Get this self-help e-book free, along with two others.

If you're able to weather the global pandemic without regular bouts of anxiety, I salute you. My pendulum swings back and forth between "We'll get through this" and "We're all doomed" -- often several times per day. That's why I'm increasingly on the lookout for helpful (and cheap) coping tools, be they free games to keep my mind off things or free books that teach me how to keep stress in check.

Today I've got three such books, followed by a sci-fi novella series that sounds like ideal escapism (if you can get past the title). Here's the self-help selection:

You will, of course, need an Amazon or Google account to get the respective versions of these books, which can be read on any compatible devices.

Another great way to give your brain a stress-break: Escape into fiction. Publisher Tor's eBook of the Month Club is totally free, and this month's giveaway is pretty sweet: The first four novellas in Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries series. But it's structured a little differently: You'll get one book per day, starting today.

The goal, of course, is to get you hooked so you'll buy the first full-length novel in the series, which comes out in a couple weeks. For now, however, enjoy these highly rated freebies, which would normally cost you $4-$11 each.

By the way, they're provided DRM-free in your choice of ePub or Mobi format, the latter able to be side-loaded into Kindles and Kindle apps.

Happy reading!

The going rate for Apple's 2nd-gen AirPods has long been $139, with occasional dips to $135. That's better than the $159 list price, certainly, but still pricey. Here's the best deal I've seen yet: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Electronics Basket (via eBay) has the Apple AirPods 2nd-generation with Charging Case for $121.99.

If I'm being honest, I genuinely like AirPods. They're comfortable (in my ears, at least), they sound really good and they're great for phone calls. On the other hand, they don't offer any kind of noise-canceling features, they're not sweatproof and the price is still ridiculous.

But, well, $122 is so much better than $159. If you've been biding your time in hopes of a decent discount, here you go.

Now playing: Watch this: AirPods 2nd-generation: Not really 2.0, but definitely...

3:55

I'll wager you're spending a lot more time in front of the TV these days, which may have you thinking seriously about adding a soundbar. The Sonos Playbar is a top pick, but, yeesh, the $699 price tag.

Less yeesh: For a limited time, and while supplies last, WorldWideStereo via eBay has the manufacturer-refurbished Sonos Playbar for $449, the lowest price I can recall seeing.

Because this is factory-certified, it includes a retail box with all accessories and comes with a full one-year warranty. In other words: It's quite literally good as new.

At this price, it's only $50 above the regular price of the Sonos Beam, which offers more advanced voice-command features but nowhere near as much bass.

Anyway, $449 is still very pricey for a soundbar, but a $250 savings is nothing to sneeze at.

Read more: The best soundbar of 2020

Now playing: Watch this: A sound bar for Sonos disciples

3:19

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskateon FacebookandTwitter. Find more great buys on theCNET Deals pageand check out ourCNET Coupons pagefor the latest promo codes fromBest Buy,Walmart,Amazonandmore. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.

Follow this link:
3 free e-books to help you reduce stress and anxiety - CNET

Yes, what we eat is connected to our mental health, and I dont want to discount thatbut if the stress of eating healthfully is making you feel like crap anyway, whether thats because you cant fathom cooking or dont have the means to shop for certain foods during isolation, just eat the sleeve of Oreos and try again another day. Its okay.

Or, more realistically, wear whatever you can. Even if it means wearing the same ratty sweatpants for a whole week. Or month. Maybe you started all this out aspiring to get dressed every day to work from home productively, or maybe you have a whole collection of comfortable loungewear you feel guilty for not utilizing. Whatever arbitrary rules and expectations youve set for yourself, you can throw them out.

On the other hand, maybe you need to quiet the voice that tells you theres no point in getting dressed or feeling presentable. If it helps, by all means, play with your look, wear awesome or weird outfits, do your hair and makeup or whatever activity might feel a little silly given your current reality. In the middle of a pandemic, nothing is a waste of time if it makes you feel good.

In my first week or so of working entirely from home, I was baffled by just how messy my apartment got. How on earth were so many messes piling up when I wasnt even doing anything but working, sleeping, and eating? I hadnt realized it, but a lot of my small tidying routines had become casualties to the pandemic. And, it turns out, slacking on the little ways I pick up after myself every day (such as doing the dishes right after I use them) added up quickly.

