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Need motivation during the quarantine?

Today is April 21st and we are about six weeks into quarantine. If you’re feeling down and unmotivated during this time, you’re not alone. A day home without work seems to drag and become very unproductive. A few of my days were the same, no matter how much I tried to get up and going. One day though, when I woke up, instead of staying in my pajamas, I changed out into work out clothes. I realized that the simple cues we give our mind is powerful and is motivation in itself. Just by one small change in routine that morning, I was able to complete so much more things that day. So I have put together a very basic list of things you can do to help boost your productivity, motivation and mood!

Note: Many of the things on the list are basic things we do on a daily basis. However, when we stay home for days on end, we tend to not do these things and not see the point for it. But these little things make the biggest difference!

1 Make your bed! During quarantine, people tend to not make their bed after sleeping in or knowing that they will be back for a nap in a short time. However making your bed right when you wake up gives you a sense of accomplishment right from the start. Another reason is that it prevents you from just slipping under the covers for just another ten minutes of lazy time.

2 Cold Shower! A cold shower early in the morning can help get you going, EVEN if you have no where to go. It doesn’t matter that you have no where to go. This will help your body to wake up from slumber and get your mind moving and ready for the day.

3 Change out of your pajamas! Changing out of your pajamas into work out clothes or even casuals will change your mood immensely. When you are in pajamas, you automatically are in a relaxed, lazy phase versus if you are in work out clothes. If you are in work out clothes or just anything other than pajamas, you will increase your motivation and feel ready to tackle something! And that’s exactly what you should do. Something. Anything.

4 Brew coffee! Or whatever it takes you to get going in the morning. The smell of coffee alone makes me wake up and feeling good! It activates your mind and uplifts your mood.
PS. Starbucks is giving free coffee/iced coffee to all healthcare workers during this pandemic! And they are very sweet about it!

5 Get some sunshine & fresh air! Open up those blinds, crack open a window and maybe even a door. Step outside for a few minutes, maybe with your coffee in hand and enjoy the morning sun.

6 Go for a walk/jog. Getting up and going out for a jog can be the very routine you need in the morning. This alone will make you do most of the things on the list above. If doing this is hard, just change your clothes and put on your sneakers without thinking twice. Then, decide if you want to go for a walk and do this every day. Daily walks have become our thing since we can’t go to the gym these days and it helps us to keep up our motivation during these gloomy days.
*If going for a walk or jog is too much for you, at least go check the mail! Walk to your mail box, no matter how far it is and check your mail!

7 Play music. Playing music can lift up your mood and you can get a lot more done at home without it being a drag. Playing music helps me to get into my workout mode; it pumps me up and there I am, already off the couch.

8 Make up, hair and more! This is my sixth week going without no foundation. The funny thing is that I actually still go out for work >_<
The days I take the effort to put makeup on, I feel better and ready to do more! And that’s because when you put makeup on, do your hair and dress up, you don’t do it for someone else; you do it for yourself!

9 Write a list! Make a list of things to do the day before. It can be anything you want to get done and doesn’t only have to be work related. You can put self care things on there, a new dish idea to make or even to clean up one area of the house. When you see a list of things to do for the day, it’s more likely that you will them done without having the option to decide whether to do it or not.

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0 Put away your phone! While everything else on the list was something TO DO, this is something you should avoid. This is the one thing I still have a hard time with when I am at home all day, even though I am fully aware that excessive screen time is harmful to the mind and body. I can’t leave my phone next to me; by habit, I will pick it up and end up on Instagram scrolling away mindlessly. I have to physically take it and put it in another room. Does it work? Definitely. Out of sight, out of mind. I get so much more done if I take my phone and just leave it somewhere in the house that I don’t go to often.

Often, its the simple things that are harder to follow through with. Comment below and let me know if these small tips helps you to get motivated again and boost your productivity during these long long days!

Are you one of the people who have the motivation to do something, but don’t have anything to do? Check out this list of travel related activities you can do during the quarantine!

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Wondering how YOU can help? (Covid-19 series)

Many of us want to help others during this Coronavirus pandemic and quarantine days. While the front-line healthcare workers are picking up extra shifts and working hard, the ones at home may wonder what they can also do to help with the situation. If you are one of the lucky ones who gets to work from home, don’t have to worry about your next meal or have extra time on your hands, here are some practical ways in which you can help you community!

