What is the difference between General Anxiety Disorder and Trump Anxiety Disorder?

Source: Time Magazine

Note: This article originally appeared the blog site -- "Mike Thinks"




More people than are commonly thought to suffer from some degree of anxiety disorder.  You may be wondering what is the operational (psychiatric) definition of anxiety.  No worries, I will get to that shortly.  Recently, as in the past two years, research has shown that politics has played a major part in increased anxiety.  How?  A scientific study published in the Journal 'Science' titled "The effect of partisanship and political advertising on close family ties" showed that on average, families spend fewer number of hours together as a result of the division based upon differing political views in the current political climate.  Remember, the study was conducted after the election.  The current political climate has caused noticeable adverse changes in family dynamics.  How does one differentiate between anxiety based on events (politics) and anxiety which is inherent to each of us to some degree.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is commonly viewed as a sharpening tool to keep us alert to any threats -- a survival mode.   For a large percentage of people, anxiety is anything but a 'sharpening tool' and more often associated with feeling of 'excessive nervousness'.   Further, a certain amount of people suffer to a large degree from anxiety on a daily basis from carrying out their normal daily lives.  Which is concerning to say the least.  In order to understand the disorder which inflicts so many people without notice, an operational definition of General Anxiety Disorder is needed.



I just finished a book titled "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," (organized and edited by Dr. Bandy X. Lee) -- a compilation of written works describing the symptoms which contribute to the informal diagnosis of President Donald J. Trump.  By discussing possible attributes/qualities of different personality and other mental health disorders, the contributors discuss the problems facing the United States along with President Trump.  Without violating the 'Goldwater Rule', the contributors focus on what electing a person with disorders says about the electorate (you and I).



As I just mentioned, the book had a number of mental health professionals contributing to the book.  The author who I would like to highlight wrote a chapter titled "Trump Anxiety Disorder" whose name is Jennifer Contarino Panning.  She is a licensed psycotherapist in Clarkston, Michigan.  The excerpts below are shown to help introduce an operation definition of General Anxiety Disorder along with distinguishing the newly emerging Trump Anxiety Disorder.  First, lets start with a definition of General Anxiety Disorder:

It is important to differentiate generalized anxiety disorder and Trump anxiety disorder.  The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.) (commonly referred to as DSM-V), is widely used among mental health professionals (American Psychiatric Association 2013).  It describes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as characterized by excessive, uncontrollable, and often irrational worry--that is, apprehensive expectation about events or activities.  This excessive worry often interferes with daily functioning, as individuals with GAD typically anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about everyday matters such as health issues, money, death, family problems, friendship problems, interpersonal relationship problems, or work difficulties. Individuals often exhibit a variety of physical symptoms, including fatigue, fidgeting, headaches, nausea, numbness in hands and feet, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, excessive stomach acid buildup, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bouts of breathing difficulty, difficulty concentrating, trembling, twitching, irritability, agitation, sweating, restlessness, insomnia, hot flashes, rashes, and an inability to fully control the anxiety. 

The author goes onto state that these symptoms must be consistent and ongoing to be formally diagnosed by a physician for at least 6 months.  Moreover, that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 7 million Americans suffer from General Anxiety Disorder within a year....Wow!  Each of us have felt a sense of anxiety at some point in our life.  Whether that be preparing a work project or presenting a speaking event to a large audience.  That is typically normal anxiety associated with stress of planning.  Some people often have difficulty distinguishing between stress and anxiety.  Regardless, understanding the causes of anxiety or stress are important.



Which is why after certain events in time, new anxiety can be sourced to a different cause.  Although, the phenomenon on a larger scale calls for a different type of analysis.  Further, the type of anxiety causing issue at a national scale has been traced to a certain number of events.  These events have been surrounding the campaign/election of President Donald J. Trump.  Below, the differences along with the definition of Trump Anxiety Disorder will be highlighted.

What is Trump Anxiety Disorder?

As I mentioned above, suffering from General Anxiety Disorder is terrible enough on a daily basis.  Now, add in the unknown quantity of Trump Anxiety Disorder.  What is the difference between the two anxiety disorders.  Let's define it.  The author of the above excerpt, Dr. Jennifer Panning, goes onto describe Trump Anxiety Disorder in the same chapter as:

Symptoms associated with Trump Anxiety Disorder include: feeling a loss of control; helplessness; ruminations/worries, especially about the uncertain sociopolitical climate while Trump is in office; and a tendency toward excessive social media consumption.  In fact, the polarization that this has created has caused a deep divide between families and friends of differing political beliefs.  Trump's specific personality characteristics, and his use of psychological manipulation tools such as gaslighting, lying, and blaming, are described as contributing factors to Trump Anxiety Disorder. 

Trump Anxiety Disorder, albeit not a formal diagnosis, differs from GAD in regard to several measures. One difference is in the furation of time for the symptoms to develop.  The volatile events leading up to the 2016 election (i.e., false news reports, Comey's report questioning Clinton's ethics) were challenging in themselves, but many Americans were reassured by multiple polls (e.g., Silver 2016) predicting that Hillary Clinton would win the election in a landslide.  This led to a sense of shock and disbelief after Trump was announced as president of the United States. 

An additional symptom of Trump Anxiety Disorder is that symptoms are directly related to the uncertain sociopolitical climate.  An elevated stress level when reading articles about numerous topics--the Muslim ban, the threat/promise of disbanding the Affordable Care Act, tensions between the United States and North Korea, the possibility of Russia's having interfered in the 2016 election and Russia's financial connection to Trump, the US/Mexican wall, immigration issues, the defunding of environmental groups such as the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the defunding of medical research--is strong.  An individual impacted by Trump Anxiety Disorder may be directly impacted by one of these singular issues, have multiple concerns, or worry about the future democratic state in America given these issues.  Therefore, the ruminative worry associated with an anxiety disorder is specific to these events (Clarridge 2017).

Wow! After reading the above excerpt have you ever suffered from a small amount of Trump Anxiety Disorder?  I can easily see myself suffering from a fair amount of the same underlying attributes/sources defined under the Trump Anxiety Disorder.  Have you?  Many of the students from our university are showing signs of suffering from symptoms of Trump Anxiety Disorder.  On a larger scale, people around us are showing signs of symptoms too -- which is completely concerning.

Conclusion...

If you have ever had an anxiety attack or even felt a moderate amount of anxiety, I feel for you.  The symptoms above are real and have been felt by me at one point or another in my graduate career.  To have the added stress or symptoms associated with Trump Anxiety Disorder are even more concerning.  Especially since the latter anxiety is controllable -- he could have been not elected into office.  Instead, we have what we have and have to deal with what we have.



