4 Tactics For Surviving the Holidays In Pandemic Time

Isn't this the absolute weirdest holiday season ever? Not only are we in a surging pandemic taking hundreds of thousands of lives, we're cut off from the things that can bring joy at this time. I enjoy having friends and family visit. Nixed now. We have not seen our son in nearly a year. No friends can come over. Too risky, we're seniors. Now what?

With a nursing background and a deeply abiding interest in being healthy, I have devised my own ways to cope and so far, I'm still standing. Here's what's working. Maybe any one of these four things could help you too.

1. Get more sleep.

All of my consulting work at AgingParents.com is by zoom these days, so my schedule is more flexible than it was before the pandemic. Yes, there are endless meetings on zoom and that's the way it is. But one advantage: SLEEP! I don't have to get up so early every day, I can take a rest when I'm tired. That's novel for me. I recommend a book by Matthew Walker, Ph.D, neuropsychologist, Why We Sleep. If you want to be enlightened about how sleep heals and protects us, check it out. The myth of our workaholic society is that you don't need much sleep and that a few hours makes you a work hero. That is false. Sleep deprivation can rob you of your health and damage your immune system. For those who have trouble at times falling asleep, think about CBD drops. They cannot hurt you, they do not make you high, they are legal and they work. I use them often. Prescription sleeping pills, on the other hand, can definitely hurt you.

2. Keep moving.

The pandemic has removed one excuse for not exercising: "I don't have time". OK, now you do. Nothing dramatic is necessary. Walking is fine, online free classes are fine, and other free resources can inspire you. For older folks, the National Institute on Aging has a downloadable guide and videos too. Moving is saving me from getting depressed when I'm so bummed out that I can't go anywhere. A little something every day is good and a hour is better. I aim for 5 days a week. So far so good. On one day each week, a friend and I go to the nearby park, stay socially distanced and go through a workout routine outdoors. That helps me a lot!

3. Limit sugar.

It's helpful to just think of one thing you can give up to keep your sugar consumption in check. You can add more items later, in the interest of cutting down on sugar gradually if you choose. Holidays for many include making sweets as part of the tradition. I'm there too with my toffee everyone loves. And I'm not making huge batches this time. Just enough to enjoy a treat and that will be it. It's probably that I have in mind how many folks have gained some weight in the months of staying at home, baking out of boredom or just relaxing the usual disciplines because no one is going to see you in person. Maybe the best we can do is cut down the number of cookies rather than going whole hog eating everything in sight because we are staying home again. We'll pay the price later if we don't keep this in check.

4. The Daily Gratitude Exercise.

A friend told me about this and I'm in the habit now. Every morning before I do anything, I say aloud or think of 10 things I'm grateful for. My ritual always includes mentioning my awesome husband of 38 years and sometimes it includes saying that I have all five senses working fine today. Food in the 'fridge with 50M people in the U.S. food insecure now? Definitely grateful I am not among them! You have your own things to be grateful for, no matter what is going on. Appreciating them and saying it will help you cope with anything, day by day. We get perspective in doing this. Lots of folks are worse off and perspective can get us through these hard days.

I wish each of you safety and successful coping with whatever is going on in your life right now. Let's get through this holiday season together with a plan in mind and keep hope alive for a much better one next time around.