The author, Leo Tolstoy, once said, “Boredom is the desire for desires.” Never has that quote held truer than now when so many countries are going into lockdown and governments are telling people to self-isolate to curb the spread of COVID-19.

There’s no denying that self-isolation is the best way to prevent yourself from getting infected and it puts a brake on the spread of the disease. If everyone self-isolated for a month, the spread of COVID-19 would come to an abrupt halt.

Of course, this scenario is impossible to achieve, but it highlights just how powerful self-isolation is. The downside to this is that now you’re stuck at home and you’re bored.

You feel like the pandemic has cramped your cool lifestyle. Introverts may find no change to their already quiet lives but even they may feel a little rebellious since they’re being told to stay inside. It’s human nature.

There are several things you can do at home.

• Start on projects that take a while to complete

Go ahead and get a puzzle book, sudoku, word search or colouring book. Now you and your family have something to spend hours figuring out. There’s even a jigsaw puzzle that has 18,000 pieces. Imagine that! (https://amzn.to/39jYVLc)

Alternatively, you may decide to start writing the book that you’ve always dreamed of writing.

Or maybe you’ve wanted to learn oil painting. Or start improving your guitar playing skills. There’s so much you can do and now is as good a time as any to start.

• Exercise

This activity is crucial. Remember how you used to say, “But I just don’t have the time to go to the gym.”

Well, guess what? You have all the time in the world now to work out at home. Most gyms are closed these days. So, start training.

• Spend time with your family

So often we are caught between juggling our careers and families. With more time at home now, you can actually catch up with your spouse and kids.

Engage in fun activities like board games or video games. A family that plays together stays together.

• Plan your next Holiday

Yes, you may not be able to go anywhere now… but things will get better. The good news is that you can experience the same excitement by planning your future trip now.

Where will you go? What will you do/see? Where will you stay?

So many questions… and your family and you can spend time together finding the answers. Once you know how it’s all going to go, it’s just a matter of waiting until the COVID-19 situation has run its course and subsided for you to set off on your dream holiday.

• Social media

Social media is a double-edged sword. While it can help you pass the time, it’s also filled with drama and debate which can put a dampener on your spirits.

Use social media for entertainment and AVOID getting into debates at all cost. Ideally, spend no more than 15-minutes on social media at any one time. This will prevent you from falling down a rabbit hole of vitriol and pointless arguments with insane people online or getting addicted to the platform itself.

• Netflix and chill

What better way to spend time with your spouse/partner than to cuddle up in front of the TV and binge watch the latest TV shows… and if the show is boring, you can always ‘chill’.

Some married couples have not chilled for so long that they’ve become virgins again. This home-isolation period can put the passion back in your relationship, if you will let it.

At the end of the day, as long as you find activities to engage in, you’ll keep boredom at bay. You just need to find out what you’re passionate about and pour your attention there. Where your attention goes, your energy goes. Keep your activities fun and productive and you may discover that you’re actually happier now at home. That’s a good place to be.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to a very strange phenomenon where toilet paper (affectionately known as ‘loo roll’ in the UK) seems to be the first thing that people are panic buying.

It almost boggles the mind as to how a respiratory illness from China can cause the stores in the US to sell out all their toilet paper in hours. Panic can make people illogical and selfish.

On an interesting note, there’s a website online that online that will calculate how long your existing supply of toilet paper will last. You can see it here: https://howmuchtoiletpaper.com/

The only possible explanation for all the hoarding is that people are afraid that the pandemic will be a protracted situation, and they’ll be left without any more toilet paper.

While this is hardly likely because there are no production hiccups and supply chains are still strong, you may encounter a situation where you can’t buy toilet paper because the store shelves are empty.

You may be running low or have completely run out, and now you’re really in a sticky situation.

So, what do you do?

• Bidets

The most difficult hurdle to overcome will be to shift your mindset. It’s also the easiest way to deal with the toilet paper shortage.

