Most countries around the world have implemented some form of lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Lockdown is the now the new normal. While some places are already beginning to ease restrictions, some are still extended while others are shut down again because of fear for a second wave. If you are one of those people who still do not have the liberty to go out of the house, here are some fun activities that you can do to keep your boredom at bay when you are stuck at home:
1.Binge-watch a TV Series
In normal times, binge-watching is bad because it is unhealthy and unproductive but during these extra-ordinary times, it can be good especially if you are watching shows that you can learn from or increase your emotional intelligence. You can also make it a family activity by watching a marathon of movies that you can enjoy with the kids.
2.Learn a New Language
Learning a new language does not only give you a competitive edge in your career, it is also beneficial to your mental health. It boosts brain power. It improves your memory. Learning a new language also sharpens your mind. It can also help boosts your confidence. In addition, it can help you understand movies or dramas without reading subtitles especially if you are a fan of foreign shows like Korean dramas.
3.Plan Your Next Vacation
In a study that was published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, it shows that a great proportion of people’s happiness comes from planning the next vacation. It is largely due to the anticipation of relaxing, going on a holiday and travelling to a different place.
So, what are you waiting for? List down your travel goals and start planning for your next vacation!
4.Play Board Games with your Family
While no one can argue with the benefits of technology, sometimes good old fashioned board games is a welcome change. Instead of individual family members holding their different gadgets, why not bond together as a family and enjoy quality time playing with your parents, children or siblings. For sure, it will be fun. It also encourages open communication among family members. You can play board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue, Life, Pictionary, Battleship and Cranium.
5.Read Books
Reading books is good for you. It improves your brain function. Through reading, you will be able to increase your knowledge. and broaden your vocabulary. It makes you smarter, improves your memory and enhances your level of concentration. In addition, reading also reduces stress. It also keeps you entertained. The advantages are simply too many.
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
Dr. Seuss
6.Redecorate your Home
The way your home looks have a great effect on your mood. A home that is clean, well-organized and has the right atmosphere can help get rid of anxiety and stress. You can start by decluttering and disposing things that you no longer need.
7.Sleep
In this modern world, a lot of people in the urban areas are caught with the hustle and bustle of city life that most are not getting the required hours of sleep that the body needs. Take this rare opportunity to get enough sleep. Remember that sleep is a vital factor in boosting your immune system. Your immune system is your best defence against diseases.
8.Start a Group Video Conference Call with your Friends
Social distancing does not necessarily mean breaking up friendships. While it may take a long time before you can party and go out with friends again, you can still connect with everyone through video chats. There are many free platforms that you can use like Facetime, Google Hang-out, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, WhatsUp, Zoom and many others.
9.Start a New Hobby
Is there something that you really wanted to do when you were still a kid? Something that you have been putting off simply because you neither have the time nor money to do so. Now is the time to start doing that. There are many indoor hobbies that you can do. You can knit, weave, sew, paint, quilt, cross stitch, origami, make jewelries, write poetry, make a scrapbook, garden etc.
A hobby helps you relax. It allows you to take a break from all the stress and just simply enjoy the moment. It is good for your mental and emotional health.
10. Visualize your Future
Success starts with a vision. When you visualize, you imagine things. You see yourself in the future in vivid details living the life that you want to live. The more specific your imagination will take you, the better it is. By doing so, you are already increasing the likelihood of success.
Visualization is fun. It gives you something to look forward to. It also helps you rise above the storm and challenges in life because it helps focus your energy on the desired outcome rather than the problem. It is all about looking into the future rather than being depressed about the present.
If there is anything that you wish to add, please feel free to do so. Your inputs will help a lot of people go through these hard times.
