It’s been about two months since the start of the quarantines in Singapore. By now, we can say that it is somehow affecting our mental and emotional well-being one way or another. This is what some would call quarantine fatigue. But then again, staying at home is necessary to fight the pandemic and help our frontliners the best that we can. So, here are some ways for you to cope with quarantine fatigue!

The cause of quarantine fatigue

Before everything else, let’s talk about why we get quarantine fatigue in the first place. For one, the easy answer is that we’ve had a sudden change of lifestyle. Towards the start of the spread of the pandemic, most people went to panic mode in an instant. Then, when safety measures started rolling in, our fear also receded. It’s these sudden changes in lifestyle that’s causing us to feel more mentally and emotionally drained. Another reason is that we simply miss human interactions which is another thing that suddenly changed because of the quarantines.  

Establish a routine

One of the best ways to cope with quarantine fatigue is to maintain a routine. Because of the anxiety, stress, and uncertainty, you may feel all over the place and that your life is spiraling down in chaos. By having a set routine, you can eliminate these thoughts because you are establishing control over your life. Schedule time for work, exercise, bonding with family, and the like. This is a healthy way to fight quarantine fatigue.

Set goals

Another thing you can do is to set goals for yourself. More often than not, you will have more time in your hands because of the quarantines. So, set goals for yourself whether it’s for work, self-improvement, for your family, etc. Overall, this will help you continue to have a positive mindset all throughout. You may even come out of the quarantine with new set of skills!

Try self-care practices

One important thing to have during this time is a way to practice self-care and relieve stress. For some it may be yoga, for others it can be meditation. It can even be something as simple as taking a warm bath or reading a book while drinking coffee in a quiet early morning. Find out what your go-to stress reliever is and practice it whenever you can or whenever you need to.

Acknowledge your negative feelings

Lastly, acknowledge your negative feelings. These are trying times and it’s really inevitable to feel negative from time to time. But, don’t bottle up those negative thoughts! Acknowledging them and naturally letting them flow will help you get over them faster. This doesn’t only provides relief, but also reduces the influence of negative feelings over you in general.

We have all had dreams of being famous or rich or successful, but when you maintain that belief even if the reality is different, it is different from just daydreaming. A serious condition called delusional disorder causes some people to have bizarre behavior and manners that it interferes with their daily function and relationships.

Types of Delusional Disorders

Delusion means belief in something that is not based on reality, although they are not almost always unreal. This means that their beliefs involve real life things and situations but are exaggerated or mistakenly perceived. Doctors classify delusional disorder as a type of psychotic disorder. A person with this condition can still function and socialize normally.

There are different types of delusional disorders based on the theme of their delusion such as grandiose, persecutory, somatic, erotomanic, jealous, or a combination of those types. Grandiose means that a person has a over-inflated sense of his/her identity. Persecutory is the belief that they are being spied on, mistreated, or in danger.

Somatic means that they believe they have a medical problem or defect. Erotomanic delusion is the belief that someone is in love with them. Jealous on the other hand is the belief that their partner is being unfaithful to them. There are some delusions which do not fall under any of those categories and are labeled as unspecified.

Symptoms and Causes

Most delusions, regardless of the type, involve non-bizarre delusions. This means that although the person might have weird beliefs, it is still based or grounded on reality. It is weird, but not definitely out there. The person will also exhibit an irritable or angry mood and sometimes hallucinations that are related to their delusion.

They are different from people with, say other psychotic disorders, because they can still function. The only problem is that their delusion disrupts their normal lives. If you know a loved one who has been showing those symptoms for at least a month, you need to seek help.

Delusional disorder is quite rare. Delusion in most cases, might be a symptom of another disorder, and not a disorder itself, but it can happen. For it to be classified as such, it must not also be caused by substances or medication. So, what causes it? There are many factors researchers are investigating, but the strongest evidence points to history of trauma, extreme stress, and genetics.

Treatment of Delusional Disorder

Because the person does not see the problems with their delusions, they will not be able to seek help by themselves. If there are other coexisting conditions, those should also be identified. Only then can treatment be created. It usually involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication. There is not standard treatment for everyone because it will be based on the needs of the individual. Hospitalization is not required in most cases unless the person is causing harm to him/herself or others.