Instead of forcing myself to stick to the same levels of tidiness that I used to maintain, Ive found shortcuts. For example, I use paper plates and plastic cutlery when I feel too fatigued to wash dishes so they dont sit in the sink for days on end. Or I stick to the same two outfits to avoid clothes piling up when Im too depressed to put them away every day. If you can find a small way to go easy on yourself, even if it feels a little wasteful or indulgent or gross, its okay to tap into those shortcuts right now.

I wont lie: Im someone whose space impacts my mental health a lot. Typically, keeping my apartment clean helps keep my mental health in check and letting my apartment get gross makes me feel worse. Thats still true in a lot of ways, but to adapt Ive been trying to be mindful and accepting of where Im at. And itshelped?

It turns out that taking the pressure off does a lot to mitigate the guilt and some of the other negative mental health effects I usually experience. In practice, it involves a lot of talking to myself. Instead of seeing my apartment turning into a depression cave and immediately thinking, Oh, God, I need to clean up, this is so disgusting, Im a monster for living like this, of course I feel depressed, I go for kindness. I think (or even say out loud because, well, desperate times), Of course my apartment is a mess right now. Ill get to it when I get to it. I can handle the mess for now.

IDK anyone whose sleep hasnt been screwed in some way by all of this. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, pent-up energy from sheltering in place, elevated tech use, new work responsibilities, screwy schedulespretty much every aspect of our new reality can impact our sleep. Some people are sleeping a lot more, some are sleeping a lot less, and some are cycling through both extremes. Oh, and the temptation of naps! Its all there.

More:
9 Self-Care Tips That Require Little to No Effort - Self

Youve probably seen them. They crowd into displays at your favorite bookstore. They stare longingly at bored airport denizens. Seemingly, theyre everywhere: self-help books with swear words in the title.

Brightly colored covers blare against sans serif fonts. Strategically placed asterisks keep it all above board. Many of these books skyrocketed to bestsellers lists, and parked for years.

It all started with Samuel L. Jackson.

If you were on the Internet c. 2011, you likely heard him read the satirical bedtime story by Adam Mansbach, Go the F*ck to Sleep. While gleefully imagining Jules Winnfield wrestling with an obstinate toddler, we had no idea just how commonplace it would all soon become.

Despite unique marketing challenges, Go the F*ck to Sleep unleashed a cavalcade. Even a cursory search of Amazon reveals well over 100 coloring books, planners, journals, and self-help books with swear words in the title.

The titles range from the borderline cringeworthy (Manifest That Shit) to the aggressively mundane (Yes, Bitch! I Paid $250 for a Notebook of 120 Blank Unlined Pages and a Shitty Cover). Within this cacophony of vulgarity, there emerged a distinct sub-genre of swearing self-help books.

Category ID: 479

Category ID: 48926

True Story Newsletter

Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles.

Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Who writes all these self-help books with swear words? Where did they come from? Are they here to stay?

Way back in 2013, when we were still young, Jen Sincero published the now ubiquitous You Are a Badass. An extended girl power anthem, Sincero infused You Are a Badass with her rocker chick persona. Though the advice itself is largely unoriginal (dump your negative friends!), Sincero has a strong voice as a writer. Sincero knows her golden ticket is her punk rock lite style, and she leans into it.

Likewise, You Are a Badass leans into its scrappy reputation. Though she was already a bestselling author, it took a full two years after its publication for the book to hit the NYT list. Running Press, an imprint, of an imprint of Hachette thats better known for its novelty books, first published it.

However it got there, You Are a Badass endures. After almost 190 weeks on the bestseller list, it eclipsed the record of every other book on this list (so far). Youve likely seen the highlighter yellow cover of her book on the subway, on your Audible home page, and on your friends Instagram feeds. It doesnt look like its going anywhere anytime soon.

The only book poised to break Sinceros record is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. As of this writing, it has spent 172 weeks on the NYT Bestseller List. While Sincero preaches the gospel of unabashed hedonism, Mansons advice falls into, life sucks, but you can work to make that suck mean something.

