The coronavirus has completely shifted and refocused the world, creating significant impacts. It’s fair to say that we’ve experienced major changes across the globe in both the economy and society as a whole. Here are some of the most significant impacts that you may have felt personally.

The Importance of Hygiene

Perhaps one of the most significant discoveries of the coronavirus pandemic is just how many people didn’t practice good standards of hygiene. This became apparent after hand wash and bars of soap started vanishing from supermarkets. Unclean hands are one of the easiest ways to catch viruses like Covid-19, the flu, and the common cold. It’s critical to one’s health to wash hands often and correctly. Lather up for at least twenty seconds and rinse thoroughly.

Our Mental Health Is Vulnerable

Various polls and media reports have suggested that mental health issues have increased during the pandemic. This could be because people have been stuck in their homes unable to socialize. It may also be due to the fact that individuals have been scared of getting sick, increasing issues with anxiety and similar health problems. It’s worth pointing out that if you are worried about your health you should be getting the right support from professionals such as PsychBC Telehealth. Professionals can ensure that you receive sound advice from an expert in the comfort of your own home.

Recognizing Toxic People

Other reports have suggested that numerous relationships have ended due to the lockdown. Many experts believe this is due to the fact that people are getting to know more about their partners and the people that they live with because they are spending more time together. While some couples have fared quite well in this situation, others haven’t been quite so lucky. It is possible you have discovered that your partner isn’t who you thought they were. They could actually impact your life negatively, and if that’s the case, then it might be time to consider making a change. A lot of people feel stuck in relationships, but it’s never too late to make the right decision for your mental wellness.

A Refocus on Exercise

Finally, more people are running and working out than ever before it seems. This could be because these individuals are bored with nothing to do. After all, everything is closed right now. However, it’s also possible that these new habits will stick even as the restrictions of the lockdown begin to lift. This could be a big positive of the coronavirus pandemic. It might just push people to be more mindful of their physical and mental wellbeing rather than taking it for granted.

As you can see, the coronavirus, although a devastating virus, can leave some significant impacts. I hope that through all of this, you’ve been able to experience some positives and that you can ultimately move forward in a world reshaped to be better for us all.

Love,

Suzie

Hearing loss is a concern for me. I suffer from hearing issues due to having small ear canals. Although my issues don’t involve my having to wear a hearing aid at this point, my hearing is impaired during some periods in between my visits to my ENT. I have to have a procedure done every three months to free my impacted ear canals and ear drums, and I experience a wonderful month-long period of freedom where I can hear everything perfectly. I don’t know what impact this will have on my long-term hearing ability. Thankfully, there are solutions should I develop permanent hearing loss from my condition.

Hearing Issues

Although you might think that it will never happen to you, hearing loss is one of the most common health changes that can affect us as we age. Roughly 13% of all people over the age of 12 live with some kind of hearing issues. If you’re worried you might have it or have been recently diagnosed or recommended to an audiologist, what can you do about it?

The right hearing aids

The first step when it comes to dealing with most types of hearing loss is to choose a hearing aid. There are some cases a hearing aid might not be the right choice, but for the majority, there are many types that can help. This includes discreet hearing aids, those that come with all kinds of noise reduction features, and rechargeable hearing aids so that you can charge them on the go rather than having to buy batteries. An audiologist can help you determine the best options that suit you.

The necessary accessories

The hearing aid may be the device you rely on primarily when it comes to helping you deal with any hearing issues. However, there are a host of accessories that can help you better use your hearing aid to make it even more effective. Popular accessories for hearing aids can include microphones that allow you to better pick up speech, remote controls that let you change settings without having to take the device out, and TV transmitters that allow you to connect directly to TV sound output. I’d suggest talking with your hearing health professional about which accessories might help you get the best use of your hearing aid.

Helpful apps

The future of hearing assistive technologies is a lot more digital. Already, a lot of hearing aids come with apps that let you configure settings through your smartphone easily. However, there are apps for hearing impaired people that can do a lot more. For instance, there are transcription apps that can quickly turn speech into text, if you’re having trouble understanding someone during a conversation. There are also apps that allow you to connect to important contacts like emergency service providers without having to communicate verbally, as well.

