Welcome back to On The + Side, where we aim to bring a little more cheer into your life during these challenging times. Many of us have faced hardship amid COVID-19 and have had to make major adjustments, so it’s important to remember that we are all in this together. This week, we’ll share more news, wellness tips and helpful resources to keep you in good spirits.
Positive Focus
Our community continues to inspire us, as individuals and organizations come together to bring some light into a time that may otherwise feel very dark.
- To help local businesses survive these financially difficult times, one graphic artist created Takeout Bingo Cards encouraging participants to grab takeout from several Central Florida restaurants. The game has inspired participants to try new restaurants in the area, and now some businesses are offering prizes!
- Last week, Seminole County Public Schools teamed up with Action Church to distribute student lunches and school supplies for families in need. The organizations were able to provide food for hundreds of local families.
- As local schools and families are financially impacted by COVID-19, Addition Financial has made donations to several organizations to support their food banks, emergency funds for students and staff, and other needs. Our donations have supported A Gift For Teaching, the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, the Education Foundation of Osceola County, the Education Foundation of Lake County, UCF, Seminole State College and Valencia College.
Wellness Boosts
Wellness isn’t just about your physical health, but your mental and emotional health as well. Check out our tips to stay happier and healthier during an otherwise stressful time.
- Create a Smile File. If you’re looking for a reason to smile, this happiness hack has you covered! A “Smile File” may look different for everyone, but an easy way to add a little cheer into your day is to create a folder on your computer where you save positive emails and other files that make you happy. If you’re feeling down or your energy is starting to wane throughout the day, you can open that Smile File to give yourself a helpful pep talk.
- Keep on moving. In addition to the free fitness resources we shared in our previous post, Bustle has a list of 24 livestream workouts and apps that you can try out from the comfort of your own home.
- Limit your news intake. This may seem next to impossible, but limiting the amount of news that you consume during the global pandemic will make a world of difference in your overall well-being. While you’ll want to be sure to keep up with any local mandates or guidelines from the CDC, spending too much time focused on live updates can cause panic and added stress in an already difficult situation.
For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.
Additional Resources
We’re amazed by the number of free resources available to our community! Whether you have kids home from school or you’re simply looking for some entertainment without leaving the house, we’ve got you covered.
- UCF coloring pages. Our friends at UCF have created some printable coloring pages that little Knights can enjoy! You can find those pages here.
- Virtual lunch and learns with the Audubon Center. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland is offering Virtual Lunch and Learns every weekday through April 15, where viewers can learn all about the owls, eagles and other raptors that the Center works with. These videos, which take place at 12 p.m. EST, are the perfect at-home field trip for animal lovers of all ages. (Doesn’t everyone want to go on an Owl Prowl?)
- Behind-the-scenes videos with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. We may not be able to attend live concerts these days, but orchestra enthusiasts can still experience the joys of music through the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s Sound Bites and Musician Moments. These videos not only include song excerpts, but also provide behind-the-scenes insights from the musicians themselves!
- Easy at-home recipes. It can be difficult to get out to the grocery store, but sites like MyFridgeFood and Fridge to Table have you covered! You can enter the items you already have in your pantry or refrigerator, and they will give you recipes you can make with those ingredients.
- Financial resources. To make life easier for Addition Financial members, we have taken measures to ensure members are able to manage their finances with fewer worries about loan payments. Members who have experienced a loss in income that will make it difficult to keep up are encouraged to give us a call so that we can assist. We know our members are facing significant hardship, but we are here for you and we stand by ready to help. Count us in!
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.
