On The + Side: Art Therapy, Beluga Whales and Metallica

Happy Monday! Here at On The + Side, we aim to start your week off with a little extra cheer in good times and bad. As we kick off a brand new week, we’ll share uplifting stories to make you smile, ways to remain healthy (physically and mentally) during a pandemic and – of course – adorable animal footage and other ways to get through quarantine.

Positive Focus

In these unprecedented times, a lot of people have come together to make the world a brighter place. We’re excited to highlight some of the latest stories that have motivated us to be the best versions of ourselves.

• From roving mariachi bands to urban farms, six problem-solvers tackled major challenges in their neighborhoods amidst COVID-19 and have come to inspiring solutions. You can read their stories here!
• To make life a little easier this fall, SunRail will provide free rides for students and employees headed downtown for classes at UCF, Valencia and FAMU Law from August 17 through September 30. Learn more about the initiative and how to sign up.
• Metallica (yup, you read that correctly!) has awarded $100,000 to Valencia College to support jobs training for welding, construction and other high-demand skills.
• The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management has been recognized as the best hospitality school in the country, and one of the top schools worldwide. Go Knights!

Wellness Boosts

Wellness begins from the inside out. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or the kitchen is more of your scene, we share some ways to boost your health and happiness during these times.

• If you’re looking to cope with stress in a creative way, why not try art therapy? Check out these five art therapy exercises you can do from the comfort of your own home.
• When working from home, it can be difficult to strike a balance and focus on self-care. Here are 23 essential tricks to help you master that #WorkFromHome life, keep up your morale and remain productive.
• From zucchini loafs to ratatouille, Good Housekeeping shares more than 50 healthy and delicious zucchini recipes the whole family will enjoy.
• For those planning to travel during the pandemic, here are a few things you should know before choosing your hotel.

For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.

Additional Resources

How have you been spending your time at home? We’ve rounded up a few ways to make this time a little more enjoyable while social distancing.

• Take a trip under the sea and watch the Georgia Aquarium’s live stream of their beluga whales! The aquarium also offers views of their penguins, sea otters and other animal ambassadors.
• In need of some podcast inspiration? We’ve got you covered! The Daily Smile is a new series with positive stories and interviews every weekday morning. Check it out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher.
• Hockey fans can pop over to the Solar Bears Fun Zone, where you can download and print crossword puzzles, coloring pages, Solar Bears Bingo and much more.
• Whether you’re in the market for a new car or applying for a new job, your credit score will follow you through many life events. Check out our guest post for Corporate Health Fairs, where we share our tips for building a strong credit score.
• Everyone hopes that they will be able to leave behind a legacy. Unfortunately, a lot of legacies end up caught in red tape and causing more pain for loved ones. Join us on Wednesday, July 29, from 6-7 p.m. for a free Estate Planning webinar. You can learn more and register here.

We’ll be back next week with more positive stories and resources to make this time a little easier for everyone. To get notifications when we post a new issue, subscribe to On The + Side.

For the latest COVID-19 updates from Addition Financial, please visit our response page.