Welcome back to On The + Side, your weekly serving of positive stories, ways to stay healthy and of course, adorable animal footage. Our goal is to shine some light in our community during an otherwise challenging time.
Positive Focus
We could all use some good news in our lives. Check out some of the inspiring ways that individuals and businesses have rallied together during these times of uncertainty.
- Car parades are taking place all over the country to give thanks to educators, first responders and others during this difficult time. In Central Florida, community members recently showed their support for healthcare workers at Oviedo Medical Center, as dozens of vehicles drove through the lot and the Oviedo Police and Fire Departments led the way with sirens and flashing lights.
- Limbitless Solutions at UCF is printing 3D components for face shields that will be used by first responders and healthcare workers. The visors they create will feature a special message: either “hope,” “compassion,” “love” or “we thank you.”
- On April 7, Central Floridians celebrated 407 Day, which was named for the 407 area code and the date, 4/7. To participate, members of the community were encouraged to support local business by purchasing takeout or to-go from an area restaurant.
Wellness Boosts
This week’s Wellness Boosts come from Lindsey Birmele and Hilary Bornstein, who are licensed mental health counselors (LMHC) with Bornstein Counseling. Lindsey and Hilary share:
Finding light in these dark times can be difficult, but finding moments of joy is possible. Happiness does not mean there is nothing negative or painful going on, it means allowing ourselves to feel ALL of our emotions and then adjusting our perspective to emphasize that which we can control. Although it can feel like we do not have much in our control right now, sometimes that just means we have to shift our view a bit. IT IS OK to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and confused right now. Remember, anxiety is a part of our body’s defense system and its main job is to keep us safe, so we should be experiencing some anxiety right now; that is what will keep us home and keep us safe. Below are some ways to lower the anxiety and help you take better care of yourself, one day at a time.
- Routine is key. Creating a daily (morning/afternoon/evening) routine is paramount during these uncertain times. It is important to still get “ready” for the day. Get up, shower, and get dressed (even if it is just into a new, clean pair of sweats or pajamas). You will feel much better!
- Connect from afar. Social distancing is really physical distancing, but we can still connect with our loved ones. Phone calls, email chains, group chats, video chats, and writing good old-fashioned letters can help us feel close in times of distancing.
- Limit the noise. Find a space in your home (preferably an outdoor space, as it is more difficult to be anxious when breathing fresh air) to check the news. One hour max per day is plenty of time to catch up on daily news – anything more, and normal anxiety can turn into panic. It is also a good idea to move apps that you want to limit time on to the last page on your phone. The more you have to hunt for them, the less likely you are to open them frequently.
For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.
Additional Resources
To keep ourselves entertained in a time that may otherwise feel socially isolating, we’ve rounded up some free resources that will allow you and your families to learn and explore.
- To help us cope with COVID-19 challenges, celebrities are reading to children and families all over the world. A few of our favorites: LeVar Burton is hosting LeVar Burton Reads live on Twitter three times per week, where he will read children’s literature, young adult fiction and stories for adults. Dolly Parton just launched Good Night With Dolly, where she’ll read a different book from her Imagination Library each week on her YouTube channel, starting with The Little Engine That Could. And Josh Gad, voice of Olaf from Frozen, is reading nightly bedtime stories live on Twitter through his #GadBookClub.
- If you’re feeling productive during this quarantine time, why not learn a language? Duolingo is a free language learning app and website, with courses for all proficiency levels in 23 different languages. A few minutes every day can make a noticeable difference!
- Although the Orlando Science Center may be closed, they are still offering tons of useful resources for families through their OSC At Home page. From try-this-at-home activities like DIY rock candy and creating dinosaur fossils to educational videos, the Orlando Science Center has got you covered.
- Visit Orlando has created immersive virtual tours and experiences for those who won’t make it to the parks for a while. With theme park visits, animal interactions, and even swan boat rides on Lake Eola, the site has something for everyone.
- Summer vacations may have been canceled, but you can still travel the world without having to leave home! TravelZoo shares 20 amazing places that you can visit virtually, including the Vienna Opera, Volcanoes National Park and the San Diego Zoo. Did we mention you can watch the penguins via the zoo’s penguin cam?
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.