It’s legal to keep birds as pets in Singapore as long as the species is not listed under CITES. If you need to import birds listed under CITES, you will need permits and to comply with the health requirements, although adopting endangered animals is usually discouraged.

Most of the species listed below are ideal for beginners, but they are not recommended for families with children, because they could easily injure these creatures unless they know how to handle birds properly. Most of these birds can live over the age of 10 years, but they often have shorter lives because of improper handling.

Dove

The diamond dove (Geopelia cuneate) and the ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola) are the most popular species of doves kept as pets. Older children can keep doves as pets because they are mild creatures and do not make a lot of noise. Their temperament will differ based on how you raise them, but they need companions all the time, whether it’s another dove or the owner.

Zebra Finch

This species of finch (Taeniopygia guttate) is a hardy bird that’s perfect for beginners. They are usually kept in pairs, however, and will not need a lot of companionship from humans. They also do not like being handled all the time, so they are perfect for people who do not want to train their pet to perch on them.

Canary

For owners who love to listen to bird songs, the canary (Serinus canaria) has a unique birdsong, but they are generally quiet unless they are trying to attract mates. However, they are not ideal for companionship and should not be handled all the time.

Ring-Necked Parakeet

This affectionate and chatty bird is the perfect companion for individuals who want a devoted pet. This means that this species of parakeet (Psittacula krameri) will need a lot of playtime outside its cage. However, it’s not an ideal pet for families with children because they are sensitive to noises.

Cockatiel

Another smart companion bird, the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a sociable pet that will not hesitate to show its love and affection for its owner. They love playing and being touched and talked to by their owners, but are less hyperactive than lovebirds and other species of parrots.

Peach-Faced Lovebird

Another ideal companion pet, the peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) will want your attention and loyalty. Part of their attraction as pets is their ability to develop monogamous bonds even with humans. They need a lot of playtime because they are also curious, but they can have behavioral problems like territoriality, if the owner does not look after them properly.

Budgerigar

These birds (Melopsittacus undulatus) are curious and smart and need constant stimulation through playing. If you want to keep just one bird, make sure that they get enough socialization and companionship from the others members of the family.

There were about 2,300 motorists arrested for drunk driving in the first three quarters of 2013. This is 9% higher compared to the same period in 2012. This has caused the State for Home Affairs to strengthen their reminder to the public that drinking and driving is a deadly combination. With this, the agency launched the STCars Anti-Drive Campaign.

The campaign amended guidelines in regards to drunk driving and its legal punishments. For first time offenders, they can face one year of being barred from driving, plus a maximum of S$5000 fine and 6 months of jail time. For repeat offenders, they will pay a maximum of S$30000 and compulsory three years of jail time. Drinking can affect:

• Vision – Alcohol can affect your vision. Drunken people often convey that they experience visual impairment especially blurred vision.
• Coordination – Drinking too much can affect your overall coordination. You will experience decreased foot, hand and eye coordination.
• Concentration – Alcohol can affect your concentration. When you drink too much, you will surely feel too drowsy and tired. You will bump into something or someone when this happens.
• Comprehension – Drinking too much can hamper your decision making. You will notice that your ability to create logical decisions deteriorates.
• Reflexes – You should know that alcohol can slow down your impulses or reflexes. Your ability to react quickly to varying situations will be affected when you drink too much.
• Judgment – When you have too much to drink, you will notice that your ability to judge will decrease. For example, you will not discern which line to follow, the position of your vehicle, and you will not heed road signs.

If there is one thing that flies faster than time, it’s technology. Well the fact is that technology doesn’t really fly, but it definitely advances and changes too fast that it becomes imperative for us to adapt to it. Otherwise, we will definitely be stuck in the Stone Age and observe everyone else living convenient lives with the smart use of technology.

