The GypsyNesters

3 Habits to Help You Get Past Covid

We can’t just sit around waiting for things to get better. We have to be the change and have a renewed focus on good habits that we will need to get the gears of the world moving again… CONTINUE READING >>

Thanks to the pandemic, billions of lives were put on hold while we collectively searched for ways to deal with the upheaval. Of course, this was not true for everyone. Food producers had to continue producing food. Clothing makers had to switch all their product lines to sweat pants and PJs. And people producing masks, hand-sanitizer, and toilet paper made more money than they ever thought possible. If you drive for a car service or are in the delivery business, you likely got more work hours than you knew how to use. It seems a little crass to say that life was good for this group. But it certainly wasn’t on hold by any means.

As for the rest of us (that still includes billions), a return to normalcy is still just out of reach. But we can’t just sit around waiting for things to get better. We have to be the change for which we are hoping. While waiting, we have picked up some new bad habits and all but forgot about the good habits we used to have. A renewed focus on good habits is what we will need to get the gears of the world moving again. Here are a few good habits that will help you put the COVID blues in the rear-view mirror:

Practice an Instrument

Do you remember the days when you used to care about music and the guitar gods of the 80s? Many teens were driven by the desire to learn to play the guitar and rock the house like their favorite guitar heroes. Now is the perfect time to grab one of those electric guitars that used to electrify your spirit and learn to play.

The beauty of playing the guitar is that it is very easy to transport. Put it in a case and sling it over your shoulder. You immediately gain cool points from, well, everybody. And whenever you have a few minutes of downtime, you can put in a little practice time. The other thing that is great about the guitar is that you don’t have to be particularly good at it before you can strum a few chords that sound impressive and feel satisfying. One thing that makes an electric guitar a nicer practice instrument than an acoustic is that you can plug in headphones and not disturb anyone as you play. The same is true for an electric piano. But you wouldn’t want to sling one of those across your back.

Getting Out of the House

Getting out of the house doesn’t seem like much of a habit, and maybe it wasn’t in the before times. But we have become so deathly afraid to get out of the house that it takes an act of congress to move us. And we all know that acts of congress don’t come easy. What we need is to learn how to form healthy habits. One of the keys is good time management. If you keep a calendar, you should put in a 30 minute block that simply says, “Get out of the house.” Once you schedule it, it becomes a priority.

If you have a dog, increase the time you spend walking her. Don’t just go check the mailbox. Take a stroll around the block. On a nice day, don’t drive to the store to pick up a few items. Walk. Find ways to get yourself up from that office chair and move. If you have fear of going outside (FOGO), it’s okay to take baby steps.

Acts of Kindness

You are a wonderful partner to your spouse and do special things for them all the time. But those acts of kindness might come fewer and further between than you think. During times of stress, it is more important than ever to communicate via tangible actions rather than words. Get in the habit of doing something special once a week. It could be flowers, a home cooked meal, a day when you do all the chores, or something completely out of the box. This type of habit will help both of you get out of the pandemic with your joy intact.

Good habits are easy to start but take commitment to fully develop. But if you do it right, post pandemic, you will be able to play an instrument, conquer the outdoors, and strengthen your relationship with the one you love the most.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

Do These 5 Things and Thank Yourself Later

With some effort and a positive attitude, you have the power to change your life for the better. Doing so can significantly improve your future…
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While some people tend to believe it’s impossible to avoid future problems, this can lead to a negative mindset. In fact, with some effort and a positive attitude, you have the power to change your life for the better. Doing so can significantly improve your future. Consider trying out these five things and thank yourself later.

Improve or Establish Credit

One of the best ways to improve your lifestyle now and later on is to strengthen/establish credit. For instance, this can make it easier for you down the line to buy a home, get a new cell phone at a lower price and qualify for exceptional credit card deals, among other things. If you don’t have any credit, you might want to look for loans for people with no credit history. Doing your research can help you understand that you have plenty of options for taking control of your credit.

Take Care of Mental Health

Not taking care of your mental health can lead to depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and numerous other issues. By staying on top of your mental health, you’re more likely to stay focused, keep emotions in check, and avoid serious health issues such as stroke. You’ll be more capable of working at your job, maintaining healthy relationships, and having peace of mind. You can take care of your mental health by staying active, eating healthful meals and snacks each day, socializing regularly, doing activities you enjoy, taking breaks when you need to, and asking for help when necessary.

