It has almost been 2 months since the shelter in place order was issued in San Francisco, California. I still remember the email I got from my school that all our classes will be online for coming 2 weeks and how it ended up being online for the rest of the semester. The shelter in place has been extended couple times since it was announced. Just like everyone else in the this situation, which is all of us, I feel anxious and am devastated by the destruction this virus has done to all mankind.
A lot has changed in these past two months. People have lost jobs, homes, people they love and countless animals have been abandoned. There have been many debates on whether the countries should open up or stay closed. Although the analysis and studies show that staying closed have helped slow down the spread of the virus, people have lost way too much money and are getting restless to get everything open up and running. However, how would you feel safe and imagine you would not get the virus when you start going out again, or how do you know that opening up states would ensure that there are no more cases of the virus coming up.
The return to normal means opening up the malls and looking at streets filled with people, even thinking about that gives me anxiety and stress. It will take a lot of time for people to just return to doing basic things like traveling in a train without thinking of being sick after returning to normal. There are so many people questioning even if things will go back to normal. I wonder if “normal” is even the right word.
How do you feel about things going back to “normal”? Let me know in the comments.
The entire world is on lockdown and we have lost many lives to the pandemic. Times have been tough for people from all walks of life. Students are studying online, professionals are working from home and teachers are teaching from home. Being at home for so long has definitely put everyone in a weird spot. We are seeing different things around us and we are experiencing stuff that we haven’t before.
Personally, it has rather been a difficult task to keep myself motivated. Being in the design industry I am required to be productive and creative. However, I have a hard time focusing and being productive. I might have been going through a creative block as we say it. I did a poll on my Instagram the other day asking my creative friends on how they overcome their creative blocks. I will share with you couple ideas they gave me that worked best for me. They might or might not work for you but they are worth trying since we have all the time in the world being in quarantine. So, here we go.
Go for a walk. Take a deep breathe when you feel overwhelmed. Do not expect too much from yourself. Try gardening. Do some exercises. Set a routine for yourself. Stay in touch with your friends and family.
Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these ideas and if they worked for you!
As Marie Kondo, the founder of shop KonMari says,”It is about finding joy”. She is a tidying expert, bestselling author, star of Netflix’s hit show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo,” and she is also the founder of KonMari Media, Inc. I have personally watched her show many times on repeat and each time it gives me a motivation to clean up but also to do it without stress.
Given the situation we are under, being trapped in our homes has been a bit frustrating for everyone. Organizing can be calming and it is something we can do while staying at home. You can also check out KonMari Philosophy here and learn more about Marie Kondo’s techniques.
I have been using this time at home to organize my room, kitchen, bathroom – basically my entire house. KonMari has helped me be positive during this time. Cleaning can be a stressful job, but if you allow yourself to follow a schedule – it can give you joy. Don’t clean your entire house in one day – divide your chores and spend time relaxing as well. I have also been gardening and finding out more about plants, so that is also something you can do during this time.
In this post I am highlighting five products that can be helpful in organizing your space and making it beautiful as well. They are also offering free shipping for orders above $75!!
A book can be a great investment at this time. This book talks about creating joy at your workplace, and since our home is our workplace these days, it can be the perfect book to read. She has many more books available and you can check them out here. I have not read this particular book yet but I definitely plan on ordering.
It is a great investment for those who want to start organizing their closets and declutter their rooms. They come in three different sizes and are super spacious and easy to pick up with the wooden handles. I own the large one and I use it to keep my sheets. It is really easy to use and pick up with the wooden round handles and looks really pretty aesthetically.
Designed for ease of use and designed by Ole Jensen it is a very lightweight dust pan that will also be an easy storage. I have been using this product since 2 months now and I can definitely vouch for it. It is super easy to use and picks up even the most tiny dust particle on the floor.
These beautiful storage trays can store pens, loose change, your keys or your tea sets. I have not used these but the reviews are tempting me to order one of them very soon.
