by Dr. Melanie
Many people have turned to comfort eating during the virus lock-down, often while watching TV as a time filler.
It’s a challenge now to impose ‘action steps’ upon yourself that will alter your behavior, but it is likely to bring results, even beyond weight-loss.
If you can, enlist a buddy who shares your trimming goals, you can be a support coach for each other to stick to the meal and exercise plans you each construct for yourselves. You can connect online or via your mobiles and still keep your distance.
Purchase some weights and a stretch band and treat yourself to some exercises throughout the day.
Alternatively, there are heaps of self-help apps for high intensity quick workouts you could do throughout the day as well as learning about healthy eating programs.
Self-hypnosis is another option.
If you are fortunate enough to have a dog, take her for challenging walks in the morning and/or after sundown.
Binge on a really great novel. It’s a wonderful habit.
Take a course online, the choices are abundant.
by Dr. Melanie
Under lock-down I’ve never been so productive. How do I keep this up when I return to full-time work and social demands. Qwin S.
Well done! You clearly know how to allocate your time and be consistently disciplined. When it is deemed safe to return to work, conduct face to face business meetings and meet up with friends again, you will be able to apply your talent for making smart choices with your time. It will not be easy, especially in the beginning when you might be tempted to make up for lost time.
But if you continue to allocate some of the time you will have to what is truly important to you, as you do now, you will be amply rewarded.
by Dr. Melanie
If being angry all the time is related to the virus and having to isolate, wear a mask and observe social distancing, then this is quite normal these days.
It is wise to understand the intention of these protective and proactive activities and own them as your smart choices. You don’t have to like them to understand their value.
If in addition your anger is related to the frustrations of not being able to make travel plans or other personal or professional plans, this is indeed a common concern. Best to make tentative plans so you’ll feel prepared when things do finally open up again.
If you are chronically angry and anger has become a way of being in your life, consider the costs of such calcified anger. Ask yourself: If I wasn’t angry, what else would I be feeling? Then acknowledge and explore the meaning of those feelings and how to deal with them in helpful ways.
Volunteer your time helping other people or animals at a shelter. This will soften your hardened armor. It will be a huge first step. Remind yourself to: meet your edge and soften.
by Dr. Melanie
Many couples are finding the extra demands and adjustments of being in quarantine a significant strain on their relationship. It is easy to fall into a habit of focusing on annoyances, unmet needs and unfulfilled expectation fueling anger and resentment.
Traveling by contrast allows some time to reconnect with yourself and your individual needs and view your relationship from a wider more caring and flexible perspective.
Give yourselves as much space as possible to recall the qualities that drew you to each other in the first place.
Focus Daily on 5 things your partner did or said that you appreciated and express that. That would mark the beginning of a turnaround for each of you.
by Dr. Melanie
Chances are you are not afraid of small dogs, therefore, consider going to Whiskers n’ Paws in Horizon Plaza on a Sunday. The HK Dog Rescue has many puppies on display for adoption every Sunday. Just go to play with these puppies. If you choose to adopt, a small dog would be more appropriate.
You might find an article I’ve written on overcoming fear of dogs useful. In any case, opening to a puppy or small older dog will definitely help soften your fear and enrich your lives. YOU MIGHT FIND AN ARTICLE I’VE WRITTEN ON OVERCOMING FEAR OF DOGS USEFUL.
