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July Newsletter
July Newsletter: Self Reflection on Post COVID-19
How has living with COVID-19 pandemic changed you, and how did your life choices change because of it? At Active Aging 365, my staff and I are comforted by the fact we are surrounded by people like you, who make wise healthy choices to thrive happy lives. To help you continue your venture for tangible health and delightful journey, we want to share a "deep introspective and mindfulness as an exercise" with you. Yes! It's as simple as "making your daily life easier and ensuring your future health better" with an important life decision you choose every day of your life, which is "happy."
Finding Comfort in the Summer Heat
As these last few months "zoomed" by (literally on ZOOM, which I love — it kept me close to friends, family, clients, and business partners in the comfort of each residence), I found some subtle joy and even a deep comfort in an odd place: hoping to be back in routine again, called the "Summer Heat!" Why do I feel this comfort? It's because I know when July is in full swing, we can finally say, "Good-bye to the unpredictable days and the events of June Gloom," and "Hello to our hot fun in the Summer sun and the festivities of July Bloom!" July earmarks the beginning of the hot Summer heat, but personally, focusing on the weather made me forget about the nagging COVID-19 going on in the last few months. The thought of redirecting my attention to the constant of July heat was comforting as I felt a little flutter of excitement for the Summer Vacation yet to come — even if it's only going to reside in my own backyard with sprinklers and BBQ with the family.
Navigating Uncertainty
Upon reflection, I realized why I was feeling comforted by anticipating a simple thought of this hot Summer weather. What I felt during this time of total disarray and random upheaval in my daily life has been more than unsettling and rather profusely confusing. However, knowing for certain that Summer Heat is inevitable — to have one remaining routine and constant — truly felt important to me. It felt good to have an absolute in my life, because a lot of important life events and routines have been completely disrupted even now. Furthermore, it has been even more difficult to wrap my head around the fact that the daily News media dictates my livelihood with ever-changing factors in both major to minuscule areas of daily life. For example, just a short year ago, everyone had family plans to travel about on weekends and holidays, but now we can't even walk on our own beaches. With an equally unsettling fact, everyone once had an office, businesses, or school as an infrastructure to be tethered, but now even an essential formality of our educational institutions has been completely disrupted. Most kids no longer have an expected date of return to actual school in August, and there is no certainty to return "as it was." Life is definitely unsettling and scary for most parents, with added anxiety-inducing stress, especially for those of us who like to be in control. To confuse the matter further, most places had started to ease off a bit for restaurants with some retail stores back in service. However, State officials are reversing the public roll-out rules, which may lead back to stronger lock-down mandates. The tighter restrictions are causing another spike of anxiety and stress for many people, and in lieu of all this uncertainty, I was hoping for total forward movements to our Summer freedom fun, like 4th of July, Independence Day.
Self Reflect: Find New Strength
The step-by-step assessment is important to complete because it will ensure you understand where your new strengths lie as well as what no longer works. Just like pruning a plant, cut out unnecessary things in life to make more room for what you find that works now. You can cut away the old and make room for new growth — especially for your personal health. If you are feeling skeptical, here is a little old school science to help you process and embrace what I have said thus far. Life has peaks and valleys throughout time, which is to be expected. However, what we are experiencing right now is not a peak or valley but a complete cessation of our lives prior to this pandemic. And I assure you, being forced to change your life, your habits and routines, in addition to the uncertainty of what the future holds, changes a person in the way one thinks, lives, and moves. It is exactly like the scientifically proven theories of "survival of the fittest" and adaptation. This dates back to Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection; one must adapt to survive. Thus, it is very reasonable to think that there is a significant chance that your strengths have changed or adapted to fit your new way of life.
Change: Positive Self
This is one of the major reasons that right now is the perfect time to sit down and take a hard look at how this new way of living has changed you. Change is a positive thing here, but to make change work for us instead of against us, we need to first understand exactly what each of us are dealing with on an individual level.
Goal: Take a Break
Now, when I say a purposeful assessment, I literally mean sitting down to complete an actual activity. (Yes, sit down and give yourself a break.) Think of it as taking a time-out for yourself. Remember, you are no good to anybody else if you are not taking care of yourself first. This self-assessment is going to help you take care of yourself; that is the goal.
Sit: Start with Pen & Paper
Please read the instructions carefully, as some of the words I use might first bring a definition to your mind that is different than the intended definition used here. So, pay close attention to each explanation.
Strength: What You Enjoy
To begin, find your inner strengths — and not physical (for now, although this is very important too). Assess the strengths you currently possess, like talent. Remember, you can be good at something and yet it brings no joy or sense of purpose, so leave those out for now. More importantly, think about what brings out a true sense of positive energy and enjoyment into your life. The reason we are assessing strengths this way is to help you function and perform at the highest level possible. Find things you think you are good at but leave out things you don't enjoy or things that bring you down. Again, in order to complete this exercise properly and to make it effective, you need to follow my directions closely. If you have never done anything like this before, it might feel a little odd or cumbersome when you first get started, but it will help you feel better each day.