In other words: stoicism. Stoicism is the classical Greek philosophy based on the logic that life will be hard whether we like it or not. The most virtuous thing to do is to endure hardship without complaint, while strengthening our values.

Arguably, Mansons plainspoken style comprises most of his appeal. Its frankly much more interesting to absorb 3rd century BCE philosophy when it comes from the guy who sounds a like your dad. Manson is also the only author on this list who openly acknowledges that things happen that are out of your control. Though multiple authors on this list consider themselves subversive, by confirming the random nature of existence, Manson actually subverts common self-help truisms.

Self-described urban philosopher Gary John Bishop first ascended to popularity with his book, UnF*ck Yourself. Though he didnt spend as long on the bestseller list as others on this list, youve no doubt seen his book alongside the others in this piece.

Bishops origins are complicated. Cagey about the specifics of his early life, he grew up in a rough part of Glasgow and emigrated to the US in 2007. After scraping by as a construction worker, he began working for the controversial personal development company Landmark. He originally self-published UnF*ck Yourself. It sold over 40,000 copies in just a few weeks. Publishing giant Harper Collins eventually picked it up.

The thesis of UnF*ck Yourself is thus: you are 100 percent responsible for what you do with your life. Bishop claims the target audience of his book is single mothers and blue collar workers. However, its hard to see exactly how Bishop is empathetic to the underprivileged. He acknowledges systemic oppression to some extent, while also writing off many of its real challenges. None of these paradoxes have stopped Bishops star from rising, as he currently has three books in the works.

After 15 years at various high-flying publishing jobs, in 2015 Sarah Knight decided to say fuck it. And how did she do this? By publishing a book with fuck in the title. With that, an empire was born.

A play onThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Knights first book is, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck. The book has very little to do with Marie Kondos bestseller, other than as a marketing tool (Disclaimer: I am a big Kondo fan). Knight isnt even the first author to combine Marie Kondo and profanity. Though, regularly churning out guides gave her staying power that her peers at the time couldnt quite accomplish.

Despite frequent confusion with Mark Mansons Subtle Art, the No F*cks Given Guides are closer in ideology to Jen Sinceros badass series. Take risks! Live the life you want! Knight operates out of a sort of nihilistic positivity: dont give a fuck! Then youll have space to do what you want to do.

Knights entire brand is about carefully subverted norms. Publicity photos feature her wearing a ball gown in a pool. She describes herself as the, anti-guru. Yet behind the whimsy lies a shrewd business person; her years as an acquisitions editor gave her firsthand knowledge of what publishing trends were on the rise. Despite her renegade branding, her advice is decidedly mainstream.

So far, Knight has five books, two companion journals, a companion daily calendar, and no sign of stopping. She has cornered the market on self-help books with swear words.

On the surface, the appeal is unclear. Cursing is uncouth, unprofessional, and taboo. Agony aunts will still point out when you say crap on Facebook. Why would anyone want advice from such a vulgar place?

But as Dan Brooks pointed out in The New York Times, we are a society in which real, enforced taboos still exist but are outnumbered by the expanding category of utterly safe rebellions for which we congratulate ourselves daily. Those same agony aunts likely enjoy the Netflix show The Ranch. Despite its classic sitcom format, its peppered with as many fucks as a Quentin Tarantino movie.

Though many still hold onto the ideals of propriety, the truth is that profanity is utterly basic. And in that paradox lies the appeal. We want what we cant have. We like what were told is bad. Words like fuck and bullshit imply a straight-shooter. However, as a marketing strategy they come off more like the person who orders dessert at a restaurant followed up with Im so bad.

Whats missing from all of the punchy, in-your face advice? The fact that these people come from a place of immense privilege. All of these authors are white. Most are college educated. Jen Sincero is unapologetically rich. When Sincero says, if my broke ass can get rich, you can too she conveniently leaves out the fact that her broke ass grew up in a wealthy suburb of New York and attended a private college.

Sarah Knight spent 15 years in publishing (a notoriously competitive industry) after graduating from Harvard, before bravely moving to the beautiful tropical paradise of the Dominican Republic.