Feature Image by Posted by A.L. Jonas in Intellectual, 0 comments
We are in the midst of global pandemic with billions of people under some form of lockdown, with no end in sight as cases around the world continue to grow. Experts are saying that we are going to be in it for the long haul unless they find a vaccine soon. As people around the world are forced to stay indoors, there is now a growing concern about the people’s mental health. During this lockdown, it is important to know how to cope with stress, fear and anxiety to prevent mental health deterioration. The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest general medical journal published a study on the negative psychological impact of the quarantine such as anger, confusion, fear, anxiety, loneliness and stress. Hans Kluge, the director of the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries to prepare medical services for mental health. During this time, it is important for your general well-being that you be able to handle the stress. Here are ways address your mental health issues and cope up with the fear, stress and anxiety that this lockdown has caused: The COVID-19 has no cure yet. Scientists all over the world are searching for possible treatments. What hospitals are doing right now are just providing comfort and alleviating symptoms by trying some western and traditional remedies. What you can do aside from proper hand-washing and social distancing is to take care of your body by boosting your immune system. Boosting your immune system is the best way to combat diseases. Doing things like exercise, getting enough sleep, eating the right kind of foods and drinking enough water can keep your body healthy. This will make a big difference on how you feel and will help lessen your fears. A daily routine can help you cope up with stress because you know exactly what to do and what to expect in your day. It reduces stress because everything becomes automatic. Your body will remember what you need to do because it becomes a habit. Humans are social beings. A strong positive social support can help you go through this storm. Don’t just watch TV or play video games the whole day. You need to also connect with others. Spend quality time and have meaningful conversations with people living with you. Take advantage of technology. Stay in touch with your friends, make a video call. It is totally understandable that you want to stay updated with what is happening around you during these troubled times. However, too much of anything can be quite overwhelming especially if it is negative news. Restrict media exposure. Listen and read credible sources only. Don’t just read and believe everything. Make use of your idle time by doing something productive. Is there anything that you have been wanting to do but cannot because you just didn’t have the time? Now is the perfect time to do it. You can play with your children, organize your wardrobe or you can declutter your home. You can read a book, learn a new skill or improve your expertise. The possibilities are endless. The practice of gratitude during difficult times is the best way to cope with fear and anxiety. Gratitude has the power to heal. It gives you hope and diverts your focus from the negative to the positive things in your life. It makes you feel blessed. Looking at things differently can affect the direction of your life. So, start a gratitude journal now. Feature Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay Images Everyone has to go through a crisis in life. It can be the loss of a loved one, a financial issue, a health problem, a conflict with a colleague, a lack of motivation or a pandemic. Whatever it is, it is all part of life. It can lead to despair and anxiety but with the proper mindset and correct strategies in place, you can emerge out of it as a better version of yourself. Problems in life are actually opportunities in disguise. Every adversity is an opportunity for you to change your life for the better. It allows you to figure out what you are capable of. Growth only happens if you successfully navigate through them and learn the lessons in the process. It is going to be tough but it is possible to go through it successfully. All you need is to have the correct mindset. Your mindset is the way you look at things. You need to believe that you can overcome whatever it is that you are going through right now. Believe in yourself. Remember that your mindset affects the direction of your life. Whether you think you can or can’t, you are right. Here are things that you can do to develop the proper mindset in times of crisis: There are some problems that you can quickly solve but there are others that will be beyond your control. You may feel helpless. You may also feel anguish and pain. That is ok. You just have to learn and accept. Accept things that you cannot change. No matter how much you stress yourself about the situation, you need to move on. The practice of gratitude can help you through tough times. In fact, it is essential. Gratitude will help you look for the silver lining in every situation. Instead of focusing on the negative, gratitude will help you identify and magnify the blessings. It will make you feel optimistic and hopeful because your focus will shift from the negative to the positive. Start your gratitude journal now. It is easy to have a