Millions of people in Europe, Asia, etc. use bidets to clean up after defecation.

A spray of water is delivered directly to the anus and cleans the area pristinely. It’s more hygienic than toilet paper and its hassle-free.

You’ll not need any toilet paper when water is your friend.

Americans who are not used to this practice and can’t even fathom the idea of using a ‘bum gun’ to clean themselves will be hesitant to try it out.

Do give it a try and you may never look back. Tough times call for improvisation and adaptation.

Rather than spending hours in queues or jostling with other people just to get toilet paper, you could easily purchase a bidet from Amazon and install it in your house. Problem solved.

• Wet wipes

This is another alternative to toilet paper. There are two problems here. Firstly, these may be sold out too. Secondly, flushing wet wipes down your toilet may clog the plumbing.

If your toilet gets clogged, you’ll need to find a plumber to fix the problem and during these times of self-isolation, that will be a bigger chore than usual.

Some people may hoard baby wipes as toilet paper substitute. This is not recommended because babies NEED those wipes too, since their skin is softer and more sensitive. Be thoughtful even when times are tough.

• Fast food napkins

Sometimes you just have to think out of the box. Fast food outlets usually provide paper napkins with their meals. Buy a delivered junk food Meal and voila! You’re now the proud owner of a PizaToiletpaper.

• Washable towels/cloth rags

This one is nasty and should only be undertaken by those with a strong constitution. All levity aside, the cloth towels/rags will be used just like toilet paper, but when you’re done using the towels, you’ll need to wash them in hot water so they can be reused later.

If the idea of doing this makes you balk, you’re better off just getting a bidet and calling it a day.

• Paper products

There are many other types of paper that you could repurpose as toilet paper. You could use old newspapers or you could yank out the A4 paper from your printer and use those too. CVS receipts are another option.

The problem here is that you’ll need to soften the paper with water first. The last thing you want are paper cuts on your behind.

Then there’s also the issue of safety. You don’t know if the inks on the paper or the receipts will have any negative effect on your health, if absorbed by your skin.

You’ll also need to discard the used ‘toilet paper’ in the trash and not flush it down because your plumbing will get clogged.

• Sanitary pads and/or sponges

Feminine hygiene products may be sold out, but if all you can get your hands on are sanitary pads, those can be used as toilet paper too.

Dishwashing sponges are another alternative. But just like the washable towels, you’ll need to reuse them which means washing them and enduring the ordeal.

Once again, none of these products should be flushed down your toilet because they do NOT break down like toilet paper, and will clog the sewer lines.

Besides the options mentioned above, hardcore survivalists will recommend toilet paper alternatives such as leaves, rocks, corn husks, etc.

These are extreme measures, and we’ve not reached a situation where you’re living off-grid or in the wilderness. The store shelves will be restocked and many supermarkets have instituted quotas on the essential items to prevent hoarding.

Your best bet during this time will be to use a bidet and get through the shortage until the situation returns to a relative state of normalcy. Rest assured that it will happen soon.

The current food shortages in the UK are not due to a broken supply chain or production issues. The empty store shelves are a result of people panic buying more than they need and hoarding supplies.

Some folks are buying in bulk so that they can price gouge these products and sell them at a mark up to desperate people. Never encourage price gouging by buying from people hoping to make a quick buck. Things are not that desperate yet.

The empty shelves are just a temporary inconvenience. In fact, trucks are still transporting supplies and store shelves are being stocked even as you read this.

Quotas are being enforced to limit how many essential items every customer can buy. So, there’s no need to panic that you’ll die of starvation unless you kill and eat your neighbour.

In the meantime, here’s what you can do to ensure that you don’t end up with nutrient deficiencies…

1. Get supplements

We need food for nutrients. It’s as basic as that. If there’s insufficient food, supplements will help to take up the slack. In fact, even with food, supplements are crucial because our foods are low in nutrients due to intensive farming on nutrient-depleted soils.