Even considering his hardscrabble upbringing, as a white man Gary John Bishop has a lot of social privilege. Our perception of Scots as champion swearers doesnt hurt either. Its hard to imagine a Black woman breezing past the angry black woman trope in order to pen a plainspoken, profane bestseller the way Bishop did.

At best, refusing to acknowledge personal advantages could cause anxiety in less fortunate readers. At worst, it preys on the vulnerable, promising, just pay for this seminar, this book, this meditation CD, and all of your problems will be solved. In a meta move, even Mark Manson wrote a blog post about the snake oil of the self-help industry.

Using swear words is a great way to convince your audience that youre just like them! In reality, these people often have little in common with the millions of people who lap up their books. Theyre hungry for a solution to their problems, but leave feeling worse about themselves.

I will admit, I fell for the hype. When you feel like a loser, it feels good to be told that you are a badass. When you care too much what other people think, you want to know the subtle art of not giving a f*ck. But in terms of what they actually have to offer, most of these books are full of old-fashioned advice in shiny, gimmicky packaging.

The rest is here:
What is With All of the Self-Help Books With Swear Words in the Title? - Book Riot

Like most other organizations, two local self-help groups, North Shores Alano Club and Gods Garage in Pacific Beach, have both gone virtual with their 12-step meetings.

We are closed to the public right now, though the club is usually open to paid members who can come in and hang out, said an anonymous spokesperson for the Alano Club at 4861 Cass St. We can no longer have in-person meetings because we just have one big room, and we are observing social-distancing requirements.

Added the North Shores Alano Club spokesperson, We are now providing virtual meetings with a Zoom platform.

Pastor David Nagler of Christ Lutheran Church, which oversees Gods Garage at 4811 Cass St., said 12-step, self-help groups meet there including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Heroin Anonymous. One of the well-known groups meeting there is the Dawn Patrol, which meets at 7:30 a.m.

Those groups are not meeting right now in-person, said Nagler. We were very concerned because we didnt want people to be out of their meetings. So we left it to the leaders of each group to decide if they would meet if they could provide practical, safe social distancing, though most of the groups now are meeting online.

Noted Nagler: From my perspective, its a fragile time for people with addictions or mental illness. Weve heard of some people whove had relapses. If anyone wants to call us up, we can help get them to an online meeting.

Gods Garage is on property owned by the church, which rents it out to different self-help groups.

Read this article:
Pacific Beach self-help groups impacted by COVID-19 - Like most other organizations two local self-help groups North Shores Alano Club and God's...

This week brings live virtual fitness classes with The Rec, a Netflix party with the Dennis Small Cultural Center, a presentation on last-minute jobsearch tips, self-care workshopsand more.

This week

April 20, 21, 23 Zoom Looking for ways to stay active while youre at home? The Rec Center is hosting live virtual fitness classes this week for you to enjoy.

Registration is required for live classes and space is limited. Participants will receive a Zoom link prior to the class.

April 21May 7 Netflix Join fellow Buffs and the Dennis Small Cultural Center (DSCC) Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. to watch shows and chat online. This week will feature episodes of On My Block and Gentified. For the full schedule and instructions for participating, visit the DSCC Facebook event.

Monday, April 20

23:30 p.m.MDT Zoom In honor of Earth Day, CU is hosting a special town hall to bring together faculty, staff and students to discuss the topics of sustainability, climate and resilience. Register here if you would like to attend.

Tuesday, April 21

Noon to 2 p.m.MDTZoom

Drop in for a virtual Health Hut to learn more about self-care, what it means, what it looks like and how to make it work for you in preparation for finals. Use your CU Boulder email to sign into the Zoom meeting.

23 p.m. MDTZoom This weeks workshop with Career Services will cover job and internship search tips to help you land a position.

Wednesday, April 22

23 p.m. MDTZoom Join the Eco-Social Justice team for a virtual gallery walk-through of the biographies and accomplishments of inspiring leaders and activists in the fight for climate and environmental justice. Learn how inspirational people from around the nation are succeeding in creating a more just and sustainable world!

24 p.m. MDTZoom Youre almost therefinish strong! Join Health Promotion for an open conversation about stress management, study skills and more. Also, attend a guided drop-in meditation to create space for a smooth transition into finals.

