Mission PT - December 2020

Mission PT - December 2020

3321 E. Queen Creek Rd. #106, Gilbert, AZ 85297 • (480) 550-9100 • missionptaz.com December 2020

Looking Back and Looking Forward (With Optimism!)

What a year! Many of us may want to quietly put 2020 behind us as we look forward with hopeful eyes to 2021.

I’m also grateful for all of you who came into Mission PT for treatment this year. I’m honored that you trusted us to take care of you, especially during these trying times. Each of us at Mission PT loves what we do, and we’re always so glad we get to be a part of your lives as we work together to heal your physical injuries, aches, and pains. Hopefully, we were able to bring a little joy to your hearts, as well. This time of year, I often find myself in thoughtful places of reflection and contemplation. I love life, and I love the work I get to do. I especially love the people I interact with on a daily basis. Despite the tensions the world has felt this year, I’m grateful for our country, our freedoms, and our opportunities. I’m grateful for my family, friends, and for each of you!

Over the last several months, we’ve all faced many ups and downs, unknowns, and discouraging times. There has been a cloud of worry hanging over us as our communities have dealt with illness, mourning, and loneliness. In many ways, however, it has also been a year full of wonderful moments. I’ve noticed more people enjoying the outdoors and the fresh air than before. Many people have slowed down and taken stock of everything around them. They’ve been able to focus on what is most essential in their lives. And as a bonus, there have been so many beautiful sunrises and breathtaking sunsets to welcome in and close out each day. As a relatively new business, Mission Physical Therapy started the year strong. I was optimistic going into 2020. When March hit us with the surprise of closures, quarantines, and uncertainty, we weren’t sure how the year would unfold. But we pushed forward with optimism and a touch of patience. Fortunately, we have a great team at Mission PT — a team who is flexible and patient. While we aren’t out of the woods yet, I am so grateful that our doors were able to stay open, and we didn’t have to let a single one of our employees go in the process. We had to get a little creative there for a while, but we did it!

On behalf of Mission Physical Therapy, I want to wish you all a wonderful holiday season full of peace, hope, and love.

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WITH NO SNOW AT ALL An old-fashioned snowball fight is the epitome of winter activities. But if snowfall is lacking or it’s just too cold to venture outside and hurl freezing balls of ice at each other, don’t let it dampen your spirits. You can create and orchestrate your own indoor, snow-free, and entirely safe snowball fight. Make Your Snowballs While craft stores sell large white cotton puffs that look like snowballs, they’re too light to get any good velocity behind them. Instead, make your own “snowballs” with just a few materials in four easy steps: 1. You’ll need a pair of scissors, several pairs of cheap white nylon stockings (one pair can make about 10 snowballs), and a bag of polyester fiberfill, like Poly-Fil, or use the stuffing from a few old stuffed animals you no longer want. Creating the Perfect Snowball Fight

4. Cut between the two knots to snip off a tied-off snowball. Repeat these steps until you have at least a few dozen, but if you’re patient enough to make 100 or more, you’ll have ample supply for a substantial encounter. How to Play There’s really no “right” way to have a snowball fight. It’s often just about who can hit whom the most, but if you want to turn it into a measurable competition, divide your group into two teams and distribute the snowballs evenly between them. Then create boundaries for each team by laying down masking tape across the room. Teams must stay on their side of the line at all times. Set a timer for however long you’d like the fight to go on, and at your signal, teams can start hurling snowballs across the room at one another. When time is up, gather and count the snowballs on each side, and the team with the fewest snowballs is the winner! A crafty indoor snowball fight can be a lot of fun for people of all ages, not just kids. Best of all, the crafting part is something you only have to do once, and then you have a stock of snowballs for every winter to come.

2. Stuff a handful of the filling down into the end of one stocking leg and tie a knot, creating a round “snowball.”

3. Make another knot after the one you just made, leaving a little space between the two knots.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR HEALTH Managing Stress During the Holiday Rush

Take a step back and breathe. Remember that many “obligations” during the holidays are optional. Take control of your day by saying “no” to anything you know will pile on the stress. On top of that, take breaks when you need to. When you do start to feel overwhelmed, step away from the rush.

During the holiday season, it’s easy to go overboard. It’s an exciting time with plenty of shopping, celebrating, and indulging in pumpkin spice lattes, mixed in with your everyday routines. It can get stressful fast — especially after the year we’ve had.

to injure themselves lifting boxes, decorating the house, or taking on too many activities that keep them moving without rest. If you are injured, waiting to take care of it can exacerbate your issue. Plus, when you’re dealing with pain, your stress levels can easily go through the roof. Thankfully, there are many resources that can help, including physical therapy. One great resource we’ve found is ChoosePT.com. This website, managed by the American Physical Therapy Association, has numerous resources showing how PT can help for all kinds of issues. It’s a great place to start if you have questions or concerns but aren’t yet sure if you or a loved one should make a PT appointment. At the end of the day, managing stress during the holidays is about putting your health first when you need to. Your health is important; don’t overlook it. If you start to feel stressed, remind yourself that it’s okay to slow down and ask for help.