So, pick up a multivitamin, a greens supplement, some fish oil pills, garlic oil, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, curcumin, coconut oil, etc.

Since many places are on lockdown and self-isolation is required, vitamin D is especially important if you don’t get enough sunlight.

Bodybuilding supplements like whey protein, egg protein, BCAAs, etc. are all useful. Most people do not look to these as a source of food… and yet, they can be used to replace meals too.

1. Protein beats carbs

Your body can survive without carbs, but you need protein and fats. So, if there’s canned food like sardines, beans, etc. get those.

Your goal should be to buy foods that are high in protein. You can get your fats from coconut oil or olive oil. Carbs should be an afterthought. Buy foods based on nutrition and not taste.

Very often, people try to stock up on pasta, rice, bread, instant noodles, etc. These are unnecessary carbs that lead to obesity. We’re in a pandemic now. It’s time to wean yourself off your carbs and get lean.

The silver lining to this COVID-19 cloud is that you finally have all the necessary conditions to accelerate weight loss.

1. Intermittent fasting

Here’s the truth – if the shelves are empty and it’s going to be a few days before the food arrives, you can’t eat like you’re accustomed to.

Aim for just one meal a day. Don’t worry. You won’t perish. In fact, your body will begin a process of self-cleansing and you’ll actually feel better.

Even if all you did was go on a water fast for 5 days, you’d be fine. You’ll experience increased mental clarity, more energy and a feeling of ‘lightness’. You’ll feel great. All hunger pangs usually disappear after the 3^rd day.

1. Ration your foods

Take stock of the food you have and make a weekly plan as to how you’ll ration it among your family members. Eating blindly without concern will put you in a situation where you may not have enough.

1. Shop when you can

Even if it means waking up at 6 am to join a supermarket queue, do it. Family members can take turns daily to do some shopping unless they are at risk. While you shouldn’t be hoarding, you should at least have enough food to last you and your family for 3 days.

Just by buying a little extra each time, you’ll be able to meet your requirements. Most importantly, you must have a plan. Don’t end up having a pantry that only has chocolate cookies and canned fruit.

1. Order your groceries online

There may be some hiccups and your orders may get cancelled or the inventory may have sold out. Nevertheless, be persistent. Things are getting better now and you should be able to get an order through sooner or later.

Shopping online is easier and you’ll have food stores to tide you over any shortages at the brick and mortar supermarkets.

The COVID-19 pandemic is NOT a World War 3. There’s no destruction of supply lines or amenities.

Everything is still functioning, just at a slower rate because of the lockdowns and other measures. Hoarding and panic buying will not help you or anyone else during this situation.

Keep a level mind and buy what you need and just a little bit extra to last for 3 days. That should more than suffice.

Eat one meal a day and look at this period as an opportunity to lose weight and achieve the body you’ve always wanted. Now is as good a time as any.

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Atopic eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is the most common form of eczema and mainly affects children but can often continue into adulthood. One in five children in the UK has eczema, and 35% of cases continue past the age of 16 years.

Eczema is a long-term, or chronic, condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. In some cases, the problem area can become infected, making things worse. Scratching the affected area can damage the skin and increase the chance of infection, so this should be avoided (although resisting the need to scratch can understandably be very difficult).

The severity of the condition can vary from person to person. It can be mild, but severe cases of eczema can be very sore with badly cracked and bleeding skin. The most commonly affected parts of the body are behind the knees, inside the elbows, on the side of the neck and around the eyes and ears. For most people, their eczema will be okay for a while and then flare up to become much worse, requiring additional treatments.

What are the causes of eczema?

The exact causes of atopic eczema are not known, but it does occur more often in people who are prone to allergies, and also those who suffer from other problems such as asthma and hay fever. It has been established that eczema runs in families, so genetics has a part to play in whether or not you’ll be affected by the condition. If you have genes that predispose you to eczema, the condition may then be triggered by allergens in the environment such as dust, house dust mites or pollen. In many cases, some types of food can act as allergens that trigger eczema – milk, eggs, nuts and wheat are common culprits.