The first step in dealing with anxiety without any outside influences is to identify triggers and find solutions.  Once the triggers are known, then solutions can be found.  But with the added anxiety associated with Donald Trump is unfair.  Although, now with the election over and two years into the administration, the least we can do is to either ignore television and the online world all together.  Or, we can try to understand and move onto find solutions to deal with the current situation.  We might not be in control of other's actions, but we are in control of our own.  Distinguishing between normal anxiety and anxiety associated with Donald Trump will be beneficial in the future.




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Mike's Mental Awareness Journey Update: What happened to that wonderful workout routine? Flu season

Source: Affinia Healthcare

Did you get the flu shot this year?  I did not.  Have you caught the flu which is circulating around this season?  Did you know that there are multiple strains of a flu in any given season?  Why am I more susceptible than others to catching the flu?  These are questions which circulate in my mind when I am laying in bed recovering from catching the flu.  And from asking around in my circles of friends and family, I am not alone in thinking the same thoughts.  Why do I ask such questions?  Simply because I had a great work out regime in place and felt success only to be saddled down in bed recovering.  Have you ever felt these thoughts?

Why sickness?

Of all the reasons to be distracted from a newly gained work out regime, falling prey to the flu circulating is the last reason each of us desire.  Prior to catching the flu, I was working out in the 'High Intensity Interval Training' program offered by my university (my work) called 'Commit To Be Fit'.  I have written recently about the program.  Further, I had met motivational people like the instructor (and veteran) Alex Herrera - read about him here.  Life is good.



When a person get sick (my dad used to tell me), he or she is 'burning the candle at both ends' -- meaning not necessarily taking care of themselves.  I am no different and the way that the month of October was moving at primed me for catching the flu.   As I look back at the month of October, I can clearly see that I was wearing my body down by working out and adding new stressors to my life.



I had recently started engaging in trying out advertising on Facebook (through social media), which can be dangerous at times.  There are all sorts of stressors associated with adding new stress to your life.  Especially, if that stress has no avenue of relief.  I was under the impression, working out through my new found program would relieve the stress.  What I take away from this situation was the fact that each of us must find different ways to diffuse our stress - when stress arises.



There are many stressors in life.  Most people do not realize that upon recovering in bed while sick with the flu, we can still be stressed.  Yes, the possibility of being stressed while sick exists.  I try to tell myself and friends along with family, the best methodology each of us can apply while sick with the flu is to JUST REST.  YES, JUST REST.  Which is difficult to do at times - I admit.



Furthermore, the last lesson about sickness is that each of us need to let our bodies repair themselves on our own respective timeline.  My timeline toward recovery will be different from my wife's timeline.  I remember after feeling better, my wife (Kayla) started feeling sick.  I thought "great, now she is sick.  I gave her the flu and now will get the flu again after she recovers."  What a selfish thought.  Yes, I can be selfish at times too.



I remember after she was sick and recovering, she was talking to her father on the phone.  I was starting to feel better and ready to return to working out.  Although, at times, I did not feel great.  I thought to myself..."man, I feel like sh*t today" but I am getting better.  Anyways, Kayla was talking to her father and received less than positive news about her illness.



He stated that he just had gotten over the flu.  She asked how long he had been down with the flu.  He responded "for 3 weeks and I still don't feel great."  3 weeks.  3 weeks.  Oh My Goodness.  How long must I suffer was my thought after hearing his response.  Again, each of us have our own timeline to recovery.  The take home message was:



Each of us have an unrealistic timeline of our own recovery from any given flu!



Each of us would be much better if we would not fight the process of recovery from the flu.  I have difficulty with the recovery process just like anyone else would.  Although, I know that my body will need a certain amount of time to recover with no activity involved -- yes, just laying in bed.  I might not even eat.  Listen to your body.

Time to workout again?

When is the right time to return to working out?  That question depends on your own body.  What is more important than asking or answering this question is to not push yourself into returning if you are not ready.  Unless you find that you might be abnormally more lazy than the average person and need motivation to return after fully recovering from an illness.  But do not beat yourself up.  The result will be only to catch the flu again.  What?



Yes, the flu will circulate again a few weeks later and if you find yourself still burning the candle at both ends, will end up sick again.  What?  Yes, sick again.  Be careful.  Take care of yourself and try to manage any stress that enters your life immediately.  Even though managing stress comes with time, each of us must work daily in reducing stress in our lives.



Once you feel better, then try to return to your work out program.  If you show up one day and then do not feel well the next day.  Take a day off in between to let your body recover and get used to returning to working out.  Be easy on yourself -- but not too easy.   Listen to your body.  By doing so, you will return to working out and achieve your fitness goals more realistically and in a more healthy manner.  Until next time, have a great day.



Related Blog Posts:


Veterans In Education: Meet Alex Herrera!!!


Veterans in Education: How do veterans fare returning to school?


Mike's Mental Awareness Journey Update: Ever tried High-Intensity-Interval-Training (HIIT)?


20 Tasks to Simplify your Life

Veterans In Education: Meet Alex Herrera!!!

Alex Herrera

Veterans in education do not stand out.  For the most part, veterans would rather finish school quickly and move into the next part of their career path.  Driven by motivation for success and respected by each other, veterans seem somewhat silent at times.  Recently, I started a series on this site which I introduced a few weeks ago called 'Veterans in Education'.  Feel free to read the background to the series.  My intention is to highlight veterans who decide to return to school after their service.  Understanding their background along with a brief pass at their military history will shed a little light onto the experience that each have on the same campus as students -- who have not chosen to serve prior to school.  Without further ado, lets get to the first veteran -- Alex Herrera.



Alex and I met on campus nearly a year ago when my wife and I decided to turn our life around and boost our fitness back into order.  Before that, Kayla and I were a little too sluggish (i.e. lazy) and starting to gain weight which was unhealthy.  I have written recently about the program offered by California State University at Northridge called 'Commit To Be Fit'.  Check that blog post out.  Anyways, after joining this great FREE exercise program, we started getting back into shape.  Now, the major benefit of such a program are the MOTIVATED instructors.



The instructors are super motivated and live by example of what fit should be.  Cheerful and full of energy is a common description.  More importantly for those looking to get fit -- pushing you to your fitness goal is the common most descriptor I would use for the wonderful and hard working instructors.  Alex Herrera is one such wonderful - motivating - uplifting instructor.  I enjoy and am forever grateful to instructors like Alex.  I was not surprised to learn that he was a veteran.  In fact, certain motivating statements caused me to pause and wonder at times.  Finally, I decided to ask him about his past experience and mission moving forward at CSUN.  Below are the answers he gave me.  I hope that you enjoy learning about Alex.  He is a great example of what the military provides to the college, community, and society as a whole after serving Our Country.  Enjoy!



