Monday, April 27, 2020

Newsletter April 2020

Managing Stress

If there is a time to discuss stress, it is now!  People throughout the world are scared and worried, we are all in uncharted waters.  COVID-19 has affected all our lives in some way, shape, or form. A large portion of us are working from home; balancing work, proctoring our children’s schoolwork, and keeping our homes a-float.  All of us are getting cabin-fever and are uncertain of what our summer will look like!  If you weren’t stressed before reading this, I bet you are now!  Here are some things we can do to help manage our stress.
·       Stretch:  When we stress, our muscles become tense.  Stretching will loosen these muscles up.  Even taking a hot bath/shower will help.  When businesses open back up, a great massage will help as well.
·       Go for a walk: Fresh air during a walk always helps clear your head.  Enjoy mother nature along the way.
·       Deep Breaths:  This would be great while on your walk as well.  You can also try sitting in a relaxing position, close your eyes, think of a happy place, take a slow deep breath in and out.  Doing this for five to ten minutes will help!
·       Eat Well: Though this is hard when we are on the 15-pound COVID-19 lockdown (that is what it seems like anyway). I am always finding myself munching more when working from home, however, try to eat a healthy well-balanced diet which will help give you more energy and a better mood.  Eating fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grain are best.  Don’t skip breakfast!
·       Make Time for Yourself:  Take a ten to fifteen-minute break and do something you love. Whether it be reading, drawing, knitting, playing with animals (my favorite), etc., doing something that brings a smile to your face will help immensely.
·       Vent:  We were always told as children that holding something that was bothering you in will not make it go away.  This still stands true.  It is always good to have that friend you can call up (or hopefully visit soon) and talk to. Whether it be about your kid’s distant learning challenges, your husband constantly bothering you while you are working from home, work in general, being cooped up at home all the time, or even the fact that Starbucks has the longest drive-thru lines and their lobby is CLOSED (ugh!); just let it out! We are not used to being stuck at home and we need human interaction, so pick up that phone and call someone!
·       You are Human!: Lastly, don’t beat yourself up (easier said than done, I know).  There is a lot going on in our world’s right now that we cannot control.  Things are not going to be perfect; you are not perfect!  It is okay! Take a deep breath, laugh or smile, and move on.  Things will work out.  Don’t sweat the small stuff!



COVID-19 Updates
The IAFE is always here for our fair industry.  Please go to their page www.fairsandexpos.com for updates.  There is also a series of "Let's Talk COID 19" CyberSeminars offered.  We recommend you look into joining some of these seminars to learn what IAFE and other fairs are doing in regards to COVID-19.  These are very informative and extremely helpful.  


Steering Committee
The steering committee consists of twelve people under-40 who are passionate about the fair industry.  They will participate in conference calls, convention planning, recruiting, networking, etc. It is an absolute blast and you will not regret it.  

If you are apart of a fair in an even-numbered zone (zone 2, 4, 6, or 8), it is your year!!  We are also looking for one Associate Member. Please take a look at the following links for more information.  The deadline to apply is May 29, 2020!


Announcements

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