However, allergens are not the whole story, as eczema can also be triggered by other factors including cold weather, rough clothing, harsh soaps, washing too much, stress and sweating a lot. In general, it does seem that the prevalence of eczema is on the increase. This may be due to changes in the way we live or the environment we live in, but the relative importance of each factor is not clear.

How is eczema treated?

Eczema cannot be cured, but many people simply grow out of it. However, when you are suffering from eczema, it can be both physically and emotionally uncomfortable, so it’s good that there are effective treatments to help control the symptoms. The Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service can provide a wide range of prescription-strength treatments if appropriate. The treatments on offer are discussed below:

Emollients. These are moisturising treatments that soothe the skin to reduce dryness, cracking and itching. Emollients are frequently used to control the symptoms, and tend to come as creams, ointments, lotions or bath additives. The best form for you will depend on your skin and the severity of eczema symptoms, but in general, ointments are the best for very dry skin (although they’re the greasiest to use). Emollients are also useful as a substitute for soap, which can be very drying to the skin.

The Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service offers large packs of the following emollients:

• Balneum cream – 5% urea and ceramide 3
• Balneum plus cream – 5% urea and ceramide 3
• Cetraben – Liquid paraffin
• Diprobase – Diprobase
• E45 – Anhydrous lanolin

Topical corticosteroids. These are steroid creams and ointments that are applied to the skin to help reduce the redness and inflammation during flare-ups. The steroids vary in strength. Small packs of mild steroids such as hydrocortisone and Eumovate can be bought without a prescription, but larger pack sizes, stronger steroids and steroids with other ingredients to tackle infections are only available on prescription.

Click here to find out more.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas, a housewarming party or some other reason – when you’re buying a gift for the home for your significant other, your parents, or someone else, there are plenty of gifts to choose from!

There are gifts for every room of the house to make life more pleasant and to transform the home from a sterile environment to one that is tranquil, organized and pleasing. Some gifts will be decorative in nature, while other improve the functionality of the room.

Bedroom

When it comes to giving a gift for the bedroom, you may not want to invest in something that’s a personal choice, like sheets or bedding. That’s because each individual had personal preferences for that.

But what you can do is give a gift that enhances the quality of sleep that the recipient gets. One product anyone would love is the LectroFan white noise machine by Adaptive Sound Technologies.

This machine helps drown out small noises that distract someone as they try to drift off. It has 20 varying styles of sounds along with a sleep timer. It comes in a variety of colors and not only has fan sounds, but aside from white noise, also has pink and brown noise options.

The person using it can set the volume to their desired preference at night and can use it during the daytime, too – if they need it to help them concentrate during work or studying.

You can also get them a gift like the LBell Alarm Clock that features a wake-up light system, where it simulates a sunrise. It also includes an FM radio. The sunrise feature begins and when the sun has risen fully, the regular alarm then goes off.

The gift recipient can reverse the process, too – setting the clock to stimulate sunset, where the music and lighting dims as they drift off to sleep. They can set more than one alarm for weekdays and one for weekends, if they want.

Living Room

If you’re buying a gift for the living room, you may want to consider something that adds extra comfort and appeal to this room, such as an Esright Massage Recliner. This chair is heated and swivels for the person using it.

It has an ergonomic design that provides maximum comfort. The person sitting in it can also use it as a rocking chair. The chair is made with artificial leather and it’s soft and durable.

There’s thick padding for the seat, back and armrest, along with a couple of cupholders, too. The chair has a set of four storage bags on it, where they can put magazines, the newspaper or whatever else they want to have near them. And at the end of a long day they can relax and use the remote control to set up a soothing massage with as much or as little intensity as they desire.

Another item that makes a great gift for the living room is a beautiful essential oil diffuser and humidifier by Ominihome. This is an aromatherapy dispenser that has a variety of timer settings and misting preferences, along with seven beautiful, glowing light options.

