Self-care

Posts by author Lynette M. Burrows on things creatives can do to take care of themselves.

Do You Recognize Diabetes, the Invisible Killer?

Lynette M Burrows

November 14th is World Diabetes Day and part of Diabetes Awareness Month. Why have a month dedicated to diabetes awareness? Because diabetes or pre-diabetes affects more than 100 million Americans and about 1 in 11 adults worldwide. That’s more than 500 million people worldwide and growing. The symptoms of diabetes are often so subtle that more than 46% of people with diabetes don’t know they have it! Take charge of your health. Be vigilant, know your risk factors, and have regular checkups. Know how to recognize diabetes, the invisible killer.  What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat.  Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. (Definition from NIH.Gov health information.) What Causes Diabetes? There are different types of diabetes. Each has its own causes.  Type 2 Diabetes is the most common. It affects nearly 90% of all who have the disease.Typically, it […]

When I Give Up is the Best Choice

Lynette M Burrows

Never give up. Never surrender. Noble words. But don’t you wonder if sometimes it’s okay to be too tired, too overwhelmed, too done? It is more than okay. Sometimes crying, screaming, or saying I give up is the best choice for you. But persistence is the key to success, you argue. Yes, persistence plays a huge part in success. But, there times when the goal you’ve been working so hard to achieve is beyond your reach. It may be bad timing. There may be a crisis in your life that requires all your energy and time. Maybe the goal simply isn’t right for you any longer. Or, you may have made a wrong-for-you choice.  Have you heard of Survivorship Bias? It’s a psychological term that labels a blind spot we all have a cognitive bias. We overestimate our chances of success because we overlook or ignore the failures. We tell ourselves that if we focus on success, we will succeed.   I have met many entrepreneurs who have the passion and even the work ethic to succeed – but who are so obsessed with an idea that they don’t see its obvious flaws. Think about that. If you can’t even acknowledge […]

How to Care for Yourself during Difficult Times

Lynette M Burrows

Work, life, school, economic, social, political, and environmental disasters and stressors are everywhere these days. Today’s society bathes in stressful events every day. It’s enough to make you want to crawl in a hole and pull the dirt up over yourself. (See “Does the News Make you  Disheartened and Afraid“). But if you hide, you will never achieve your dreams. So what to do? Develop a personal ritual to care for yourself during difficult times.  What’s a Personal Ritual? The word ritual has a lot of baggage. According to Merriam Webster, the word ritual means: 1. of or relating to rites or a ritual: CEREMONIAL a ritual dance 2. according to religious law ritual purity 3. done in accordance with social custom or normal protocol ritual handshakes ritual background checks Merriam-Webster The personal ritual is a “normal protocol” or a routine. You have many already.  What’s the thing you do every day when you first get up? That’s a ritual. Perhaps you wear a “lucky” t-shirt to your favorite ball game or you cross your fingers before saying something. Those are also rituals.  Are Rituals Effective? Different rituals work for different reasons and the reasons may not be what you think. npr.org The ancient Egyptians’ ritual […]