Tips for Dealing With Stress When Dealing With the Unknown

 I don't get to post here on Galionite as often as I would like, and when I found myself with a bit of extra time this morning, I thought I would pop in with an update. 

Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay

Since coronavirus kind of makes it feel like life is on hold, and the whole year of 2020 has pretty much been one disaster after another, dealing with stress when dealing with the unknown is the first thing that came to mind as a topic to cover. 

3 Doctor Approved Tips for Dealing With Stress

First I want to share some tips stress relief from Web MD - but with some ideas of my own on how to take of advantage of them here in Galion.

1. Exercise for Stress Relief

One of the great things about small town life in a city like Galion is you can choose from a variety of active things to do. (I guess they're mostly walking-based since I haven't checked in to see if the Community Center is open yet.) 

Good sidewalks in most areas make it easy to walk or jog around town. The parks offer plenty of room to move around in the fresh air. There are also the reservoirs to explore and, of course, the new bike trail.

2. Practice Deep Breathing for Less Stress

Taking a few deep breaths can make you feel calmer, it can also help you reset your thoughts. When you're dealing with uncertainty and don't know what to do, it can help to step away and inhale deeply. Try thinking about something other than whatever stresses you out, and come back to it when you're feeling more at ease.

The parks are a great place to try this if you can get away. if you can't get out, this can be easy as slipping off to the bathroom or even hiding in a dark closet for a few minutes. 

3. Ease Stress by Enjoying a Favorite Hobby

Immersing yourself in a hobby is a pleasant way to escape stress for a bit, and there are places in Galion where you can pick up some hobby and craft supplies. For example, if you enjoy crafting, Dollar Tree crafts are hugely popular and can be a blast to make. 

I've also found supplies for different hobbies at the Goodwill store, though that's a toss up because they have different things every time, and at Drug Mart. 

Gardening for Stress Relief

Gardening is a comforting way to unwind and enjoy a break from the stress of dealing with the unknown. When you relieve stress by gardening, it's also a way to practice earthing, or grounding which can help with a number of ailments, according to some experts.

"According to numerous experts, including some who prepared a report on earthing for the NCBI website, contact with the earth can help with a variety of ailments, including chronic inflammation, wounds that heal slowly, and autoimmune disorders."                                                                                                                                                                     - Quote from Intrinsic Vicissitude

Thanks for visiting Galionite, be sure to stop back soon, and I hope this short post added something positive to your day!

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and the Economy: Updated August 28, 2020

While I would have been okay with being wrong... as I predicted on August 1, 2020 ...

"Already, there are signs of consumer stress from the loss of $600 in extra unemployment aid last month. Those benefits, directed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, provided income worth $1.2 trillion on an annualized basis, according to Oxford Economics. Without that aid, personal income will decline 5%, or below pre-pandemic levels, its economists said last month.  ...   Expect more pain ahead, economists are warning.  ...  "President Donald Trump's executive orders are providing even less relief to households than initially expected in the absence of a more comprehensive fiscal aid package," Oxford Economics Lead Economist Nancy Vanden Houten said in a research note. "The steep decline in federal support for unemployed workers and heightened uncertainty will depress consumer confidence and spending."" - Microsoft News

I enjoy the study of economics and would like to chat a bit about the effect of pandemic unemployment assistance - as well as the likely effect on the economy of both the country - and the local area around Galion and Crawford County - due to it running out yesterday with no resolution. 

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

What Is Pandemic Unemployment Assistance?

To summarize, people receiving unemployment have been receiving an extra $600 per week on top of the existing unemployment benefit each week - which is a minimum of $189 and goes up based on income = or $789 + per week - since the start of the pandemic. 

The program providing this is referred to as pandemic unemployment assistance, or PUA for short.

PUA is an unemployment benefit that's only available during times of emergency, in this case, the coronavirus pandemic. 