It can run for 18 hours at a time and is a soothing addition to any living room environment. It’s a nice environmentally friendly product with good safety features, like an automatic shut off.

Your gift recipient can use it to eliminate odors, help keep the room at a comfortable humidity, and more. They can use it in any room, not just the living room. And the misting settings can be controlled for high mist or lower ones.

Entryway and Laundry

Many people love to receive gifts for their entryway. It’s the first thing people notice about their homes. A wall mounted shelf that has hooks and baskets would be a great choice.

A company called HBCY makes a handcrafted solid wooden one that looks rustic and beautiful. It’s an organizer that has five coat hooks and cubbies. People can use this in other areas of the house, too. Their guests can hang coats, purses, leashes and more on the hooks and use the baskets for keys, wallets, or other belongings that want to grab on the way out the door.

This is a great way to help your gift recipient declutter their home and add some gorgeous décor to it, too. Another gift you might consider is one for the laundry area. Some people need help tackling the large amount of laundry they have.

If you know someone who could use a gift for their laundry area, you might want to consider buying them a BoxLegend shirt folding board for quickly folding t-shirts, pajamas, pants and more.

This neat little tool makes folding a snap – and in just 3 simple steps, which take 3 seconds, the clothing is folded perfectly. This is a great tool to teach kids how to use if they’re helping with the laundry, too.

Dining Room

If you want to go with a gift for the dining room, then you might want to invest in a simple, elegant dinnerware set from Amazon Basics. This beautiful, white set includes 18 pieces of dishes and bowls for up to six people.

It’s a porcelain dinnerware set that’s BPA-free and lightweight. The color and design make it a perfect for your gift recipient, regardless of their current décor because it assimilates well with anything.

This dinnerware is dishwasher safe and very durable. They can also put it int the microwave or oven, or store it in the fridge or freezer for leftovers, if they want to. They’ll get six 10 ½ inch plates, 7 ½ inch dessert plates, and 5 ½ inch bowls.

Want to splurge a bit on a bigger gift for the dining room? How about a modern, luxurious looking dining table with a glass top and four chairs by Bonnlo? The chairs are black and made of artificial leather, so they’re very stylish.

This elegant dining room set can match any décor, and it will last your gift recipient a long time, thanks to the way it’s constructed. The steel is heavy duty and rust resistant. It’s been powder coated to last longer, too. This set would be perfect for someone on your list who has a small space, like an apartment, breakfast nook or other limited areas.

Bathroom

There are a couple of gifts you can buy for someone who wants something for their bathroom. Of course, you can always go with design elements, like a new set of bath rugs, shower curtains, etc.

But those are more personal tastes. Why not give them something that they can appreciate for other reasons? Like the touchless automatic soap dispenser by Secura? This is a battery operated or electric dispenser that has a volume control for how much soap is distributed.

Your gift recipient can house up to 17 ounces of liquid soap in this dispenser and either place it on the counter or mount it on the wall. It’s a chrome and black design, with a clear holder for the soap itself. An infrared sensor tells it when to dispense the soap.

Another good idea for a bathroom gift is a scale. There’s a great body weight scale that measures up to 440 pounds by Etekcity and it has a backlit LCD screen so it’s easy to read.

This scale is very durable and sturdy and is easy to clean. Known for its accuracy, the precision sensor can give an instant reading as soon as someone steps on the scale. There’s also a free body tape measuring device included with the purchase so they can measure inches as well as pounds.

Kids’ Room and Nursery

If you’re buying something for a child, you might think of a toy right off the bat. But there are some instances when you want to get something more functional for the room or for the child to have a better experience in that room.

If you’re buying for a child who is out of a crib, you might want to gift them a weighted blanket made especially for their age group. The Hypnoser brand offers soft weighted blankets filled with glass beads.                             

This blanket feels like a nice hug as the child drifts off to sleep and it helps keep them asleep for longer periods of time. It’s a warm, quiet blanket that has a special design to evenly distribute the beads.