78 p.m. MDTZoom Lots of effort and planning goes into extended expeditions, few more so than Denali, the tallest mountain in North America and one of the most remote of the Seven Summits. Join this presentation to hear from Will Miner, a trip leader for the Outdoor Program and youngest person to summit and ski Denali solo.

Friday, April 24

34:30 p.m. MDTZoom Explore and celebrate the CU Environmental Center's storied history of environmental advocacy and change through five decades of work by students, staff, facultyand campus and community partners. As we celebrate where we have been, we will also look ahead to our vision for the next 50 years of an even more sustainable campus community. Register here to participate.

Ongoing

Are you a sustainable Buff? You can still earn PIPs remotely and get rewards for your environmental efforts! Redeem your PIPs for rewards like money towards tuition, gift cards and more. Learn more about the PIPs program.

Original post:
10 things to do this week: Earth Day events and more - CU Boulder Today

The current situation of the world is horrifying because of pandemic situation of COVI-19 , and is stressful due to the nature of isolation and unknown.

While everyone must stay at home and since everyone is different in adapting to the new normal, we have heard of spikes in Anxiety,

Many people deal with the anxiety and fear, which is normal in this situation but the problem, is how to overcome anxiety and rise above your fears.

For the ease of mind, a new therapy is introduced called self-help subliminal, in which the person uses the subliminal message to positively influence the listener, while in the same time distracts and shifts his/her thinking toward more positive outcome.

Subliminal audio is recorded using a different frequency then normal audio level, and while positive affirmations can be recorded with music or natural sound, the listener will never be ware of the subliminal affirmations.

Ethically the subliminal producer is obligated to disclose the affirmations before hand.

It just works like hypnosis in a way, without the need of the listener to be with a therapist or to enter in trance.

The subject doesnt need to pay attention to any commands, nor to lie down and relax.

While with hypnosis a person needs to stay put in one place and relax entering in trance with subliminal you can do any other activities while the subliminal plays in background.

Programs are designed by specialized hypnotherapist that understands NLP and the psychology of the human mind.

In this article, we are going to discuss benefits of self-help subliminal products in dealing with anxiety? Lets check out what we will have?

Yes you heard right. It is easy to use; all you have to do is downloading or play the subliminal audio at a normal audio level.

Depending on everyone preference subliminal can be played with music, ocean or in its pure state which is silent (inaudible at the normal volume). Positive affirmations are feeded to your subconscious mind through repetition.

sproo.net is a subliminal website that uses state of art subliminal software and positive NLP message that are motivational and uplifting.

Music used is New Age or Reiki which it proved to be quite relaxing. When music is relaxing, some parts of our brain get lighten up and release endorphin that help with improvement and personal growth of the person. Moreover, it will help you to increase the confidence level.

If you have some stubborn habits and want to remove them, you can use audio subliminal.

There are lots of subject for self help and self improvement and changing bad habits it seems to be easier than ever.

Just plug and play. Take your Mp3 or Cd with you for a drive or a walk around the house or play silent subliminal while watching your favorite show.

Subliminal Programs can be helpful for personality enhancement. Who doesnt want to feel confident, to have charm and boost their self esteem? We all want and yes that is possible with subliminal.

Moreover, the subliminal self-help is a name of self-treatment that you will need for the peace of mind.

However subliminal is not a cure or substitution for medical care. If someone is taking already medication they should continue to take their medication.

People with Epilepsy should avoid at all cost to use any subliminal products. One other thing that subliminal does is synchronize both sides of the brain. People with epilepsy might lack the power of synchronicity.

Like with any products please be cautious. Nothing can be a miracle. Everyone needs to read and research if something is good for them or not.

You can read more about subliminal here:

Why Subliminal and How it Can Help Me

Read the original post:
Benefits of self-help Subliminal in dealing with anxiety - - VENTS Magazine

With the current health crisis many people are adjusting to working from home. For some that means spending much of the day sitting in front of a computer screen. Prolonged time spent in the seated position can leave us with stiff joints, aching backs and strained neck muscles. Many of these negative effects can be overcome by adding some simple stretching techniques into our day.

