Coping With Cabin Fever
Feelings of cabin fever during the current movement control order (MCO) is understandable. There are days when it gets the best of us and it can be draining. We know its hard to be cooped up for so long but remember the greater good out of doing so. You're well and you're safe. Before we uncover the tips on how to overcome it, what exactly is cabin fever to begin with?
In popular expressions, cabin fever is used to explain feelings of boredom because you've been stuck indoors for a few hours or even days - but that isn't in the reality of it all. Instead, it is a series of negative emotions and distressing emotions one may face if they're in self-isolation or feel that they may have been cut off from the world. Such feelings are more likely in times of social distancing and quarantining during a pandemic and can be difficult to manage without proper coping techniques. Here are some tips on how to do so:-
1. Give yourself a routine
You may not have a 9-to-5 job to report to while you're isolated but a lack of routine can disrupt your eating and sleeping patterns. To create a sense of structure, try to create a routine which consists of work or house chores, meals, workout time and time to relax.
2. Maintain a social life
Okay - you can't go out for dinner or meet your friends but then, "meet ups" are still possible - in a different way. Make use of video calls via FaceTime, Zoom or even Skype to chat with your friends, colleagues and even loved ones. Face-to-face chat time will brighten your day.
3. Exercise
Research has shown that people who exercise regularly are less prone to anxiety than people who do not. That's because your stress hormones are lowered when you do so. At the same time, exercise causes your brain to release endorphins - boosting your mood and overall feeling of well-being.
4. Carve out some "me time"
If you live with others, feelings of cabin fever may be intensified due to the closeness of other people. Parents have responsibilities to children; partners have responsibilities to one another. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have time on your own. Give yourself time "away" from others to unwind.
The Year 2021 and the Chinese New Year Celebration
The Chinese New Year celebration which falls on February 12th this year is the most important celebration for Chinese people globally. It is also known as the Lunar New Year as it based on the lunar calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar that we are all familiar with.
According to Chinese astrology, the year 2021 is the year of the ox. The celebration begins with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon, fifteen days later. The fifteenth day of Chinese New Year is known as the Lantern Festival or Chap Goh Mei. The celebration usually rejoices in the reunion of families near and far - let's not forget the delicious spread of food during the reunion dinner!
However, the celebration may not be the same this year due to the pandemic. Despite the circumstances, let this be an opportunity to spend time with your loved ones within the comfort of your own home. To welcome the coming lunar new year, let's take a moment to learn more about the legends that surround the celebration and the celebration itself.
The Legend of Nian
A variety of legends have surfaced over the years to explain the origin of this celebration. However, many agree that the word Nian, which means “year” in Chinese, was originally the name of a ferocious beast that preyed on people on the eve of new year.
To scare Nian away, the people pasted red paper decorations on windows and doors and set off firecrackers as Nian was afraid of the colour red, fire and loud noises.
Therefore, at the end of every year, they repeat these rituals and they have been carried on from generation to generation.
Legend also has it that the ancient Chinese asked a lion for help. The lion wounded Nian, but it returned a year later to scare the people. This time, the lion couldn’t help as it was guarding the emperor’s gate.
So, the people used bamboo and cloth to create an image of the lion. Two men crawled inside, pranced and roared and frightened Nian away. This explains the Lion Dance, one of the most impressive sights during the Chinese New Year celebration.
Chinese New Year in Malaysia
Preparations begin about a month before Chinese New Year. The Chinese community shop for decorations, food and drinks, new clothing, groceries and tidbits then. Festive songs are heard in shopping complexes and there are many seasonal sales and promotions.
It is customary to spring clean the house before the celebrations to sweep away any trace of bad luck and make way for good luck and fortune. Some families even renovate their houses or give them a new coat of paint. After that, the houses are decorated with paper scrolls and couplets inscribed with blessings and auspicious words like happiness, longevity, and wealth.
Long before the eve of Chinese New Year, people who live away from their families will begin to prepare for their journey home. No matter how tiring the journey may be, it is expected for family members to gather around the table for their Chinese New Year eve reunion dinner, the most important meal of the year.
On the first day of Chinese New Year, ritual homage is offered to ancestors and reverence is paid to the gods. The oldest and most senior members of the family are visited; these visits serve to strengthen family ties. In return, they receive an ang pow, a red packet containing cash which is given by married couples to children and those who are single.
The seventh day of Chinese New Year is known as “birthday of mankind”. On this day, the Chinese will eat yee sang, a combination of raw fish, pickled ginger, shredded vegetables, lime and various sauces. This meal is supposed to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who eat it.