Many of us try to do too much in too little time, which can be

Designate a quiet place where you can take a 10–20-minute break. Apps such as Calm or Headspace can be very helpful. These apps can guide you in meditation or breathing exercises, which can do wonders to change your state of mind during a busy day.

overwhelming. We often forget about what really matters most and end up stressed out, which can be detrimental to both our physical and mental health. When we push ourselves too far, stress can lead to overexertion and injury.

Take care of yourself. If things are getting to be too much and you’re experiencing discomfort or pain, Mission PT can help can help. During the holidays, it’s not uncommon for people

How can you better manage stress and avoid overexertion?

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HELP GIVE BACK WITH THE MISSION PT ANGEL TREE ‘TIS THE SEASON The Angel Tree is up! Last month, we told you about one of the holiday traditions we started here at Mission PT. Back in 2018, we decided to put up this special tree because we wanted to give back to the community, and we thought the Angel Tree was a great way to do so. Many businesses in our area seem to have some sort of opportunity to give to a special cause. Our Angel Tree helps support House of Refuge ( HouseofRefuge.org ). As you may know, House of Refuge is a faith-based nonprofit that helps families overcome homelessness. This organization provides resources and critical goods to families in need, including a safe place to stay, clothes, food, and more. House of Refuge also helps people find jobs or continue their education in order to give people a foundation for a better future. At Mission PT, we wanted to find a creative way to help this wonderful organization. The Angel Tree was a good way to allow anyone who visits our office an opportunity to contribute. The tree is covered in slips of paper, each with an item needed by the House of Refuge. All you have to do is select one of the tags, pick up the item during your normal shopping, and bring the item back to Mission PT. We will get everything from here to there. It’s that easy! Since starting our Angel Tree, we’ve been impressed by the generosity of our patients. We live in such a supportive community, and every year, it’s exciting to see how everyone comes together to support the many great nonprofits in our area, House of Refuge included. People are often so willing to donate, volunteer, and support their favorite organizations in any way they can. We all give back in different ways. We’ve been touched by so many stories of people offering a helping hand. This holiday season, if you wish to participate in our Angel Tree project, simply stop by our clinic anytime from now until the end of December. We hope to see you soon. Thank you and happy holidays!

SUDOKU

Festive Apple Cider

If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves

• 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks

DIRECTIONS

1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!

Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3321 E. Queen Creek Rd. #106 Gilbert, AZ 85297 (480) 550-9100 missionptaz.com

Inside This Issue

1 What a Year It’s Been! 2 Craft a Snow-Free Indoor Snowball Fight 2 Don’t Forget What Really Matters —You! 3 ‘Tis the Season to Give Back 3 Festive Apple Cider 4 5 Ways to Make Your Holiday Extra Eco-Friendly This Year

5 Ways to Make Your Holiday Extra Eco-Friendly This Year

Sustainability is the gift that keeps on giving, so if you’d like to give a gift to the environment this December, make your holidays anti-plastic! Here are five ways that you can use the latest eco- friendly technology to make sure your Christmas is just as convenient as ever. Set up recycling bins. Nobody wants to sort through trash on their holiday, especially if you’re hosting all the parties! To avoid dealing with the waste, set up recycling and composting bins before any home holiday festivities. It’ll make your next trip to a local recycling center so much faster because everything will be organized and easier to manage. Use paper containers for leftovers. Give your celebration a restaurant-from-home feel by storing and giving away leftovers in paper containers rather than plastic. Paper will dissolve and leave behind much less

chemical residue than plastic. Want to make it look extra posh? Stamp the exterior with the family initials! Change up your gift wrap. Why use wrapping paper every year when you can make your packaging extra interesting, colorful, and creative? Use newspapers, magazines, comics, posters, maps, or even art by your kids to conceal your gifts this year.

Rent, borrow, or rethink your tableware.

Localize as much as possible. If you can buy ingredients like fresh meat or vegetables from local farms, you won’t use as much plastic packaging and you’ll support small businesses at the same time! Never buy one-use plastics if you don’t have to. For every holiday tradition, ask yourself: Can I reduce, reuse, or recycle any components to this? We hope you have a happy, eco-friendly holiday!

If you’re missing proper tableware for your holiday celebration, don’t despair — some companies will actually let you rent out their dishes for your special evening! You can also borrow tableware from friends and family. But you don’t have to use metal tableware. Try following another culture’s customs and serve your food on local ingredients, like palm leaves, coconuts, or wood.

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