Community, Healthcare, Latest News

Learning to put yourself first

With March moving in and almost a full year around the sun since our world turned upside down with the  COVID-19 pandemic, I think a lot of us can say, “What just happened?” 

Quarantine, telework, online school and social distancing have almost transformed our everyday lives completely. A lot of us stayed indoors, became much more sedentary and maybe even felt a little hopeless for our everyday lives returning to normal.

 With this year starting off a little differently than we hoped, I want to spread more positivity and a healthier mindset that we all might have let go of this past year.

 Hi, I’m Christelle Temple and I’m here to be a guide to self-care, motivation and overall well-being.

 It’s hard being secluded and even harder being trapped inside. But no matter the circumstance, learning to adapt is vital. We’ve all had changes in our lives that seemed abrupt or unwanted. Being upset by this is normal; we’re only human. What makes you the person you learn to become however is how you overcome the adversity life throws at you. 

We never expected 2020 to turn out the way it did, but that shouldn’t stop your ambitions or goals.

 So maybe going to the gym isn’t an option or eating at your favorite restaurant every Friday is no longer on the agenda. That doesn’t mean you should quit or give up on things that used to work and make you happy in your life. Learn to be comfortable with change, embrace it! 

This year no matter what challenges you may face, I want everyone to realize a healthy lifestyle starts with a healthier mindset. The same way you practice a sport to get better, you have to practice positive thinking to be in a better state of mind. The way you think and talk about yourself matters.

 In times like this it’s easy to forget how important taking care of yourself is. With exercise tips, mindful eating and positive thinking, I hope to transform this year for others to know that you can always turn a negative into a positive. 

Even if 2020 brought you down and felt like a kick straight to the face, 2021 is a year of taking back your life, your happiness and your will. Find your own way in these times and learn new ways to expand your horizons.

 With social distancing and having a lot of shops/stores closed down, you might have found it hard to enjoy  life.

 Being open to new ideas like cooking, home workouts, DIY projects,  picking up a new hobby like knitting or playing some new game you saw online can help. Interacting with others may not always be an option, but learning more about yourself always is.

 Getting to know yourself more may sound crazy, but in your busy life, neglecting yourself is often common.

If anything, this past year gave us a lot of time to think and  reflect on ourselves.

What do you want out of this life; what do you want for yourself; most importantly what do you do everyday to make an impact in your life for a better tomorrow? 

 I  want to expand your mindset, change your outlook and help you start to manifest a better life for yourself, no matter the circumstances. That’s what I’ll focus on in my new weekly column in The Dominion Post. 

Putting yourself first isn’t selfish; it’s important. 

A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found  many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.

Take a second to close your eyes, think of all the adversity you’ve dealt with this past year and acknowledge that you have been  strong and resilient. This pandemic has been hard on many, and you are not alone. Remember to breathe, maybe write down something you are thankful for, and always remember tomorrow will come.

 My dad used to  tell me, “This too shall pass,” whenever I was upset or down. That quote really applies to all things in life. You  made it to today. You are stronger than you think and smarter than you know. 

This is the start to a different chapter in your life. Be excited, get ready and know that you are more important than anything else. 

Christelle Temple is an WVU honors freshman. She contributes a weekly column on health, fitness and motivation. Follow her on Instagram @ellesbells2. Contact her at columns@DominionPost.com