Last but not the least, make storage fun for your kids and make them help you tidy up with these super cute bunny ears storage boxes. I bought these as a gift for my niece and she absolutely loves putting her clothes in this really cute box.
$89.00
Let me know in the comments below if you have tried products from KonMari Shop before or after reading this post! And how did you like them!!
Past couple months have been life changing for most of us. In times like these it is hard to stay happy and easier to lose all hope and positivity. Staying indoors in quarantine can impose more stress and make you feel anxious. In this blog post I will be focusing on the positive things that are also happening during this time, and how just shifting your focus can help you stay positive and mindful.
Love seems to be there even in times like these.
IMAGE SOURCE A couple in Shanghai, China, embracing each other while wearing masks.
2. People taking care of their dogs. IMAGE SOURCE Dogs seems to be wearing masks all around the world as their parents take care of them.
3. People helping each other during the crisis. IMAGE SOURCE A man in San Francisco offering free coffee to his community.
4. People sharing food among their communities.
IMAGE SOURCE A sign on the streets of San Francisco asking people to grab sourdough starter along with the name of the person.
5. Being grateful for the community.
image source A screen in Times Square, New York City, displaying thanks to the healthcare workers around the world.
6. Earth being reborn while people are in quarantine.
IMAGE SOURCE A before and after photo of India Gate, New Delhi, India, showing the dramatic change in the skies and the smog in the air.
These are tough times but we can also look for the light even in the darkest of times.
While most mental health doctors and experts presumably wouldn’t have individuals invest more energy and time with their cell phones, there are some apps that can transform screen time into time all around spent. These specific apps give devices to individuals hoping to improve their lives.
Some are intended to assist those battling with issues like melancholy, uneasiness, or PTSD, while others depend on positive mental health and expect to build center, satisfaction, and quiet through care and contemplation.
In this blog, I will focus of such 5 apps that can help you with any of the above mentioned issues or for just improving your lifestyle and mental health and taking it one step ahead.
Headspace is an extraordinary and straightforward application for starting meditators hoping to learn just as further developed meditators who need to extend their training. It offers contemplation arrangement that address different points, similar to nervousness, stress, rest, and physical exercise.
I have been using this app from past one month and I must say it makes my day a whole lot better. It makes meditation so easy and fun. Small little details of the app, such as the videos and everyday quotes make you feel alive and happy. It has lot of animations that make the exercises and meditation easier to understand.
Cost: $12.99/month or $94.99/year Download for Apple Download for Android
Calm is voted the #1 application for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation, with more than 50 million downloads and more than 700,000 5-star surveys. Calm has won Apple BEST OF 2018 honor, Apple’s App of the Year 2017, Google Play Editor’s Choice 2018, and is named by the Center for Humane Technology as “the world’s most joyful app.”
I have use Calm before I got hooked up on Headspace, I live for the amazing collection they have of different sleeping sounds and the instant feel you get of the app. You can certainly rely on the mere landing screen of the app to give you a sense of calm.
Cost: $12.99/month, $59.99/year, or a one-time fee of $399.99 for unlimited lifetime access Download for Apple Download for Android
Moodnotes is an idea diary and state of mind journal. The application can be utilized to catch your emotions and improve your thoroughly considering propensities the execution of CBT and positive psychology.
I have personally not use this app yet, but just reading through the reviews and description make me feel like I should really give it a go, specially during the times we are sheltering in place.
What’s up is a stunning free appear both android and apple phone that utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies to assist you with adapting to Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and the sky is the limit from there. Utilize the positive and negative propensity tracker to keep up your great propensities, and break those that are counterproductive. I especially love the “Get Grounded” page, which contains more than 100 distinct inquiries to pinpoint what you’re feeling, and the “Thinking Patterns” page, which shows you how to stop negative interior monologs. Give it a shot for yourself.