Shown below are the questions along with Alex's answers:

Questionnaire for Veteran’s Transitioning into Academia

1) What is your major subject of study? i.e. your major?

I am a Kinesiology major.

2) What degree are you going to school for?

I will be earning my BS in Kinesiology, Exercise Science option.

3) What do you plan to do with your degree?

I plan on continuing my education after I graduate. The goal is to earn a Doctorates in physical therapy. I want to help people be able to return to doing the things they love through rehabilitation. 

4) What branch of the military did you serve in?

Army (2009-2014)

National Guard (2014-2016)

5) How long was your service in the military?

I served 5 years active duty and 2 years National Guard.

6) Why did you decide to pursue a degree after your military service?

I always knew I was going to earn a college degree, it was only a matter of when. I enlisted in the army at 17 after begging my mom to sign the parental consent form. I made her a promise if she signed the form I would still go to college while I was in and when I got out.

7) What lessons did you learn in the military which have helped your journey in school?

The most important lessons I learned from being in the military would be discipline, resiliency, and being in leadership positions taught me how to manage and plan in order to be successful.

8) What was your impression of the university after being in the military?

My first impression was “this isn’t so bad” after thinking how I was going to get through it since I had been out of school for 5 years. I was an honor roll student all my life so it was fairly simple to get back into the swing of things. I treat all my classes as I did all my military classes and it helps make things easier.

9) In other words, did the military change your perception of school?

The military made me want to go back to school. In the military there is only so much in which you can progress as far as promotions and assignments go. I wanted more and I didn’t want to lose more time.

10) What veteran services have you decided to take advantage of during your education?

The only service I have taken advantage of is the POST- 911 GI Bill. 

11) Has your academic institution been accommodating with your transition from the military?

Anything I ever need or any question I have I call the veteran affairs office and they square it all away.

12) What is the best observation of being a student?

The help is there. There are so many resources provided by the school (free of charge) that enable all students to be successful. There’s tutoring available for any class you can think of. The resources are there, you just have to be able to be willing to use them.

13) Do you miss the military?

Not at all.

14) What advice would you give other veterans who are looking to return or enroll in a university after serving in the military?

I would tell them to enroll and get going. Take advantage of everything that available to you. No one is going to pay for all school tuition as well as provide a housing allowance to help you while you’re in school to make it easier for you to focus on class and homework.

15) What is the greatest challenge you have faced in the university system?

I haven’t experienced too many challenges other than having to juggle both work and school full time.

16) How does that compare to the challenges you faced while serving in the military?

I have all my freedom without having to report to any one or having my time being wasted waiting on the final word of the day. I’d say it’s a walk in the park.

17) Do you feel that the university has offered enough preparation in your area of study to pursue a career in your desired profession? 

I believe you get what you put into any situation. If you apply yourself and learn as much as you possibly can in every class then that’s what gives you the opportunity to pursue a career in the desired profession. So yes, I believe the school has. 

18) What can the university do better to make the experience for veteran’s returning to school easier?

I haven’t needed any help from what the school already provides. I think they’re doing a good job helping veterans get their degrees. 

As I stated above, Alex is a top notch person who is completely inspiring and is enjoying life to the fullest each day.  I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post with answers regarding Alex's return to school and continuing on his journey through life.  If you happen to walk by Alex, feel free to say hello.  He is a very nice person.  Thank you to Alex for sharing your experience and current goals.



If you are a veteran with a desire to share your transition back into education, feel free to send me an e-mail at: jmkthought@gmail.com


Until next time, have a wonderful weekend.

Veterans in Education: How do veterans fare returning to school?

Source: Veterans Education Challenge

One of the highest forms of service a person can volunteer for is service in the Military in the United States of America.  Unlike other countries which have a mandatory military service, the United States has a completely voluntary military service.  There are exceptions to the rule, in time when the country implements a ‘draft into military service’ due to shortages.  Except for those rare instances, the majority of military service is done as a voluntary measure.

The worst aspect about the military service is the fall-out from military service.  A short term of service in the U.S. military will completely change a person.  Usually, for the better.  There are many veterans walking the streets who have completed their military service with an honorable discharge.  Unfortunately, there are also those who do not complete their military service in an honorable manner.  Additionally, there is yet another set of military veterans who complete their military service and have trouble returning to society.  Carrying the burdens of combat is unfathomable and unnecessary.  Unfortunately, that is not a choice that all veterans can deal with.  There are many success stories coming out of the military.  In the blog series “Veterans-In-Education” I will highlight students along with staff and faculty as I meet them and inquire into their journey.

I have made up a questionnaire of questions which I believe serve to highlight a veteran’s past achievements and current struggles/challenges returning while engaging in education at the college level.  I have the utmost respect for veterans – I am one of them.  I hope that you learn something about veterans that you previously did not know before reading this blog series.  Furthermore, if you are a potential employer reading this series, hopefully, you will realize what a wonderful potential asset -- a  veteran would be to serve in your respective professional area in the future.  Hire a veteran.

Without further ado, here are the questions which will be asked to each veteran for this series:

Questionnaire for Veteran’s Transitioning into Academia

1) What is your major subject of study? i.e. your major?

2) What degree are you going to school for?

3) What do you plan to do with your degree?

4) What branch of the military did you serve in?

5) How long was your service in the military?

6) Why did you decide to pursue a degree after your military service?

7) What lessons did you learn in the military which have helped your journey in school?

8) What was your impression of the university after being in the military?

9) In other words, did the military change your perception of school?

10) What veteran services have you decided to take advantage of during your education?

11) Has your academic institution been accommodating with your transition from the military?

12) What is the best observation of being a student?

13) Do you miss the military?

14) What advice would you give other veterans who are looking to return or enroll in a university after serving in the military?

15) What is the greatest challenge you have faced in the university system?

16) How does that compare to the challenges you faced while serving in the military?

17) Do you feel that the university has offered enough preparation in your area of study to pursue a career in your desired profession?

18) What can the university do better to make the experience for veteran’s returning to school easier?

In the near future, I will be posting the first response from an Army veteran who has also trained us in the fitness program at California State University at Northridge -- Commit To Be Fit -- which I recently wrote a blog post on.  Until then, have a great Labor Day Weekend.  Be safe!







The author also writes about demystifying the life of a scientist at Mike Thinks.

Mike's Mental Awareness Journey Update: Ever tried High-Intensity-Interval-Training (HIIT)?

