The New Normal

There is no doubt that the world is different. This pandemic has created loads of changes that we are struggling to adapt to. Some will be for the better but many are definitely for the worse. Daily I have people coming into the office with aches and pains that they never had before or an aggravation of issues that were long ago managed. The reason why this is happening is because of the changes that are for the worse. We are far less active than we have ever been and we were not active enough to begin with. Our bodies are made for movement. If we are sedentary they will begin to degenerate and become symptomatic. Further to that, stress has a negative impact on how we perceive pain. It is well known that, while under increased stress, our bodies will perceive an increase of pain sensitivity. It’s no wonder why people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are also people who experience a multitude of daily stress.

There are many things we can’t control during this pandemic, but there are also many things we CAN control. If we don’t focus on what we have power over then we will end up struggling to adapt in this new world. So, you might now be asking what exactly you are able to control. Here is a quick list for you to ponder about and think about adding to your “new normal”.

1. Exercise: This does not need to be a sweat session or a killer workout. This can be something as simple as going for a 20 min walk. Exercise not only helps to burn calories but it also helps to decrease stress levels. Moving the body is critical for overall health!

2. Diet: This is not to say that you need to start a fad diet. This simply means be mindful of the foods that you are ingesting. “Garbage in: Garbage out” this saying applies perfectly. Your body is literally made up of the foods that you put into your body. Do you want to be made of high quality foods rich with vitamins and minerals or would you prefer to be made of low quality foods that have little to no nutrient value? If you need help in this area we have an amazing Holistic Nutritionist available to help you out.

3. Read a book: This simple idea helps the brain to de-stress. Reading for an average of 20 mins per day makes a significant impact on mental wellbeing.

4. Get off your electronics: The blue lights and electromagnetic field created by your device can have a negative impact on your ability to sleep and can be a cause of increased anxiety.

5. Get a good night’s sleep: Everyone is different on how much sleep they need but a good rule of thumb is to strive for 6-8 hours every single night. Sleep is extremely important for health and healing.

6. Meditate: Whatever your philosophical or spiritual views are meditation is a great way to get centered and focused. It can lower blood pressure and help melt stress away.

7. Get adjusted: While this is last on the list it is arguably the most important thing you can do. The adjustment is going to help reduce stress in your body and help to decrease the pain and frustrations that you are having. The amount of people that have expressed gratitude for being able to be adjusted during the worst of this pandemic has been heart warming. I never want anyone to take the adjustment lightly because I have seen firsthand the impact it has during the most stressful times of our lives.

If there is anything that you need help with in this list please don’t hesitate to set up an appointment to have a chat with us. We are more than happy to help you in your health journey!