Neck tension is very common and can be made worse by spending large amounts of time on the computer or the cell phone. One way to reduce neck strain is to take time every hour to check our posture and do some stretches for those tight muscles. To relieve tension, bring your chin to your chest and hold it there for 30 seconds. Practice slowly turning your head to the left and to the right, pausing 10 seconds when you are in line with your shoulder. Bringing your ear to your shoulder is another great way to relieve tight muscles. Please do not pull on your neck just move gently to ease the stiffness.

Another area of the body that is affected by prolonged sitting is the shoulders. Working on a computer affects our posture, our shoulders begin to pull inward and up. A great way to stretch those shoulders while seated is to simply roll them forward and back. If you feel like standing up, you can do some small arm circles. Another shoulder stretch is simply to clasp your hands behind your back and lift slightly.

Lower back pain is an issue that can stem from being seated for too long. There are several stretches for back pain that can even be done in your chair. One simple stretch is to dangle in your chair. Bend forward bringing your arms to the floor and your head near your legs, allow your body to release tension as your back stretches. Another great option is a torso twist, while seated put one arm on the back or side of your chair, and twist toward the side.

In addition to stretching in the chair there are great options for stretching on the floor as well. One option is to lie on your back and bring your knees into your chest.

Also done on the ground is the cat-cow stretch. On your hands and knees arch your back up like a cat and bring it back down flat like a cow. This stretch can be performed 10-20 times.

There are some general guidelines to consider when starting to stretch. Stretches should be held anywhere from 15-30 seconds and repeated 2 to 4 times. Remember there is a big difference between discomfort and pain. You should only stretch to a point where you feel mild tightness, never maintain a stretch where you feel extreme pain or shooting pain. Stretching can be a great tool to help you release muscle tension, tightness and stress. Keep Moving Maquoketa!

Read the original:
SELF CARE: Working from home? Glued to your computer? Simple stretching can help aching backs and sore necks - bellevueheraldleader.com

Brands and influencers want to sell products to homebound customers, but doing so requires being sensitive to the reality of the pandemic.

As the coronavirus pandemic moved across the United States, the stock market plunged and many of the countrys businesses closed, a major platform for social media influencers had a rosier message: Good news in consumer shopping trends!

RewardStyle, which connects retail brands with thousands of Instagram personalities and bloggers, told influencers in an email on March 30 that orders through its app, LikeToKnow.It, had surged. It encouraged users, who earn commissions on products they help sell, to keep posting to capture this demand while using a softer approach to drive shopping.

We recommend that for every 5 posts, you make 2 posts relatable about life at home and 3 posts about shopping, the company said in the email, which a recipient shared with The New York Times. This approach creates a softer sell in your feed while continuing to provide guidance to your followers during this time. RewardStyle also provided an image that said Staying In is So In, that could help give context and balance to shopping posts. People stuck at home could be a good thing, a company representative wrote, adding, Nothing like a little retail therapy to help pass the hours.

The messages were jarring to influencers uneasy about promoting new fashions in the midst of a public health crisis that was crushing the economy. But they provided a glimpse into how desperate retailers and marketers are tailoring their sales pitches for newly homebound consumers, who are fluctuating between panic and ennui while scrolling through their Facebook and Instagram feeds. Retail sales plummeted 8.7 percent in March, the largest decline since the data started being tracked three decades ago. With online business now crucial for many brands whose futures are threatened by store closings, the sell itself has become a delicate dance.

People are more anxious, theyre on high alert, theyre under a lot of stress and theres a lot of bad news theyre consuming and experiencing, said Mae Karwowski, chief executive of Obviously, an influencer agency that has been adjusting the tone and messaging of campaigns. We want to make sure brands arent attached to those really negative things that are happening while still acknowledging that were all communally going through this.

Apparel chains have whipped up ads with references to indoor living, social distancing and videoconference calls. Loungewear has become de rigueur. Even Brooks Brothers yes, Brooks Brothers has advertised its work-at-home styles.

Keep your hands to yourself and get denim delivered, Gap said in an ad that showed a persons hands in their back pockets. Joie advertised a cozy meets chic sweatsuit, a month after promoting $250 floral tops.

