Written by: Georgette LePage, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Here we are, two years after the start of what most of us thought would be a few weeks of a short disruption to normal life. Little did we know the scope of what would happen and how we would all be affected for over two years. Only a handful of people in the world who survived the Spanish flu could ever say that they lived through a pandemic until Covid-19 hit the planet. Think about that for a second; it is the one event in history that we all have in common at this point. We had no idea what we’d have to go through and when we’d get back to “normal”. Time just kept passing from two weeks to two months to two years with so many challenges and tests of our endurance, stamina, and mental and physical health. IT. WAS. EXHAUSTING.
Experts will gather facts and will publish many books to document the history of the pandemic, for sure. People will hold on to good and bad memories, but everyone will carry the effects of this ordeal for a long time to come. That being said, we can’t change the past, so our next step is to decide how to take care of the mental and physical health that is left behind. Post pandemic mental and physical health is now front and center, so how are you going to take care of yourself to move forward to better health? As a health and life coach who has been practicing more than ever throughout the pandemic, I have witnessed the damage that people have suffered and how they have struggled during this crisis and even now as it is winding down. My biggest message to my clients lately is to acknowledge where you are in your health journey, forgive yourself for slips and mistakes, choose a few specific health goals, and start to make changes TODAY. Understanding that this was an unprecedented event, forgive yourself for how you mishandled some aspects of it. First, list what you did well and celebrate that. Believe it or not, there were many silver linings for many people. If you have something to celebrate, know that you did it differently than most people.
Next, list what you didn’t do so well, and give yourself grace and forgiveness so that you can learn the lesson and move on to make changes. You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge and own!
This step shows you where you are so that you can decide where you are going and what results you want tto achieve. Reflecting and facing the facts will point you in the right direction to make changes. It was very common for people to miss dental and medical checkups, so if you did, make your next appointment TODAY! Regular checkups and visits to your doctor are critical to your health. If you had put off a medical procedure, reschedule it TODAY! Time is of the essence to prevent further health issues. Put your health appointments on your calendar right away and honor them so that you get the health and dental care that you need. The average person gained 29 pounds during COVID…29 pounds! If this was your case, it’s time to get some healthy eating and moving goals written TODAY! If you are depressed, it’s a great time to see a therapist or a counselor. There are so many resources available to help you! You are worth it!
Common coping skills that people used to numb their feelings during the pandemic were excessive drinking, drug use, overeating, compulsive shopping, tv binge-watching, social media overload, and overspending. Any one of these would have derailed your health during “normal” times, so just imagine what people have been through and how they must now dig their way out to choose better health habits.
Here are a few steps to help you to make your post-pandemic health a priority:
Identify what your unhealthy habits were and be specific.
Forgive yourself for what happened.
Decide to move forward to create better health.
List 2-3 simple, realistic goals in a reasonable time frame.
Take ONE action step TODAY!
Keep taking small steps each day to move toward your goal.
Seek the partnership of a health and life coach if you need help getting started.
NOTE: Seek the help of a therapist or counselor for depression and other serious mental conditions. This is highly recommended! Recovery on an emotional and physical level will not be an overnight experience for most people. It takes unlearning bad habits and reframing new patterns of behavior; both of which take time, patience, and compassion in order for the mindset shift to be long lasting. Most people find it overwhelming and scary to take such steps alone, so hire a health and life coach to guide you and to hold you accountable. As a coach, I am ready and willing to help you get the results that you want. Let’s solve your health problems together! It truly will make the world of difference to be on this journey with a professional who is ready to get you started. It’s the best gift that you could ever give yourself! You are worth it! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!
Georgette LePage, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Georgette LePage is a certified Health and Life Coach who empowers women all around the world to lose their mental weight first in order to then lose their physical weight. Her approach is honest, real, clear, and genuine with transformational habit change and mindset reset methods. Georgette's energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Her focus on a healthy lifestyle inspires her clients to leave behind old diet culture thoughts and patterns in order to embrace fresh and simple ways to live their best lives without diet drama. Empowerment, self-confidence, and self-care are cornerstones of the programs that she offers. She helps her clients to get the results that they want with realistic, real-life strategies. She lives her own life the way she coaches others. She listens to what her clients want and guides them with compassion and accountability as they achieve their goals. She works with people of all ages (teens to seniors and every age in between) who are ready to live a healthier, more joyful life. Georgette also hosts the talk radio show WHY WEIGHT? with Dr. Pat Baccili on Transformational Talk Radio. In addition to speaking English, she also is fluent in French and Spanish. Georgette has 32 years of experience as a World Language Teacher, as well. Her coaching motto is: Feel better. Look better. Be your best self!