Diet and Exercise

Committing to dieting and exercising can be a considerable challenge. But it’s essential to consider the benefits. For example, you’ll gain more energy, a clearer mind, strength, and positivity. You’ll find the motivation required to achieve your goals and live a fuller life. Not to mention the fact that you’ll have a higher likelihood of avoiding some of the worst health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and others. One trick for motivating yourself to get up and exercise is to do a workout routine you enjoy. And if you don’t want to do it, try something else. Other than this, you make dieting easier by slowly adding fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to meals.

Practice Spirituality

Being more spiritual has several benefits, including a stronger immune system, lower risk of disease, and increased self-confidence. Also, you might gain depth, empathy, meaning, and purpose. If you have an addiction such as drug or alcohol abuse, spirituality might change your life. Meditation and yoga are two spiritual techniques you can do every day to improve your health and well-being. You can also build your spiritual connection through angel numbers. These are number pattern that can be seen anywhere that gives spiritual meaning.

Gain New Knowledge

Getting smarter can be beneficial for enhancing problem-solving abilities, achieving goals, and gaining self-confidence. You can make learning fun by taking a class, learning a new hobby, playing Chess with a friend, or reading a book. According to research, interactive video games have the potential to enhance decision-making abilities. Ambition, persistence, luck, and opportunity can increase your chances of being successful.

Finally, you can start preparing for a better future by taking things one step at a time. For one, keeping your thoughts and goals in order is easier by writing them down in a daily journal. Besides this, commit to positive thinking, and you’ll have more chances for success. Always remember how much your life matters because you deserve it.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

How to Make Luxury Travel More Affordable

When it comes to luxury travel, a few simple steps can lead to significant savings over time. You can make luxury travel more affordable with just a little bit of planning…
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If you’re able to enjoy the finer things in life, you probably aren’t too worried about saving a few bucks here and there. However, when it comes to luxury travel, a few simple steps can lead to significant savings over time. You can make luxury travel more affordable with just a little bit of planning. The only thing standing in your way is figuring out how to do this. The following are some tips to help you take luxury trips more often.

A Financial Guide

Reaching out to a money management expert should be number one on your list of priorities. A financial advisor in San Diego and other cities with high concentrations of wealthy individuals will have the insight and experience to help formulate the best approach to travel expenses. These folks know how to work your budget so that you can take more trips during the year. They can also offer tips on how to get your money to work for you while you’re traveling. A financial advisor is going to make your lifestyle more carefree, which is what you ultimately want.

A Vacation Home

You should consider your favorite vacation spots. Is there a place or city you love to visit more than others? If this is the case, you might want to consider purchasing an apartment or home in that area. This will allow you to have the perfect place to stay while you’re there. You don’t have to worry about staying in a hotel and being bothered by people. You can modify this vacation home to your liking. You could even rent it out when you’re not there so that the property is an income-generating asset that helps pay for your traveling expenses.

Flexibility is Key

You should be as flexible as possible when it comes to your travels. You can still go to places you love, but you should consider off-the-beaten-path options as well. These are the destinations most people haven’t heard of. You’ll probably find great accommodations in these places, too, so you’ll get the luxurious experience, except you’ll pay less than you usually would. It’s human nature to go to popular destinations because that’s what everyone talks about, but don’t neglect the places in between that can also lay the foundation for fond memories.

Clubs and VIPs

You should join clubs and VIP groups. These may not seem like a big deal, but these groups can make a difference. Of course, you probably know about all the perks you might enjoy, like having access to private rooms, but there is more to the story. Being a member of these exclusive groups gives you access to discounts and upgrades. You might get a more luxurious traveling experience without even asking. That’s going to feel pretty good, and it’s all because you joined some of these groups.

The Private Jet Option

Those who travel enough might want to consider purchasing or chartering a private jet. A jet can significantly enhance your experience and could even be cost-efficient if you tend to travel frequently. These could be as small or as big as you want, and they could make group trips much more enjoyable. You won’t have to worry about lines or any of the other stuff you usually have to worry about when traveling commercially. Smaller personal jets give you access to smaller locations. You could even go to islands with no problems at all. Try to talk to your financial advisor to see if this is the right move for you and your family.