Schedule Daily: Let the Ideas Flow
Make sure you schedule plenty of time dedicated to completing this activity. I encourage you to schedule time on a daily basis over the span of at least an entire week. The level of mindfulness and introspection this activity requires takes a significant amount of time. Additionally, once you get started, thoughts and ideas will come to you over time. Make sure the time you set aside will be uninterrupted time to reflect and record.
Journaling: Identify Strength
To begin, I want you to sit down and make a list of your strengths, keeping in mind the way I described what is considered to be a strength. Make a list of as many strengths you can think of that are relevant and helpful to you in your life as it is right now. For scientific explanation, studies show that people who feel like they have identified and utilize their strengths to the best of their ability in their life are happier and more productive than those who are not aware of their strengths. Studies also show that people who don't understand their strengths are unhappy, less productive, and face many difficulties in their ability to function on a daily basis. Thus, completing this activity to identify your personal strength is good for your happy mind! I understand that this type of self-reflection work might be new, so if you struggle with mindfulness or introspection, here are some tips below:
Outside In: Find Your True Emotions
Try and look at your behaviors from an outsider's point of view. In your mind, go back and think through your weekly routines; make a point to think about your actions and behaviors and note if they are having a positive or negative effect on you.
Record It: What Works for You
Also think about how different events and other people make you feel. Make sure to record all of the information that you deem important to figuring out what is working for you and what is working against you.
Be Honest: Strengthens Over Time
The point is to be truthful with yourself about your actions and emotions and how they are affecting your life. You have to be honest with yourself; your intentions do not count here — only actions and emotions that truly produce positive feelings or help your productivity or functionality count here.
Write It Down: Releases Stress
The action of writing down whatever it is that I am thinking or what I am grateful for brings me real joy, and it helps me cope with life. It is crucial in helping me understand my feelings in a much better and different way than before. When I did not engage in this behavior, I literally felt the hours, days, and weeks slip by until I stopped it with a positive action like journaling.
Journey Tap: Personal Insight
This is like a journey which helps me stay mindful about the things in my life and how they are affecting me. Just as like my own personal insight, I hope you will begin to feel happy and healthy by this tapped source of energy for you — just release stress.
Steps in Mental Exercise: Analyze What Feels Good
1 — After you have made your list of your current strengths, let's analyze and record how much or how frequently you utilize each strength daily. 2 — Next, analyze and record where in your life you are utilizing your strengths, as in what environment or setting you are in when utilizing your strengths. 3 — The last part is to analyze and record the people you are around when you are using one of your strengths. 4 — Also, make sure to record how the people in your life make you feel about yourself. For example, do they help you feel good about yourself and your life, or are they a negative force that is pulling you down? You want to make sure that you surround yourself with positive people who help lift you up.
Finally: Next Blog to Keep You Going
Also, please be on the lookout for our next blog post that is coming soon. This blog will continue on the same type of information we discussed in this newsletter, along with additional blog on "personal focus on values." Again, as life has changed, possibly too have your values or your priorities. So, stay tuned for more ideas and information on how to understand the changes in you that have come as a result of our change in life circumstances because of COVID-19.
STRIVE HAPPY and STAY HEALTHY. — Active Aging 365 Team
June Newsletter
June Newsletter: Alzheimer Awareness
June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. We at Active Aging 365 are extremely passionate and well educated in Alzheimer's, and we want to make sure you know that dealing with Alzheimer's is our specialty. We found that coping with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is extremely difficult on everyone in the family. There are many different aspects to consider when discussing an individualized care plan for the future of your loved ones and your entire family or support group. Since we specialize in Alzheimer's disease and this type of care plan in particular, we invite you to call us for your important first step to an initial consultation at (310) 962-7502. This month's newsletter is written a little differently than our other monthly newsletters. In an effort to provide our readers with as much information and education as possible, the newsletter is broken down into sections with headings that explain exactly what is covered in that specific section. The instructions written are highly detailed explanations that you will not find anywhere else. We also have provided comprehensive information about what it means to be a caregiver and where to find support. An extensive amount of time and expertise went into the writing of this newsletter. We sincerely hope that you find it to be insightful, instructional, and most importantly helpful.
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May Newsletter
May Newsletter: Healthy Focus on You!