Some Boring but Important US Economic Stats

• In the US, over 14.7 million people were unemployed and getting this benefit as of June 2020, according to The Balance. 
• Using the 14.7 million figure and minimum of $189 base, that means over $11,598,300,000 PER WEEK has been dropping into the US economy. 
• Even more significant than the huge amount of cash being distributed is the fact that this amount has been put directly into the hands of the people who are most likely to spend it quickly - and the economy STILL dropped by almost 33-percent. 
• An almost thirty-three percent drop in one quarter is the fastest drop in the history of this country.

Looking at those statistics, my question is: Since the economy is collapsing at a record rate - far beyond even that of the Great Depression, with over $11.5 billion being dumped into it each week: What is going to happen to the economy when the effect of that weekly PUA benefit ending takes over the economy? 

He Said, She Said and Pointing Fingers

The Democrats threw out the first pitch and the Republicans basically said, "Meh... Whatever..." and let the ball drop.

• So, going back a bit to fill in details, the Democratic House put together a proposal - the HEROES Act - over 10 weeks ago (as of August 1, 2020) to keep the PUA benefit going as well as several other vital economic factors, though the Republican Senate refused to consider it at all, saying things like the PUA encouraged people to not work. 

This is a good point about people wanting to make the higher amount of money, even by being off work, however, it misses the most important points: 

• Point One - there's a global pandemic taking lives of people of all ages, leaving a wide swath of devastation, and many, many jobs are simply gone forever, and 
• Point Two - some unemployed people are getting and spending far more money than they normally would, and even increased spending isn't stopping or really even slowing the collapse of the US economy! 

This past week, the Republicans finally grudgingly threw the ball, back to the Democrats. 

So, the Republican's refused to even negotiate for over 10 weeks, until this past week, when they threw a cobbled-together proposal - the HEALS Act - out offering a lower PUA benefit. 

This was new partisan proposal promptly dismissed by the Democratic House as being far too small to help the American people, so the Republicans pointed to the Democrats' unwillingness to accept the relatively insignificant piecemeal plan proposed by the Republicans, suggesting the Democrats are at fault. 

• However, the Republican finger pointing is pointless because they have had over 10 weeks to begin negotiations and refused to even consider how to slow or prevent the collapsing of the economy that was only just barely bolstered by PUA benefits - - up until yesterday.

Using non-partisan thinking and simple logic - the thing is, all of the 'he said, she said' and Republican finger pointing is irrelevant - it's just a distraction from the real problem or problems: 

• Mainly, the economy is collapsing in spite of massive amounts of money being dumped into it and the ending extended PUA benefits are going to bring things quickly to a head.

Bringing the Economic Stats to the Local Area

Using the Ohio numbers to bring in a more local aspect, according to Cleveland.com, Ohio's jobless numbers held steady at 423,452 for the week ending on July 25, 2020. 

• So, going back to the $789 minimum PUA unemployment benefit each person on unemployment received, that amounted to $334,103,628+ per week entering the Ohio economy. 

As of May 2020, the Ohio economy was facing a $777 million shortfall, and that was with the $334,103,628+ per week being dumped into it. In response to the shortfall, Governor DeWine began looking at major budget cuts to programs that benefit the poor and elderly and education. 

• Going back again to pandemic unemployment assistance and the economy, since that's what this essay is about, my projections for the local economy when the PUA benefit is no longer flowing into the economy, are a bit dire just like my nationwide economic predictions. 

Obviously, the extended unemployment benefits can't flow into the economy endlessly, however, the money is a lifeline - not only for the individuals receiving it but also for the economy as a whole, which affects every single person in the state and the country. 

• And, it's a lifeline that's barely keeping the sinking economy afloat, so it technically should remain in force until the pandemic is over, or until the virus is under control - however long that takes.

As someone who enjoys the subject of economics, and who took every economics course available in college while also reading economics books for fun (I still do that) - I'm first to say I have no claim to be an expert on this topic, though I do believe I have a solid understanding of how economics work - both in regard to the soft science of economic theory and the more-concrete topic of economic history.