1Check on your elderly folks! Do you have elderly family members or neighbors? Call them up and see if they are running out of any essential items that you can pick up for them. It’s much harder for the elderly folks to make a trip to the grocery store (or several grocery stores to find something) than it is for us. Running simple errands for them, like picking up medication or delivering something to them may sound small to you, but may take them a whole day to get done. If you are tech savvy, maybe you can help set up a system for them that allows them to video chat with family or contact someone in case of an emergency.

2 Donate to your local food bank. Food banks are in continuous need of donations, especially during times like this. So if you have the means and time, this is a great time to donate to the food bank OR volunteer! Many of the food bank programs and volunteer centers are all taking high precautions and working efficiently with volunteers and other teams to help the community.

Want to be a part of this effort but don’t know where to find one? Check out the North Texas Food Bank locations on their website. I’m sure you can find a food bank close to you with a quick online search.

3 Assist other families in need. There are so many ways to help families in need or our front-line healthcare workers. One way is to cook for them or provide meals. After long continuous shifts at the hospital, healthcare workers come home drained, but still have to cook and take care of their family. If you love to cook, here is a fun way to help out! Also, helping low-income families or families with young children in which parents can go to work, but can’t find or afford daycare is another great way. I’m not saying you have to go and babysit their children all day long. Checking up on them periodically or dropping off lunch for the children are small, yet powerful ways you can help a family.

4 Buy gift cards from small local businesses in your city. Many small businesses are having difficult time keeping their stores up and running, but not making enough to even pay their monthly rent. Businesses who were already barely making it or the ones that started recently and are already in debt are especially having a harder time now. If you buy a gift card from a business now, that will give them some income. You can use that gift card once everything settles down or even gift it to someone.

5 Give your money where it matters. Another way to help the local community is to order take out or delivery from small local shops instead of chain restaurants. Instead of driving through a chain fast food restaurant, stop by a small local business and order via phone and they will deliver it to your car. It might take a few more minutes to do this, but think about the difference you are making to the small business.

6 Donate blood. Blood banks are needing lots of donations at this time due to the increase in patient numbers. Besides the people being affected by the virus, many others, who are already sick are being put on the back of the list without getting urgent care and medication in a timely manner. There is always a need of blood in a crisis like this, so if you are a healthy individual, you can give blood every three months! Hospitals are also looking for volunteers who have recovered from the virus to donate plasma.

7 Last but not least, STAY AT HOME! It’s as simple as that. Many of us are blessed to be able to stay safe at home and spend time with family. Even if you can’t do any of the things mentioned above, you can definitely do this one!

Do you have any other ideas or ways you have been helping the community during this COVID-19 phase? If so, comment below and let me know! Check out these ideas for the travel lovers during the quarantine life!

Do you know of any specific volunteer opportunities or organizations in need? Let me know so I can share that information with my readers!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

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Quarantine Activities for the Travel-maniacs!

Staying quarantine at home is hard, but it’s even harder for people who love to be out and about. I am one of those people. I need to get out and get some fresh air, go somewhere new or just do something out of routine. Staying inside and at home all day long makes me very sluggish, unmotivated and moody. So I put a list together for all the travel lovers out there (as well as for myself) for all the fun travel-like activities you can do during this quarantine season! Check it out!

1 Pick up a book!
As a travel lover, you must have already been to several places that holds so much history that you are not aware of. So, what better thing to do than to pick up a book that teaches you so much history about a place you have visited (or one you would like to visit in the future). I love reading through Rick Steve’s, Lonely Planet and other similar travel info books. I also love semi travel-related fiction stories that teach me about cultures, animals and more!

2 Backyard Adventure
When you step out into your backyard, there lies a whole new world of adventure. If you like to travel, you are most likely to be an outdoor person. You can do so many things in the backyard, such as planting a vegetable garden (perfect timing to do so!), planting flowers or a even a tree! If you don’t have a green thumb, you can still do more things. You can always take your children/pets out to play (and build immunity), work on making your backyard prettier or build a bird bath or feeder!

