After almost two years of isolation, disrupted routines, stress, grief and loss….. how do we begin to identify the root cause of disease? For many patients, the stress that was acute before the pandemic, has now become chronic. Those that were feeling burned out before the pandemic now find themselves drained, out of capacity, and suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally.
At times, the idea of treating the root cause feels overwhelming and buried too deeply amongst layers of poor habits, mental health challenges, and physical restrictions. But while the concerns are often multi-layered and complicated, pieces of the solution can be simple.
So where do we begin?
As I muddle through this ever-changing landscape personally and professionally, I encourage my patients to keep a few things in mind:
- Reset the bar
- Count the ‘small wins’
- Aim for the ‘low hanging fruit’
I was recently reminded of a podcast I listened to over a year ago about the Joy of Mediocrity. This podcast posed the idea that by resetting the bar/our expectations, we can feel more fulfilled. I think this is such a valuable lesson. Between social media pushing ideals of perfection, and our own expectations of still doing what “we used to be able to do”, the bar is too high and often leaves us feeling dissatisfied, burned-out, and unhappy.
So why not reset our own expectations?
Secondly, I think we all deserve a bit more credit for adapting and surviving this pandemic! It’s easy to get ‘lost in the mud’ when our environment is constantly shifting. It can be tough to tackle the big stuff. So instead, I suggest counting the small wins. Stop to ‘pat yourself on the back’ when you do an extra loop walking the dog, make a healthy meal, enjoy a slow tea, or turn off our phones to have a real conversation with someone. Those are small wins and they deserve recognition.
Lastly, I encourage myself and others to pick “SMART” goals to focus on. My definition of SMART is: small, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-specific. SMART goals can be a manageable way to tackle the things that are within reach – aka the ‘low hanging fruit’. For example, if weight loss is your goal, a SMART goal may include making a healthy meal 2x/week. If fatigue is one of your concerns, aiming to be in bed one hour earlier 3 nights of week may be your SMART goal.
Although treating the root cause can sometimes feel daunting, reminding ourselves that we are adaptable and can feel well again, is key. We live one day at a time so why not tackle life’s problems one day at a time as well?
If you find yourself getting overwhelmed or challenged by too many barriers, let us help. We’ve all been there – stuck in the mud – and our team at Sprout can be your helping hand.
Happy Holidays and we look forward to seeing you again in 2022!
In health,
Dr Chanel, ND
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