THUNDER BAY – During the COVID-19 pandemic, our lives have been changed. To protect ourselves and our families, smaller groups and gatherings have become the new normal.
Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Theresa Tam is already telling Canadians that Christmas this year will be different. “Big parties and gatherings are off”.
The goal right now is to again flatten the curve as a feared “Second Wave” is starting.
COVID-19 means change.
What the pandemic also represents is an opportunity.
You can learn new skills. You can try new things. You can break old habits.
As the world has changed the opportunity is there for you to change.
At the start of the first lockdown, here in Thunder Bay, people took to their kitchens. Baking became a new normal. For a while, getting flour, yeast, and baking powder was a struggle in the stores.
Now there are people looking for ways to burn down the extra calories they consumed during the spring and over parts of the summer. Eating better has become a new direction for many people, as just one opportunity for change.
Here are some other ideas:
- Quit smoking! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that smoking is a health risk. Years of medical research has shown the impact of smoking, not only on you but on the people around you. The opportunity to quit is here. There are many resources, including online resources that you can find to help you.
- Quit Drinking Alcohol. Our region has a higher than average rate of impaired driving. Often the attitude of “getting drunk” as a goal is the answer you can get asking somewhat “What are you doing this weekend?”. The damage alcohol does to the lives of many people, and to many families is massive. Giving up drinking will offer you greater health, and will save you money too.
- Reduce your sugar intake. Again the rates of diabetes in our region are very high. Cutting back or even eliminating sugar might sound hard. It can be done, and honestly, you will find out if you try that there is a short withdrawal period, but afterward, you will feel much better.
- Quit Drugs! There is an opportunity right now to get right. Seek out healing, seek out treatment, the time is now!
Take time to learn new skills
Online webinars, online lectures, and other learning opportunities are there right now for you to spend productive time.
There could be a silver lining to all of these unusual times.
It comes to you, and your family to decide how you want to react, or to choose to be pro-active.
