Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad for Looking After Your Mental Health

It is completely normal for people to feel stressed during this ongoing pandemic. In this time, most cases of mental illness arise and the results are often devastating. Remember that everyone is under pressure and it is your responsibility to make sure you stay sane and healthy.

Guilty Pleasures during a Global Pandemic: Why you shouldn’t Feel Bad 

It is evident that people staying in quarantine have a socioeconomic and physical impact. These impacts affect the mental wellbeing of a person. However, keeping it positive and having no regrets about what you do is important for your mental health. You should not feel guilty about treating yourself to the finer things in life for the sake of your mental health. 

Here are some of the reasons why.

The need to have better relationships

The first relationship you can have is with yourself. How you choose to treat yourself will ultimately impact how you will relate with other people. Treating yourself with respect is well deserved and it will determine the level of self-esteem you have. For this reason, it builds up the level of confidence you have in whatever you do.

Mental health is a determinant of a good marriage life. During a pandemic, this is the time that you fully spend time with your partner. 

You may find some characters that may make you mad. However, finding ways to cope up with this issue will help you become mentally healthy. It may include taking an interest in art from people like Maxmillian Lang-Orsini.

After spending so many days away from his Irish family during the pandemic, he said, “Painting and other new hobbies have kept me sane. I think you maybe have to indulge yourself a little more than in other years, and just not feel so guilty about it.”

Increases discipline and develop a stronger work ethic

Due to increased stress levels, people become depressed, which is mentally disturbing for many people and it may cause dangerous effects. With a better mindset, the discipline you have at the workplace becomes stable. 

On a day to day basis, it can increase productivity. It means that with discipline, you will have a change in work performance and not make you feel worse.

We’re all in the same boat during the pandemic. Sure, there are some people who have a better outcome than others. But if we remember to have a good care routine and push yourself to do something you could never have done pre-pandemic. Now is the time to do it.

Boosts physical health

Physical health is related to the mind. The more you engage in physical exercises, the more you become fit. With many exercises, the body releases endorphins responsible for people’s happiness. 

Remember that the food you eat, the amount of sweat you pour have an important part to play in the wellbeing of your body and the brain. This can help you feel good as well as having a healthier looking body.

Doctors encourage being more active by going to the gym, hiking or biking to build up self-confidence. It will reduce cases of depression and anxiety popping up. This has been medically reviewed and proven to do so. 

Although going to the gym now may not be possible. Home workouts are still an option.

To improve your quality of life

Controlling your life is important for you to live a stress-free life. People have many responsibilities in life. Due to this, it is inevitable to develop migraine, fatigue and muscle tension. Through managing the stress that life comes with, you will hand an upper hand in obtaining a better life.

There are various activities that you can involve yourself in to make it easier to maintain better lives. These activities may involve hobbies such as singing, dancing and taking part in good art from Maximilian Lang-Orsini.

Conclusion

It has been a tough year for everyone. It is important to reduce the impact that comes with the pandemic, especially mental health-related issues. It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of their body, mind and soul. However, you should not feel guilty about how you choose to make yourself better. 

It can be by dancing like nobody’s watching or knitting a sweater. Do whatever makes you happy.

Has Coronavirus ruined Christmas for us all?

It’s been a year since the start of the global pandemic, which has changed people’s lives in significant ways. Most people were not expecting the pandemic to still be here by Christmas. Sadly, the situation keeps getting worse, and its impact on the holiday season is recognisable.

The Question is How Has Covid-19 Affected Christmas and Will We Be Able to Adapt and Survive This?!

The impacts of coronavirus on the Christmas holiday season are numerous. Below are a few;

Gatherings

The Christmas season is often characterised by family and friend gatherings. It is a time of the year when families come together to celebrate and have a good time. However, one of the most significant impacts of coronavirus is that it has led to movement and crowd restrictions. This was done to decrease and mitigate the infection rate by as much as possible.

Families cannot travel to get together. Even those families that live in the same state or city cannot risk spending time together because of the advice against crowding. Social distancing as explained by the public health is crucial, and unfortunately during the festive season, it still is. 

