by Anna Marie Trotman
It may feel strange to be reading about “The Best of 2020” because you would have to be hiding under a rock not to know that this has been a doozy of a year. COVID-19 has taken a toll on our physical, mental, and social well-being. Life has been disrupted for young and old alike, many of us have lost loved ones. Some have lost jobs and struggle to maintain some sense of balance. Yet, with all that said, we have also found new ways to connect, care for each other, and cultivate our resilience.
So with that, maybe we can look back over the past 365 days and make a list of the best of!
The 2020 “Best of the Best” in Health and Wellness
Mindfulness came to the forefront with Meditation apps, YouTube videos, Podcasts and lets us not forget Zoom get togethers. We know that the benefits of mindfulness in our everyday lives cannot be overstated, but even more so during times of uncertainty, anxiety, and stress. The ability to stay in the present moment, focusing on what we can control, practicing gratitude, and choosing how we want to respond is critical to our resilience.
Some Birth Center patients experienced mindfulness over Zoom, guided by Anna Marie Trotman, Myrna Moxham, and Peggy Lutes, they were able to put the challenges of life into perspective and move forward with a little less anxiety. To explore more ways to deepen this practice here are a couple best of 2020 links.
The 12 Best Meditation Apps For 2020 (Women’s Health)
20 Best Mindfulness Meditation Podcasts of 2020 (Positive Psychology)
The 7 Best Meditation Books of 2020 (Verywell Mind)
Fitness
Like most other things in our lives, fitness looked very different in 2020. With gyms and group fitness classes shut down, home fitness took on a whole new look. Movement became even more important in supporting our physical and mental health. Walking and hiking took the lead in getting people outside of their homes. Virtual streaming workouts (yoga, boot camp, trampoline, you name it) have helped to provide a sense of community even when we cannot work out together. You don’t need a Peloton to get the perfect workout. Here is one best of the best, a home gym!
The 7 Budget-Friendly Essentials You’ll Need to Create a Home Gym
Cooking and Baking
This has to be one of the best of the best for 2020. Many of us got back into the kitchen. Instagram resembled a bakery window over the past year; it seemed like everyone (and their mother, sister, brother, and father) was baking bread. Yeast was disappearing off the shelves faster than toilet paper! As we move into 2021, let’s make a list of some favorite recipes. Here are some easy dinner recipes and healthy food blogs to keep the trend going.
23 Simple Sheet Pan Suppers (Southern Living)
93 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes We’ve Got on Repeat (Bon Appetit)
36 of Our Best Bread Recipes (NY Times Cooking)
The Top 40 Healthy Food Blogs to Follow Right Now (verywell fit)
Books and Journals
More time at home this past year gave us time to reflect, read, and write. Reading for pleasure has been associated with increased health and well-being, providing an escape from life’s everyday stresses, improving sleep, and slowing cognitive decline.
Best New Books of 2020 (Harpers Bazaar)
Do you have a best of the best book for 2020?
Similarly, expressive writing (journaling) has been associated with reduced stress, improved immune function, a sharper memory, boosted mood, and strengthened emotional function. Here are some top books and journals you might consider.
The Pretty (and Practical) Journals We’re Shopping Now (My Domaine)
Health and Well-being – The Birth Center, Holistic Women’s Health Care
Last but not least, without bias, The Birth Center, Holistic Women’s Health Care takes the top spot for the best of the best for 2020. Two hundred and twenty three babies came into the world under the skilled hands of our midwives, nurses and staff. We know that being pregnant and giving birth during a pandemic was not easy, but together we did it!
Women of all ages continued with their well women care at The Birth Center. We welcomed a new midwife. Zoe Marcus, MSN, CNM joined us this year as well as nurse Charlotte. We are excited to have nurse Megan Jones rejoin TBC team and for all the staff who pulled together to make The Birth Center, Holistic Women’s Health Care the best of the best for 2020 and into 2021.
We are looking forward to a bright future that serves all of our patients and the greater community.
May you have a happy and healthy New Year! Bye, bye 2020…..