3 Learn Geography
Did you know that 11 percent of the young citizens in the USA cannot locate USA on the world map? I was dumbfounded upon learning this from a National Geographic’s survey. This is a great time to educate your children AND yourself about world geography! I can stare at maps all day long, especially huge world maps! Looking at where countries are in relation to each other and learning geography makes time fly! I guess this goes along with the love of travel. Let’s make it a mission during this quarantine to brush up on our geography. (At least so that we can relate to it when CNN tells us about the countries with the coronavirus!)

4 Learn a New Language
With all the FREE resources we have available online, you don’t need to go into a classroom to learn a new language. There are tons of books and YouTube videos on how to learn any language. Many people (including myself) don’t know how to write or read in their mother tongue fluently. You can work on improving your native language as well as learn other common languages or phrases around the world. The more spoken languages throughout the world besides English are Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, French and Arabic! Learning small phrases in different languages go a long way when traveling!

5 Explore Cultures
This is one of my favorite things to do, regardless if there is a quarantine or not. I love a culture filled country and people who are full of culture and ethnicity. One way to do this is to watch movies or documentaries about a particular culture. I love watching National Geographic and watching travel YouTube videos just to see what a place is all about. Another way to learn about cultures is to do some research online! There are so many great educational websites that gives you culture and history on countries around the world.

6 Cook an International Dish
Cooking is not one of my favorite things to do, but I do love experimenting with international dishes. After our trip to Italy, we were all about making lasagna and pastas (By we, I mean my husband makes it and I am his assistant). After Thailand, all I wanted was some Thai curry and sticky rice. Learning how to make these international dishes are so much more fun and exciting for me.

Hike up to Volcano Arenal was no joke. -Costa Rica

7 Work Out
You might ask why this is on the list for travelers. Believe it or not, when you are traveling, you need a lot of energy, strength and endurance. We were supposed to be hiking a volcano trail in Guatemala at the moment I am writing this. Adventures activities such as hiking takes more than just a little effort and we had been preparing for it the past few weeks. Well, why not keep working out and be ready for an adventure at any time?

Check out my blog post on our trip to Costa Rica!

8 Practice Minimalism ( & Spring Cleaning)
We travelers have learned over time that having less things to show and more stories to tell is the way to go. Over the past five years of traveling, I have learned that I need much less than I think I do. I also learned to adjust with what I have, minimize my uses for every day things and use resources more efficiently. This is a great time to go through all your things, donate what you can and toss the rest. We also have the time to really get into some deep cleaning, one room at a time.

9 Budget & Financing
This is one of the most important things you can do or catch up on, during the quarantine! This is a perfect time to revisit those travel expenses, finances and future plans. Budgeting travel into your annual expenses is an important thing to do if you want to travel often. This helps to keep your overall budget in check and helps you to prioritize your traveling. Since I haven’t been keeping up with this as often as I should, I’ll also be working on it this week!

Do you have any other ideas for my travel lovers? If so, comment below and let me know!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

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Worrying about the Coronavirus while traveling?

Travel has been more frightening these days because of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19 ) going around. As of now (March 2020), all continents except Antarctica has been hit with the coronavirus. So, am I suggesting traveling to Antarctica? Well, if you have the means, sure! Why not? But if not, here are several tips to keep you safe while you travel to keep you away from the virus! These tips can be used while traveling by airplane, train, bus, or any other public transports!

1 Wear a N95 mask while in the airport. I have not done this yet, but for our upcoming trip, you may see me with a mask. There are so many people in the airport, its nearly impossible to avoid spreading germs with each other. Wearing a mask if also a constant reminder for you about the virus and also prevents you from touching your nose or mouth as often. A regular mask won’t do the trick; it has to be a N95 mask to prevent any droplets from getting in.

*I think the mask has an opposite effect too. If you have a mask on, other people are less likely to stay too close to you too! Think about it, if you see someone wearing a mask at the airport, are you likely to sit near that person? Probably not. So, this becomes a win-win situation for you!

2 That brings me to the next tip: Avoid touching your eyes, face, nose and mouth while traveling! Your hands are probably not very clean because if you think about it, you are constantly touching things. To keep the germs on your hands from entering your body, keep your hands AWAY from your face! When using a public bathroom, consider using gloves to open and close the stalls and turning the faucet. Do NOT use the hand drier because it captures germs and throws them back on to your hands. Instead use a clean napkin after washing your hands.