To maintain the coronavirus pandemic, the prime ministers in most or if not all European Countries have told everyone to stay in a bubble when celebrating Christmas with close family or friends.

Most people, like Maximilian Lang-Orsini, who is ‘Heartbroken to be spending Christmas in Amsterdam, away from his Ireland and Germany-based family, but stoic and intending to enjoy a Merry Christmas in Amsterdam!’ have to deal with this. This is not how most people would like to spend their time.

Travelling

Most people love to travel and vacation during the Christmas season. However, this may not be possible this year because of the pandemic. 

Travelling at this time is equivalent to putting your health and that of your family at dire risk. The most popular vacation locations in the world are currently in lockdown. If you are to go out, then don’t forget to wear a face mask.

Finances

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy of the world in general. Hundreds of thousands of people in different parts of the world have lost their jobs following the pandemic. 

Due to the Coronavirus Strain, companies have had to shut down their operations and let go of a significant number of their employees and clients. This means that most families are currently struggling to make ends meet. The Christmas season is coupled with a lot of expenses. 

Sadly, this year, many people have to change the way they celebrate because of financial challenges. So for some, Christmas Shopping will not be a thing. Despite this, we can still turn things around.

How can you adapt to the changes and still celebrate Christmas this year?

While the pandemic’s negative impacts are numerous, you don’t have to have a terrible Christmas. The best thing about human beings is that we are adaptable and can learn to make the best out of most situations. 

After going through the pandemic for a year, most people have already started adapting to the problem. Below are some ways through which you can make the best out of the Christmas holiday despite the pandemic;

Quarantine beforehand

The best thing to do during this Christmas season would be to spend time with your immediate family and not risk being in a crowd. However, most people have gone almost a year without seeing their loved ones and friends. 

If you have to see your family this holiday, the best thing to do would be to sacrifice some time in quarantine so that you can ensure the safety of your family when you meet. This means you will be able to have a get together while remaining safe.

Prioritising only the traditions that matter the most

It would help if you thought about the holiday and what matters the most. You can still keep some of your traditions, like putting up holiday celebrations and making special foods, while still staying safe.

Shop online

While you may not be able to go to the mall or the market to shop for gifts for your loved ones, you can still get them something special from online stores. Just make sure you do this early so that you don’t miss out.

Conclusion

Christmas is one of the best times of the year. Despite the pandemic, you can still have a good time and keep some of your favourite traditions. Just make sure you keep yourself and your family throughout the celebrations.

Living Working and Painting in Amsterdam during a Global Pandemic

Amsterdam is internationally known for its museums and galleries of international standards, making it a popular destination. The art market exhibits in Amsterdam are a great experience, particularly when you visit for a short period. Amsterdam’s biggest square is home to four of the museums that exhibit many Dutch masters and a great range of contemporary and modern art.

An Artist’s Perspective Of Amsterdam

Maximilian Lang-Orsini is an artist from Amsterdam, Netherlands, who paints from his imagination, giving insights on what living in Amsterdam is like. Through his blogs, he shares the sights and wonders you can experience in this beautiful country. This 25-year-old blogger enjoys duck herding, binge-watching box sets and gaming.

He is smart and creative and loves to share his experience of the beautiful Amsterdam through his paintings. He is such an avid gamer he even writes reviews on games. One of the games he has written a detailed review about is Dead By Daylight where he gives a survivors review.

Having attended college courses in Biology, Maths, Chemistry, and Design, and as a well-versed person in arts, Maximilian Lang-Orsini tells us of museums and other interesting sites that are a must-visit when in Amsterdam. Here are some of them:

Hermitage Amsterdam

Of all the sites mentioned in this article, The Hermitage Amsterdam has been opened the longest. It was first opened in 1683 as an older women’s home built next to the Amstel River. They host an exhibition based on the principal collection of Hermitage twice a year. From the Golden Age of the 17th Century, this museum displays the most nuanced portraits in one location.

