Should you travel on a plane right now?
Is it okay to see Grandma in person?
What about the annual Friendsgiving that is still being planned?
In these uncertain times, what do you do?
While there may not be magic answers for the holidays during a pandemic, there are definitely things to consider before making decisions.
Following, we address some of the most prevalent questions we are hearing such as:
Is it okay to fly?
Should I go see Grandma if she wants me to?
What do I do if I’m invited to an indoor gathering?
Is it okay to fly?
While the jury is still out on exactly how safe air travel is right now, preliminary research done by Harvard University (paid for by the airline industry) is showing that specialized ventilation systems on planes paired with mask wearing can result in a fairly safe option for holiday travel.
If traveling by air, however, be mindful of what you do in the airport. Make sure to wash hands frequently after touching surfaces (wear disposable gloves if you’d like) and keep your distance while in security and boarding lines. And always, wear a mask.
In addition, be careful of the areas you choose to travel to. Is it a low-risk area or are numbers skyrocketing? This can be helpful to know when making plans.
For extra immune support during air travel, Dr. Graves recommends:
- 2 Acute Immune™ capsules by Mountain Peak Nutritionals before and after your flight (available at our office)
- a zinc lozenge on your way to the airport or on the flight
- plenty of water for proper hydration
Grandma says she wants to see me, but I’m afraid to visit her in person. What should I do?
My family doesn’t think coronavirus is a big deal and therefore, are continuing our holiday tradition of big meal gatherings. I love them, but I don’t necessarily agree. What do I do?
My friends are hosting an indoor get-together. I want to see them, but I’m concerned about being indoors with a lot of people. How do I handle this?
These are difficult questions many of us are facing – at the holidays or any other time right now.
It may all come down to individual decisions based on what is most important in each person’s life and the risks versus benefits.
Whether choosing to gather indoors or deciding to stay home, each comes with risk and benefit.
For example, seeing Grandma may give her joy and happiness to stay positive and stave off depression, but it could also threaten her life if she is exposed to COVID. If she (and you) believe the benefits of visiting in-person outweigh the risks (even if that means potential sickness and/or death), then that is something your family may need to examine.
The same goes for whether or not you attend a family or friend gathering.
Mental health can be just as important as physical health right now and if seeing family or a few friends is what you need to “fill your bucket” because you haven’t had much interaction in the past few months, then you need to consider that benefit versus the risk – knowing that you may very well contract COVID and/or spread it to others with unwanted consequences.
However, if the event is attended by many people you don’t know, the risk may not be worth it. Opt for seeing your closest friends later on in much smaller get-togethers when there is plenty of space for social distancing.
To reduce risk, wear a mask, distance yourself from others, open windows, and encourage everyone to go for a walk, hike a trail, or sit around a heater in the backyard!
I’ve been invited to a holiday gathering, but my gut is telling me not to go. I am worried I will offend the hosts – what should I tell them?
This time in life is uncertain and we are all trying to navigate as it as we go. This may mean some of us take more precautions than others, making for uncomfortable conversations.
For many of us, this is a teaching moment of when to say no and to have confidence in that decision. It is okay to say that you don’t feel comfortable; sharing your feelings with love and kindness for both you and the other person can make this a growing moment in a relationship.
Keep in mind that we are all making difficult decisions and based on our past experiences and present perspectives; we are all navigating this time the best we can.
What you choose to do for you and your family is your choice.
Are the holidays stressing you out?
If you live in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, Centennial, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, or the greater Denver metro area and are in need of natural support in areas such as stress, sleep, mood, and immunity right now, we are here to help!
Please call us at (303) 688-6698 or schedule a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Graves to talk about your physical and/or mental health challenges.
REFERENCES:
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/flying-covid-19-harvard-study-wellness/index.html
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