positive attitude when things are doing well. It is very difficult to do so when things are tough. Rather, it is much easier to drown in despair and self-pity. No matter how hard, keep in mind that the only road to a better life is to have a positive attitude. You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you feel and do about what happens to you. Your mindset and attitude about life are both very important. Your mindset will affect the direction of your life whether it is happiness, good health, financial abundance or success that you are seeking. Learn to quiet your mind. Meditate. Find calmness within yourself. The practice of mindfulness helps you deal with the negative emotions like fear, panic, sadness and pain. It is very effective in reducing stress and anxiety. It will also help you get in touch with your inner self. If you need assistance on how to practice meditation and mindfulness, sometimes it helps to seek the help of professionals who can teach you the practice of positive self-transformation. Instead of waiting for things to be better, do whatever you can to make it better now. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Your future begins today. Get rid of your stubbornness. Learn to adapt to the situation. Just take for example the COVID-19 pandemic, Wherever you are in the world right now, you are affected. While a great number of people are not infected by the virus physically, the economic and even psychological impact has greatly affected millions of people around the world. You may be powerless to eliminate the problem but you can do something to lessen the impact in your life. You can keep yourself healthy by following the basic rule to combat diseases or do some simple things to improve your finances during a crisis. If you can follow these things, one day you will be surprised that you have passed the crisis successfully. You have become a better person. You are now more mature to face future challenges. Feature Image by Motivators world from Pixabay Images The current crisis has not only negatively affected the people’s health and wellbeing, it has also affected the world economy. Many industries are now falling. Companies, factories and stores are closing. People are losing their job. Unless this crisis will end soon, many people might find themselves with money worries in the near future. Although income might stop coming, household expenses will not. Debt and mortgages are piling up. Thus, it is important for everyone to how how to improve your finances especially during a crisis. Here are some things that you can do right now on how to improve your finances during a crisis: Take a good look at your monthly budget. If you don’t have any budgeting plan, now is the perfect time to start having one. The money jar budgeting system is a good way to start creating your survival budget in this tough time. If you are already having a rough time, then you need a budget more than ever. A budget will help you track down where your money is going. It will also help you plan on your future spending. Take advantage of the times. Refrain from going out unless necessary. Focus on the basics. Nutrition and health should be the main concern of everyone. Do not buy non-essential items. Stop eating out. Your main goal right now is to cut down on expenses. You don’t know how long this crisis will last so it is important to have as much emergency money as possible. It is almost impossible to keep up with bills if you are being quarantined especially if you have no savings. The best approach is to talk to your creditors and explain your situation. Ask about your options. The good news is that since you are not alone in this crisis, many governments already issued indefinite moratorium for those affected. Banks and insurance companies have started implementing assistance programs. Utility companies are following suit by waiving fees and postponing disconnections. If your income has already been affected, now is the time to look for other sources of income to boost your cash flows. There are many ways to earn even from the comfort of your home. Search online. Look for something that you are good at.You can be someone’s virtual assistant. You can do online tutoring.You can start creating your own blog or vlog. You can create webinars. The possibilities are endless. If you are worried about your finances during this pandemic, that is an indicator that there is a need for you to improve your financial IQ. To be financially literate means having the ability to manage personal finance matters. That includes having an emergency survival fund in times of crisis. If you are already an investor; Warren Buffet, the most successful investor in the world, advised investors not to panic. It is best to stay invested and look at the long-term outlook of the stock market. Although it is only natural for investors to be fearful, it is never a good idea to buy stocks based on headlines. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful. – Warren Buffet Feature Image by Posted by A.L. Jonas in Financial, 0 comments