As we get moving again mentally and emotionally to power through the remainder of the unforeseen challenges that lie ahead, our Active Aging 365 community is still facing our daily "new norm" orders from official reports and government recommendations. In order to power through, we want to share that May is among one of our favorite months; it is time when flowers are blooming, sun is shining, and Spring is staging all the additional fun days including: National Nurses Week, Cinco de Mayo on 5/5, Mother's Day on 5/8, Armed Forces Day on 5/16, Memorial Day on 5/25 and the National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. For this article, we want to direct your attention away from the 2 previous months dealing with the intensity of serious issues due to the coronavirus pandemic of COVID-19, and instead for this month in May reflect on a more hopeful, fun, and exciting topic. We want to help you focus on you! The best way to do this is to share happy topics of health and wellness, fitness and sports, and highlight the National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. May's National awareness campaign was created to help promote healthier living habits with the bigger goal of improving overall quality of life.
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April Newsletter
April Newsletter: The New Norm...
This year 2020 has brought unprecedented challenges, and now in the month of April, we are dealing with daily changes such as "Social distancing," "Wearing a face mask," and "Sheltering-in-place." These are the new norms that can be stressful to say the least, especially the "Shelter-in-place" mandate which have rolled out to each of our local communities. At the most rudimentary level, what is being asked of each person is to stay at home to "flatten the curve" because the uncertainty of the "apex" of this pandemic has yet to be reached. There are a few exceptions that allow mobility, including exception of travel for workers in the "essential industries," such as the grocery workers, pharmacists, aerospace fields, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, accountants, and take-out businesses. So when our jobs are considered non-essential or non-operable in the office, most Americans including many business owners are staying home or working from home.
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April Special Newsletter
Special April Newsletter: Reflecting on Health with Active Aging 365
This was written some years ago, yet it's truly relevant and really needed today! Thanks to writer Taylor Jones RD, we at Active Aging 365 would like to share with you our insight on managing your health. Hippocrates famously said, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food." It's true that food can do much more than provide energy. And when you're sick, eating the right foods is more important than ever. Certain foods have powerful properties that can support your body while it's fighting an illness. They may relieve certain symptoms and even help you heal more quickly.
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March Newsletter
March is Women's History Month: How to Live and Thrive in Today's World
In deference to women everywhere, we are springing into March by celebrating Women's History Month. From pioneers and suffragettes, to the iconic Rosie the Riveter, we would like to pay homage to all of the women who have come before us. To honor the unrelenting strength of character and valiant nature of the women who have paved the way for the women of today, we are grateful. At Active Aging 365, we believe the best way to show our gratitude is by living a long and healthy life.
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February Newsletter
National American Heart Month: Rejuvenate — Working It Out and Pumping It Up!
February is National American Heart Month. This month, we want to raise awareness across the nation about heart health and educate those around us to help prevent heart disease. Why do we care so much about Heart Health Month? It is pertinent to know that Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the US today for men and women. It is a problem we need to address by taking action and educating ourselves on how to help our hearts stay healthy. I am going to help you learn about heart health and show you how easy it is to take those first steps towards a more heart-healthy lifestyle — in just a few easy steps. This will be easy to comprehend information and education combined with some realistic suggestions to help you make some small changes that will increase your longevity by helping your heart stay healthy! For those of you on a more advanced level, congratulations! Just remember, the heart is a muscle, so keep pumping it up!
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January Newsletter
Welcome to 2020!
Welcome to year 2020! What an amazing year of opportunities and we are so excited to share our information and passion with you. As we look towards the future, we realize today is the best day ever and planning — there is no time like the present! New ideas and inventions happen in the future, but the purposeful planning starts now with the current information and input you have today. In our efforts at Active Aging 365 to help you make the best decision TODAY, we would like to share the following terms and research from our team members' research from 2019. Thanks Monique — so here we go…
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The Blog
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California State Elderly / Senior Resources
Access Paratransit of LA
Toll Free: (800) 883-1295 | Direct: (213) 488-1748 | TDD: (800) 826-7280 | FAX: (213) 270-6057
[email protected]accessla.org/home/Alzheimer's Association
National office: 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633
Tel: (312) 335-8700 | 24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900
[email protected]alz.orgArea 12 Agency on Aging
13975 Mono Way, Suite E, Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 532-6272 | (800) 510-2020
area12.orgCalifornia Assisted Living Assn (CALA)
455 Capitol Mall, Ste 222, Sacramento, CA 95814-4439
(916) 448-1900
caassistedliving.orgCalifornia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
7311 Greenhaven Dr., Suite 175, Sacramento, CA 95831
916-392-5111
aging.orgCalifornia Department of Aging
1300 National Drive, #200, Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 928-2267
aging.ca.govCalifornia Hospice and Palliative Care Association
3841 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834
916.925.3770 | Toll free: 1.888.252.1010
calhospice.orgCalifornia Medical Care Services / Dept of Health Services
714 P Street, Room 1253, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-0391
dhcs.ca.govFamily Caregiver Alliance
690 Market Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104
(800) 445-8107
caregiver.orgDownload — Additional Resources
Please note these are recommended resource sites listed here for your convenience and personal use only. https://lcpnurse.com
AA365 — Excel List of Resources — lcpnurse resource
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