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It's a strange, strange time in our world.

During this period of isolation, uncertainty, fear and loss, I want to continue showing up for you and serving you by having a small positive impact on your days, through my words or my colorful art. 

In today's post, I wanted to share some tips for managing the very valid feelings of stress or anxiety many of us are experiencing during this difficult time. 

We are all home and more glued to our devices than ever before.

So many people in our personal and professional networks are sharing news, articles, opinions, memes, videos, TED talks and recommendations. It's normal to feel overwhelmed.

Limit your information consumption to reputable sources and verified information (and to a few funny memes), and be sure to give yourself time to UNPLUG.

Comfort eating is a real thing. Be gentle with yourself and do what makes you feel comforted, but also avoid overeating out of boredom or stress. Be sure to keep sipping water all day long, try to reduce caffeine, sugar and alcohol (even / especially if they are comforting!), and boost your fruits and vegetables during this time. Your body will thank you when we emerge from our hibernation in time for swimsuit season!

Our minds might be racing with worries about our work, our businesses, our income, our loved-ones, our time slipping through our fingers, our boring life in quarantine... the list of worries may be absolutely overwhelming. 

What helps me in times of overwhelm is a strategy like rationalization. 

Make a mental list (or a physical one, if you're a visual person) of everything that you are worried about - everything, big or trivial.

Go through the list and eliminate those which are unfounded (no evidence) or beyond your control. Then, come up with a strategy or comforting thought to tackle each of the worries that remain. 

Challenging your thoughts is a way to stop them from "poisoning" your mind. This strategy also helps you come up with solutions to mitigate some of our worries.

Action - any action, even if imperfect - helps boost our mood and motivation.
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If you're worried about unemployment or finances, look into the measures your government is putting in place to help you. Reach out to your network or support groups where you will feel less isolated and where you can find solutions to your problems.

Taking action prevents you from feeling helpless.

I am a firm believer that the most difficult times in our lives are also periods ripe with opportunity.

Take a moment to think about how you've always wanted more life-balance or family time. What interests have you always wanted to pursue? What were those "when I retire" goals, or those "rainy day" plans you had? Which room needs serious decluttering? 

Without putting tremendous pressure on yourself to perform or achieve incredible things, treat yourself to something you love or have always wanted to do.

Many artists are giving free tutorials on social media. Many museums and opera houses are offering virtual tours or concerts for free. There is an abundance of online resources, books, podcasts, movies and TV you can devour.

You can decorate, shop online, spring clean, cook, bake, dance, start a new business, read and create. 

Find your joy!

It's easy to get carried away watching the news, reading article after article about the coronavirus and scrolling endlessly through our Facebook and Instagram feeds.

But, let's face it: that's really not relaxing, and not the best thing to do while in bed. To face the next quarantine day with pep, be sure to maintain a regular sleep schedule (sleeping and waking at roughly the same time each day), avoid your device before bedtime, keep your bedroom cool, reduce your caffeine intake in the evening, and relax your mind and body with breathing or imagery techniques before falling asleep.

Depending on your location, your government may have put measures in place to limit your time outside your home. However, if possible and if you do not have symptoms, step outside to get air and sun, either on your balcony or in your garden, by exercising outdoors or by taking a short stroll around your block. Fresh air and movement will help boost your mood and allow you to take a breather from the information overload waiting for you on the other side of your screen.

​Remember to practice social distancing if you do go outside - even if you feel invincible, it is your responsibility to protect society's more vulnerable lives. 

It's a strange time in our history.

Yes, it sucks to live through this. Yes, the economy will plunge. Yes, we are making sacrifices EVERY day.

But there will be an end to this at some point, and we humans are incredible in the ways we cope, help, adapt, grow and survive.

​Try to remember that when it feels like too much to bear.

Gratitude has tremendous healing properties for the mind and body.

Make it a habit to practice gratitude daily by introducing it into your morning or evening routine.

Think of 1-3 things you are grateful for each day. 

What is going RIGHT in your life?

Take care of yourselves and your loved-ones.

From my heart to yours,
Kristina

Hello loves,

In these uncertain and anxious times, I wholeheartedly wish you all comfort at home. I hope your haven feels safe and cozy, and that you feel grateful for it more than ever these days.

As a restless soul who always had her next travels in mind, I only began to truly appreciate "home" when I moved into my place that is affectionately referred to as "The Pink Palazzo", and even more so when I became self-employed and during those times in recent years where I had to stay home to recover from surgeries and immunocompromising treatments.

Staying home for health brought me a lot more joy and clarity than I ever anticipated. I discovered a new side of me, a side that was more observant of my surroundings and of my inner voice. I took more pictures, even of mundane daily details. I journalled, I gardened, I cooked, I created, I worked, I listened to music, I listened to myself, I grew, and I thrived.

I also decorated and nurtured my space during that time. There's something so special about creating a space that reflects you, because when you least expect it to, it actually takes care of you.

All this to say that time at home doesn't have to feel negative or claustrophobic. It can feel liberating in many other ways. I truly hope you can find joy in this new rhythm, that you can practice gratitude, and that you can feel nurtured by your space.

If you're staring at your walls these days and wish they were more inspiring, I've put together this series of uplifting and cheerful artwork for you, all 15% off for the next while, to lift your spirits!

