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Self- Care Agenda for 2026

Hi everyone! I hope you're doing well and thinking about self-care for yourself. I started 2026 tired - no, exhausted. As I've mentioned in previous posts, 2025 was jam-packed with doctor's visits for my husband, son, and self on top of checking on my 80-year-old mother and 83 year-old father who are both in the nursing home, completely helpless, unable to walk, each with their own type of dementia, you get the idea. And we can't forget the housework, deep cleaning efforts, daily meals, washing dishes daily, 2 - 3 laundry days a week, making weekly grocery lists, large biweekly grocery visits, alternating small biweekly grocery visits, books that need to be written. I'll admit, housework, grocery visits, and walking in and out of doctor's visits (parking far distances from the large buildings full of offices), and other shopping was my only exercise. Which was a lot and I felt like it was enough.

Albeit, my heels started hurting in 2025, and my knees, hips, and shoulders were hurting more. And I developed a strange rash on my chest and forearms after a cold we had in February last year. In December 2025, my doctor started me on turmeric with black pepper for inflammation, vitamin D for bone and immune health, and magnesium glycinate for anxiety and better sleep. I started taking multivitamins for energy and Allegra allergy pills for hives/rash/postnasal drip. I still take OTC sleeping pills and low-dose prescription anxiety meds. And I still haven't been sleeping well every night and the rash would not go away.

Now, after taking the turmeric with black pepper for inflammation, the rash is gone and my shoulder pain has diminished. And we had another cold the week before Christmas 2025 that did not cause the rash to flare up again thankfully. So, I have started regular exercising again (20 - 30 minutes of strength training, toning, walking in place [harder than it sounds]). I completely stopped this routine exercising after we had the cold last February. I felt too tired and too busy.

I'm happy to report that, now, my knees, hips, and heels are already feeling better in the 3 days I have exercised within the last 5 days. And my energy level has already improved, which is going to be helpful for another busy year. All because I'm getting the exercise my body and brain were missing. The only difference between this year and last year is that there will be slightly fewer doctor's visit and much more writing, Etsy listings, training on programs that will help me improve my sales, listings, and writing. 

So, I want to encourage you to find an exercise routine that suits you. Check with your doctor to find out what she/he recommends. YouTube is full of sitting exercises, dancing exercises, walking exercises, low impact, high impact, you name it. Just start somewhere and move. I have my eye on a walking pad too (a compact treadmill) to use on days I'm resting my muscles or days I might be sick and don't feel like doing the higher-impact workouts. Or it will be great to warm up the heart rate and muscles and cool down the heart rate and muscles for YouTube videos that don't provide those before or after a medium to high workout.


image courtesy of Ulfario via Amazon

I also have started meditating again this week. I had stopped doing that as well. And I'm hoping that meditating daily will reduce my anxiety levels. No matter what, sleep should be better by the end of the month even if I have to stay on the anxiety and sleep meds and supplements.

Next, I need to start a high-protein eating/drinking habit to make these other changes in my lifestyle work better and hopefully lose some weight. I know both the protein and weight loss will greatly improve what I'm already improving with exercise and supplements. Hydration is a key factor I want to improve on as well. So, I'll need your prayers. Because I prefer to eat and drink bad carbs - chips, caffeinated soft drinks, sugary snacks. I'll be praying for a healthier you this year as well. 

Blessings,

Patricia

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