The Joys of Journaling!
Have you ever kept a journal? Maybe you kept a diary when you were younger, but you’ve long since stopped recording your daily thoughts. Even if you’ve never considered yourself a “writer”, it could be a great time to start journaling.
Why? There are benefits to both your mental and physical health. And especially now, with COVID-19, we can help ourselves with self-reflection, and understanding the unique journeys we are all taking. The following websites may help you get started.
Journaling to Cope with the Covid Pandemic – Connecticut College
Writing to Heal – American Psychological Association
Can Journaling Improve your Mental Health – The Doctor Weighs In
4 Ways to Write a Journal Entry – Wiki How
Victoria Day during COVID
For many of us, family gatherings are an important part of celebrating Victoria Day. But even if you can’t be with friends and family to celebrate this year, there are ways to connect.
Here are some suggestions from the website dailycaring.com
- Attend a virtual concert or show together – many musicians & orchestras are making shows available online for free.
- Tour a museum, virtually
- Read a book together – either in person or by phone or other device, read aloud to each other
Gardening in May
May is traditionally the month when we start to seriously “dig in” for gardening. Of course, this is a unique year for gardening, so check with your local garden centre about how to get the supplies you may need. If gardening space is limited, you can still flex your green thumb. Here’s some advice on creating flower boxes on balconies, decks and terraces from nature-and-garden.com:
- Avoid planting your plants too close together. This could impact how they grow and bloom.
- Wait until mid-May to bring geraniums outdoors to avoid frost
- Consider easy-to-grow herbs such as basil, parsley, dill & chives
Emergency Preparedness Week
May 3-9 marked the 25th year for Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada.
“Emergency Preparedness Week is an opportunity to encourage Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This year, the COVID-19 global pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on Canadians. While governments at all levels are working hard to keep Canada safe; now, more than ever, we understand that we all have a role to play in emergency preparedness. You can help to protect yourself, and others, against COVID-19 by staying informed. We encourage all Canadians visit www.Canada.ca/coronavirus for the latest information on the response to COVID-19 and more tips on how to continue to help prevent the spread.”
Public Safety Canada
You can also find information about Emergency Preparedness Week and advice for London residents by visiting the City of London website:
https://www.london.ca/newsroom/Pages/London-takes-part-in-Emergency-Preparedness-Week.aspx
Follow the link:
https://www.london.ca/residents/Emergency-Information/Emergency-Preparedness/Pages/default.aspx
This will provide information on steps to take such as making an emergency plan for individuals and families, as well as preparing an emergency kit, in order to be self-sufficient for 72 hours.
And Finally…. A Shout-out to Some Local Canine Heroes!
Remember to stay safe and stay healthy, and keep an eye out for our June newsletter which will have lots of exciting updates on NWL!
Sincerely,
The Neighbourhood Watch London Team