Hopefully, these solutions make it much easier to keep living it up. The only difference this time around is that you’re going to be doing it wisely, too.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

Ever Wonder Why Therapists Take Notes?

It is normal to wonder “why do they need to take all these notes?” But therapist’s notes can be a valuable resource during treatment and it is important that both of the participants know this…
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We have all seen it in the movies and on television, the psychiatrist or therapist sits diligently taking notes while the patient tells them their life story. It all seems very dramatic so we could be inclined to greet that scene with some skepticism thinking, “why do they need to take all these notes?” or maybe even “are they really just doodling or writing a shopping list?”

Well, while it is easy to conclude that this common cinematic device is fake and only used to move the plot forward, it turns out that even though the theatrical scenario may not be exactly how it happens in real life, at least the taking notes part is accurate.

As we learned in this article from BetterHelp, https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/what-are-therapist-notes-for-anyway/, therapist’s notes can be a valuable resource during ongoing treatment and it is important that both of the participants know this.

Sometimes patients may feel as though they are under a microscope, or in other cases there can be an understandable degree of curiosity about the notes. It is certainly normal to wonder, “what are they writing about me?”

First and foremost, it is vital to remember that the therapist is taking these notes as a way to better help the patient and aid in the ability to offer effective treatments. The notes help the therapist to remember important details and patterns revealed during the sessions.

They are taking the notes in order to compliment the analysis, and most certainly not as a way to make the patient uneasy or judge them in any way. Yet some patients may still be uncomfortable with their therapist jotting notes while they are talking.

It is certainly okay to discuss these feelings, and it is even alright to ask to see the notes. In fact, discussing the notes can sometimes aid in building trust and understanding between the patient and the therapist.

On the other hand, there may be times when the therapist decides not to show their notes. They may have concluded that the notes contain things that could be upsetting to the patient. This could be hard for some patients to accept, but there are times when it is better not to allow the patient to read what the therapist has written during the sessions. It is also true that some therapists do not take notes on a regular basis.

Still, there is often a need to record the topics and problems that the patient communicates during sessions and to be able to accurately recall any specific information brought out in therapy. This is often referred to as a symptom history, and it can help therapists determine if improvement is being made along with how things are going while the process is moving forward. Then changes, if needed, can be made.

Later, the notes can help the therapist understand the progress that has been achieved and which treatments are working better than others.

So, the next time you are watching a movie or a show you will know that the therapy session scene just might be a more realistic enactment than you ever thought before.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

For more about BetterHelp.com and their programs, please see these previous articles we have shared on GypsyNester.com:

Some Observations about Online Therapy

Anxiety is Almost Unavoidable These Days

Don’t Let the Cost Stop You from Seeking Help

Exploring the Different Types of Therapy

Identifying Problems in the Present with Cognitive Psychotherapy

Examining the Role of Geriatric Psychiatry as our Loved Ones are Aging

Analyzing the Information in Psychiatry Articles

Artistic Expression as a Part of Art Therapy

What to Do If You’ve Suffered From a Concussion After a Car Accident

Experiencing a car accident is a frightening situation that you hope you never go through. However, knowing what to do if you are in an accident can help you remain calm if the worst should happen.

It’s common to suffer a concussion after a car accident. This type of injury can be disorienting, so it’s wise to know ahead of time what to do if you get a concussion.

Seek Medical Attention

Any time you suffer head trauma, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you don’t think your injury is serious, see a doctor so they can make sure. You may feel fine initially when you’re full of adrenaline from the car accident, but concussions can be dangerous.

Most of the time, people recover from concussions easily. However, concussions can be a sign of a more serious injury, so you should go to a hospital or doctor immediately for observation. If you meet with an accident somewhere in Miami, you can visit Icon Medical Centers and get yourself thoroughly checked.

If the accident was minor, have someone drive you to the hospital. In the case of a more serious accident, you should wait until an ambulance arrives so emergency medical personnel can assess you for concussion and other injuries.

Signs of a Concussion

Common signs of a concussion include dizziness, nausea, confusion, dilated pupils, and trouble balancing. In a severe concussion, you can even lose consciousness for several minutes. These symptoms can also be a sign of more serious brain injuries that may require surgical treatment.

If an ambulance arrives at the scene of the car crash, an EMT may ask you some basic questions like, “What month is it?” or “Who is the President?” to establish how disoriented you are. Having trouble with these questions could indicate you’ve suffered a concussion or other brain injury.

