Tag: pandemic

4 Hug Alternatives Almost as Good as The Real Thing

by Michelle Kratzer

The world is opening up🙋🏼‍♀️…but hugs are still shut down 🙆🏼‍♀️. WHAAAAAT?

How can a Pre-Pandemic Hugger survive Post-Pandemic social life?


DANGER! PELIGRO! ACHTUNG!

Hopefully, you still enjoy hugging your significant other after being locked inside the house together for a couple of months. But how can you express love in non-physical ways to your other friends and family? Here are some ideas.

4 non-physical ways to express love

1. CONNECT WITH eye contact

William Shakespeare, Leonardo Da Vinci, Victor Hugo, Carl Jung and countless others throughout history marveled at the connection of the eyes to the soul. Convey your feelings by baring your soul with eye contact. Even after social distancing is a thing of the past, would more eye contact be a bad thing? Can we put our devices down for a few moments to really connect with another human being? We spend an embarrassing average of 3.5 hours a day on our phones, and we’re only awake for about 18. Watch out, though. Eye contact is powerful stuff, and most of us are not accustomed to it. Try to strike just the right amount. Enough to really connect, but not so much that it’s overbearing.

2. EXPRESS YOUR AFFECTION IN Words

Hugs express our feelings for each other non-verbally, raising our natural “feel good” or “happiness hormones” (including Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins). But, just hearing that you are loved or special ALSO increases natural dopamine and oxytocin levels. So, spread some happiness verbally. Express your deep affection or admiration to someone you would usually hug. For those unfamiliar with the concept, I’m referring to talking; its sorta like texting, only you do it with your mouth. 😉 It’s a little more work, but those you love will be grateful. And don’t be stingy. Blast that love out like a candy-exploding piñata.

3. Invent your own greeting

When I see a loved one that I’ve been missing for a while, I tend to put both hands over my heart and raise my shoulders. While I’m not sure why, it feels pretty natural to me. I think I’ll stick with it.

What could you do to salute those you love? Prince Harry uses the elbow bump. The Israeli Prime Minister advised “doing” Namaste (hands together at your heart center). My brother-in-law air-kissed me the other day, which I found sweet and thoughtful. What fits your personality style? Perhaps a peace sign? Maybe say hello Snoop-style with a little dance?

Say hello Snoop-style

4. Smile without restraint

Show us your teeth! Give your biggest smile. Smiles naturally raise dopamine levels and convey feelings of welcomeness. Smiling lowers stress levels, boosts your immune system and lowers blood pressure. Sign me up for that!

While none of these can completely substitute being swept up in an embrace by a treasured friend, hopefully they will be enough; at least until hugging is back on the table. But for now, maybe the little gestures with which we greet each other will mean a little more than they used to. Since they take deliberate thought and action, perhaps it will be more appreciated than just going in for the physical touch.

If you have a new or different non-physical greeting, SHARE IT WITH US in the comments below!

Get that CORONA outta my FACE – 3 Ways to Prevent a Quarantine Breakdown

by Michelle Kratzer

Which of these are you?

🤷🏼‍♀️ A. This virus and the means to control it is just overblown media hype: “This is a sham, a hoax, a travesty!“

🤷🏼‍♀️ B. This virus is the precursor to Armageddon, the end of the world as we know it:. “Close everything down until 2025!“

🤷🏼‍♀️ C. I wish we knew more about Covid-19. I don’t want to spread the virus, but I can only wear a mask and social distance for a little while longer.

I’m definitely C. I don’t want to get sick, but if I don’t see my sister soon, this girl’s gonna lose it.

Literally me, if I don’t see my sister soon

But, I’m not a medical doctor, biohazard specialist or a politician, so my opinion on this whole thing doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that this shutdown doesn’t psychologically scar us for life. Some days I feel like I’m just a teensy baby-step away from full blown psychosis. So, I did a little research and found 3 ways to prevent a quarantine breakdown.

  • 1. Empower Yourself with Acceptance

You may not realize that you are right, smack in the middle of the grieving process. For the last month, your entire way of life has been stripped from you. Don’t underestimate or belittle the depth of how that makes you feel. But, here is the good news: just the act of accepting what “is” and how it makes you feel is incredibly empowering. Feelings can be scary, but they are your body’s way of telling you that something is off.

If you fear your own anger and heartache, feelings can seem like a flesh-eating beast that would be best ignored. But, suppressing one’s feelings doesn’t make them go away; that sneaky beast always finds a way to escape and make itself known. The only way to move uncomfortable emotions on and out of your body is to acknowledge them and let them dissipate.

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Empower yourself by accepting what “is”
  • 2. Don’t Isolate Yourself with Hatred

Researching this virus ’til our eyes bleed has led some of us to believe certain things about its origin, how it is spread, how well or poorly the response was handled, etc. You must remember: not everyone will agree with your findings. Don’t further isolate yourself by harboring hatred or spewing it at a neighbor with opposite beliefs. Stand up for what you believe, but do it with kindness, understanding that the object of your rage may be fighting something internally that you are unaware of. Plus SCREAMING a message is not usually as effective as whispering it.

Not everyone will agree with your beliefs
  • 3. Remember The Good Things That Are Happening

Don’t get so focused on the pandemic that you forget that there are still good things happening. Great changes come when we feel uncomfortable, and this virus has caused me to stretch into territories I would never imagine.

About a year ago, I was asked what my hobbies were. As a mom, I’ve taken care of others for so long that I had no idea what I like to do myself (yes, that is sad). 6 weeks at home will change that. I now have 6 hobbies, things I love to do! They bring hope, reminding me that there is a big world out there waiting for me to conquer it when this is over.

What will you conquer when this is over?

6 weeks at home also go a long way in home projects, upgrades, organization and gardening. My house has never looked better.

All this to say: don’t lose hope. Try to celebrate the little things. Everyday miracles abound for those seeking them.

Remember: eventually, this too shall pass!