On The + Side: Coffee, Home Safaris and Staying Connected

Welcome to On The + Side, your weekly dose of positive news and resources to keep you in good spirits during this time of uncertainty. With social distancing, school closures and curfews in place, we are experiencing an unprecedented new normal that has required us to make significant adjustments to the way we live our lives. Through our On The + Side series, we hope to make life a little easier as you navigate this time of major transition.

Positive Focus

Some inspiring organizations have stepped up to the plate to serve the community and bring on a sense of normalcy.

• To help Central Floridians cope with these difficult times without missing their caffeine fix, Foxtail Coffee gave all visitors a free beverage of their choice on March 19. Thanks a latte, Foxtail!
• After closing all of their parks and resorts, Disney donated its surplus food inventory to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. These donations have been moved out to food pantries throughout Orange County.
• Looking to volunteer your time while maintaining a safe social distance? This article shares virtual service opportunities that you can participate in without leaving the house. From transcribing historical documents for the Smithsonian Institution to supporting others through the Crisis Text Line, there are countless ways you can give back.

Wellness Boosts

In addition to washing our hands and practicing social distancing, there are a lot of things we can do to maintain our health and overall happiness. Here are some pointers to help you get started.

• Go outside. While it’s important to avoid public places and large gatherings during this time, you can still change your scenery by spending a few minutes outdoors each day. Stroll around your neighborhood, take your dog for a walk, or even grab a book and do a little reading from the comfort of your porch. Not only will the time outside improve your mood, but the vitamin D from the sun is great for your immune system.
• Work it out. Your gym may be closed, but there are plenty of ways to work out at home. Yoga enthusiasts can use the Down Dog app, which features yoga practices of varying intensities and durations, and is completely free through April 1. The Nike Training Club app provides free workout programs and nutrition tips developed by trainers for all fitness levels. You can even livestream free daily workouts from Planet Fitness on their YouTube page for the next two weeks.
• Stay connected with friends and family. The idea of social distancing can feel isolating, so it’s important to remember that we are all in this together. With technology at our fingertips, it is easier than ever to make a simple phone call or send a text message to let someone know you are thinking of them. Although being in the same room with your loved ones may not be an option right now, a video call through FaceTime or Skype can be a great way to stay connected.

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

Added Resources

Staying home for days on end can start to feel a little exhausting, but thankfully, there are free resources out there to keep you entertained or teach you something new. Check out a few of our favorites.

• Virtual tours through Google Arts & Culture. Your travel plans may have been put on hold, but you can still play tourist for free through Google Arts & Travel. Take a virtual tour of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Musee d’Orsay in Paris and countless other museums and collections worldwide. You can also use the street-view feature to explore places like Machu Picchu, Yellowstone National Park and the Pyramids of Egypt.
• Home Safaris at the Cincinnati Zoo. Every day at 3 p.m. EST, the Cincinnati Zoo shares a Facebook livestream featuring a different animal, from two-toed sloths to Fiona the Hippo. Whether you have kids at home or you’re an animal lover at heart, these 15-minute livestreams are fun and informative for the whole family.
• Yale’s free course on The Science of Well-Being. No need to apply for financial aid! Yale University is offering its most popular class for free right now, with a focus on The Science of Well-Being. The topic is especially relevant these days, and you can set your own pace and deadlines as you make your way through the syllabus.
• Free Adulting 101 webinar. Although we’ve had to cancel our in-person workshops, you can still watch our upcoming Adulting 101 webinar without leaving the house. Through this free webinar, we’ll demystify budgeting and credit, and provide real-world money smarts for high school and college students. The webinar takes place on Wednesday, March 25 from 6-7 p.m. and you can sign up 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.