How Are You *Really* Doing?
This is a good time to take a minute and truly ask yourself how you’re feeling, physically and emotionally. It’s important to acknowledge that everyone’s quarantine experience and feelings about it may be different – and that’s ok! It’s not a competition or a comparison. Do what feels right to honor yourself one day at a time.
Ruben Digital is blessed to work with so many clients that are responding to this situation by adapting their business models and contributing to the community. Read our latest blog featuring RD’s “Pandemic Positivity Top 10 List” giving shoutouts to some of our awesome clients!
Sharing Positivity From Our Clients During Quarantine
#1. The Selfhelp Home
The Selfhelp Home is a not-for-profit retirement community in Chicago. They are responsible for the health and safety of a very vulnerable population. While this unprecedented time has been demanding and stressful, they have risen to the challenge! Selfhelp has gone above and beyond to protect both their staff and the residents in many ways.
Unfortunately, they had to cancel their annual Celebrating the Arts fundraiser. “Each spring, we depend on the generosity of our community as we come together to celebrate the Arts. This year we had planned for a luncheon and viewing of 42nd Street on May 31st. With the safety and concern of our entire community in the forefront of our mind, we have decided to cancel this event.”
Please consider donating to The Selfhelp Home to show your support: “Your generous donation is needed more than ever. During this unprecedented time, we are facing lost revenue from this canceled fundraising event, lower revenues due to a hold on incoming residents for the health and safety of our residents and staff, and unanticipated additional expenses for staffing and equipment needs directly associated with COVID-19.”
#2. Impact Dojo
Impact Dojo is unique in that they aren’t a physical dojo. They specialize in bringing all the benefits of a standalone dojo directly to you. Impact Dojo’s customized curriculums ranges from K-12 grade students to guide young people in achieving their full potential with useful life skills!
Due to COVID-19, Chicago Public Schools are closed and Impact Dojo is unable to teach in-person classes. This inspired the transition to now offering their students the access to LIVE online classes so the kids can continue learning and practicing while school is closed. “Each student will have access to a specifically tailored curriculum that will be used as a guide to help them reach their full potential, from the comfort of their own home.”
#3. Intensive Karen
Karen Kopan is a nurse practitioner in the Intensive Care Unit. Not only is she on the frontlines helping save lives during this pandemic, but she also writes a blog Intensive Karen. The goal of this blog is “to bridge the gap that exists between the hospital environment and patients, including their friends and families, and especially in the way we talk about life and death.”
Karen’s blogs provide a source of educational information, as well as emotional comfort. You may enjoy reading two of the blogs she’s written during COVID-19…
Take Five: We think, “They know I love them”, or “I tell them I love them before I hang up the phone”. Do they really know? Have you taken the time to tell them what it is you love about them? As we transition through the ups and downs of these past several weeks, have you thought about the people in your life that mean the most to you?
Tell Them You Love Them: As we grow through the emotional roller coaster that comes with the CoVid Pandemic, I urge you to take five, every day. Five minutes to unplug from the barrage of information and let it go. Pick an action that will allow your brain to let go for five minutes. Here are several suggestions…
#4. IBZ Coaching
Ilene Berns-Zare is a professional coach, educator, and seminar leader, credentialed by the International Coach Federation (ICF). “I love coaching and working with people to help them see their lives in new ways, maximize their strengths, and flourish in their lives and organizations.”
Ilene’s blogs encourage people to tap into their callings, strengths, and potential. You may enjoy reading two of the blogs she’s written during COVID-19…
11 Ideas to Light Your Path in this Season of Your Life: As we navigate the seasons of our lives, we typically have little or no control over life’s weather conditions – the outside events we encounter – but we can choose where we direct our attention and the attitudes we bring to our experiences. Here are 11 ideas to light your path in this season of life…
Resources for Strengthening Resilience and Well-being During Uncertain Times: This pandemic is already causing suffering for many people. At the same time, as difficult as these times are and will be, these challenges can also offer fertile ground for growth and transformation on many levels. How do we navigate these challenges? How can we be resilient and re-energize during this difficult time?
#5. Total Impact Martial Arts
Total Impact Martial Arts offers exciting and innovative programs that will help you reach all of your health, fitness and martial arts goals. They teach martial arts classes for all age groups and levels at their recently renovated Arlington Heights dojo with the motto: “Creating Confident, Strong, and Healthy Students!”
As the pandemic caused Illinois schools and businesses to close, so did Total Impact’s dojo. As a way to work around the inability to teach in-person classes, the dojo decided to create an online portal to offer their students the access to Live Online Martial Arts Classes! “Students gain confidence, build strength, learn focus, and embrace a healthier lifestyle, all from the comfort of their own home!”
