Tips During a Pandemic

Zharity believes paying it forward can be done in many different ways, and we want to make it easy for you to find your way.  And we appreciate your volunteer time and donations.  

The pandemic has made it hard for most and for Zharity we miss the in person interactions. We look forward to the time when we can volunteer side by side. 

We all know that even a typical winter can be a little isolating. This year, due to the pandemic, we realize that  we all may face some additional challenges and isolation.

The Zharity team has come together to share some tips for wellbeing during covid.

Get Active

• Mark the beginning and end of the day by going outside, even just for a short walk

• Go for a hike - looking for some inspiration for hiking routes? Check out SwitzerlandMobility. Looking for family friendly options? Try SwissFamilyFun.

• Go for a run - set out directly from your own home and go as fast or as far as you’d like! (You can even track your runs with apps such as Strava, Couch-to-5K, Nike Run Club and Map My Run). Alternatively, check out some of these routes: Dolder Forest routes, Zurichberg 10km and Limmat River 5km.

• Relax, improve flexibility and find some mindful moments with Yoga.  Review a wonderful document that our yoga instructor, Marta put together.

• Workout at home with fun exercise apps such as Daily workout app 

Get Creative

• Find a new recipe with Fooby, Migusto, your favorite cooking website, or maybe ask that friend for their perfect cookie recipe

• Learn the Science behind food through the podcast Gastropod.

• Learn a new cooking skill such as pasta making, homemade bread or pizza dough 

• Take up painting 

• Coloring is fun no matter what age. Crayola has free downloads for all ages

• Learn to sew or knit - there are great tutorials online like Woolandthegang

Spend (physically distant) time with friends and family

• Organize a virtual apero with friends

• Play board games/card games with family at home or in virtual game nights with friends. Check out TimeOut and TechRadar for some initial suggestions on virtual game nights.

• Virtual Coffee (and Cake!)

• Play Chess with the family or online

• Set up regular video chats with positive friends/family

• Organize an online book club or join an existing one via MeetUp

• Dress up for virtual meetings

• Send cards/letters (via snail mail) to friends and family 

Give back

• There are so many great ways you can volunteer your time to help support others locally and internationally at the moment! Get involved with Zharity, have a look at our earlier recommendations for COVID volunteering, check out opportunities or check out other sites online including UBS Helpetica. 

• Put together personal care or newborn items for our February collection for refugees in Greece which we will announce soon on our Facebook page

• Until January 11, why not send a gift to those in need with the 2xweihnachten program?

Train your brain

• Learn a new language for free with apps like Duolingo, Quizlet or Memrise. For more language learning inspiration watch this TED talk on Polyglots.

• For those who would like to brush up on their German, why not try these podcasts: Deutsch mit schmidt and Easy German

• Complete an online course on something you enjoy. Coursera is a great place to start with interesting educational courses from around the world. Or perhaps make some professional progress with a LinkedIn learning course. If you have LinkedIn Premium, you have access for free. Don’t have LinkedIn Premium? Trial it for free for one month.

• Looking for an online course for your kids? Try Outschool.

• Learn to play a musical instrument 

• Learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube

• Challenge yourself with a Crossword or Sudoku puzzle

• Find a puzzle that your brain and eyes enjoy

• Work on a jigsaw puzzle and when done - maybe join the local puzzle swap on Facebook

Take some time for yourself

• Write your thoughts and feelings down in a Journal or start a dedicated gratitude journal. Check out this TED talk for more on positive thought: The Happy Secret to Better Work

• Spend time on something you like or which makes you feel good, such as yoga

• Mindfulness and Meditation - daily gratitude journal, meditation (Calm, Headspace, Simple Habit) and exercise

• Have an at-home Spa day

• Listen to a new podcast. Some of our favorites at the moment: You’re Dead to Me, The Guilty Feminist, Invisibilia, This American Life, Radiolab, 99%  The Tolkien Professor, the Moth, Pod Save the World, Pod Save America, Pod Save the People, Unlocking Us, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Ears Edition, It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders, The prancing pony podcast, Making sense- Sam Harris, Hello internet.

• Read a funny book 

• Read a mystery book — perhaps one of the Brunetti Series by Donna Leon

• Listen to an audiobook through services like: Audible, Google Play or ApplePlay 

• Read a love story — maybe a classic like Sense and Sensibility 

• Read a book that gives you joy perhaps: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Good Omens, Three Men in a Boat, or Carry on, Jeeves

• Visit the Zurich public library - many books in different languages and audible books

• Look at websites that give you joy. An example: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/

• Take virtual tours of museums around the world including the British Museum, the Louvre and the Smithsonian

• Explore Google’s Arts & Culture

Get Organized!

• Clean out and rearrange your furniture, closet, kitchen, bathroom, pictures and apps on your phone. Need help to get started? Look at these articles on The Spruce and GoodHousekeeping for ideas, or maybe indulge in some Marie Kondo

• Finally print and frame photos that have been sitting in your phone and/or camera for years. Some local online photo printing shops include ifolor and smartphoto

• If you can, set specific places in your home for work/rest/entertainment so that once you’ve finished working for the day, you really can switch off and relax

• Gather clothes, shoes and toys you no longer want and find a place to donate them (Zharity will be collecting again at some point soon) Check our facebook page for the next call to action

• Research future travel destinations inside or outside Switzerland. To get you started: National Geographic’s Destinations on the Rise for 2021 and Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2021

Need some additional help? The Swiss Government put together a very helpful guide on ways to seek help. 

Take care, stay in touch and stay safe!