R&R's: Rest, Relaxation, Read, & Recreation

 '​These are the life and times of a rapid changing world with the Covid 19 Pandemic. Haven't we all gone into survival mode because of our jobs being compromised/fluctuated by working at home, with hours changed, differed,  or seized? Family support is asked to respect your work time, equally, restoring home relationships, and empowering the home self- built network by disciplining thyself at the desk. In positive terms, we  are on our devices all day with zoom meetings, running online based software used at work, emails are flying in mayhem, and ensuring a compatible work office is running sufficiently with hardware and supplies. Adjustments have been thrust upon us  and we are rolling with the punches. 
As we have breaks at the office, I was talking to  one of my friends, and she says, she gets up  and she's on her computer at  6:45 a.m. faithfully. Every hour on the hour, she jumps on the treadmill 3 minutes.. 3 minutes. In a 8 to 10 work hour day, that is an equivalent of  up to 30 minutes. She gets a surge of energy throughout the day.  Another colleague of mine,  takes her breaks at 10 am and 2pm with a half hour lunch. I get up shower and dress in office clothes because that sets me in my productive mode, suit, heels or flats, jewelry and walk into my home office after fighting for my office chair with  El Chapo, my 15 pound long haired cat. 
Moreover, we make sure we have phone chargers, printers, office supplies, a flat screen tv, a music player, a refrigerator or plateful of munchies to be as productive as being at the office.  We are saving on gas, wear and tear on our car, lunches, and  now, our family and pets are within ear shot.  So to add balance, walk away from the desk for a bit of R &Rs to continue on the upward slope of success. 
Moreover, the struggle is real, since the 2008 recession, we have employed 50 million. Since Covid 19,  unemployment cases have  increased abundantly in astronomical numbers  in the United States. Some are protesting to go back to work to  continue to support themselves and their families. Stress has compounded and those that have mental problems it may be more severe. All we can do support them to seek counseling, calling hotlines, reading self help journals, writing about the stress, ask for support, or  meditation techniques.  The crises has affected so many in different ways alongwith,  people who have to be self contained, on a ventilator,  and away from their families keeping social distancing. It is an impactful change on all of us.  The basics of rest, relaxation, and recreation just may not be enough. But lending a shoulder for them and assist those  with providing that information because they need support. Lady Gaga, a world renowned singer, supports Mental Health Awareness Day which is in October. In her interview with a popular news morning show she discusses in broad of the coping and awareness that we should be sensitive and supportive to others. People are extending a hand in different ways for support such as standing ovations and free food for medic teams,  emergency funding for businesses and households, ongoing distribution of info for residents, tablets provided to residents at nursing homes and schools for learning.  Facetiming with families and friends helps heal the divison and  prayers and candle vigils for the sick on social media are prevalent. It is  the world coming together. A little encouragement goes a long way. 
In short,  it is a must to rest, relax, read poetry perhaps from Paul Bussan, Tyler Knott, Gregson, or William Shakespeare, sew that dress thats been draped on the sewing machine, take a little hot glue gun out to make some colorful pencil canisters, journal writing,  and reading the books on the top shelf since we are saving on travel commuting time.  There is also family time reading by Dolly Parton with Imagination Library, Michelle Obama, various artists on Instagram, Read Along With Disney, and Social Media concerts for the whole family.  Take time for others and ourselves. We can only hold our heads up because  we know .....this too shall pass. RSalazar