Congratulations! You survived the darkness of pandemic and the new year is bringing us new hope. Under the shadow of the COVID 19 pandemic, more than 83.4 M infected and 1.82 M lives lost globally with the highest infection rate (19.9M)/death toll (344K) in the US, as of 12/31/2020. The past year was marked by illness, pain, stress, fear, sadness, isolation, depressed economy, which impacted all of us. We are living through an unprecedented period and for better or worse, learned some important lessons from this historical experience.

Lessons Learned From the COVID 19 Pandemic

• Prevention is better than cure – wear a face mask, washing hands, social distancing and avoid crowds prevent the virus spread. Don’t underestimate these simple things we can do to support our health care system and stop the pandemic. Practicing good hygiene will help you prevent a lot of diseases and not necessarily only coronavirus.
• Public Health is everyone’s humanitarian responsibility. Every life matters. Your action matters to the people around you. Make yourself accountable for protect yourself, your family, and your community.
• Aging population is vulnerable. The risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Older people face significant risk of developing severe illness if they contract the disease due to physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying health conditions. While you can ‘t change your age, you can change your unhealthy mindset and behavior to improve your immune system and promote well-being.
• Money can buy medicine but not health. Health is never a guarantee, even for those who are young. Value self-care; nurture your body and mind with healthy fuels.
• Appreciation - Time with loved ones should not be taken for granted. Take time to appreciate the extra moments with those you care about most, and remember fondly the time you had with those you’ve lost. Appreciate time at home, even during quarantine. New challenges come every day, but each challenge is an opportunity to grow stronger.

As living through 2020 and moving forward, we prioritize health and wellness, begin with the new year. Quality Life Forum health coaching is your valuable resource for healthy aging. Stay connected and strong to end the pandemic.