Assistive technologies in the home

There are technologies you can use in the home that can help you live your life without having to rely quite as much on your sense of hearing. Assistive technology can include things like alarm clocks, doorbell signalers, smoke and fire alarms, and even baby cry signalers. These devices can add visual cues to appliances that normally alert the user by sound alone. As such, you can better enjoy a more independent life at home with the right alerting and assistive technologies.

The technology used to improve the lives of those with hearing issues has seen huge leaps of development over the past decade, meaning that you can enjoy much the same quality of life with the right selection of aids. Hopefully, the tips above help you find them.

Stay awesome!

Love,

Suzie

Maintaining good health during the pandemic is possible. We’re living through extremely odd times. The coronavirus pandemic has taken the whole world by surprise. Very few of us were prepared. We suddenly found ourselves living under lockdown guidelines to prevent the spread of a deadly virus this year. For the past couple of months, the majority of the world has needed to take a break from the routine of living as social beings and stay put away from others. Talk about trying times!

A Big Ask

We’re being encouraged to work from home and not socialize with those we don’t live. We must only leave our home when absolutely necessary – to get food or medication. These restrictions can take a toll on us both physically and mentally. This new way of living has dumped a boatload of feelings on us and it’s hard to know how to deal with them. We’re stressed, overwhelmed, lonely, and tense.

Maintaining your health during the pandemic is critical. You must prioritize your health and follow guidelines to be safe. It’s important not only for our own safety, but for the safety and sake of others and the already overwhelmed healthcare systems.

If this new way of temporary living is starting to cause your nerves to rattle, we’ve got some ideas to help.

Here are a couple of ways to keep you as safe as possible and help you to maintain your health during the pandemic.

Use Telehealth Services

Many people are reluctant to go to the doctors right now, justifiably so. This is understandable. Nobody wants to spend time in a waiting room near people who are unwell. Also, spending time in close proximity to a doctor can raise a few nerve cells. They’re around unwell people all day long, which further adds risk to our own well-being. But, the power of the internet has gifted us with the ability to participate in Telehealth services. These serves allow you to talk to doctors via a video link. This means you can still have a consultation without having to worry about chances of transmission of the virus.

Try Home Workouts

It’s recommended that the average adult gets 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week. This advice is more important than ever because it helps us maintain our health during the pandemic in a way we can control.

Many of the traditional ways in which we’re used to exercising has changed, however, making it difficult to maintain our routine. The gym or the public outdoor spaces are closed. Personal trainers have cancelled sessions. Fitness classes have been called off. Sports teams have put training on hold. So what’s a person to do?

Many of us can’t make up from down, left from right when it comes to how to get our recommended exercise. But hey, don’t worry too much! There are different ways to hit your fitness goals.

Easy Tips

One tip is to head to an open local park to walk, jog, run, or cycle. Just make sure to socially distance and keep at least six feet between you and others who may be out exercising in the same area. Another option is to try home workouts. There are so many different free tutorials online that you’re bound to find something that ticks your boxes. Popular options include aerobic tutorials, yoga tutorials, ballet barre workouts, and more! I personally love Pop Sugar Fitness YouTube channel! Another that looks interesting that I’ll be checking out is yoga flow from Ohana Yoga in Denver.

So there you have it! These are just a couple of different things you want to do when it comes to maintaining good health during the pandemic. They’ll help you to deal with any sickness you may be experiencing right now and will also help you to maintain good all around health.

Meditate

I started using a new meditation app called Calm. I love it. It offers me a relaxing and gentle way to wake up to a new day. It helps me set my brain on a good wave pattern to set me up for a positive day. The meditation exercises are typically 10 minutes in length and are guided by a reassuring and pleasant narrator. They remind you how to stay focused while grooming your emotions to settle into a good groove. I always leave each session empowered to tackle whatever the day tosses at me.

Over to you. What’s your go-to method for maintaining your good health during the pandemic?

Stay Awesome,

Suzie Carr

Are rechargeable hearing aids right for you or someone you love?

When my father started to lose his hearing, he grew concerned that he’d miss out on parts of life. He struggled to hear bits and pieces of conversations. When people lose their hearing, they fear missing out on the important parts of life. Additionally, they can become off-balance due to hearing loss. If this is you or someone you love, I’ve compiled some information for you.