So, what's the answer? 

I'm not proposing one, though I encourage CIVIL, non-partisan discussion about the topic in the comments here on Galionite or on the Galionite Facebook page. I have no clout in the greater scheme of things, so suggesting a solution would be a waste of energy. I'm just a writer who's managing a small blog about Galion in my spare time.

Thanks for visiting Galionite, feel free to browse around the site and stop back often to see the latest updates.

Galion Ohio Coronavirus Update: July 22, 2020

Today, July 22, 2020, Governor DeWine implemented a statewide requirement to wear a mask in public places starting at 6:00pm on July 23rd. 

This comes after President Trump's announcement yesterday that he believes wearing a mask is the patriotic thing to do (though he mentioned that he probably won't wear one...)

My last coronavirus update about ways to help slow the spread of Covid-19 was on April 3, 2020, so a few months have passed - and what a few months it's been!

The Current Ohio Face Mask Order

According to a news release from ABC6:

"Under the order, masks must be worn at all times when:

• At an indoor location that is not a residence.
• Outdoors, when unable to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
• When waiting for riding, driving, or operating public transportation.

DeWine said the order only requires those 10 and older to wear and mask. The order also includes exceptions for people who do not need to wear a mask:

• Those with a medical condition or disability or those communicating with someone with a disability.
• Those who are actively exercising or playing sports.
• Those who are officiants at religious services.
• Those who are actively involved in public safety.
• Those who are actively eating or drinking."

How Much Can Refusing to Wear a Mask in Public Cost YOU?

The potential fine for not wearing a mask in Ohio is $750. 

While it's currently unknown if the mandate will be enforced locally, it's noteworthy that it creates an easy option for municipalities, such as Galion, to increase revenue - which may be sadly needed due to reductions in income taxes due to Covid-19 shutdowns. 

Face Masks: Dividing the Country?

While the number of coronavirus cases in Galion and surrounding Crawford County, Ohio has remained low when compared to other parts of the state and country, the polarization over the existence of the virus and the topic of wearing a mask to protect yourself and others has been immense. 

Instead of being treated as an opportunity to protect others and our families, it has developed into a mainly Republican vs Democrat issue - with many Republicans declaring Covid-19 a hoax and refusing to wear masks while many Democrats are following the science and wearing a mask to help prevent the spread of a disease that has already killed over 144,000 Americans, as of today. 

The Role of Panic Buying in the Mask Debate

Another part of the divide began in the early days of coronavirus being announced in the US, when people were hoarding toilet paper, food, cleaning supplies, and anything else they could get in the mad rush on the stores. 

In an effort to keep individuals from buying up all the PPE (personal protective equipment), such as face masks, the government announced that face masks wouldn't help prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

Early Indicators That Cloth Facemasks Are Effective Against Covid

One telling sign about the effectiveness of cloth face masks, early on, that cloth face masks are effective in fighting the spread of Covid-19 is the fact that many hospitals and nursing homes were requesting people in the community to make and donate face masks at home.

These medical facilities obviously wouldn't have been requesting homemade face masks if they didn't offer some protection to workers and patients.

Links to Official Information About Covid-19 and Face Masks

The information about the effectiveness of wearing facemasks to stop the spread of disease, for both the wearer and others nearby, was, however, available online through FDA documents the entire time and has been recently updated here.

The CDC has since changed that stance officially to let people know that cloth facemasks do slow and stop the spread of this virus. 

The Galion City Schools are announcing an update about providing face shields, and I wanted to share a link to that information, too. 

Thanks for visiting Galionite today, and I hope you found this Ohio Coronavirus and face mask mandate information helpful. Be sure to visit us on Facebook or bookmark this site so you can easily return for frequent updates about things that are going on in Galion and the surrounding area.