Brain Shift is outstanding amongst other emotional well-being applications structured explicitly for youngsters and youthful grown-ups with uneasiness. Instead of attempting to maintain a strategic distance from on edge sentiments, Mind Shift focuses on the significance of changing how you consider tension. Think about this application as the team promoter in your pocket, urging you to assume responsibility for your life, brave exceptional feelings, and face testing circumstances.
Don’t be shy! Let me know if there are any other apps that you have used previosly! Don’t forget to comment you thoughts if you end up using any of these apps!
“Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I’m reborn.” – Gandhi Artwork courtesy: gurvinder
Sleep tips resemble diet tips or showcasing tips: unlimited. We can generally continue discovering more, yet eventually, we understand that we needn’t bother with additional, we need the essentials and above all else we have to make a move on those nuts and bolts.
Nighttime steps to help you get better sleep
1. Adhere to a rest schedule
A similar sleep time and wake up time, even on the ends of the week can be your first step in the process.. This assists with directing your body’s clock and could assist you with nodding off and stay unconscious for the evening. Going hand in hand with making sleep a priority is creating a routine. Creating a sleep routine is definitely one of the 20% of strategies that will get you 80% of results. The best part? It’s free and takes maybe five minutes to setup. You might even be done in two minutes or less.
2. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and heavy meals
Eating enormous or zesty dinners can cause inconvenience from acid reflux that can make it difficult to rest. On the off chance that you can, abstain from eating enormous dinners for a few hours before sleep time. As per the discoveries, liquor allows solid individuals to nod off snappier and rest all the more profoundly for some time, however it decreases Rapid Eye Movement(REM). What’s more, the more you drink before bed, the more articulated these impacts. REM rest occurs around an hour and a half after we nod off.
3. Green tea
Green tea may provide an array of health benefits, including better sleep. It’s a well-known fact that we should all be getting around 8 hours of sleep per night in order to remain healthy, but for some of us, this seems like an impossible task. However, sipping green tea before bed could help you if you’re suffering from sleep-related problems like insomnia. It helps you relax and reduces anxiety, which will be a huge benefit if you struggle to find sleep each night. It will improve the quality of your sleep, too – without leaving you feeling lethargic and sleepy like other natural and synthetic sleep supplements.
4. Aerobic exercise
Exercise can causes the body to release endorphins. These chemicals can create a level of activity in the brain that keeps some people awake. Recent research indicates that exercise decreases sleep complaints and insomnia in patients. The effects of aerobic exercise on sleep appear to be similar to those of sleeping pills. However, more research is needed to compare physical exercise to medical treatments for insomnia.
5. Create a room that’s ideal for sleeping.
Often, this means cool, dark and quiet. Exposure to light might make it more challenging to fall asleep. Avoid prolonged use of light-emitting screens just before bedtime. Consider using room-darkening shades, earplugs, a fan or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs. Doing calming activities before bedtime, such as taking a bath or using relaxation techniques, might promote better sleep.
6. Manage your worries.
Try to resolve your worries or concerns before bedtime. Jot down what’s on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow.Stress management might help. Start with the basics, such as getting organised, setting priorities and delegating tasks. Meditation also can ease anxiety.
BuzzFeed Community shared an article about the small life changes or habits that have helped them — in some way — live a healthier, happier day-to-day. ✨
What are those 24 habits? First of all lets see what those recommended habits are: 1. Unfollow any IG accounts that make you feel bad. 2. Drink a tall glass of water first thing in the morning, before you do anything else. 3. Adopt the one-minute rule — and make your bed. 4. And speaking of your bed: don’t work from it. 5. Make a point to notice the good in people, instead of the bad. 6. Listen to your favourite songs on the way to school or work. 7. On Sunday, spend some time meal prepping for the week ahead. 8. Make eye contact more often. 9. Solve snacking by having a grab-and-go bin ready. 10. Ditch alcohol for a little bit. 11. Find a way to get moving. 12. And remember that exercise doesn’t even require you to leave the house. 13. Try a guided meditation app — like Calm or Headspace. 14. Or download a free gratitude journal app — like Grateful or Jour. 15. Spend at least 10 minutes with the sun every day. 16. Count macros instead of calories. 17. When grocery shopping, stick to the perimeter of the store. 18. If life’s timing is right, think about getting a pet. 19. Keep your space clean — in a way that won’t stress you out. 20. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try CBD oil. 21. And ditch your phone at night, too. 22. Eat more plants and less sugar. 23. If you have a long to-do list, remember that it’s OK to go slowly. 24. And don’t dwell on the bad stuff.
