FMI and COVID-19
FMI is alive and well during these trying times and we remain dedicated to accommodating the needs of our customers and community at large. So far, we have donated thousands of bottles of sanitizer that we have made to nurses in our area that had no other source. In addition, we are selling sanitizer below cost to some local senior living facilities.
FMI has made dramatic changes to our cleaning, sanitization and physical distancing procedures to make our facility as safe as possible. Many of our employees are just as helpful as our reputation suggests, but now from the comfort of their own homes.
FMI is following CDC guidelines as we work out of these times. We’d like to extend special thanks to the brave healthcare workers and other first responders fighting this battle on the front lines.
Zoom, Zoom!
Feeling lonely? How about connecting with your friends via Zoom conference call? During times like this it may be easy to fall out of your social circle, but staying in contact with friends and family will help you to feel less lonely and more stimulated. Not only can you chat with your friends or family (and see their faces!), but there are ton’s of options for online games and other virtual experiences.
For a fee, Jackbox.tv offers plenty of different games to play during video chats. Their “Party Packs” start at just $5 and the best part – only one person in your Zoom group has to have purchased the games!
Learn a Language
Have you ever fantasized traveling to a foreign country, speaking to the locals as if you’ve been there all your life? Well with all this free time on your hands, why not make your fantasy a reality?
You may not be able to travel anywhere right now, but you can certainly prepare for when you do! There are several different options for learning a language from the comfort of your own home, each varying in price and quality.
“Duolingo” is a totally free app that can help you learn any of 35 different languages. For a more robust adventure, Rosetta Stone provides a tried-and-true educational experience that many people swear by. Rosetta Stone starts at $199 and can be purchased from various online retailers.
https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Spanish-Rosetta-Stone-America/dp/1617160822
Activities to Keep You Sane
Crayola
Crayola has a plethora of different ways to joyfully fill your time, especially if you have kids! From arts & crafts to educational material, parents have plenty of material to discover that’ll keep you and your kids occupied for hours!
Museums
Though museum actives and exhibits have been mostly moved to online, there is still plenty to discover from the comfort of your own home.
Hunterdon Art Museum
The Hunterdon Art Museum has decided to display all of their exhibits online as a part of an entire virtual experience. The virtual museum includes five exhibits that are sure to touch your creative side.
https://hunterdonartmuseum.org/
National Museum of Industry History
This museum is offering a virtual tour of the entire building via Google Maps. The NMH is also offering several online lectures, including a session on how the 1918 pandemic affected Bethlehem Steel.
Sigal Museum
The Sigal Museum offers virtual exhibits like the others, but where it really sticks out is via their “COVID Chronicles” journaling project. This project encourages communities to document their experiences during these strange times. Not only will these be a good opportunity to preserve the tactility of the experience, but writing is a great way to reduce stress and pass the time!
Learn to Meditate
Right now, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, stop. Close your eyes, breathe in and out deeply for 5 breaths, paying close attention to where you feel your breath (in your chest, stomach, etc.). Whenever thoughts arise in the mind (and they certainly will), calmly take note of them and then come back to observing the breath.
Done? Congratulations, you’ve just meditated. Meditation has been practiced in one form or another for thousands of years. Meditation in the West is largely a new phenomenon praised for its ability to help people relax, as well as its positive health implications. It has been discovered that consistent meditation has a profound effect on mental health and even some physical ailments.
Even just 10-20 minutes of observed breathing per day is enough to make an impact. The best part? You need absolutely nothing to meditate and can generally do it anywhere relatively quiet. So, get to it! What else are you doing?