Source: Commit To Be Fit - Instagram 

As I have mentioned in the previous blog posts, after moving to Northridge, our lifestyle have changed.  We live across from school and as a result do not ride our bicycle as far as we previously done on a daily basis.  After enjoying a larger house, we had noticed that incrementally our daily routine was filled with less exercise – more sedentary.  As a result, weight gain followed for each of us.

Back in January, Kayla and I were on vacation up in Sacramento visiting my brother.  I decided that the time had come for me to return to exercising on a regular basis.  My endurance had diminished over time.  I decided to jump on a treadmill at the hotel where we were staying for the vacation.  After 2 miles, I decided that the distance was enough to start with.  Not to mention that I was also getting tired.  Although, any return to a normal exercise routine involves taking the first large step and engaging in the process of starting – jumping on the treadmill.  You have to start somewhere right?

Anything that is worth implementing as a routine has to be simple enough to implement.  Running has been part of my upbringing, therefore, whenever I feel like a workout is needed, a run can always be incorporated into the workout.

I have mentioned in the past entries that Kayla and I do quite well with an exercise routine which is implemented by instructors.  Especially, when we just have to follow a routine and not put too much thought into the design of the workout.  As some people get more involved in working out, their sense of design (of a given workout) takes over.  For us, that is not the case.  Therefore, a predesigned workout is the easiest and most reliable way to work out for both of us.  Additionally, that has always been the case for myself throughout my life.  I work better in a regimented workout scene with a group.  I guess that I am attracted to the ‘herd mentality’ of exercising. 

Fortunately, we found out that there was a program offered at California State University at Northridge.  The program is an exercise program which is offered by the Kinesiology department.  The name of the program is called “Commit to be fit”.  University officials decided that the program would be offered to those on campus and off campus.  Faculty, staff, students, and community members are allowed to attend.  A few members of the chemistry department have been attending the program and were very happy with the results – increased health and wellness after completing the program.  This sounded very encouraging.  Show below is a short video of the program:

Aaaaand we are back.. Getting all of our clients ready to start this semester off.. First, we need to get testing done 🤓. Join us every Monday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 6:20pm #CTBF #kinesiology #kineticcheckpoints #csunmatadors #csunkin #redwoodhall #committobefit #fitnessfun #fitfam #testing #cleintssafety #mobility #letshavefun #getmoving #weareheretohelp #wearemadetomove #letsgetmoving #partymode #beastmode

A post shared by Commit To Be fit (@csun_ctbf) on Feb 6, 2018 at 8:50pm PST

Source: Instagram

The program is categorized as a “HIIT” program which stands for “High Intensity Interval Training”.  A usual day will entail the following: a warm up, round 1, round 2, and cool down stretching.  The warm up serves to get the participants heart rates up for the two rounds.  Round one consists of four exercise stations.  The class is split up into four groups which start at each of one of the four exercise stations.  Groups start out learning each exercise and then do the workout for 75 seconds.  After two rounds at four stations, a water break is in order. Upon returning, there are four new exercises, which participants will complete two more rounds.  Finally, the end is capped by a ‘cool down’ stretch and calming exercises.  The total duration of the work out is 50 minutes.  During the academic year, the program is offered Monday thru Thursday.

After hearing about the program from our friends along with their respective success stories, Kayla and I decided to sign up. The next program was starting February and we signed up.  Upon starting the program, each participant is subjected to an incoming fitness test to document their starting point.  Similarly, upon completing the program there is an outgoing test.  The purpose is to document the progress obtained throughout the program.  Progress is documented.

The program is wonderful to say the least.  The students are learning how to be professional trainers – which is interesting and frustrating at times.  Although, their motivational level is through the roof and I enjoy their enthusiasm too.  Each student is genuinely dedicated to living a healthier life through keeping fit.  Not only that, but are motivated to help you (and I – i.e. clients) obtain our ultimate fitness level which we desire.  Goals are attainable within this program. 

There are two different categories of exercising offered by the program.  The first is by engaging with the group – which is the most popular.  If you are not a group exercise person, there are individual (personal) training sessions.  This really expands the range of participants which engage in the program – which I must remind everyone is free and offered three times a year (fall, spring, and summer).

Now, let’s get to the results – right?  I am sure that each reader is wondering whether the program works or not – correct?  Well, I am here to report a BIG YES.  The program works and is totally a deal – a gem in disguise.  In fact, I am always wondering why more people do not participate in the program.  I am going to advertise to the surrounding community.  Although, I will say, after spreading the word about how wonderful I have been feeling while participating in this new program, a common response is the following: “I don’t have time to meet during the time the program is offered.”  The program is offered from 5:30-6:30pm Monday – Thursday.

Over the last few months, I have managed to lose around 5 pounds – which is nothing.  Where is the success in the course then?  I have managed to lose around 1 ½ inches off my waist line.  The most important metric for me are two: overall energy level and mobility.  Each of these two metrics have increased tremendously over the past few months.  Losing weight while gaining muscle is the ultimate cause for the small amount of weight loss.

Feeling better.  Having more energy to complete tasks throughout the day is wonderful.  Additionally, my mobility has continued to increase over the past few months also.  Which is completely encouraging and serves as motivation to show up to each class – especially when I feel like going home and eating chips while watching Netflix – Wow.  I have found that my mobility was diminishing with increased weight gain.  This was rather surprising to me.  Although, now that I am aware of the road that I was traveling down was not good, I can turn around and change my course to feel and live better.

I will report more on this course and my mental health overall in the future more on this electronic journal.  The current post serves as a ‘check in’ with myself – electronically – and anyone who chooses to read these posts too.  I hope that each person achieves the goals which are being sought out.  Each of us deserve to feel healthy and live healthy lives.  Until next time, cheers!

Related Links: 

1) Commit To Be Fit - sign up - web page 

2) Commit To Be Fit - Instagram

3) Original post on Mike's Mental Awareness Journey Web Page

4) Mike's Mental Awareness Journey Web Page

20 Tasks to Simplify your Life

I aim to keep this post simple, but also to reflect on what I've done with my "summer off." I had a fear that if I turned down work, I would never be offered work again. This all-or-nothing type of thinking is not healthy. I also had a stigma associated with collecting unemployment. But this financial safety net has allowed me the freedom to buy and do things to make our lives better. This in turn makes us happier and better members of our community.

1) old mail = shred

I have a bad habit of letting mail pile up on our dining room table and then putting it in a bag and then putting that bag in the garage. I did this for years. Then I watched "hoarders" on netflix and got in gear. I started shredding this stuff by hand and then remembered that I could just as well take it to school. Plus side, I found some unused gift cards!