As the number of persons infected and the death toll from the coronavirus continues to climb, the global community is now becoming more and more worried. As the virus spreads, the question in everyone’s mind is how to protect one’s self? The only way to protect one’s self is to follow the basic health rule to combat viruses, bacterias and other diseases. The World Health Organization already issued standard precautions that must be done. These include practicing basic hygiene such regular hand washing, refraining from touching the face and avoiding contact with people who are infected. Following these guidelines would help prevent the spread of infection. Setting the coronavirus aside, did you know that the human body is exposed to millions of viruses and bacteria every single day? We don’t get sick because our immune system is doing a remarkable job defending our body from harmful microorganisms. Your immune system is your body’s defense against invaders. Check out the video for more information about how the immune system works. The human body is guarded by a group of complex network of cells collectively known as the immune system whose main task is to defend the body against intruders such as viruses and bacteria. As long as they are doing their job, we will be free from illnesses and diseases. Here is an illustration of how the immune system worked on the novel coronavirus outbreak: The point is there is a way to protect yourself from the COVID-19. Instead of creating unnecessary panic, focus on keeping yourself healthy by boosting your immune system. That is the basic rule of health. The basic rule of health is to boost your immune system. Help your immune system do its job by doing these simple things that can do wonders to your health: Sleep is a vital factor in helping your immune system stay strong. Unfortunately, it is often neglected by many. The body repairs cells and tissues while we sleep. Without enough sleep, the body will have a hard time fighting infections. Aside form physical health, sleep is also a big contributing factor to our mental health. Sleep improves your memory and problem-solving skills. It keeps you alert and motivated. It also prevents depression. Sleep requirement varies per age group. Check the National Sleep Foundation to determine how much sleep do you need per day. About 60% of our body is made up of water. Without water, every cell in our body will cease to function. Although the amount of water that you need to drink varies per individual depending on certain factors such as lifestyle and the weather; on average, a person needs to drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day. Health Benefits: Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are rich with vitamins and minerals that the body need to stay healthy. They also contain fiber which helps the body absorb vital nutrients and promotes regular bowel movements. They help you maintain a healthy weight. Fruits and vegetables also lower cholesterol and blood pressure. And most importantly, a healthy diet protects you from diseases. You need to feed your immune system healthy food for them to do their job properly. You want to feel better, livelier and more energetic? Then, exercise! Exercise increases your energy levels. It helps maintain your weight and helps prevent diseases. It also keeps your brain healthy and also reduce negative feelings like depression, stress and anxiety. Smoking harms your immune system. It weakens your immune response especially in your respiratory health thus increasing your risk in developing respiratory illnesses. Do take note that coronavirus is a respiratory virus that attacks the lower respiratory tract. The last thing that you want right now is to make yourself susceptible to the virus. In addition, smoking also damages your antibodies in the bloodstream. This will result to more severe infections. Any wounds and illnesses will take longer to heal because of the damage. Vitamin C helps support your immune system. It is essential not only for growth but also in healing wounds and repairing cells in the body. Unfortunately, the body does not make its own Vitamin C so you can only get it from your food intake. Eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C such as oranges, cantaloupe, papaya, pineapple, strawberries and kiwi. You can also found it in vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, cauliflower and beans. You can also take Vitamin C supplements. Stay healthy everyone! Feature Image by Posted by A.L. Jonas in Physical, 1 comment
Lockdown and Mental Health: How to Cope with Stress, Fear and Anxiety
1. Keep Yourself Healthy
2. Maintain a Regular Routine
3. Stay Connected
4. Restrict Media Exposure
5. Do something productive
6. Practice Gratitude
Proper Mindset in Times of Crisis
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1. Acceptance
2. Practice Gratitude
3. Have a Positive Attitude
4. Practice Mindfulness
5. Adopt and Act on The Situation
How To Improve your Finances During a Crisis
1.Review your budget
2.Cut Expenses Immediately
3.Talk to Creditors
4.Look for Other Sources of Income
5.Improve your Financial IQ
It is not yet too late to start now. Take advantage of your time at home. Read about personal finance on books, magazine and the internet. Listen to podcast. Study the lives of millionaires and other highly successful people. Educate yourself and apply it in your life. Start by setting financial goals.6.Don’t Panic
Basic Health Rule to Combat Viruses
Immune System
1. Get enough sleep
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
4. Exercise Regularly
5. Stop smoking
6. Take lots of Vitamin C
