No, I am not going to dwell on COVID. You have heard enough about that. Rather, let’s think about how it has affected your lifestyle.
Your lifestyle evolved over time. Every one of your routines had a starting point. Every one of your routines became “routine” because it provided something for you. Few, if any of us, have not had our lifestyles majorly impacted by COVID. Whatever changed about your lifestyle might now have replaced, in part, or in full, something healthful that preceded it. Each passing day during which you behave in the changed unhealthful fashion makes it more and more likely that the new unhealthful routine will become a habit that replaces the pre-pandemic one, or that, at least, compromises it.
You do not need researchers to tell you what you know, but, for the record, Teresa Arora and Ian Grey (2020) reported some COVID-oriented epidemiological information about a few physical and mental health threats. They found that UK respondents reported 38% less sleep, 49% suffered more anxiety and depression. Arora and Grey suggested, too, that boredom and seclusion had caused snacking to increase. Similarly, they said that Australia in March 2020 saw liquor sales rising 86%, and in the United Kingdom and the United States the increases were 22% and 27%, respectively. Lebanon had a doubling of domestic violence calls and France had a 32% rise.
But enough of my telling you facts that seem obvious once you hear them. What is the personal relevance to your physical and mental health? Only you can determine that. But I can provide some areas for you to consider—health essentials about which I wrote in my book, Don’t Rest in Peace.
Think about whether your status progressed, declined, or remained static during the COVID onslaught relative to the following:
Cognitive-emotional functioning: More or less positive intellectual and affective experiences?
Interpersonal Relationships: Better or worse times with others?
Physical Conditioning: More fit or less fit?
Diet-Nutrition: Healthier or less healthy eating?
Work: More or less productive?
Relaxation-Recreation: Increased or decreased stress?
I expect that you, like I, had more trouble than usual in virtually all the health essential areas. But that is not my focus. Rather I advise, first, that you now look at all the health essential areas and determine where, if anywhere, they have changed for the worse. Second, ask yourself the extent to which the new, lower level of physical and mental health have started to become habitual. Third, what are you going to do starting today to eliminate the COVID-induced unhealthful habits? Fourth, and most important, what physically and mentally healthful habits will you begin to cultivate?
Whatever changed about your lifestyle might now have replaced, in part or in full, something healthful that preceded it. Each passing day during which you behave in the changed fashion makes it more and more likely that the new unhealthful routine will become a habit that replaces the healthful pre-pandemic one, or that, at least, compromises it. Don’t let that happen.
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