2) old papers = shred

I have a habit of keeping all student work and fearing throwing it out either because I thought I would forget what I've done in the classroom and also for reasons of confidentiality. Our mail services at CSUN has a program where you can request a trashcan for shredding and they do it for you. So I purged out so many old papers.

3) craft supplies = organized

I think it's every crafting diva's dream to have a 'craft room' where all the supplies are organized and accessible and projects can be started and stopped with ease. I can't say I have a 'craft room' but I do have a 'craft closet' and an oversized guest bedroom where I can do my papercrafts. Husband says no needles on carpeted floors, which I get, so the sewing machine is still in the garage.

4) bike supplies = organized

I'm sure it's also every gearhead's dream to have an organized garage where they can do maintenance and cleaning, to keep their equipment in tip top shape for the next adventure.

There's a funny store here in Northridge called "Mr. Stuff" and they have some really random inventory. One thing we bought there is this cart on wheels, which works really nicely for bike stuff. We've had it for 10 months now and I would say it is one of the best purchases I've made in the last year. It holds inner tubes, bike lights, helmets, locks, gloves, hats, bandannas, pumps, bags, all the things you need to grab and go. We built a bike rack to hold all our bikes and we have a bike stand to use when we need to clean or fix the bikes. These investments have lowered our stress and anxiety to make living a bikelife more enjoyable.

5) medicines = returned to pharmacy

I'm not sure if you have old prescription medications in you medicine cabinet, but I did. I had three bottles from 2008 and one from 2012. I knew that you can't flush them down the toilet because they can contaminate the municipal water supply or end up in the ocean, but I didn't know what was the best thing to do with them. Turns out Walgreen's pharmacies in California have a dropbox for this purpose. Not every location has one, so check online before you go.

6) electronics = recycled

We had two old cell phones, two old digital cameras, and a bunch of batteries that we dropped off at the Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics (S.A.F.E.) center. Now that I'm re-reading their flier, I should have also taken some old spray paint. Even though dear husband points out that landfills are sealed so that toxic wastes do not escape, I feel like this option may lead to reclaiming the trace amounts of rare earth elements that are present in our devices.

7) work office = organized, purged

This is an every semester thing, but it's important. I go through the stacks of chaos and rearrange important items into 3-ring binders. What paper can be recycled is put into a recycling bin. What paper must be shredded is sorted into the shredding bin. What supplies can be diverted into other chemical storage areas are moved from the office to the "Chem Club Room."

8) bedroom = new pillows & sheets

Not that this would bother everybody, but it bothered me. Our fitted sheets kept coming off the mattress. We had one set of cheap sheets, which didn't work at all. We went back to buy a more expensive set of sheets, which also didn't work but we tolerated them for over a year. Finally, I took those gift cards that I found going through the old mail and converted them into very expensive Martha Stewart sheets from Macy's. I also got new pillows. There are some things that you just can't buy used and I believe that pillows are one of those things.

9) home office = new bookshelf

There's a bookshelf that was in our garage when we moved in over a year ago. It's really nice and I always felt that it should be upstairs in the "library" a.k.a. guest bedroom a.k.a. craft room. But it was really heavy. Luckily, since we've been doing a new workout program, we're stronger. We finally carried that upstairs and it's just beckoning me to fill it with books.

10) computer = backed up

The cost of removable hard drives has come down so far. I got a new computer and used a removable hard drive to transfer files from the home computer to the new work computer. There's something satisfying about using a new, fast computer to search your old files.

11) bills = auto pay

It sounds so silly, but I've been paying bills each month manually over the phone. I finally got the monthly bills on autopay and it feels so great.

12) vitamins = restocked

I haven't been a big believer in vitamins, or maybe I should say that I go in phases. Anyhow, I threw all the expired vitamins out and bought new ones. Yeah, one could argue that calcium doesn't go bad like acetaminophen goes bad, but you never know what coatings and inert ingredients may do when left unattended or worse in hot storage units or in a hot garage. 

13) contact lenses = restocked

I am not sure why I'm so averse to doctor's offices, maybe it's the cost or the fear of finding out there's something seriously wrong with me. I also don't like to face the idea that I should get new glasses (for me a $600 investment). But I finally found a new optometrist in our new neighborhood and got the exam to get the new 1-year inventory of contact lenses.

I should say that part of simplifying your life involves adulting. Tasks such as sorting out what your insurance covers like ob-gyn, dental and vision. We've delved into doing this and although scary and intimidating, it's important to know what you don't know (known unknowns and unknown unknowns). That way when you really need it (in an emergency) it's already sorted.

14) seeds = harvested

Not everyone has a garden, and I get that, but I do. I feel so great now that my seeds are sorted. I use old cosmetic bags to sort them into families, that way when I want to share seeds or plant something I don't have to dig through the entire library.

15) car = washed, oil changed, registered, insured

Living a bikelife tends to lead to neglecting our car. We only have one car and it's very tiny. I swear I haven't taken it to a car wash in like 5 years until recently. Also, it was important to establish a new relationship with a service station for oil changes. The DMV has a kiosk where you can pay your car registration, and now there's even one of those kiosks at the grocery store!

16) junk email = unsubscribed

This may sound like a silly thing, but instead of spending idle time deleting junk emails, I spent a few hours (while waiting for the oil change and at the optometrist) unsubscribing from all the email lists that I am on. I got this idea from my students years ago (before I got a smartphone) and I finally spent the time doing it. Now when I check my inbox, it's all stuff I actually want to look at.

17) podcasts = subscribed

I spent time (and energy) looking for stuff to listen to on long drives (where there is not good radio reception) and now I'm on the podcast bandwagon. I downloaded an app called Castbox which automatically downloads podcasts I've subscribed to so that I can listen to them offline. I also want to say that Hoopla has changed my life. I listen to audiobooks there, which can also be downloaded.

18) laundry = washed

I love my laundry situation now. I finally got around to cleaning the washer and dryer (which used to live outside) and I bought more laundry soap. There's a luxury that I don't take for granted in having W/D hookups and the space for my drying racks. I have a fabulous clothing rack on wheels that is so easy to move around the garage. And hot days are perfect for drying laundry.

19) closet = sorted, purged, updated

What I have done in my closet is simplify, label and keep lean. Labeling all my drawers and bins helps dear husband contribute to putting away his and hers laundry.

20) bathroom = cleaned, purged, organized

Finally, cleaning the bathroom involved throwing away old lotions and cosmetics that are expired. See also 5, 12 and 13. It was fun going to the drugstore to get new contact lens solution and sunscreen and vitamins knowing there are empty spaces which they can go to. I read that one of the reasons people don't like dockless bikeshare in cities is because the bike seem like they are never "put away." Now I didn't grow up in a house where things got put away, we had quite a cluttered upbringing, and some say that clutter is a symptom of creativity, but also I've read that when things are put away it brings a sense of calm and peace. I like the sound of that.

