Coronavirus Special: How To Manage Anxiety In The Face Of A Global Pandemic
with Dr Judson Brewerby Dr. Rangan Chatterjee March 22, 2020 CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing. As the world goes into lockdown to help manage the global pandemic of Coronavirus, many people are feeling anxious. This is a bonus conversation that I have recorded to help people deal with the anxiety that they are currently experiencing. Many people feel scared and helpless, which is completely understandable. In this episode, I speak to the behavioural neuroscientist and psychiatrist, Judson Brewer, who will help you understand how to keep your cool in these stressful times. We discuss what exactly fear and anxiety is, what happens in the brain when you start to feel anxious and, importantly, how you can break the anxiety cycle with some simple, practical exercises. We discuss breathing, physical activity, creative pursuits and much more, as well as how calmness is a skill that you can get better at, if you take the time to practice it. I think you will find this an incredibly useful podcast to help navigate the crazy world we are living in at the moment. Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.* |
Peter McGuire of The Irish Times has written this superb article to help everyone attempting to educate their children at home
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In what is uncharted territory for Irish industry, the below resources are valuable tools to help your business planning
Many businesses are built on Relationships - keep the communication lines open with your suppliers and customers to find workable solutions to supply, credit and cashflow challenges. We recommend the following resources for any employers or business owners looking for information and guidance during the ongoing Coronavirus - COVID-19 Outbreak. |
Business Continuity
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Revenue support
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Working From Home
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Wellbeing
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With so many of us working from home, here are some Top Tips form experts on how to optimise your time:
1 - Time Management Set a schedule, and stick to it. The dishwasher will still need to be emptied, do it on your assigned lunch break if you feel it's urgent. 2 - Break Times Designate yourself tea breaks / lunch, and stick to it. Yes, you may be 8 steps away from your fridge, but don't go there unless you're on your break 3 - Have a "10 @ 10" Can you video call with your co-workers to ensure nothing is falling through the cracks. Even if they are not directly involved with your workload, touching base with your co-workers will help you to feel less isolated, more motivated and help ensure a continuous workflow for the business 4 - Tomorrow's Another Day Finish on time, as if you've to catch your train from Pearse St. Prep for tomorrow's "10 @ 10", even if it's only for yourself. Check off your tasks accomplished and prioritise tomorrow's workload |
Why Bake at home?
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Get Crafty
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Here's some easy tips to get you going:
If you are under time pressure between working from home / kids, take 10 minutes a day, 3 times a day. Simply set your alarm for every 2 hours, so you don't put it on the long finger. 10 minute work out:
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The essential on steam inhalations for respiratory ailments
Posted on March 13, 2020by The Holistic GardenerThere is a knack to it and more on that later but utilizing steam therapy (inhaling steam) to relieve respiratory complaints has been around a long time – back to edo period Japan, back to the ancient Rome and the ancient Egyptian physicians. It moves in and out of favour and there are some sceptics but if you have ever tried it for yourself then there is no doubt that it moves more than mucus. The practice has been employed to easy the symptoms of cold, flu, cough, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, copd and other restrictive breathing complaints. How it works. Steam inhalation involves the careful introduction of warm, moist air into our airways, through the nose and mouth. That steam-enriched air can moisten the respiratory tract easing discomfort and by allowing the gentle heat to dilate blood vessels and open the airways further, eases breathing difficulties. The heat also thins mucus thus breaking up any congestion and further allowing a better air flow. The warmth also improves blood circulation which apart from helping to oxygenate lungs more efficiently actually triggers an immune system response and delivers that slightly elevated white blood cell production to where it needs to go – to tackle that bacterial cough or to that viral upper respiratory tract infection. How to do it. The naysayers on steam therapy always cite scalding yourself or how steam is not natural. Well having a shower you breathe in steam and you don’t cook your lungs or strip seven layers of skin off. So when it comes to a steam inhalation from a bowel or basin – don’t have it scalding, think comfortable shower temperature. Boil the kettle let it sit a minute or so and then add the hot water to your receptacle that you have placed on a sturdy counter or table top. Again let it rest a minute or so before availing of. I know you will take every precaution not to scald yourself but the purpose of this is that within the safe range of standard shower temperatures there is no irritation of lung lining so we are slowly getting to that place with the two rests. Also those who boil the kettle and dive straight in are not able to tolerate the heat for long and so get minimal benefit, it is not a sweat lodge or sauna, its simply some moistened warm air. Too hot and you may trigger wheezing or exacerbations. Fetch a towel that is of sufficient size to drape over your head and shoulders and which will when you lean over the receptacle enable you to make a tent that traps the steam in your breathing zone. There is no optimum distance, you don’t have to have your nose touching the water (in fact don’t), 20cm or more away from the water is ample to let the steam rise toward your face. You can breathe normally through nose and mouth and the moisten and warmed air will be naturally inhaled. No need to go yogic breathing, just as you are. A few deeper breaths every now and then is no harm. 3 minutes under the tent will yield rewards but most regular users of this approach remain for 5-10minutes. How to boost it with essential oils. You can boost the effectiveness of the bronchodilation, expectorant and antimicrobial effects of the steam inhalation by utilizing essential oils with more of those actions in their repertoire. You could start off with as little as 5drops but generally 10-20 drops to a basin will infuse in the steam and via the nasal passages and inhalation also deliver the active volatile oils to the lungs. Here are eight essentials that are antibacterial and antiviral and offer bronchodilation too • Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) • Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) • Lemonbalm aka Melissa (Melissa officinalis) • Neroli (Citrus aurantium) • Oregano (Origanum vulgare) • Sage (Salvia officinalis) • Tee tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) |
Ideas for Helping your Kids to Continue Schoolwork at Home:
Educational activity suggestions and resources:
www.librariesireland.ie www.storylineonline.net www.cula4.com www.duolingo.com www.topmarks.co.uk www.gonoodle.com https://rtejr.rte.ie/10at10/ www.twinkl.ie www.seomraranga.com |