Concussion Recovery

After observation, if there are no further complications your doctor will send you home to rest. You can take aspirin or other over-the-counter medication to treat any headaches if your doctor approves it. In most cases, your symptoms will clear up within a day or two.

Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney

Once you’ve received adequate medical treatment, you can focus on the insurance claims. Make sure you keep copies of any medical records you have from your concussion treatment. This will be important if you ever need to prove your injury.

If you are not at fault for the accident, a personal injury attorney may be useful to you. Car accident head trauma is one of the most common types of personal injury cases. A personal injury lawyer could help you recover any fees you had to pay for medical treatment related to the accident.

Recover From a Concussion After a Car Accident

When you suffer a concussion after a car accident, it can be scary. It’s important to carefully monitor yourself for symptoms for a few days after the accident, and keep documentation of anything you experience. Hopefully, it’s information you’ll never need but it’s better to be prepared than caught unaware.

For more information on what to do in case of an accident, read our other blogs on the topic.

Travel Madrid – A Trip to El Retiro Park

If you intend to travel to Marid, Spain next, this is for you! If you’ve already made your mind travel to Madrid, you must have heard of all the cultural and historical sites that the city has to offer. Plan at least a week-long trip as there are so many places to visit in Madrid.

A popular place to visit in Madrid is El Retiro Park. Continue reading to discover what the most famous park in Madrid has to offer.

All About the Park’s History

El Retiro Park was built in the 17th century under King Phillip IV’s orders so that he could enjoy the greenery during pleasant evenings. This park was under the ownership of the Spanish. After the War of Independence, it became deteriorated. However, it was reconstructed and made open for everyone to visit in its full glory during the 19th century. From that day up till now, El Retiro Park is residents’ and tourists’ favorite places to visit in Madrid.

List of Attractions

The top attractions at this park are:

Estanque del Retiro (Retiro pond): The Retiro pond is a big lake that is artificially created. It is located just near the entrance. During hot summer days, people pop on their hats and come to the park to discover the lake. You can rent rowboats and row around or pay for the guided tour on electric boats.

The monument to King Alfonso XII: It is a colossal monument that beholds all visitors’ attention. If you visit on the weekend, you will see tourists taking pictures standing beside the memorial while musicians play various instruments around them.

The Palacio de Velazquez (Velazquez Palace): If you’re an art lover and wish to enjoy a good exhibition, this is one of the best places to visit. It has no fee and always features art exhibitions.

Activities for Kids

El Retiro Park is one of the ideal places to visit if you’re traveling with kids. There are many activities for kids. May puppet shows perform around the Retiro pond, an excellent entertainment source for the kids.

From May to early October, there is a concert every Sunday at midday, which the adults and older kids are sure to enjoy.

One thing is for sure; there will undoubtedly be a lot to enjoy as there are many plays, firework shows, and cultural events taking space in this park throughout the year.

You may find the park towards the city center’s end which is quite the ideal location. It is close to several other tourist spots, such as the Puerta de Alcalá, the Prado Museum, Naval Museum, Cibeles Palace, and Royal Botanic Garden.

However, do remember that the hotels and hostels are quite expensive because the ideal location is usually in demand by the tourists. Some property finders can find you a comfortable place around this area, but their charges may break your bank.

A pocket-friendly way to ensure the property of your choice to be found is to use Frementa. It is a convenient, online property finder it will allow you to save your money from expensive property finders.

The process is safe and easy. Instead of depending on a sales agent, you can schedule visits directly with the owner through their website. After the seller confirms the meeting, you will receive the details on your email address, and you can secure the deal. It is a hassle-free process that saves you from expensive property finders.

Renting a place in this area through Frementa would be even more feasible if you don’t intend to hire a car. There are many metro stations, and bus stops all around this area. You can easily walk out, take a metro at the station closest to you, and travel to your destination or your choice of place to visit.

Conclusion

Madrid is rich in history and culture. Madrid has lush gardens like the El Retiro park, marvelous art galleries, exquisite cuisine, and traditional tapas bars, along with its historical and cultural sites. If you travel to Madrid once, you will surely want to come back.

Going Gypsy and the Story of its Cover (you may judge the book by it)!

Risking shameless self-promotion, we bring you this story of how the cover to our book GOING GYPSY came to be…
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Risking shameless self-promotion, we bring you this story of how the cover to our book GOING GYPSY came to be.