Summer Garden in bloom

I am LOVING my summer garden and it's thanks to a wet March. We had two inches of rain over normal, which set up my soil and got my seedlings started perfectly. With a few hot days, we had a relatively normal spring temperature-wise with no late frost, so that also helped everything survive.

before

after

Unfortunately, today we have excessive heat. To mitigate the damage, I added burlap coverings to the new vertical garden shelf and to some of my growboxes. The "Garden Patch" growboxes have holes in the four corners, which are for the polypropylene (fiberglass) Staking Kit. 

For the vertical shelf (below) I drilled holes into the wood. I used a wire hanger and some of the leftover pieces from the Staking Kit to create supports. The burlap was purchased from Home Depot in a roll, which I cut in half. It's not a perfect system, but hopefully it's better than no shade.

I do need to buy "Mosquito Dunks" to prevent the standing water in the bottom of the growbox from becoming a breeding ground for pests. I had a mist cooling setup, but water was pooling in the trays and I saw bugs hatching in the excess water. So I dumped the water and let the trays bake in the sun for a few days.

I used the "Nutrient Patch" on a non-Garden Patch container. I planted every-other slot with salad greens and it worked out really well (no weeds). I wouldn't say that box was more productive than the boxes without a Nutrient Patch, but they were in a different locations so it's hard to compare.

before

after

I'm super excited to harvest seeds from my radish and arugula. The lettuce just started bolting. I got some new succulents and a friend said he'd be happy to share some clones with me. Something completely ate the two varieties of kale, which I'm sad about, but I'll replant for a fall/winter garden.

I have two 'Husky Cherry Red' tomato plants, one 'Jubilee' tomato plant, one 'Red Bull' pepper plant and one 'Jalapeno' pepper plant that are now 110 days old. Of the seeds I planted in March, it's good that some of them may grow to adulthood. I guess it's almost time to plan the winter garden.

There are some recent news articles about Californians going back to water usage at pre-drought levels. I am guilty of this. I had grown fewer and fewer vegetables and leafy greens in order to save water (growing cacti and succulents instead) but I'm going back to growing food since we had a wet enough winter to refill our reservoirs. 

Until water restrictions are reenacted I will continue attempting to produce home-grown veggies. Technically, we're still in a 'Severe Drought' so we'll see what happens between now and winter. There's a trade-off in sustainability between buying fruits and veggies that are trucked in versus home grown fruits and veggies. At least I can be sure my home-grown produce is organic. 

Anti-Aging Skin Series Post 15: A little science behind XoM3 Product -- You Can Dew It!

Source: XoM3

Remember my last post about the great facial product by XoM3 -- You Can Dew It!! -- shown above?  That might have seemed like a long time ago.  Furthermore, you may have been curious as to what I have been doing in the meantime.  Remember, I promised to talk about a science paper which I found regarding topical benefits of plant oils?  I have read the paper and am ready to discuss the topic a little.  Which means that the science behind the paper will be introduced.



Below, I have included the statements from the scientific paper titled "Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils".  The paper is a review of the literature of plant oils and their healing properties with respect to skin inflammation along with wound healing.  In total, the paper is around 20 pages with tables and rich in references.  Why do I mention this fact?  Because, there are a large number of statements made in the paper which need to be further investigated (looking further into their references -- specifically the studies to back up a claim).



As a result, I have had a large amount of difficulty deciding on how to interpret the heavy hitting scientific statements made to the public (or the reader -- you).  This has taken me a few weeks of indecision.  Finally, I decided to lay out the statements regarding the specific ingredients which are contained in the product by XoM3 product -- You Can Dew It!   Further, in the next blog post, I will go deeper into the contents of the paper regarding wound healing, anti-inflammation, anti-aging properties.  Feel free to go through this open access paper by yourself.  The paper can be found at either this link or here.

With that being said, let's move onto looking at results from a science article regarding the topical benefits of the ingredients in the product -- "You Can Dew It!" by XoM3 as reported in the cited article.



The following plant oils are contained in the facial treatment -- "You Can Dew It": 1) Jojoba Oil and 2) Argan Oil.  These two oils are specifically discussed and researched along with others which will be detailed in the next blog post.  First, I will list the statements regarding the two oils made in the research article I cite above.  The remainder of the ingredients will be listed by their respective 'overview' descriptions from 'WebMD' as shown below:



1) Jojoba Oil:


The section on Jojoba Oil states:

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a long-lived, drought resistant, perennial plant. Jojoba oil exhibits a high oxidative stability and resistance to degradation [131]. Jojoba oil is widely used in cosmetic formulas such as sunscreens and moisturizers. It has been shown to be effective in enhancing the absorption of topical drugs [132–134]. The high content of wax esters makes jojoba oil a good repair option for dermatoses with altered skin barriers, such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, AD,and acne[98]. Jojoba oil also has a proven anti-inflammatory effect,with potential uses in a variety of skin conditions including skin infections, skin aging, and WH [99,132].

2) Argan Oil:


The section on Argan Oil:

Argan oil is produced from the kernels of Argania spinosa L. Argan oil is composed of mono-unsaturated (80%) and saturated (20%) fatty acids. It contains polyphenols, tocopherols, sterols, squalene,and triterpene alcohols. Traditionally,argan oil has been utilized in cooking,in the treatment of skin infections, and in skin/hair care products. Daily topical application of argan oil has also been shown to improve skin elasticity [81] and skin hydration by restoring the barrier function and maintaining the water-holding capacity [123]. Additionally, topical applications onto skin provide a softening and relaxing effect on the skin, as well as helping to facilitate the accumulation and transdermal delivery of topical drugs such as allantoin [82]. Recently, tocopherol-rich argan oil-based nanoemulsions has been developed as vehicles possessing anticancer activity in murine breast and colon carcinoma cells [83]. Argan oil has also been shown to be effective in enhancing WH created second-degree burns in rats [84].

