Health Promotion
Whilst I write this month’s blog post, I am sitting here thinking about the original plan that I had for the post I would share with you in April. It was to be all about health promotion and our involvement with the biannual Hunter Disability Expo which has now been postponed. We will still participate in the expo and we look forward to sharing our expertise with everyone in the community but for now we readjust to this temporary way of life.
In light of the rapidly changing COVID-19 developments, I still wish to speak to you about health promotion but i’d like to focus on how it affects and supports our wellbeing. It is so important, particularly in this time of uncertainty, fear and upheaval.
The world health organization defines health promotion as “A way in which to enable people to increase control over their own health. It covers a wide range of social and environmental interventions that are designed to benefit and protect individuals health and quality of life by addressing and preventing the root causes to ill health, not just focusing on treatment and cure”.
This definition relates significantly to what our society is currently implementing to ensure better health. Our government in particular is taking measures to ensure that each individual and family increases control over their own health.
So many of our families are taking that control into their own hands. They are self-isolating, looking at the individual needs of their family and reducing the risks to protect themselves.
However, our measures to promote good health and wellbeing don't stop at controlling our physical health through isolation.
So, what do we need to do when we self-isolate for our mental health? How do we stop ourselves from going stir crazy and ensuring that we remain calm and use the time wisely?
This is where the power of our own self-regulation and sensory processing capacities all come into play. Whilst we are in a very uncertain time that is anxiety provoking, remember that it is ok to recognise these feelings of fear and move through them. Staying with these emotions however, will only hold onto negativity and continue to impact our homes and households with more uncertainty and fear. Staying with this pattern of negative emotion is not conducive or helpful in supporting our health, it inadvertently lowers our immune system and increases the risks of becoming unwell.
So how can we promote more positive thought in order to increase our health and quality of life, with love, with compassion, faith and trust that we will all get through this together? Let’s begin with a few things you can focus on to change your world for the better:
Mindfulness: ask yourself, how can we be thankful and positive amongst all of this negativity? How can I be thankful for what I have right now and transfer these thoughts and actions onto our children? Take a moment out to be mindful each day with yoga, quiet time or meditation.
Gratitude: give thanks for what you currently have. What are 3 things you are grateful for today? Write your 3 things down everyday, and continue to build your gratitude list over time.
Physical activity: This is a powerful tool for us as adults but it is even more important for our children. They still need to be experiencing nature, moving their bodies and learning through play. This is what will be keeping their minds and body busy and supporting a continued positive outlook on the world. Remembering the more love and support they are feeling, the safer they feel, the calmer they feel. Try some yoga, obstacle courses and challenges in the house or backyard or taking the bikes out and going for a ride around the block.
This then leads me to the next important point that i’d like to talk about - social and environmental interventions.
There are so many things we can do today, that despite our social distancing or what I prefer to call it ‘physical distancing’, we can do to still be as social as ever. Physical distancing for this period of time does not mean that our communication with each other has to stop, it simply means building up new ways to support each other. I don’t know about you, but right now I think socializing and connecting with our friends, family and the community is more important than ever. We are so lucky to live in a time where technology bridges the gap with communication. Make use of it in safe ways for you and your family.
Please also ensure that you are taking the time for your own social connections separate to your children. You need support just as much as your children do.
As a parent you are now juggling more hats than ever and although this may be overwhelming, try to reframe the fear and appreciate the uninterrupted time with your children.
As we move to online and home learning, I urge you to have a look at your home environment. Here are a couple of things to be mindful of and to help with this transition:
Create a work space in your home if possible to separate normal home life and play from school tasks.
Set up a routine to best support your child throughout each day. We know that our children love consistency, and providing a set morning routine, lunch time, afternoon and evening routine will be vital.
In this time of stress, it is going to be more beneficial to work on the everyday life skills that our children need to get through life. Teach them how to make their own lunch, or additional cooking skills.
It’s time to get their hands dirty and reconnect with nature. Do they know how to make their bed, mow the lawn or how to garden?
Academics are important yes- and working out time each day to allow that to happen is great, but try to make it fun!! Do some colouring in, read stories with your children and connect to them. These activities are not going to be achievable if you and your children are stressed and worrying about academic achievement.
Remember all children learn through joy, fun and play. As OT’S we are all about turning life skills into fun activities to become independent. Chat to us if you need some help!
Don’t forget the importance of mindfulness, gratitude, movement or yoga in your day! Teaching your children to stop and take a moment and be thankful, to breathe or to move their body is great for everyone’s health right now!
Truthfully, as a community we are heading into unchartered territory. Let's remember to all stick together, reach out to everyone and make sure we are all doing ok. Please don’t forget to be mindful of our local businesses that are going through a tough time and try to help them out where you can!
For me, I’ll be working away from this end to continue to support you all in the best way that we can. At Explore and Soar we thrive on problem solving and the challenge to better support our community. Contact us if there is something that you all would love to see from us.
Now more than ever you may be noticing that your child needs a helping hand, that’s what we are here for! So please reach out!! Even if we can’t see you face to face we will begin running online intervention strategies as our environment continues to change - we will have more information on this shortly via our website. Please reach out now if you are interested in taking part as we can start your sessions, one-on-one immediately.
Until then I will be doing dance parties between meetings, meditating, connecting with you all as much as possible, continuing to buy take away coffees from my local friends and sharing as much love as possible.
Stay safe, spread positivity and reach out if you need us!
Jess