Wide Scope of IT Services

Information technology is such a broad term, covering a wide scope of services. And as technology continues to advance, more and more services are emerging. Among the many services brought by IT support are the following:

• Keeping computer systems in good condition
• 24/7 monitoring
• Solving IT problems in no time
• Advanced dealing with expected IT problems
• Handling notifications and alerts
• Providing a help desk support

With the ever-dynamic pace of trade and commerce in Singapore, every business is highly encouraged to employ the latest trends in IT services because of the many benefits they can give. Among which are increased efficiency, scalability, customised plans, accountability, and reduced overheads.

Increased Efficiency

An outsourced IT support to a company like Dynatech the leading IT firm in Singapore enables you to optimize your internal manpower, thus bringing each and every staff’s power to be effective. As a result, your company’s level of productivity and efficiency improves. Your staff can focus on what they do best, instead of wasting time and effort in trying to solve difficult IT problems.

Scalability

When you employ the services of an IT solutions provider, you get a team of IT professionals who can provide the best IT services for your company. And take note of your advantage: it’s a team, not just one person. Therefore, you have more minds to provide solution to any IT problem, be it big or small.

Customised Plans

What is good with IT services is the fact that you can actually customise them according to your needs, demands, and budget. You can have the option to pay per service, per device, per support hours, or per level of maintenance and monitoring your business requires. You are flexible, and you hold the ultimate decision.

Accountability

Your IT solutions provider is held responsible for the performance and functionality of their services. It is their obligation to account for their services, and thus they will try to perform their tasks irreproachably.

Reduced Overheads

Outsourcing IT services eliminates the need for you to develop your own in-house IT department. Building your own IT department is such a risk as it involves time to train people and money to set up the required IT system. Moreover, it is costly when your business does not really need the services of IT professionals on a daily basis. Through outsourcing, you will only have to pay for IT support when your situation calls for it.

Indeed, the services brought by the unstoppable advancements in information technology bring countless benefits to each and every business in Singapore, and you can only fully realize these benefits when you decide to see it for yourself.

Finally, summer is here. We always want to remember every summer so we plan different activities. The famous thing to do during summer is going to the beach. Beach comes first to our list because it is indeed very hot and nothing freshens us up like cooling down in the surf. After rounding up our buddies, and securing our reservation, it is time to pack up.

So what do we need? Here are the beach essentials that you should never forget.

Swimwear – There is nothing wrong if you want to be fashionable in the beach. If you really want to swim with ease and enjoy the water, you should definitely look for that perfect bathing suit. Bikinis are very popular nowadays, but one-piece suites can also work to great effect. For men, swimming trunks or beach shorts will do. Choose footwear that is light and easy to dry.  You can add other accessories like stylish bags, hats and bangles if you want.

Sunscreen – Since it is hot, we should secure lotions with high SPF level. Sunscreens or lotions will help regulate the effect of the sun in our skin. If taken, it will reduce the redness of the skin or sun burns. Sunscreens can also lessen the chances of skin cancer.  Towels to dry our body should be prepared as well. Aside from that, umbrellas and sunglasses will make things easier and comfortable for you.

Water – With all the fun you’ll be having on the waves, you might not notice yourself getting thirsty. Be careful about this because you just might get dehydrated. Make sure to bring lots of bottled water and always have one nearby. Don’t substitute water with alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as these won’t really be effective on quenching thirst and may even make you disoriented.

Medical kit – Heat related illnesses are inevitable especially if we are not careful enough. Illnesses are serious enough for us to be afraid but it doesn’t mean hiding in the house until the end of summer. If it can’t be helped, there are precautions that we should remember to keep the effects minimal. Common illnesses include heat exhaustion, head edema and heat stroke. Since we cannot foresee things, it is better to bring medical kit. In case of bruises and wounds, bandage and disinfectants can make a big difference.

Food – Swimming can be starving sometimes that is why bringing of food is a good idea. You can bring actual food or chips if you want. If you have no time to prepare, beach resorts have their own kitchen. All you have to do is order. They have a wide selection of foods that you don’t usually eat every day. Seafood platters and other meals are offered.

Camera – Every good memory should be captured. Never forget to bring your camera so that if you want to revisit your memories, you can always check your files or pictures. You don’t need to bring a high-end camera, what’s important is to simply record your experience. Fortunately, today’s phones are equipped with cameras with excellent resolutions.