3) Rose Hip Oil:

The section on Rose Hip Oil:

Rose hip oil is extracted from seeds of rose hip (Rosa canina L.). Rose hip oil contains substantial UFAs. The most abundant fatty acid is linoleic acid (35.9–54.8%), followed by α-linolenic acid (16.6–26.5%), and oleic acid (14.7–22.1%) [141]. An appreciable number of lipophilic antioxidants is present, especially the tocopherols and carotenoids. Rose hip oil also contains high level of phenolic acids, especially p-coumaric acid methyl ester, vanillin, and vanillic acid. Due its high composition of UFAs and antioxidants, this oil has relatively high protection against inflammation and oxidative stress [109]. Shabikin et al. has tested the efficacy of topical rose hip seed oil together with an oral fat-soluble vitamins on different inflammatory dermatitis such as eczema, neurodermatitis, and cheilitis, with promising findings of the topical use of rose hip seed oil on these inflammatory dermatoses [110]

Next, the following ingredients which make up the remainder of the facial moisturizer - 'You Can Dew It!' are the 'overview' statements from 'WebMD' as shown below:

4) Primrose Oil:

The statement is from the 'Overview' webpage on WebMD for Primrose oil:

Overview Information

Evening primrose oil is the oil from the seed of the evening primrose plant. Evening primrose oil is used for skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It is also used for rheumatoid arthritis, weak bones (osteoporosis), Raynaud’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjogren’s syndrome, cancer, high cholesterol, heart disease, a movement disorder in children called dyspraxia, leg pain due to blocked blood vessels (intermittent claudication), alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia.

Some people use evening primrose oil for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); asthma; nerve damage related to diabetes; an itching disorder called neurodermatitis; hyperactivity in children and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); obesity and weight loss; whooping cough; and gastrointestinal disorders including ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and peptic ulcer disease.

Women use evening primrose oil in pregnancy for preventing high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), shortening labor, starting labor, and preventing late deliveries. Women also use evening primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain, endometriosis, and symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes.

In foods, evening primrose oil is used as a dietary source of essential fatty acids.

In manufacturing, evening primrose oil is used in soaps and cosmetics.

In Britain, evening primrose oil used to be approved for treating eczema and breast pain. However, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), the British equivalent of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), withdrew the licenses for evening primrose oil products marketed as prescription drug products for these uses. The licenses were withdrawn because the agency concluded that there is not enough evidence that they are effective. The manufacturer disagrees, but it hasn’t published studies yet to prove the effectiveness of evening primrose for these uses.

How does it work?

Evening primrose oil contains “fatty acids.” Some women with breast pain might not have high enough levels of certain ”fatty acids.” Fatty acids also seem to help decrease inflammation related to conditions such as arthritis and eczema.

5) Yarrow:


The statement below is from the 'Overview' webpage on 'WebMD' for Yarrow:

Overview Information

Yarrow is an herb. The above ground parts are used to make medicine.

Yarrow is used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.

Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache.

Yarrow is applied to the skin to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids; for wounds; and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions in women. In combination with other herbs, yarrow is used for bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), mild gastrointestinal (GI) cramping, and other GI complaints.  In foods, the young leaves and flowers of yarrow are used in salads.  In manufacturing, yarrow is also used as a cosmetic cleanser and in snuff. Yarrow oil is used in shampoos.

How does it work?

Yarrow contains many chemicals that might affect blood pressure and possibly have anti-inflammatory effects.

6) Calendula Oil:

The statement below is from the 'Overview' webpage on 'WebMD' for Calendula oil:

Overview Information

Calendula is a plant. The flower is used to make medicine.

Calendula flower is used to prevent muscle spasms, start menstrual periods, and reduce fever. It is also used for treating sore throat and mouth, menstrual cramps, cancer, and stomach and duodenal ulcers. Calendula has also been used for measles, smallpox, and jaundice.

Calendula is applied to the skin to reduce pain and swelling (inflammation) and to treat poorly healing wounds and leg ulcers. It is also applied to the skin (used topically) for nosebleeds, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the rectum (proctitis), ear infection, gum disease, peeling lips (exfoliative cheilitis), diaper rash, vaginal yeast infection, and inflammation of the lining of the eyelid (conjunctivitis). Essential oil of calendula has been used as an insect repellant.

Don’t confuse calendula with ornamental marigolds of the Tagets genus, which are commonly grown in vegetable gardens. 

How does it work?

It is thought that the chemicals in calendula help new tissue grow in wounds and decrease swelling in the mouth and throat.

7) Comfrey Extract:

The statement below is from the 'Overview' webpage on 'WebMD' for Comfrey Extract:

Overview Information

Comfrey is a plant. Even though this plant contains poisonous chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), the leaf, root, and root-like stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. The amount of PAs found in comfrey changes according to the time of harvesting and the age of the plant. The roots have 10 times higher amounts of PAs than the leaves. Some products labeled “common comfrey” or Symphytum officinale actually contain the more poisonous “prickly comfrey” (Symphytum asperum) or “Russian comfrey” (Symphytum x uplandicum) species.

Comfrey is used as a tea for upset stomach, ulcers, heavy menstrual periods, diarrhea, bloody urine, persistent cough, painful breathing (pleuritis), bronchitis, cancer, and chest pain (angina). It is also used as a gargle for gum disease and sore throat.

Comfrey is applied to the skin for ulcers, wounds, joint inflammation, bruises, rheumatoid arthritis, swollen veins (phlebitis), gout, and fractures.

How does it work?

The chemicals in comfrey might have a healing effect and reduce inflammation when applied to the skin. However, comfrey contains toxic chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin.

8) Frankencense oil:

The statement below is from the 'Overview' webpage on 'WebMD' for Frankencense:

Overview Information

Frankincense is the hardened gum-like material (resin) that comes from cuts made in the trunk of the Boswellia carteri tree. People use it to make medicine.

Frankincense is used for colic and intestinal gas (flatulence). It is sometimes applied to the skin in hand cream.

The essential oil of frankincense is used on the skin and by inhalation as a pain-killer.

How does it work?

There isn't enough information available to know how frankincense works.

9) Ylang Ylang:

The statement below is from the 'Overview' webpage on 'WebMD' for Ylang Ylang:

Overview Information

Ylang ylang oil is made from the flowers of the herb Cananga odorata genuina.

People apply ylang ylang oil to the skin to promote relaxation, kill bacteria, lower high blood pressure, and increase sexual desire. It is also part of a combination spray used to kill head lice.

In foods and beverages, ylang ylang oil is used as a flavoring.

In manufacturing, it is used as a fragrance for cosmetics and soaps.

How does it work?

There isn’t enough information to know how ylang ylang oil might work.

This concludes the statements from the cited research article above along with the website 'WebMD' for the ingredients of the product by XoM3 -- You Can Dew It!



In total, the scientific paper I introduced only covered 2 ingredients listed on the back of the facial moisturizer -- You Can Dew It!  The overall message regarding the scientific research for those two ingredients (chemicals) is as follows:


Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil search returned the results of having a beneficial effect in skin barrier repair along with anti-aging properties.  The oil has both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as referenced in the cited paper.  These benefits are important for a facial moisturizer developed to repair and return healthy looking skin.