#6. North Shore Helpers
Since 2016, North Shore Helpers has hand-delivered gifts and new merchandise to individuals in under-served communities, made possible by your generous donations. North Shore Helpers has spent the last few weeks collecting donations to help the front line staff at various local hospitals. “With the enormous generosity from you, our organization was able to feed over 500 meals to hundreds of hospital workers. Due to the large outpouring from everyone around the area, many hospitals are being well provided with food.
Therefore, North Shore Helpers has decided to transfer our efforts to the charity we have been very involved with: The Primo Center. To date, Primo Center has more than $200,000 of cost exposure through added expenses to keep all of our buildings safe and that number continues to grow. They desperately need basic and essentials items: hygiene products, diapers, wipes, masks, toiletries, and food. North Shore Helpers and the Primo Center are committed to remaining a resource for vulnerable families, now more than ever, and we are asking for donations to help these families in need.”
#7. Tom Len Custom Homes
Tom Len has earned a reputation as the premier custom home builder in Chicago’s North Shore for over 20 years. As a way to give back to the community, Tom has donated delicious lunches to Highland Park Hospital to support the front line workers in our community. Tom’s generosity also supports local restaurants, including Boston Fish Market in Wheeling and Josh’s Hot Dogs in Northbrook!
#8. Computers Nationwide
Computers Nationwide is a trusted Managed Service Provider (MSP) in Illinois and Wisconsin. CN was founded to create and support sophisticated work environments where communications systems provide businesses the infrastructure for success. At Computers Nationwide, it’s their goal to guide businesses through the transition to remote work as seamlessly as possible: “Please give us a call to find out how we can help you thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you stay safe and healthy during this time!” Take a look at a couple blogs your business may find useful…
The Secrets For Success While Working From Home: Has the coronavirus pandemic forced your business to start working remotely? Is your team set up for success while working from home? We’re here for you during this challenging time, full of learning new technologies and embracing the unknown future of the workplace.
How to Keep Your Business Running If Coronavirus Closes the Office Doors: Business owners and employees fear the impact of COVID-19 and what the future may bring. We want to do whatever we can to help keep your business running as smoothly as possible! Here are a few services that will help SMB’s and remote workers thrive…
#9. Groundwork Self Storage
New website alert! Ruben Digital recently helped Groundwork Architects launch their new online interactive Self-Storage project portfolio! Owner and Partner David Wytmar was booked to speak at a massive self-storage conference, however it was cancelled due to COVID-19. We worked with David and his team to create an interactive experience that showcases over 100+ projects.
Within the portfolio are filters and descriptions that make it easy for prospective clients to find an example that best fits their needs. As a former architecture student and current design nerd, Nate says this project “was a blast from start to finish. I learned some cools new web tricks that many of our clients will benefit from, and it is also a great feeling to expand our skillset.”
#10. DMS Sanitation
Protect your customers and staff from the Coronavirus! With decades of experience in the sanitation industry, DMS is professionally equipped to disinfect any facility. “Our professionally trained technicians will methodically treat your location with EPA registered disinfecting products designed to specifically kill dozen of viruses including the Human Coronavirus. Rooms can be re-entered just 10 minutes after decontamination!”
Are you ready to reclaim your facility to make it safe for your employees and the public once again?
Bonus #11. ToffeeBreak Desserts
Robin Fields started Toffee Break Desserts in 1998. After experimenting with making desserts for a party, she discovered her passion for making toffee and gave life to Toffee Break Desserts – her desserts have been a hit ever since! Do you have a sweet tooth during shelter in place? Order a chocolate dipping kit from ToffeeBreak ASAP!
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robin wanted to show support for our community by leading the Blue Ribbon project. “Let’s keep the momentum going and honor our frontline heroes by tying a blue bow on a tree, mailbox, or lamppost. During these uncertain times, one thing is certain: these healthcare, public service, and essential personnel are putting their lives at risk every single day for all of us. Let’s recognize them with this striking symbol of gratitude.”
Quarantine Highlights
Nate: I have been enjoying the extra time to cook and picked up some hot sauce from Heatonist. So far my favorites are “Los Callientes” and “Queen Majesty’s Scotch Bonnet”.
Hannah: I’ve had a lot of fun making the trendy whipped coffee (aka Dalgona coffee) and matcha drinks! Also, we’ve made sure to have fresh flowers in the house every week to bring in some color!
Ynez: We had to do Easter a little differently this year. My youngest daughter Maggie’s first egg hunt was in our backyard, the whole family joined in! I also had a blast making friendship bracelets with my middle child Lucy.
Michelle: Creating healthy gluten-free and dairy free recipes (such as our pizza bread and carrot cake) together brings me great joy and fun during our shelter in place!
The ‘Rona’s affect on our country is devastating. To overcome this difficult time together, it’s important to recognize positive things that are still happening all around us. We love John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” web series where he highlights good news happening every week!
What’s something you’re looking forward to doing once shelter in place and/or social distancing are over?