On the eighth day, the Hokkien-speaking community enjoy another family reunion. At midnight, they pray to Tee Kong, the God of Heaven. On the ninth day, numerous offerings are set out in the forecourt or central courtyard of temples to celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor. The fifteenth day is Chap Goh Mei, marking the end of the Chinese New Year’s celebration.
During Chinese New Year day and several days that follow, many Chinese families often hold open houses. This is the time when relatives and friends, regardless of their race and religion, will visit one another, exchanging good wishes and gifts such as tangerines and other traditional New Year delicacies.
Although the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year vary across the world, the spirit of the celebration is similar: to have peace, good health, happiness and prosperity.
Fun Facts (Chinese New Year edition)
Fun Fact #1
Did you know that The date for Chinese New Year changes each year. It always falls between January 21 and February 20 and is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it falls on Friday, February 12th.
Fun Fact #2
Superstitions.. Taboos.. During the Chinese New Year period, washing your hair or clothes is not allowed on the first day of the lunar year because it is seen as "washing one's fortune away" at the beginning of the year.
Sweeping the house and taking out the garbage symbolise removing the good luck from the house so people don't do that either.
Fun Fact #3
Every Chinese New Year is the beginning of a new Chinese animal zodiac year. The are 12 Chinese zodiac animals namely; rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. This year is the year of the ox.
Fun Fact #4
Did you now that there's a superstition surrounding gifting pears during Chinese New Year? Pears are considered taboo because the word for pears is very similar to the word for parting or leaving in Chinese and so can be seen as a gift referring to saying goodbye.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Malaysian Workforce
The latest study by IPSOS Malaysia revealed that Malaysia has more people working from home than the global average. More than 1/3 of Malaysians had to take leave of absence and either reduce or increase their number of hours since the outbreak. 17% of Malaysians claim to have left or lost their job. The study was conducted among a total of 12,823 employed online adults aged 16-74 across 28 countries.
According to Arun Menon, Managing Director of IPSOS Malaysia, as Malaysia settles into another movement control order (MCO), 2/3 of Malaysians are claiming to be working from home. "Even after 9 months of working from home, a majority still struggle to cope with the balance of work life, inadequacy of home setup, and severe loneliness/isolation," he adds.
What are the factors that have impacted Malaysian employees in comparison to their global peers? Arun stated three: anxiety related to job security, family pressure and stress due to change in routine.
Has curiosity piqued your interest? Read on further here: https://malaysianwaw.wixsite.com/mwaw/post/the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-the-malaysian-workforce
How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks
The rise of phishing attacks of late have been rather concerning.
Just a few days ago, a twitter user, @trinatriangle sought out to her account to share her story of how she got scammed RM15,000 when she received a call from someone who claimed to be from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN).
Bearing in mind the importance of online safety here's a guideline by the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia (MCMC) on how you can protect yourself from such incidences.
1. Avoid providing personal information by responding to an unsolicited request. Whether the request is via email or phone, do not reveal any personal information if you don't know who the sender or caller is. No matter how convincing it may be, always be mindful that it may be a fraud.
2. If you are convinced that the contact is legitimate, initiate your own communication with the institution or agency's official contact to find out. Official contact details; hotline numbers, emails and direct numbers can be found on their official website. For financial institutions, it can be found on your monthly statements.
3. Never provide your password over unsolicited and unverified communication channels. No institution or agency will ask you to verify your information online. If at all there is a problem, you will be contacted to come over personally by the institution or agency to rectify the problem.
Should you fall victim to phishing attacks, you can lodge a report to MCMC via email to nsc@mcmc.gov.my or aduanskmm@mcmc.gov.my
Family Budgeting in Times of Financial Stress
Millions of people are undergoing financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can bring about feelings of anger, exhaustion and distractions.
As parents, it may add on to your stress when your children asks you for something. Worry not, for there's always a solution. First step: Include your children in your family budgeting.
1. What do we spend on now?
Get a paper and pen; draw pictures of all the things that you and your family spend on a monthly basis.
Write the cost beside each picture drawn.
Add up how much money you have each month to spend on.
2. Talk about needs and wants
Needs: What are the things that are important for the survival of your family? (ie: food, soap to wash your hands, needs for ill or disabled family members)
Wants: What are the things that are nice to have but are not important?
Discuss with your children on what are the things you could spend less on as a family.
3. Build your own budget
Fill a bag with stones, marbles or buttons. This will serve as your money for the month.
Decide as a family on what will you spend on.
Place the stones, buttons or marbles on the pictures that were drawn earlier.
If you can save a little amount of money for the future or even for an emergency - it's great!
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