Going Gypsy is now available!

We’ll talk about that in a minute, but first I want to tell you the story about the cover.

A few days after we heard from Skyhorse Publishing that they wanted to publish our book, we were still (and still are) pinching ourselves as we boarded a plane to Europe. It was pretty much all I could ~~think~~ worry about.

An idea for our book cover popped into my head as I was “sleeping” 30,000 feet above the Arctic (quotes are used as I was on a plane and real sleep isn’t possible). You know how the drill:

Reenactment: In reality I was wedged in a middle seat, not luxuriously sprawled as these photos depict!

Excited that my thought-tumbling/worrying had worked in my favor for a change, I grabbed what was available — a cocktail napkin and a Sharpie — and painstakingly drew a stick-figure rendition of what had been knocking around in my jangled head.

Excited, I woke David (who was also “sleeping” and in no mood for my shenanigans) and presented my masterpiece:

New career as a stick artist, perhaps?

David’s response?

“It looks like I’m flipping you off.”

Followed by, “Don’t you ever show that to anyone.”

I sulked, stuffed it in my backpack, and went back to “sleep.”

Fast-forward a fortnight and we’re in NYC to spend the holidays with The Spawn.

While there, we visited Skyhorse’s Manhattan offices for the first time. In the skyscraper’s elevator — jet-lagged out of our brains — we were giddy with the surrealness of it all. Prior to this meeting, everything had been handled via e-mail and, though we had already formed a good working relationship with our editor, the fabulous Jenny Pierson, we had never met face-to-face.

Jenny greeted us at the elevator, led us to her office, and, after some getting-to-know-you-in-person niceties, she asked us if we had thought about the book’s cover.

I could feel David shooting darts at me as I said, “Actually, yes.”

Whipping my fantastically awful doodle from where it had been getting crumpled in my backpack, I could see David scanning the room and looking for the nearest exit out of the corner of my eye.

Poor guy, this was not how he had envisioned our first meeting with our editor — at all. We were (still are) in that we-can’t-believe-we’re-actually-going-to-have-our-book-published phase, and was it too much to ask his cowriter not to act like a doofus? Magical thinking at its finest.

Visions of Jenny bolting out of her office whilst screaming danced through his head.

Instead, she asked to keep it. I was convinced she actually liked it and was pretty proud of myself as an artist. It’s kind of Picassoesque, right? My delusions of grandeur were flowing like water down a river of whimsy.

By the next morning, David had me convinced that Jenny had shown it around the office and it was destined to become Skyhorse’s latest viral e-mail joke (not that Jenny — or anyone else — at Skyhorse would actually do that, but we were paranoid enough to think it, nonetheless).

Thankfully, minutes later, we received this from Jenny:

You made my designer friend’s day today when I told her I wanted her to make the cover look like “this” and showed her the napkin. We love it.

She may have saved my marriage of thirty-one years with that little note.

We booked a photo shoot immediately (huge thanks to über-photographer Nick Coleman for spending Christmas Eve shooting us and for picking up on the concept right away — I had left the now-infamous napkin with Jenny and couldn’t redraw it in its proper glory for the life of me).

In order to get the correct angle for the shot, the incredibly nimble Nick needed to climb to the top of a twenty-foot ladder and wedge himself up against the ceiling of his studio. This made it easy for me to come up with the look of fear needed on my end — I was petrified Nick was going to fall off the ladder and meet his demise!

A few months later, while we were in Costa Rica, we received this from Skyhorse:

HUGE thanks to Brian Peterson for making my doodle a reality. You rock, sir!

You should have seen us happy dancing around like idiots in our hotel room! We LOVED it!

But, wait, there’s more!

Three months later, as we were visiting family in the States, we received yet another surprise from Skyhorse – we had no idea this was coming!

We are so honored that the incredibly talented Danielle Ceccolini agreed to lend her original work to our book jacket – look what she created for us:

Book Cover for Going Gypsy: One Couple's Adventure frome Empty Nest to No Nest at All!

Share our happiness and

Tweet #GoingGypsy

I, no we, feel beyond blessed that someone of Ms. Ceccolini’s caliber could take our goofy little sleep-deprived, airplane-napkin doodle and turn it into an incredible work of art!

Veronica, GypsyNester.com