JOURNAL
Avoiding health risks during a volatile election: Strategies to protect your mental health
As American enters into the final week of the 2020 Elections, long voting lines, divisive politics, and political attack advertisements are increasing stress levels that are just as historic as the current rate of early voting. The American Psychological Association reports that nearly 70% of respondents to a recent survey say that the elections are a significant stress source. As votes are counted, and our nation learns next week who will lead the next four years of the government, it's important to note that panicking about politics is a bipartisan experience (Chatterjee, 2020). Here are some key takeaways to help you and others in the week ahead.
Is remote work a permanent trend?
At the onset of the pandemic, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended that employers allow flexible working when appropriate or possible. Eight months later, in November of 2020, many employees are still working remotely full-time or in a hybrid model that splits a percentage of time working remotely and spending a few days at an office location. As many offices begin to close the calendar year and turn toward the future, employees, finance professionals, human resources directors, and CEOs are all questioning what the future of work will look like after the COVID-19 pandemic.
6 Tips to Deal With Financial Stress
There are plenty of things to be stressed about, but for many Americans, financial stress continually outranks everything else.1 Financial anxiety is also linked to physical and mental health issues, such as high blood pressure, headaches, and depression.2
But what’s the right way to deal with financial stress? And how do you lower it while working toward financial stability? Here are six ways to ease your mind about money problems so you can start feeling better in body, mind, and budget.
Income Inequality impact during COVID-19 - Why are some doing better than others?
In America, we embrace capitalistic qualities, and we accept that individuals and businesses who take risks and work hard will benefit from higher incomes. We assume that higher incomes divide us only in our ability to accept a difference in our quality of dinner, and our ability to afford luxury vacations, spacious homes, and overpriced vehicles. We acknowledge that these aspects of our lives will not be equal, and we accept this as fair. But, as Americans continue to understand the full impact of COVID-19 on physical health, mental health, and financial health, a few are just beginning to realize that income inequality separates more than only purchasing power.
An avid newsreader now knows that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted minorities and people with disabilities who face multiple barriers in access to essential services (Myers, 2020). Many Americans celebrated healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, and essential employees on social media channels and displays in front of homes at the pandemic onset. Unknowingly, or unwillingly not acknowledging that remote work for everyone is not possible.This is true not only because of the difference in occupations but also because people's ability to work from home is linked closely with the availability internet. Individuals with poor internet connections at home, even in areas with high internet access
Can exercise help prevent Covid-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic has made many of us appreciate long runs, hiking, and exercising outdoors more than ever before. As we all deal with abnormal amounts of stress and anxiety, more individuals are leaning on exercise to cope with these feelings during such an unusual time. Health experts often discuss the impact that regular exercise has on our overall quality of life. But is it an effective COVID-19 prevention strategy?
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, no scientific data currently exists on the relationship between exercise and its impact on coronaviruses. Still, there is evidence that exercise can protect individuals from other viral infections. Each exercise session mobilizes immune cells that recognize and kill virus-infected cells through recirculation and releases proteins that can help maintain immunity. This means that individuals who exercise regularly are often more resistant to infections and recover quickly if they become infected with a virus (Simpson, 2020).
Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke via Kaiser Permanente
Parts of Northern California are currently experiencing poor air quality due to fires throughout our region. Smoke from wildfires creates unhealthy air. Everyone should follow basic precautions to stay healthy. People who have respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD need to be extra careful.
Why is wearing a face-mask so political?
Yesterday, a good friend of mine posted a passionate video of a woman on Facebook defending her choice not to wear a mask in public places. And I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Still, I decided not to post a personal response. Instead, I posted this video created by the University of Michigan School of Public Health explaining how all of the public health measures recommended by experts makes an impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19. Other individuals who responded were not entirely objective and were shockingly more political, which made me wonder how wearing face masks become a political debate in America? And, is it just as simple as Democrats support wearing masks but Republicans do not?
In early June, the Pew Research Center conducted a poll on American's face mask-wearing behavior. The survey discovered that mask-wearing is indeed becoming a partisan issue. Democrats are more likely to say they wore a mask all or most of the time in the past month (76% vs. 53%) (Igielnik, 2020). While only 49% of conservative Republicans have reported wearing a mask all or most of the time in the past month – 49% compared with 60% of moderate Republicans (Igielnik, 2020).
Support Services: If you are experiencing personal strain or other challenges during this pandemic.
We’re in this together. Below is a list of support services from Kaiser Permanente California.
The services below are also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help you.
Helpful tips to support the movement safely.
When our son was an infant, my husband and I chose a childcare center that was both income and racially diverse. We were aware of our privileges, and we wanted to ensure his formative years involved positive experiences with classmates with different backgrounds. However, when we moved, those options in our small Indiana town for elementary school are virtually nonexistent. In Indiana, 83.59% White, 9.33% Black, 2.18% Asian, and 2.45% two or more races. While we continue to have conversations at home, I know it's not enough to undo the systemic racist messages he undoubtedly encounters through American culture.
I knew that as the Black Lives Matters protests began to sweep our nation, I was going to take him to one. However, as someone who closely follows the public health industry, I was also aware of the risk. I wanted the choice to be easy, but honestly, I wrestled with my decision for days and even minutes before we left for the protest. While contemplating how to enrage my son beyond conversation, I started researching ways to protest with children safely. Below is a summary of what I found, as well as a few tips I picked up from our experience.
The remedy for a great night's sleep may be hiding in your kitchen.
The remedy for a great night's sleep may be hiding in your kitchen.
If you are experiencing sleepless nights, you are not alone. According to the CDC, more folks are having difficulty sleeping, which may affect your health. Sleeplessness has been linked to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. As noted by Kaiser Permanente, there are tricks to a better night’s sleep, and they may be hiding in your kitchen.