Stedelijk Museum

The Museum of Stedelijk is the most iconic in the Netherlands for modern and contemporary art. It consists of unbelievable works of art by Piet Mondrain, Roy Lichtenstein, and Yves Klein. The museum also features architectural items, side by side, showing more than art.

Nieuwe Kerk

Nieuwe Kerk church is located on the Dam Square at the heart of Amsterdam. It is an old antique with a rich history as it is where the Dutch Queens and Kings settled in 1814.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is a tourist destination that is loved by many, and a must-visit if you are ever in Amsterdam. It was designed by Pierre Cuyoers and opened way back in 1885. This museum is home to 80 galleries that showcase over 800 years of golden age Dutch artistic cultural institutions.

Joods Historisch Museum

This museum is full of old Jewish based religious artefacts, painting, music, and photographs portraying an in-depth imprint of Amsterdam’s history. The Joods Historisch Museum has been in existence since 1987 and focuses on exhibiting Dutch Jewish culture.

FOAM

FOAM has been installed in a 17th-century canal building, a splendid photographic gallery. FOAM hosts frequent shows for the photography worms and turns the showcase into a new artist every few months. FOAM’s purpose is to encourage talented photographers who deserve to be focused on, in a wonderful and welcoming culture.

In Summary

Maximilian Lang-Orsini hopes that you gain great insights from visiting these museums and historical sites. He highly recommends them to enable you better experience Amsterdam’s art scene. Indeed, if you are an art lover and appreciate the rich history, Amsterdam is definitely the place to visit.

Why Art Is More Important Than Ever In These ‘Unprecedented Times’

Why Art Is More Important Than Ever In These ‘unprecedented Times’
Why Art Is More Important Than Ever In These ‘Unprecedented Times’

It is a quarantine period and you’re probably just bored at home with nothing to do. You have to think of pastime activities, or you are bound to have very long and lazy days. Fortunately, art has in more ways than one revolutionised how people view it, especially during these unprecedented times. More people are now embracing art because they now have the time. 

Even though having public art events has become an issue; most of the artists have come up with ingenious ways to promote their works such as Maximilian Lang- Orsini. Check out some of the ways that art has increasingly influenced our ways of life during this period. 

Reasons Why Art Is Important During This Season

From the likes of Maximilian Lang-Orsini, a Netherlands based artist who has completely made a difference from his pictures and the paintings, artists have made a significant impact during this period. Here are some of the ways such artists and their works have impacted the lives of many people. 

1. Bring comfort and hope 

Every painting has a story behind it. Most of them mean to bring out inspiration to hold on to the hope that everything will be better at the end.

Everyone is facing a lot of difficult times plus, these paintings show that you are not alone. We can pull through everything together. Nevertheless, they remind us of the basics about how life is meaningful and brings a load of beauty with it. 

2. Give thanks to the front-line workers 

Front-line workers such as the NHS staff have given their all during these times. People have come up with creative ways to thank the caregivers and people who support us in the pandemic. Inspirational photographs of doctors and nurses who are on call help in making more people more appreciative and supportive of them. Also, paintings make them feel not left out and more accepted in society. 

3. Create environmental awareness 

You can’t fail to appreciate the fact that during the pandemic there has been significant improvement in the environmental aspects of our lives. Art has played a major role in this end. Places such as Hong Kong and India have seen changes in the accumulation of smog. Art has helped to educate people to be environmentally moral. 

4. Publicly raise donations 

The pandemic came with lots of challenges. These include economic standstills. It is through different artworks and virtual forums that people have been able to do fundraising to help the needy go through these times. By making auctions of the paintings, the money can go help out in buying food for the needy and also PPE’s for the various health workers. 

5. Art to set you free 

One of the major problems that came with the pandemic is that sadly it made many people become redundant and lose most of their jobs. However, art has provided a safe haven for those who show interest in it and try to make a living with it. Art offers a great choice when you have had second thoughts about your daily job. 

Wrapping up 

Art has made people give a second thought on how they live their lives. This means more people now contemplate about the future and the past. Nevertheless, art has improved judgement calls regarding our decisions as it has painted the world that was before and the world that is now. Art has given people a chance and a way to cope with these difficult times.