Though we live in unprecedented times, our community continues to inspire us in the way they overcome adversity. In this week’s edition of On The + Side, we’ll share more of the stories that brought us joy, along with tips for staying happy and healthy while adjusting to our new normal.
Positive Focus
The world can feel like a scary place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but through it all, we are grateful for the opportunities to give back and learn from the example of others.
- Seminole State College is giving back to the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. The college has loaned out ventilators and donated face masks and shields, hand sanitizer, surgical gowns and gloves to several hospitals, including Orlando Health, AdventHealth and Central Florida Regional Hospital.
- One UCF theatre professor and costume designer has teamed up with her family to sew masks for police officers stationed at the campus’s COVID-19 testing site.
- As more people work from home, animal shelters have seen a huge increase in fostering pets during the coronavirus. Check out this heartwarming photo gallery!
- We may not be able to meet in person, but Addition Financial is still committed to financial education. This month, some of our team members presented virtual workshops to local high school students through the Horizon Scholars Program and to ambassadors in the UCF College of Business. From our kitchen tables and home offices to yours, you can always count us in!
Wellness Boosts
Lindsey Birmele, LMHC, and Hilary Bornstein, LMHC, are back this week with more wellness boosts to keep us happier and healthier throughout the pandemic. Lindsey and Hilary are licensed mental health counselors with Bornstein Counseling. This week’s advice focuses on setting boundaries. Lindsey and Hilary share:
For many, home and work are the same place now. Because of this, we need to add in extra boundaries to try to split our space and our time. Here are some reminders on how to separate ourselves from work when we are “off the clock” but still in the same space.
- Turn your devices off or on silent when your workday is over. Unless you are required to be on call, it can wait until later.
- Designate a space to work. Avoid checking work emails or taking calls in your bedroom or other relaxation places.
- If you are in the middle of something when it’s time to “leave the office,” write down the things you plan to do the following work morning. That way, they are on paper and not consuming your thoughts all evening or weekend.
- If you are someone who really struggles to leave work at the workplace, you are probably struggling more than others to turn off. Make a rough schedule for your weekend with time built in for relaxation, rest, and maybe even a little fun!
- Finally, remind yourself that you will be more productive after recharging your internal battery. Give yourself permission to do so! Productivity is a good thing, unless it is tied to our self-worth. We are valuable when we are busy, AND we are valuable when we are not. Give yourself the space to be both.
For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.
Additional Resources
Feeling a little stir crazy in quarantine? Check out the concerts, virtual tours, videos and other resources we’ve rounded up this week, guaranteed to educate and keep you entertained.
- Music fans can enjoy free Couch Concerts from, you guessed it, the comfort of your own couch. The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras will host this at-home concert series on their Facebook page every Tuesday and Thursday night at 7 p.m. Addition Financial is proud to be a sponsor!
- The Key West Aquarium is offering virtual tours, animal encounters and other resources on their Facebook page. Our favorite? Their 30-second Moments of Zen, which are sure to be the most relaxing 30 seconds of your day. For a little more calm in your life, check out this Moment of Zen video of their seahorses.
- Seminole County Public Schools is offering virtual lunch and learns on Facebook live to help families with remote learning and other resources. You can learn more about these sessions here.
- To keep young minds entertained and engaged, Audible is offering free Stories to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Audible Stories features a collection of audio books for children and teens – and yes, adults can also enjoy.
- For TED Talk fans, TED Ed is the perfect place to spark your student’s curiosity. The site features free TED Talks on a variety of subjects relevant to different curriculum, and can even be used to teach students how to present their big ideas. The site is also a great resource for adults who want to learn something new.
- In these uncertain times, giving back to our community is more important than ever before! Heart of Florida United Way shares a list of volunteer opportunities and other ways to make a difference while still adhering to all social distancing guidelines.
- To find out the status of your stimulus check, you can check out the new IRS "Get My Payment" page.
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.