​May these colors, places and details remind you that life's ordinary moments have the power to be extraordinary, if we are open and attentive. May they remind you that spring will come, and that sunshine and togetherness are just around the corner.

From my heart to yours,
Kristina

As hard as it is for me to say this as a travel photographer who is always driven by her wanderlust, I'm not personally super keen on non-essential travel right now during the coronavirus outbreak until things get a little more under control. 

But, as spring break and Easter break are around the corner, many of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances are opting to travel, some of them to quite high-risk destinations in Europe or Asia. 

Although our risk tolerance and personal opinions regarding the severity of this virus undoubtedly differ (ranging anywhere from being super anxious vs. rather blazé), a heightened level of precaution could only help us, and those around us. 

Here are 6 tips on how to be cautious and vigilant while you travel during the global health crisis of COVID-19.

It might make you roll your eyes to hear "Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze," but it's insane how many people forget to exercise proper coughing or sneezing etiquette. ​It's an age where we are always holding our phones, but that's not a good reason to cough into thin air with no concern for those around us.

Whenever possible, cough or sneeze into a tissue that you promptly discard, not just your elbow, and certainly never your hand! If you don't have a tissue on you, cough into your elbow (i.e. your arm bent across your mouth) but wash your clothes and jackets regularly. The reason for this is that viruses (the coronavirus in particular) has been shown to survive on fabrics and surfaces, for up to a week.

Make a conscious effort to avoid touching your face (eyes and mouth). Doctors estimate that we touch our eyes or mouth up to 90 times a day, without even noticing! If you need to put hot pepper oil on your fingertips so it burns you each time, then do it. It'll make you more aware of it, until you break this bad habit. 

When you're in public places, avoid leaning on service counters, touching doorknobs or polls, or any other surfaces in high-traffic areas. Use a disinfectant containing at least 60% alcohol and wash your hands with disinfectant soap for over 20 seconds. Use wet-wipes on grocery carts or anything else you're required to hold for a long period of time. If stores are sold out of disinfectant lotion or wipes, you can make some yourself at home.

Try zinc lozenges to protect your throat and nasopharynx; it has been discussed that these lozenges are effective in limiting a virus from multiplying in your throat and shortening the length of common colds. 

Whenever possible, push buttons with your knuckle or fist instead of your finger. 

And, my favorite: Do not put travel tickets or pens in your mouth, even if your hands are busy!

As much as I love cultures and being a warm person, I'm with the Japanese on this one. If it's possible to avoid handshaking or kissing hello during virus-season, go for it. It may seem rude, but you're allowed to protect yourself. A warm smile and a fist bump can go a long way in conveying your welcoming nature.

If you're surrounded by people who are not following Tip # 1 above, then feel free to change seats or keep a minimum of 3 feet distance from them.

Even as an avid traveler, we aren't necessarily in the habit of checking travel advisories for our destination. If you're Canadian, you can check the Government of Canada travel advisory site regularly for all sorts of risks - health, culture, security, natural disasters, etc. Scroll down or search & find your destination country, then click on the country name to see complete details. You'll be able to toggle between the different tabs for the different types of risks. 

It's a good idea to stay up to date with your airline or travel provider's (e.g., cruise) advisories as well.

Did you know that it's not enough to have medical insurance or trip interruption insurance? You have to know the ins and outs of your policy in particular cases like the coronavirus. Insurance companies typically insure you for cancellations due to serious, unknown, unpredictable reasons. The coronavirus is now a "known risk", much like a "pre-existing condition" that precludes your coverage. If, at the time when you purchase insurance, there is already a travel advisory in effect for the region you're travelling to, you will not be covered by the insurance company, because the risk is known to you and not unexpected.

That said, if the coronavirus becomes a more widespread issue, leads to new travel advisories or leads the travel company to cancel their flights / cruises, then you can file a claim for any non-refunded portion of your travel expenses, if you have the right cancellation insurance policy. 

Note that it is your responsibility to first check with your airline / cruise line to see if they are offering rebooking options or credit vouchers for future travel. Some have become more flexible in their cancellation policies in light of this health emergency. If you receive a credit for future travel, you cannot claim that amount from your cancellation insurance. 

If the airline cancels your flight while you are already abroad, trip interruption insurance is what you will need to have.

Always be sure to read the fine print and ask lots of questions. Not all insurances are created equal, and you want to protect your investment. 

Even if there is no advisory in effect for the region you're traveling to, you may unfortunately come into contact with someone who is infected, and this may result in a temporary quarantine until they rule out infection. Think about all the passengers on cruise ships who were not able to dock or travelers who were unable to return home. Although your travel dates are set, have a backup plan for your home and your pet, in case you cannot return home when you expected. 

We don't want to panic and we don't want to think the worst. We do want to enjoy our travel and to remain healthy. So, it is natural not to want to cancel any leg of our journey, and it is natural to assume we have a common cold / cough instead of the dreaded coronavirus. But, safety first, always. If you feel any suspicious symptoms, please do not board public transport, a plane or a cruise with those symptoms, without ruling out the virus first.

It's one thing to accept your own personal level of risk - that is your own choice - but you should not put other lives at risk. 

I hope you find these tips useful. Let me know in a comment if you're planning on traveling soon and how you feel about the outbreak!