If you’re buying a nursery item as a gift, you might want to give the recipient a Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine. This is both a night light and wake up machine. For nighttime, in addition to the nightlight, it includes sounds that help a little one drift off to sleep.

They can use your phone to manage the brightness and volume on the machine. Or, program it for automated usage based on a schedule that you set. As the child grows, the machine grows with them, helping them learn how to rise on their own.

Home Office

If the person you’re buying a gift for has a home office, then there are a few items you might want to consider giving them, depending on their needs and your budget. Many people are loving the standing desk that gives them some mobility as they work and helps improve their fitness.

VIVO makes a height adjustable model that gives 36 inches of height to a desk the person already has. It’s built for anyone who want to employ the use of dual monitors, too. The person using it can choose to sit or stand with the desk, and it will move quickly and effortlessly with them.

Another great gift idea for the home office is a high back swivel office chair. These executive chairs are nicely padded and decorative with the black leather and pewter accents.

This gift will give your recipient a combination of comfort and ergonomic support that helps them feel good all day. The chair holds up to 275 pounds and can be adjusted for height.

Outdoor Living

There are many people who love to spend outside. So making that space enjoyable is a priority for them. If you have someone like that on your list, you have a couple of gift choices you can consider.

The first gift idea is for those cozy outdoor nights and it’s an outdoor firepit made of metal with a gorgeous design that’s perfect for a patio, garden area of backyard. This one is made by Yaheetech and it’s a square firepit that includes a spark screen, cover and poker for the logs.

Whether the person is entertaining or just enjoying a cool night outside, this fire pit is a safe option to have a beautiful fire that provides warmth to all who surround it. The pit is easy to keep clean and you can put the cover over it to prevent rusting.

Another good outdoor gift might be a gas grill. Cuisinart makes a full sized, four-burner grill that puts out 44,000 BTUs of heat. Your gift recipient gets the cooking surface plus a nice warming rack.

It also has a set of heavy-duty grates made of cast iron, along with a couple of side tables measuring 18 by 13 inches. There’s a nice stainless-steel lid and a control panel to manage all of the cooking.

Kitchen

If you want to buy a gift for someone who loves being in the kitchen, then there are two gifts that everyone’s raving about this year. The first is the popular Instant Pot Ultra. This programmable cooker can be used as a crockpot, rice cooker, steamer or to do other things like make yogurt, eggs or even cake!

It will automatically adjust based on the altitude of the user and you can see the progress of the cooking through the visual progress bar. It’s the perfect gift for someone who needs most of the cooking process automated for them.

Another good kitchen gift idea is an air fryer. These healthy cookers, like the one from COSORI, hello remove oil form the recipes and instead provide crispy, tasty food through a roasting process.

It comes with a nonstick cooking basket and there are 11 settings you can choose from when you want to make fried chicken, fried pickles, French fries or more! There are different sizes to choose from.

Playroom

If the person you’re buying for has a playroom for kids, there are two top gift ideas you may want to consider. First, there’s the KidKraft bookcase that has a cozy little reading nook built in.

You can choose from several colors to match any decor – white, espresso and natural. There are built in storage areas that can house books, toys or other items and it’s made from sturdy composite wood.

Another great playroom gift would be a toy organizer. The Tot Tutors Kids’ Toy Storage Organizer is a big one with 12 removable plastic bins nestled on the wooden holder. Kids can take a bin down, gather up their toys, and put it back easily. 

This organizer is great for kids who have a lot of little toys and odds and ends. You have eight standard sized storage bins and four larger ones. It’s designed with a multi-color appeal, so it’s great for both boys’ and girls’ rooms.

There are many gift ideas for the home. When you’re considering buying one for someone you love, think about whichever room they’ve mentioned needing to spruce up, or a problem area they’re having – such as cooking disasters, lack of sleep, or disorganization, and go from there!