Tag Archives: COVID-19

How to Support Local Businesses While Socially Distanced

The days of entering your favorite local business without worry to have a chat and a waltz around seem distant. For those business that have kept their heads above water during the coronavirus pandemic, their operations are likely different than they were back in 2019. Even as some regulations have eased, the surge of the…
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Connecting Despite Restrictions

  Though many of our friends and family have been vaccinated, we aren’t out of the testy COVID waters just yet. There are still restrictions that can make life frustrating and difficult—you’re not alone in feeling this way. We must think outside the box to stay connected until this is over.   Here are some…
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How to Prioritize Wellness During Stress

Prioritizing your own well-being is hard. It was already hard, but with COVID on our hands, it feels as though prioritizing wellness has become even more difficult. Adapting to remote learning and working, maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family who may be far away, and focusing on our own health add to the everyday…
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Shop Local: Farmer’s Hardware

Farmer’s Hardware is tucked away from the main stage of Broadway Street, giving it a quieter atmosphere with easy access to the street we know and love. It also represents a slice of Saratoga history, as the breakfast spot has the same name as the hardware store that occupied it in 1901. In 1925, the…
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Shop Local: Northshire Bookstore

Welcome to our new feature, Shop Local! Each post will highlight one Capital Region business so you can discover all of the "hidden gems" in our area. Be sure to support our wonderful local businesses as you start your holiday shopping and all year 'round too! Stay tuned for more...         This…
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How COVID-19 Has Changed the Music Industry

It’s been clear for months that the effects of COVID-19 have no bounds. Whether you’re working from your kitchen table or belong to the millions of people that filed for unemployment in the U.S. in the past several months, you’ve felt it—the world turning at a different pace. If you’re like me, your inbox is…
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How to Stay Inspired During Seemingly Uninspiring Times

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Feeling inspired is not only important for your writing – it is important for all aspects of your life. Motivation to be the best version of yourself is what will allow you to truly thrive in whatever it is you are doing.

Staying inspired during tough times is especially difficult, and also especially applicable right now in the midst of COVID. So, how do you stay inspired during seemingly uninspiring times? Let’s take a look.

 

 

 

*Take Time For Yourself

Do things that you enjoy. Being productive does not just mean doing work. Being productive also includes taking care of your mind, body, and soul. If you feel overworked and just need a break, listen to your body and take the break that you need.

 

*Stay Open Minded

By keeping your mind open, you allow yourself to find inspiration in new realms. This is especially important when the world feels hectic because you're allowing yourself to find inspiration in everyday things. If you go for a walk, take an extra moment to look around. Look for things that please your senses, and draw inspiration from them. Even if you are not exposed to something new, you can still find excitement and pleasure in everyday life.

 

*Don’t Fall Behind

Procrastination can lead down a deep hole of unfinished work that is hard to lift yourself out of. Stay on top of your workload. Once you get into the mindset of “I can just do it later,” it will be harder to get out of it as time passes.

 

*Set Goals for Yourself

When setting goals for yourself, it's important to balance reality with ambition. Shoot for the stars, but not for Neptune. Make note of what you want to achieve, then determine what is the best route for you to get there. Once you make those goals, stick to them. Work for that feeling of accomplishment.

 

*Believe in Yourself

Most importantly, believe in yourself. You CAN do this. If no one has told you this today, let me be the first. Life can be tough, but you are tougher. Whatever it is that you are dealing with, just know that you ultimately have control over your own life, and while it may seem challenging at times, you have the power to get to where you want to be. You got this!

-Dorothy Irrera

 

 

Photo Credit: shixart1985 Closeup view of young woman holding a coffee while using a laptop. via photopin (license)

How Small Businesses Can Adapt to New Consumer Habits

  With new CDC guidelines in place across the country, small businesses everywhere have been tasked with finding ways to maintain their customer base. As stores and restaurants of all kinds open their doors for indoor and outdoor shopping and dining, a variety of factors can make or break a customer’s decision to enter an…
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