A tip for tomorrow mornings 9 a.m. videoconference call: Doubled-up headbands make bedhead look beautiful, Anthropologie proclaimed in a recent Instagram post. The brand Lively gamely promoted its perfect work-from-home bra, even as the necessity of such garments has been questioned in a quarantined world. The subject line of a recent email from Reformation simply read: WHAT DAY IS IT.

Brands are aware that people are glued to their phones and they are desperate to engage. Every Instagram Story frame going up, were seeing an increase of 30 percent more viewers than we normally would thats such an aggressive increase, said Vickie Segar, founder of Village Marketing, an influencer agency.

But they are trying to proceed carefully, with messages of optimism and self-care and varying levels of references to the grim state of the world.

Some companies have barred any mention of the coronavirus or Covid-19 in influencer posts, even if the ads are about staying at home or taking care of family. Ms. Karwowskis agency, Obviously, has recommended that influencers working at home should portray products in everyday clothing and that images should feel bright and cheerful. It advised against advertising from bed or in pajamas.

Being in bed can work if youre talking about self-care and taking care of yourself, but not Havent left my bed in days send help, Ms. Karwowski said. One thing to ask yourself if you are a creator: How is this going to make my audience feel, what emotions will it bring out in them?

The idea, she said, is to aim for positivity and calmness rather than stress or anxiety.

Ulta Beauty, the cosmetics chain with 1,200 stores that are currently closed, introduced a new ad campaign with Obviously this month called See Beautiful Today. It was based on the idea that no matter how dark the world seems, people seek moments of beauty to help get through difficult times, a representative said. A group of influencers will create quarantine content for Ulta this month, like how-to hair tutorials and do-it-yourself nail care as part of its broader focus on self-care and joy.

This type of messaging represents a much softer sell and acknowledges todays reality, Ms. Karwowski said. Its more of a conversation.

Influencers are also changing how they sell products based on their personal challenges. Jacqueline Granquist, a 31-year-old part-time influencer in San Diego who has worked with brands like Joie and Hobo bags, said that she had been posting more about her own struggles and encouragement for others even as she promotes fashion items. Ms. Granquist recently lost her waitressing job because the restaurant closed, and she said others are facing similar issues and may not want to shop.

Even Im in a situation where I shouldnt be spending money and here I am trying to sell products, Ms. Granquist said. It is a different world and a weird way to sell and so I think thats why Im posting more messages saying, its OK to not be OK, or that I had an off day today, and trying to humanize it a bit. Its not just, Buy these shoes.

She added, I dont think I normally would have posted that kind of stuff prior to all this.

Amber Venz Box, co-founder and president of RewardStyle, said that the email her company sent last month came after some influencers had briefly stopped posting and others shared group pictures that showed they werent adjusting to the new reality. She said she wanted influencers to feel empowered to post and to be tasteful in their approach.

Brands are struggling for authenticity in this Covid crisis and influencers provide that in a way that other channels fail to do, she said. We know consumers are seeking escapism that our influencers provide.

Taylor Lorenz contributed reporting.

Read more:
Dont Mention the Virus! And Other Marketing Tips - The New York Times

For me, high school felt like a movie.

As a star linebacker on my high school football team, I was in the newspaper every week. People would stop me on the street to talk with me about a game I had played.

Thirteen Division I schools tried to recruit me before I selected the University of Oregon.

After I graduated from high school, I was ready to take the next stepI thought.

In 2010, I left for the University of Oregon, which was 1,000 miles away from my home in the greater San Bernardino area. My life did not keep going the way it always had. I struggled to connect with people.

Subscribe to Men's Health

SHOP NOW

We were all from different backgrounds and cultures from all over the U.S., but because we were so different, I found myself feeling judged or misunderstoodwhich caused me to shell up and suppress my emotions.

And that was the biggest contributor to depression. Growing up I was always expressive and not afraid to be vulnerable or share my emotions, and that was widely accepted in my hometown. But when I went to college, I quickly realized I was in a different environment.

Things escalated when I was forced to redshirt and to sit out my freshmen year. I was 18-years-old, two months out of high school, playing a game with grown men. I wasn't the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest person on the field. Which was a hard concept for me to accept, but I was forced to redshirt until I was prepared and trusted on the field.

