What I do to manage the nuttiness (can I even say that?)
Is it ironic to be sick of the pandemic? I mean honestly, enough is enough. There are days when I feel like I’m not just going to lose it but do it in spectacular fashion. After all, these are unprecedented times we’re living in. Sure, there was the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919 but how many of us lived through that? My Grandma did but she’s not around to offer any listicles or hacks to help survive the 21st century version. No, these are days like nothing we’ve ever seen before and at times they fill me with uncertainty and worry. What if there are more and worse variants? Are the kids going to be okay? How about those vaccines, do they work on everything? Can we ever get back to normal? Will Harry and William ever make up? So how do I keep it together? Well, the program that’s helped me shed nearly forty pounds over the last eight months also helps me keep it together during these crazy times.
The prescription is pretty simple – eat, sleep, run, repeat. Oh, I mix in some work, some (virtual) connection and a little fun but that’s basically it. So long as I take care of those three main items – eating, sleeping, and exercising, I keep myself balanced and, on the beam. If I can do it anyone can.
Eating is a big part of keeping things on the straight and narrow. I think if I had to name my diet, I’d call it the Goldilocks diet – I don’t eat too much, or too little, I eat just the right amount. Oh, and one of my main meals is basically porridge. See, I only eat two meals a day and I graze a little between them. I don’t eat after dinner – ever – which allows me to fast 16 to 18 hours. I’m also careful what I eat. I eat loads of fruits and veggies. My first meal is generally a concoction that’s closer to bird seed than brunch. It’s a helping of steel cut oats to which I add the following: chia seeds, walnuts, pecans, hemp hearts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, ground flax seed, a splash of maple syrup, dried cranberries, and blueberries. It’s a bit of work to prepare but it’s worth it. As for the beak and feathers I’ve sprouted, well they’ll be great conversation starters if lock down ever ends.
The added ingredients in my oatmeal have a host of benefits for both my physical body and my mental health. Science is just beginning to recognize the important impact diet has on our mental state. There is a reason the stomach is referred to as the second brain as the gut is home to the greatest number of neurons outside of the brain. Our microbiota, the bacteria that make up our digestive system, have an enormous impact on our mental well-being. Unbalanced levels of bacteria can produce toxins that impact brain chemistry. Unbalanced brain chemistry can lead to any number of issues including depression. Keeping gut bacteria well fed, balanced and happy is vital. So, is it any wonder that the food we eat has an impact on how we feel?
Sleep is another key to feeling good. Unfortunately like a lot of people, my sleep pattern has deteriorated with age. In fact, if a genie was to grant me one wish from my youth it would be a good night’s sleep (or a date with Denise my high school crush). When I sleep well the day goes well but if I’ve been up in the night – and I’m generally up for hours – the day isn’t so hot. All sorts of things can impact my sleep but the one that is guaranteed to screw me up is alcohol. Doesn’t matter how much I drink, booze messes with my sleep pattern. So much so that I no longer drink. It’s simply not worth losing a night sleep.
Exercise is also a big part of sleeping well. If I’ve worked out hard during the day my chances of a good night’s sleep vastly improve. Sleep is a delicate muse and I’m careful to keep her happy. So, I do whatever it takes to ensure a good night’s sleep – although there’s never any guarantees. Now if William and Harry would only patch things up, I’d have one less thing worry about!
Exercise impacts everything. So long as I get my walk, run or workout in, I can consistently count on feeling good. Even when I’m feeling down or less then great, I’m always better off having worked out hard. Physical activity triggers a cocktail of chemicals within our bodies. Chemicals like growth hormone, testosterone, insulin, adrenaline, serotonin, among others. This chemical cocktail in turn trigger mechanisms in our bodies to repair and build itself back – stronger and better (like the 6 Million Dollar Man only way cheaper). In the end they leave our bodies in better shape and keep us feeling good. Who doesn’t want that?
Repeat is the other ingredient (okay it’s not really an ingredient but you get the drift). I keep doing this stuff day after day. I generally take one day off a week where I don’t exercise, and I eat whatever and whenever I want. Otherwise, it’s the same thing day in and day out. Hey maybe that’s why all the days feel the same? Over time it’s worked both physically and mentally – I’ve dropped down to my fighting weight and life is good.
There are several other important aspects to feeling good in unstable times such as having a purpose, good work and connecting with others. These are important but for me they’re what gets layered on top of eating, sleeping, and exercising well. Without the base layer in place, I feel lost and don’t want to work or connect with others. Like getting dressed without underwear (going commando as the kids say) it just doesn’t feel right. When you have the base layer in place then add layers of feeling purposeful, doing good work, connecting with friends and family you feel untouchable. But don’t get me wrong, I’m ready for this pandemic to end. I long for the days when Moderna was nothing more than an Argentinian soccer player. But keeping sane in crazy times starts with the basics. With all this healthy living I’m planning on being around in 2121 to pass on some healthy hacks to my great, great grandkids so they can survive God knows what!