashion equal opportunity omnivore, it’s not about conforming to some narrow diet as much as it’s about giving your body the fuel it needs by consuming nutrient-packed, balanced foods. Since variety is a key component of nutrition, it can be helpful to think about nutrition and diet through the lens of the popular saying, “Everything in moderation.” Everyone has their own personal relationship with food, so this principle will have a different meaning depending on the person, but at its core, it teaches us not to label foods as innately good or bad, but enjoy a variety of foods with mindfulness and intentionality.
Get Active - As human beings, we are intended to move, so get active! This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go out and hire a personal trainer. To start, look for small ways that you can be more active. Whether it’s taking the stairs rather than the elevator at work, doing some push ups when you get up from the couch, or incorporating family walks or jogs into your routine, regular exercise plays a crucial role in improving overall health and well-being and preventing illness.
Sleep Often - Sleep is a crucial, yet often neglected, aspect of long-term health and wellness. In fact, sleep is just as important as eating healthy and exercising and can have lasting repercussions for you and your family. So, when in doubt, sleep it out. While busy moms often sacrifice sleep to allow time for all the other components of our lives, sleep is far too important to shortchange. Whether it’s a fifteen minute catnap, aligning your sleep schedule to your baby’s, or skipping that last episode of the Real Housewives, prioritize rest. Remember, sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow.
I was very intentional in making the title of this post ‘Take Care.’ While for some, it brings to mind their favorite Drake album, and others think of a semi-formal email sign-off, ‘take’ is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “get[ting] into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control.”
In a time of unbelievable uncertainty about the health of our society, our communities, and ourselves, how powerful and revolutionary would it be for us to proactively take control and possession of our health and the health of our families? Intentionally take power of you and your family’s health and wellness. Start today; start small but make a point to be on the offense rather than the defense.
While no one knows what the future holds, self and childcare in the era before, during, and after the dreaded coronavirus will best be served by those who focus on preparing and acting rather than merely repairing!
So, take care…
If you enjoyed this post and would like more information on being intentional with your motherhood, check out my posts on value and goal-based living, intentional self-care, childcare and development, and relationships.