Argan oil:  Argan oil is beneficial for wound healing and skin barrier repair as cited in the referenced paper.  There are questionable data regarding anti-aging properties or anti-oxidant properties.  Although, argan oil along with jojoba oil have anti-inflammatory properties when incorporated into a skin care product.



Rose Hip oil: Rose Hip is beneficial as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.  According to the table cited in the article, rose hip also contains anti-aging components which contribute to the overall properties of the moisturizer.



Conclusion...



The other ingredients are referenced with information from the website 'WebMD'.  In the next blog post, I will go further into the properties and benefits behind the science listed in the cited article.  Plants have beneficial properties as noted in the cited papers.  How to measure or design an experiment to test these ingredients is difficult, but ongoing.  As science moves forward, the knowledge will increase proportionately on the safety of the ingredients used in cosmetic products.


Until next time, have a great day!




Related Blog Posts:


Anti-Aging Skin Series 14: You Can Dew It by XoM3


Index of Anti-Aging Blog Posts

Hacking Google Fit

Let's say you are dorkin' out on your fitness tracking. Or maybe the technology you have isn't helping you stay fit. That's what happened to me. I still use the GoPro Hero4 but not as much as I did when we first got it (3 years ago).

I really enjoyed my Nike+ sport band for tracking runs (9 years ago). That is when I actually went for runs. Its limitation was that it was limited to step counting. Then dear husband bought me a Garmin Forerunner (7 years ago), which could track both runs and bike rides. Its limitation was that over time the plastic band got worn down so that I had to safety pin it to my handlebars, and during one bike ride (2 years ago) it fell off. Shortly thereafter, we upgraded our phones and I started using apps to track fitness.

We had the Samsung Galaxy S7 for two years and have now upgraded to Samsung Galaxy S9. We didn't get the S9+ because it was even bigger. Honestly, your technology is only as good as it is useful. The phone is powerful but kind of large and definitely doesn't fit into most of our bike bags. My sister-in-law bought me a product called buddy pouch, but the phone is so heavy I feel like it will pull my yoga pants down if I tried to run with it.

I'm actually enjoying the REI Co-op Trail 2 Waistpack quite a bit more. The waistband is sufficiently wide and doesn't cut into my skin, it's long enough to fit my circumference. I can fit my phone, wallet, keys and poop bags for dog walks in there. I have also stuffed a light jacket or pants extenders if I have to. It's not really large enough for a water bottle, so I carry that in my hand. I wear it rollerskating ALL THE TIME.

We purchased a Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Tiny Desktop with Intel i3-3220 CPU @ 3.30GHz and 8.00 GB RAM running Windows 10 Home 64 bit with 2 TB hard-disk space and LG 24M38H-B Monitor (1920 x 1080 resolution) from Fry’s. It makes my home computer (5 years old) seem clunky. I'm sure it doesn't help that the 5 year old computer is completely full of GoPro footage and other photos that should probably be uploaded to the cloud. One good thing about the new computer is that I edit video using Camtasia. I screen-capture video directly OR use the webcam on my AsusT100 OR use my Samsung S9 phone.

I used to use my teeny mp3 player, Sansa Clip (6 years old) to record audio files, but now that's completely unnecessary. From my phone, I can record audio and get a transcript, then email those files to myself and I don't even need a cable to transfer it. I bought the Sansa Clip to use with my Smart Car audio (there's a USB input in the glovebox) but the car doesn't recognize it. I haven't tried to interface the Samsung S9 with the car yet, maybe I'll try that soon.

Strangely enough, the car will recognize my super-old SanDisk mp3 player which sadly only holds 128kB of data (14 years old). In case you're wondering, that's like 2 albums of music or 12 podcasts nowadays. It's so passe to download files now anyway, most people use streaming services like Spotify to get their music. I have an older Pandora account (8 years old) that I still use when I really need to buckle down and get something done that does not require writing, such as housework. I do use the Pandora app on my phone for stair-climbing workouts.

I bought this handlebar bag to hold the phone on bike rides (2 years old) and one of the two zippers recently broke. The thing I like about it is that it can be worn as a purse or fanny pack, which is definitely something I looked for. When you lock your bike and walk away, it's convenient to take your valuables with you. I also detach the GoPro from my handlebars and slip it in here. I liked that it has some reflective detailing and there are mesh pockets on the outside for holding used Kleenex or sticky Clif bar wrappers. It's a great size for holding sunscreen, snacks, sunglasses, wallet, keys, phone and it is large enough for a 500mL water bottle. One drawback, besides the cheap zipper, is that when you have the bag facing you, the sun reflects off the plastic and can be blinding. I am considering making a fabric cover for the plastic part. Also, when you try to run Strava or Google Maps during your ride and the sun is shining, the phone will overheat and shut off. When the phone is inside the bag, this doesn't happen, but it's not always handy for navigating when you want to see the map on your phone as you ride. I have used the plastic window for a printed routeslip, so if you don't mind using old fashioned paper, this bag is great. On some bikes I Velcro the bag to the handlebars on the same side as the top tube and on other bikes I do it the other way. It depends on how close your knees are to the handlebars and your body position when climbing hills. It was originally designed for a folding bike.

One last item I'm obsessed with is the BESKYDDA safety vest from IKEA. When you don't need it, the vest folds up into its own pocket making a cute little sachet. When unfolded, you can put your phone in the pocket with the speaker facing out and let the Google Maps tell you where to turn. As long as you don't need to look at the map and the traffic isn't too loud, this works great. I'm not a fan of using headphones while walking, biking, cycling or rollerskating. I am a big fan of wearing safety yellow and reflectors.

Today, I've updated my Fitness Logs for 2016, 2017 and 2018 using data from the smartphone
https://sites.google.com/site/kaiserwellnesscenter/home/fitness-awareness/fitness-log

It took me a moment to find out how to get the data from Google Fit into a spreadsheet
https://www.maketecheasier.com/export-google-fit-data/

The data will be in a zip folder, which you need to unzip. Then look in the following directory:
Takeout\Fit\Daily Aggregations\Daily Summaries

After that, you can delete any rows/columns that aren't useful to you. The default units are meters and milliseconds for distance and time, which I thought was kind of strange.

I used Strava and Google Photos to remember what some of those workouts were, unfortunately Google Fit doesn't automatically create any kind of description of what you did. Also, you have to manually log things like our Commit To Be Fit (CTBF) program. I guess that would be one advantage to going back to a watch-based activity tracker. What do you use and what are the benefits and limitations?