The Air, our wellbeing!

Ulrich KoepfFebruary 12, 2021

The air is clean!? 

Not just, but especially due to the Covid Pandemic, many people deal with the indoor climate, but what does that actually mean if you take the phrase about clean air literally !? Fresh air is free of disturbing particles and substances?  The air that we breathe outside is constantly in motion and very quickly mixes, however,  less so in closed rooms where the pollutants and viruses can concentrate and stay more easily. In fresh air, they are quickly distributed into the atmosphere. Also, exhaled Carbon dioxide can be problematic. Up to 1000 parts per millions in the room-air is okay.  If two people in a small room sleep with tightly closed, sealed windows, it could reach up to 2000 parts per million after one night, consequences the day after are headaches, fatigue, and reduced ability to concentrate.

People often do not even notice or know when to ventilate

The best way is to exchange the air three times throughout the day by ventilating, especially in view of the coronavirus, air filters in the room are not a substitute for airing the rooms. If a healthy indoor climate is the objective, you cannot pay attention only to the concentration of carbon dioxide and vapors, but also to the humidity and temperature. Air that is too dry can dry out the mucous membranes and so the body has a harder time to reject and remove the dust particles you inhale.

As a result, it is easier for pathogens to penetrate the body and you may catch a cold more quickly. A bowl of water near your heating unit or on top of the radiator, or room-plants should help to ensure good air in the room.

If you have problems with air too dry, you should consider buying a good room air humidifier. The humidity should not be too high. If moist room air condenses on cold walls, mold may easily develop. 

Especially for allergy sufferers, asthmatics, or people with other lung diseases, mold spores in the air can be a real problem

Regards Ulrich Koepf

Four Pandemic Dilemmas

Ulrich KoepfFebruary 14, 2021

How to handle tension, stress, boredom, and loneliness during lockdown

😚Most people, most likely had or still do, deal with one of the above issues during the past 13 months. Let’s look at some of the things we can do in order to eliminate or at least decrease some of these problems.

✏️Why don’t you become creative, by drawing, painting, composing, or crafting, that is something you always wanted to do, right? but never had the time to it, no that time is here!

🍵Structure and plan your everyday

life (getting up, showering, getting dressed, having breakfast, starting to work …) or adapt to the new situation (for example because of home office). Rituals help because they are firmly anchored, reduce stress, and provide security against loss of control. Even small rituals such as preparing a cup of tea or taking a bath reduce the stress level noticeably. 

💏Plan and look forward to a little highlight for the day, for example watching a nice film in the evening, trying out a new recipe, taking a relaxing bath, or cuddling with your partner. 

🏃🏽‍♀️Don’t ponder

too much about the crisis, it is poison for the soul and usually does not lead to anything. Breathing gymnastics, autogenic training, mediation, praying, or using the app and youtube to do relaxation exercises. 

📞Maintain social contacts via chat, telephone, video, or with distance and mask in the fresh air over the garden fence or on the street.

👍Do not only complain

about the negative things of the crisis or losses, but also talk about positive things. 

🛠Make plans for the time after the pandemic instead of remaining hopeless: a vacation, a new professional perspective, or volunteer work – or a new project in your apartment or around the house. 

🏋🏾‍♀️Do some exercise,

go for a walk in the fresh air, work in the garden, play sports. All of this and the green nature relieve a lot of stress, daylight also helps the psyche and stimulates vitamin D production against the winter blues. 

🤨Do not suppress the crisis,

but accept the difficult situation as it is. Then it is easy for you to accept inadequacies and do something about them, rather than seeing yourself as a failure. 

📺Reduce your news consumption

to 1 or 2 times a day and focus on sources that do not spread panic and false facts. 

💝If you help others to cope with the crisisas far as you can, you will receive support too. At the end of the day, this makes you proud of having achieved something and lets you feel that there is something worthwhile in your life.