Using hearing aids can improve your hearing loss considerably. Opting for rechargeable hearing aids is a great option, and with the hyperlinked guide, you will learn why they may be a good option for you.

Benefits of Rechargeable Hearing Aids

Opting for rechargeable hearing aids will often be easier on you, as you don’t need to think about replacing the batteries. You place the hearing aids on their rechargeable docking station when you’re not using them to keep them charged. Using rechargeable hearing aids also means that you won’t lose them because when they’re not in your ears, they’ll be on the dock! Much better than placing them on the edge of a table.

When you’ve charged them entirely, they should last up to twenty-four hours on a single charge. Most people charge them overnight while they’re asleep.

Enhanced Sounds

When wearing these hearing aids, a significant factor you’ll notice is that the sounds appear clear and crisp even when you’re listening to the audio. So there’s no need to switch between earphones and hearing aids. They’ll also be tuned specifically to you so the sound will be more precise.

If the idea of swapping between settings as you change environments annoys you, most rechargeable hearing aids will automatically adapt to your surroundings seamlessly. This allows you to carry on with your day, taking the burden off your shoulders.

Environmentally Friendly and Cost-Effective

The joys of a these hearing aids are that you have no batteries. This means you’ll no longer need to pick up batteries from a store every few months. Batteries are known as one of the hardest items to recycle. Having a rechargeable hearing aid will mean you can help benefit the environment.

Although rechargeable hearing aids are the most expensive to buy, you’ll find that you’ll save a lot of money by not purchasing extra batteries. You’ll get a much better product that does more for you and for a cheaper cost.

In the long run, you’ll have a stress-free time using rechargeable hearing aids. With the automatic adaption to your surroundings, you’ll save a lot of time and frustration than manually changing them. Changing the environment one step at a time by not using any additional batteries will make a massive difference by saving you a lot of money in the long run.

If you’re in the first stages of getting a hearing aid or you currently have a regular aid, then considering a rechargeable hearing aid may be a better option for you and your lifestyle. If you need more information, contact a professional audiologist to talk about the possibilities for you and to transform your hearing, to improve your life.

Here’s to great health and wellness, friends!

Love,
Suzie

Joining a book club is one of the most effective ways to understand what readers really desire and expect from a novelist. Though, as writers, we often feel guilty for taking time away from our writing. The easiest way to solve this is to make yourself accountable by joining a book club and committing to being an active participant.

I’m a novelist who writes sapphic blended romance novels. I noticed a major improvement in my own writing when I joined my book club.

You’ll gain much as a book club member.

You’ll gain a three dimensional perspective on what is most important in a book. Some of the greatest benefits and writing lessons I’ve learned have come directly from my book club meetings.

Join a Book Club to Read More

To be a better writer, read more. Writers have doled out this advice to aspiring novelists forever. A well-read writer is someone who is better equipped to churn out words that matter to a story. The more writers read, the more they will understand the subtle nuances that get readers turning pages. So, get your reading glasses ready, and hone your skills in other areas.

Join a Book Club to Read Stuff You Never Would’ve Read

You’ll read the good and the bad. Everyone has a different opinion on what creates that urge to flip to the next page when their eyes are tired but their curiosity says full steam ahead. You’ll be exposed to books that will take you on journeys you never imagined traveling. You’ll read outside your comfort zone, reach higher into the nebulous world of fantasy perhaps, the intoxicating rush of a heated romance, and turn onto the fast lane of action. This will widen your perspective and grant you a front-row seat to a whole new world of literature.

Join a Book Club to Gain Insight into the Minds of Readers

We’ve all said at one point, “Gosh I’d love to be a fly on the wall right about now.” Well, as a writer, there is no greater gift of insight than that of gaining access to the inner workings of the reader’s mind as she pours over words crafted by a fellow novelist. To understand what readers think about characters, motives, themes, plots, is to understand what makes a great book a great book. What better clarity can a writer possess?

A book club sits you on center stage in front of your readers. The view is spectacular and eye-opening.

Wishing you all the best,

Suzie Carr, novelist

P.S. Let’s keep the conversation flowing… has joining a book club helped you become a better writer?