I was devastated. I went from being a happy-go-lucky teenager, to being a depressed college student within three months.

As my emotion struggles built up, I started having thoughts of self-harm. As a subconscious cry for help, I even shaved my entire head bald.

Thankfully, someone from my team's football staff noticed my behavior and reached out. It was the first time anyone asked how I was feeling or asked if I was struggling during college. That conversation may have saved my life.

I started seeing a therapist, where I was diagnosed with severe depression. Therapy helped power me through the rest of my freshman year.

First, I learned to control what I could control. Sometimes certain situations are out of my control, but it's up to me to live in the present moment, and only focus on the things I can influence. Although I redshirted my freshman year, which was out of my control, I focused on my training and preparation. That's the only thing I could control, and I had to have faith that everything would play out for the best.

Second, I learned self awareness. I learned to be conscious of my thoughts, feelings, and actions. I was able to gain an understanding of how my thoughts, feelings, and actions affect those around me. All in all, self-awareness turned into self-love, which turned into empathy and compassion for others.

Over the next few years life turned around for me. Even though I suffered some significant injuriesbusting both my right and left shoulder within two months in 2013it was from getting more playing time, and I eventually became team captain.

After graduating college, I became an unrestricted free agent for the Atlanta Falcons after the 2015 draft.

I had achieved a goal I'd set at 15-years-old to play football in the NFL.

Although I was picked up by the Falcons in May, he was released in June after failing a physical. It turned out that the injuries I'd sustained during college were worse than I'd realized.

After I got released, I went back to Oregon, got an MRI, and found out I played with a fractured shoulder socket for about a year and didnt know.

Just days after my 23rd birthday and my third shoulder surgery, a doctor recommended that I stop playing football. This was during very difficult break up with his long-time girlfriend. I didn't have a job. I didn't have a home.

For months I slept on any couch I could find. To survive, I had to sell the majority of my college jerseys. My depression was at an all-time high and I had no answers on how to overcome it.

On August 24th, 2015, I wrote a blog post called Depression, I Struggle Too. It was the first time I publicly shared his mental health struggles.

Its when I realized what my purpose was.

Thats when I started changing every aspect of his life. I listened to self-help audiobooks, like The Power of Vulnerability by Bren Brown. I was afraid of how that stigma of being vulnerable would bleed into my life, but through that book, I realized that vulnerability will change the world.

The Power of Vulnerability

BUY IT NOW

I also started meditating, using the app Headspace to clear my mind. And while I had physically therapy twice a week, hed also go to the gym to focus on my lower body and my shoulders' range of motion.

After four to six months, I started seeing a difference in myself. I used all that I'd gone through to start putting my new purpose to work.

One of those ways was collaborating with the University of Oregon. I created a mental health video that they show to each of the incoming freshmen athletes.

Most recently, I was asked to be part of Gillettes new campaign, #TheBestMenCanBe, as well a project w/ NBC Sports called On the Other Side.

I also started a podcast, Normally Unstable, where I share stories of vulnerability.

Fifteen-year-old Malone assumed that playing football was the be-all-and-end-all. But now, at 27, I sees that its all the life lessons I've endured through the years that happen for a reason.

Link:
Derrick Malone, Jr., Went from Homeless to Helping Others - Men's Health

Women from self-help groups are earning over Rs 500 per day each by making masks in the state at the rate of Rs 3.5 per mask, said Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday.This comes in the backdrop of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddys directives to provide them employment to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.

The masks being manufactured by women are being distributed in the Red Zones and will soon cater to the needs of others also. The womens groups have prepared 7.28 lakh masks till date, said Chief Ministers Office in a statement.

They plan to increase the output to 30 lakh per day in four to five daysThe statement said the CM personally supervised and formally launched the manufacture of masks at his residence today.

Nearly 40,000 lady tailors from among the self-help groups have been selected and the work of making masks has been taken up on a war-footing. The details regarding the same are being uploaded to realtime data, it added.

The initiative is part of the Chief Ministers decision to supply 16 crore masks in the state, with three masks per head, for curbing the spread of the virus.

Read this article:
Women Self Help Groups at the forefront to provide handmade masks in Andhra Pradesh - TheDispatch