Our top picks for making your day better during a pandemic

It’s been a very long year, 2020. We’ve had state and nation-wide lockdowns all over the world, we’ve stopped eating at restaurants or going to bars, sport and live music aren’t the same, and handshakes and hugs are pretty much a thing of the past.

And while we’ve all been impacted by those things in the same way, there are lots of small differences each and every one of us have to navigate. Some of us live alone, some with big families, some with elderly relatives, some with tiny children.

The good news is that there are actually loads of helpful resources to guide you in your specific situation. And you can access them for free, thanks to Converge International – a global provider of workplace assistance, health and wellbeing programs. Here are our top picks for COVID-related support:

The Positivity Pandemic:

There’s a lot of sad, depressing, even scary news right now. This article focuses on all those beautiful moments that have come about in the wake of the pandemic. Put a smile on your face and a tear at the corner of your eye by reading this one. It’s worth it!

At this moment in time we have two real choices. In one direction lies fear, selfishness and a desire to turn away from the world. In the opposite direction, a shining light illuminates’ humanity as people engage in selfless acts of kindness and generosity during these strange times… READ MORE HERE.

Talking to elderly parents about Coronavirus:

Tips for having a conversation with your parents and grandparents about keeping safe. They want to spend time with their grandkids while they still have it, you want to make sure they stay healthy and live longer. Take a look at Converge’s advice for having that conversation below:

With graphs and data indicating higher morbidity rates for COVID-19 amongst the elderly, many people are getting anxious about their parents and relatives. It’s not surprising that many older people are resisting the idea of social distancing.  When the penny drops that this means their grandchildren too, their reason and purpose, and why they still love life so much, is extinguished in an upending moment of painful realisation… READ MORE HERE.

Working remotely without going stir crazy:

Not to put too much pressure on you, but “when Bubonic Plague closed Cambridge University in 1665, Isaac Newton had to work from home. With nothing to distract him, he threw himself into his passion of mathematics and developed his three laws of motion. Quite a solid achievement, but then he didn’t have to respond to his scientist mates sending gifs or questionable memes.” The article does also have some helpful tips – although we don’t love the one about dressing up…  READ MORE HERE.

15 minutes that will stay with your child forever:

Here’s another reminder about how to create a special moment that your child will cherish. Big recommend!

It’s a tough gig being a parent today. When baby boomers and Gen X were growing up ‘parenting’ wasn’t even a word you heard used much, let alone a thing. Now it’s very difficult for any parent to escape an avalanche of articles and advice about parenting, and the judgement that often accompanies them, sometimes in a subtle way, sometimes not… READ MORE HERE.

Find calm in 5 minutes with this guided meditation:

And finally, meditation has become a pretty popular topic this year, but do you struggle to do it? Here’s a five minute video that guides you through, step by step, helping direct your thoughts. Give it a try! WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

There are five articles to get you started. They’re only short, a few minutes to read each, but hopefully they’ll have a big impact on your day! And don’t forget, there are stacks of resources for you and your friends and family to access at any time on the Converge International site.