A New Website Is Launched!
May 17, 2020
K. Samuel Lee, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Executive Director
[I am excited that The Clinebell Institute’s new website has been launched. Some web pages are still under construction. They should be operational soon. I hope we can provide helpful information for healthier living through our website.]
Our website is launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. I tell others what to do and what not to do to stay healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. But I made a personal mistake two weeks ago when I went for Costco shopping. Thinking that I would be locked in at home for a long time, I bought too much “junk” food. I bought a box of Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars, a box of Hawaiian Kettle Potato Chips, and a box of Biscoff cookies, all in the same shopping cart. You know the Costco sells them in big boxes. The plan was of course to consume them slowly over an extended time period. I finished them up all in ten days. I am indulging, giving way to my own unstated desires.
I listen daily to the international, national, state, and local news around the clock. Listening to news, I find my anxiety level elevated. How do I know this? By observing myself: the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to turn on YouTube to watch the news; I consume four times more coffee than normal, and eat junk food around the clock; I sometimes sit and watch TV, dozing off in my seat; my sleep cycle has been affected; my workload has not been reduced and it is not easy to concentrate. Yes, I feel anxious about what’s going on around the globe. I feel pain for the people suffering because they or their family members become ill. I worry about those who do not have the luxury of staying home, working at home, and being paid a salary. I worry about the economy. I worry about the politics in the US. I worry about the health and safety of our clients and counseling center staff. Some of these concerns are legitimate. But these concerns should not be a reason for me to give way to my own unstated desires and to indulge.
I suggest myself and you to do the following to help our indulgence:
• Structure daily activities: As much as possible, stick with the regular daily routines. Go to bed and wake up every day at the designated times. I set time limits for watching and reading news, not more than 90 minutes per day.
• Be intentional with daily activities and set limits: After consuming so much junk food, I set limits to how many cups of coffee and snacks to consume a day. I asked my partner to help me be accountable with my limits. I tell myself in the morning that “This is another working day and I am blessed that I can go to work.” Even if I work at home, I take my morning shower, shave, put on work clothing to do Zoom meetings.
• Be physically active: I take frequent breaks from my work and go upstairs to connect with my partner. I work at home standing up. Since the pandemic began, I have been walking a minimum of an hour daily. Of course, there were days I did not feel like walking and stayed home. When I decide not to walk, I don’t beat myself down. Because I don’t have to be a perfectionist.
Office Manager
Rev. Ellen Livingston
Jeanne Roy
Wytske Visser