Habits that I picked I picked the following habits to try on for a week:
1. Unfollow any IG accounts that make you feel bad. I am that crazy person who follows all the Instagram accounts, anyone you know I have already stalked them on Instagram. It stops being funny after sometime, so I went and unfollowed people that I really don’t have much to do with and followed couple mental health accounts, one such inspirational account is of Angel Bedi. She is an illustrator and her work is really calming and soothing to my mind. 2. Drink a tall glass of water first thing in the morning, before you do anything else. I did this routine for sometime a while ago so this was not that difficult. Instead of water I have apple cider vinegar, aloe vera juice and one lime in a glass of water. 3. Adopt the one-minute rule — and make your bed. This really helped me wake up, and it gives me a fresh mind and a clean slate every morning. 4. And speaking of your bed: don’t work from it. I usually work from my bed so this was the most difficult one of the habits for me. 5. Ditch alcohol for a little bit. I am only a very social drinker, this one did not take much effort from me and was probably the smoothest one. 6. Try a guided meditation app — like Calm or Headspace. I have used Calm before but only as a trial. I downloaded Headspace as I had heard a lot about it, and tbh it has been the best app i have used. 7. Keep your space clean — in a way that won’t stress you out. I love cleaning, so much that I usually leave all my important work and start cleaning until I am satisfied with it. This gives me anxiety when I have so much work to do after I am tired from cleaning. So organising myself with cleaning one thing at a time really helped. 8. And ditch your phone at night, too. I started keeping my phone in the drawer of my night stand and waking up has never felt so fresh. 9. If you have a long to-do list, remember that it’s OK to go slowly. This one was a major step help in doing my daily chores and my work. It helped me organise my day and follow it too.
My take aways All of these habits really helped me be content with my day. It was definitely small decisions that I had to take everyday in order to follow these habits and daily activities, but thinking about the result that it would give me kept me going. Meditating with Headspace has really helped me be focused on my work and be present in every situation. I would definitely vouch for these habits and would try more such habits in future.
This article by Huffington post explains 9 phrases that really bother people with depression. They have recently asked people how they have dealt with depression and what responses from people have bug them and made them feel low.
An Illustration “letters from the unknown” by gurvi94.
What are those 9 phrases? 1. “You should try working out.” 2. “It’s all in your head.” 3. “Why don’t you just let yourself be happy?” 4. “You’re being selfish.” 5. “Medication isn’t the answer.” 6. “Just be more positive.” 7. “Hey, it could be worse.” 8. “It’s just a bad day.” 9. “Why didn’t you speak up about how you were feeling?”
Mental health incorporates our passionate, mental, and social prosperity. It influences how we think, feel, and act. It likewise decides how we handle pressure, identify with others, and settle on decisions. Mental health is significant at each phase of life, from youth and puberty through adulthood. I think it is really important to talk about mental health problems without any resistance.
Surround yourself with people who care and care about people who are near you.
Everyone is different and they have different issues that they deal with, everyone has a different story. Why don’t we all just be there for each and treat people with kindness. I would like to encourage people to spend more time understanding each other and respecting each others feelings and health issues. Together we can create a world that is happy and content.
We need compassion, we need love. It may sound needy and greedy but that is all we ask for.
Design Your Mind. 