Barbecue weather has more or less arrived in this corner of the planet and I am not required to social distance from it. Some long time fans of these musings may recall that I wrote a blog about barbecues a while ago and insisted that I would buy a Canadian made product. Well, I’ve been shopping and perusing for too long. It was a nice idea to only want a locally manufactured one but the prices are through the roof and the choice is extremely limited. Even the ones that supposedly come from a manufacturer in Canada are often only assembled here and the most important parts are made elsewhere. So, I pretty much gave up on that late last fall.
What to do? The last one I bought was from Canadian Tire and it lasted 12 – 13 years and worked out to about 50.00 per year – yes, I’m kind of weird that way. I figured, what the hell, if I can get the same value again – why not?
I got a call from my friend Greg last Christmas and he remembered that I was in the market and told me about one of the local Lowe’s stores closing down and they were clearing out barbecues. The next morning, bright and early, I head over to the store that is closing and find about 3 barbecues left. Short story longer, I bought one, got 500.00 off and loaded it in the SUV. I put it in the garage for fairer weather before figuring out how I would get it assembled.
I paid just over 250.00 for the thing and the last time I bought a barbecue, I paid an additional 150.00 to have it assembled and delivered. OK, I have assembled exactly one barbecue in my life and said never again! Too many small parts, etc. Well, I wasn’t going to start looking around for someone to do it so, why not give it a try. I’ll be darned, a week ago Sunday, I started about 11 in the morning and had it together by mid afternoon – will wonders never cease. I figure I got me a new barbecue for nothing when I consider the initial 500.00 I saved and the 200 or more it would have cost to assemble and deliver. Life is good and it even works, too.
Yep, I’m kind of weird like that.
It occurs to me that there are a lot of people who are struggling through this pandemic by themselves and I ran across this information tonight. If you know someone who could benefit from a few tips while they try to stay sane during this time – pass it along.
5 Tips for Reducing Stress While Home Alone
When you are spending a lot of time at home alone, whether in self-isolation or because you are ill, it can be really easy to get stressed out. Right now, the pandemic around the world is creating enough stress on its own, but it gets worse when you have to be quarantined alone.
If you are experiencing signs of stress like constant worry and panic, problems sleeping, unusual eating habits, and increased use of alcohol or drugs, then the following tips can be very useful for you.
1. Limit How Often You Watch the News
It can be hard to walk away, but if you are currently staying home because of the Coronavirus pandemic, you really need to be careful with how much time you are devoting to updates. While you don’t want to unplug completely, try to limit how often you watch the news. Try getting your updates just once a day – they repeat a lot of information, so that is really all you need. Choose just one way to get your news, and leave it at that.
2. Have “No Social Media” Blocks
When you are spending a lot of time alone, social media can seem like a good way to keep up with your friends and family. While it definitely helps, you might notice that absorbing too much of it is hurting your mental health. If you find that you feel fine before logging on, then are in a bad, irritable, sad, or upset mood after checking Facebook or Twitter, it’s time to limit your time on social media.
A better strategy is to have blocks of time where you don’t use social media at all. The length of time depends on your routine, but try for blocks of 1-2 hours at a time.
3. Take Care of Your Mental Health
To reduce stress while you are spending a lot of time home alone, you want to focus on your mental health. This is what is going to help you de-stress. Sometimes, just go outside because it actually reduces stress and anxiety. In other ways, it is more about distracting your mind so that you can focus on other things.
For example, if you need fresh air, head outside to go for a walk. Keep your distance from others if you are social distancing, but just getting outside in the fresh air and getting some exercise is amazing for your emotional health. Some other ideas include reading, doing meditation, and participating in baking or making crafts.
4. Take Care of Your Physical Health
In addition to your mental health, you can reduce stress by taking care of your body as well. This includes getting more exercise, eating a nutritious diet, and drinking water. But keep in mind that eating healthy doesn’t mean being on a restrictive diet or never having treats. Don’t burden your mind right now with dieting or weight loss. Just try to balance your meals and snacks with something healthy that also includes some indulgent treats.
5. Socialize From a Distance
Even when you need to keep your physical distance from others, you can still socialize! Connect with friends or loved ones on Zoom or FaceTime, text or call them, or just talk online when you get the chance. That unused telephone that has been sitting in the corner collecting dust and scam calls may be the perfect tonic.