3 Wash your hands often. Again, germs can easily get into your body from your filthy hands. So wash your hands often during your trip and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you when water is not available. Always wash hands before eating and using the restroom. It is important to not only wash your hands, but to do it effectively! That means scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds and cleaning between each finger and nail.

4 Besides hand sanitizers, it’ll also be a great idea to keep some cleaning/disinfectant wipes on you. When you get to your seat/compartment/cabin, take a minute and wipe down all the places you are likely to touch (like the remote control, the tv screen, the arm rests, the window handle, the seat belt) and anything else you can think of.
Wipe away and kill all the coronavirus particles!!

5 Keep distance between other passengers and yourself. If you are standing in line or waiting to board, you don’t need to cramp up in the front to get on the plane. The plane won’t leave without you getting on. So, avoid staying in close proximity with anyone and leave some gap while walking. Also, walk on the right side to avoid bumping into anyone and give yourself plenty of wiggle room to go slowly.
*Also, avoid shaking hands with anyone. Wave, smile or fist bump instead!

Tip: * Don’t forget a pen while traveling on international flights to fill out custom papers; this way, you don’t have to borrow it from someone else or use the common desk pen! Avoid leaning on counters or using countertops to write or place things on. This applies not only to the bathroom sink counter, but also at fast food locations and common seating areas/charging stations.

6 Drink plenty of water (bottled water that is) and keep yourself hydrated. This is a good trip with the coronavirus or without. It’s important to stay well hydrated, especially if you are traveling on an airplane, which has less humidity levels. Another recommendation that relates to this one is to avoid keeping your drinks open, ex; poured out in cups. Ask your attendant for the whole bottle or purchase one beforehand.

7 Keep your immunity in check! Vitamin C is important to keep your immunity up to par, so drink up that OJ! Eat healthier overall prior to traveling and maybe packing some vitamins wont hurt either. There is a vitamin C drink mix that we use when we feel like we are getting sick.


Other food recommended to eat to build up your immunity:
– Green leafy vegetables (Spinach, Broccoli)
– Oranges, Other citrus fruits & Bananas
– Garlic, Ginger & Tumeric
– Almonds
– Eggs

Airplane rides with young kids is no joke. Avoid traveling with children at this time.

8 Get enough rest. Make sure you sleep well before you begin traveling. Chances are, your body will be a bit more stressed and you will not get enough sleep during your vacation. Also, your body might need energy to get used to the new climate and to fight off the new germs in the air. Getting plenty of rest throughout your trip is also important to keep the balance in your body and to decrease your chances of catching something.

9 Drink in moderation or avoid drinking prior to traveling. You want your body to be in the best shape possible to fight any infections or germs that come your way. Increasing your alcohol intake weakens the immune system and allows your body to become an easier host for viruses. Decreasing your sugar intake also helps, because sugar feeds any type of sickness.

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0 Last but not least, not only is it our duty to keep ourselves from getting sick, but also to avoid spreading germs to other people. If you feel sick, stay HOME! You might not have a weak immune system and may be a healthy 20-30 year old. But you may come in contact with young children, immune compromised people, elderly or pregnant women; all groups of people who are more likely to get hit hard from this virus (or any other cold).

Things to keep in mind during the Coronavirus season:
– Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands.
– OR cough into your sleeve
– Use a mask to prevent spreading your germs.
– Consider your personal risk before traveling- Do you have weak immune system, are you pregnant, traveling with kids, coming back to work with young kids or the elderly, etc.

Our Immune Boosting Tonic Drink Recipe*

  1. Cut 1 lime in half & squeeze out the juice
  2. Add 1 teaspoon of tumeric to the lime juice
  3. Add powdered or fresh diced ginger
  4. Add half mixture of Emergen-C drink mix
  5. Add water to your liking and dilute
  6. Mix and drink up!

Add honey as preferred.
*Not FDA approved.

Check out the CDC website for more information on the Coronavirus and specific safety tips to your travel destination!

Check out our most recent (and relaxed) trip to Cancun here, right before the virus started spreading!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.