Data Recovery Expert: How To Celebrate A Holiday In Lockdown

Irvine, CA-based Hard Drive Recovery Group (HDRG) is encouraging their community to avoid being disheartened by the fact that they have had to spend several holidays this year indoors. While the situation is regrettable, and more holidays are expected to face the same fate before the year is out, the company asserts that several steps can be taken to get into the holiday spirit.

The company points to an article they published back in July, shortly after the 4th of July, Independence Day. In it, they describe certain scenarios that are now taking place almost exactly as predicted, including the need to remain indoors during other holidays this year. However, this in turn means that the pointers they offered in this article are still valid to this day — and will be for some time to come. As such, HDRG is encouraging their community to check out the article once more and explore what they can do to stave off the holiday gloom.

In ‘Lessons From Celebrating A Holiday In A Lockdown,’ the company says, “So, how was your 4th of July? Did you celebrate our nation’s independence day with such fun and revelry as you used to. I bet $100 you did not. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. July 4, 2020 will be marked in history as an Independence Day that Americans celebrated indoors. Did that sound sad? Yes, it is.”

Independence Day arrives around the midway point of each year, and the vast majority of Americans view it as one of their most celebratory holidays, with the end of year celebrations possibly being the only possible contender. The thought of going even a single year without spending this holiday outdoors in as extravagant a fashion as one is able may not have even occurred to anyone prior to 2020, and HDRG is certain that just as many people were bitterly hoping the pandemic would cease in time to celebrate it. However, this did not come to pass, and it now appears that several other holidays will be spent in much the same way.

Despite this bleak outlook, the company states that all is not lost, and there are still ways to enjoy the holidays and sustain a festive spirit. In fact, the team at HDRG believes that finding ways to experience joy during a crisis is incredibly important for everyone’s mental health, and few crises have been as daunting as the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why they are reaching out to support their community in these times of need.

As the article states, “there might still be some more holidays to come with everyone still in the comforts of their home while the threat of coronavirus still rages outdoors.” It adds, “So, with that in mind, let us remember the lessons we learned in what was possibly the weirdest holiday we experienced in our lifetimes.”

One of the cornerstones of modern Independence Day celebrations is fireworks. While this past Independence Day did indeed see communities enjoying firework displays, they were somewhat less enjoyable due to the fact no one could gather in large groups at an open location for the best view. Instead, the best many were able to do was enjoy nearby fireworks from their backyard. HDRG points out that this presents an opportunity for people to bring out their creative side and capture the fireworks as creatively as possible in photographs.

To this end, amateur photographers should keep in mind that fireworks usually accompany New Year’s celebrations as well. If they missed a chance to practice their photography in July, they now have some time to get ready before December 31st arrives.

HDRG has one more tip for those missing their holiday fun, so all are invited to check out the full blog post on their website to learn more. The website offers additional details on their services as well, including the various types of damaged systems they can recover data from and so on. Similarly, interested parties may reach out to Maureen Davies of Hard Drive Recovery Group to follow up on any further inquiries.

from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Data Recovery Services Expert Discusses The World Around The Pandemic

Irvine, CA-based Hard Drive Recovery Group (HDRG) recently published a blog post titled ‘A Changed World After The COVID19 Crisis,’ discussing how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of people around the world and what the lockdowns imposed by global governments mean for companies and their data. The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented event, and the ramifications are likely to be felt for years to come. Financial institutions predict that the world economy will face the worst depression since the Second World War, and with no end to the crisis in sight, the looming financial crisis is likely to be worse than most people may have imagined.

“So many people are still being tested positive for the virus, and there seems to be no end in sight as the possibilities for a cure and a vaccine are still months, if not years away,” says the blog post. “The government can only hold their lockdowns as long as they can. China has already lifted its lockdown on Wuhan, believed to be the epicenter and origin of the virus, while reporting that its national economy will be contracting for the first time since the 1980s. Other “early adopter” countries like Japan and South Korea still demand their people maintain social distancing and prohibit public assemblies but have already allowed people to go back to work.”

With everyone being forced to stay home, digital and electronic companies will most likely benefit the most from the crisis. A number of companies, particularly those in industries like tourism, transportation and hospitality, cannot operate properly due to the fact that their customers are all stuck indoors and cannot work remotely. Companies that provide the equipment and software that people are using to work from home, however, are making a lot more money than they did before the crisis. Businesses whose services and goods that do not require or actually discourage social interaction are either unaffected or seeing record numbers in terms of growth. The pandemic has shown many individuals and businesses that working from home is not only possible but also convenient, and many will continue to work from home even after the crisis is over. Businesses that are prospering now are likely to continue prospering long after COVID-19 becomes a distant memory.

In their blog post, Hard Drive Recovery Group explores how working from home is likely to become the norm, not the exception. “Employees have for weeks, experienced a change in their style of work as they have been spared of having to dress up and commute to their offices,” says the blog post. “Many have found this practice favorable for them, and even once the crisis ebbs, it will be difficult for companies to not allow their employees to continue working from home, as they may not be able to afford overhead expenses (office rent, utilities, operating expenses) anew. Moreover, travel restrictions will be stricter, so companies may indeed encourage employees to stay at home and still be productive members of the company.”

International cooperation is likely to see significant changes. At the moment, countries are isolating themselves from each other by closing their borders and discouraging foreign visitors from entering their countries. Once the crisis is over, however, countries are likely to develop new best practices regarding how to monitor and report crises and coordinate responses. Due to the failure of many countries around the world to prepare adequately for crises like the one the world is currently facing, many lives have been lost. As a result, countries around the world will be looking into how best to respond to pandemics in future.

Hard Drive Recovery Group offers data retrieval services aimed at helping people recover data that they may have lost for any of a variety of reasons. The company has been offering professional recovery services for over 20 years. With many people working from home due to COVID-19, the likelihood of losing data is higher than ever before, and the services of companies like Hard Drive Recovery Group are in very high demand. For more information, visit the company’s website or contact Maureen Davies of Hard Drive Recovery Group.

from Hard Drive Recovery Group

How Do You Sleep?

So 2020 is just giving us one blow after another. There’s the COVID-19 pandemic that has had large segments of the world population on lockdown, which has led to most of us to work from home for fear that we can get the virus. Then, civil unrest ensued as those demanding for racial equality took to the streets despite lockdown orders, only to be compounded by those who are protesting the strict lockdown measures such as the closing of businesses and wearing of face masks when in public. One thing is for sure, though: All these developments have surely done a number on our mental well-being.

Because most of us have been stuck in our houses, all sorts of activities have been confined in the various parts of our residences. Meals can be taken anywhere without set times, kitchen counters have become a common site for video conferences, and watching TV shows have transferred from the living room to the bed, just so that we can squeeze one more episode of The Crown or Money Heist. And yes, for most of us dedicated to working, our reviews of office documents go beyond 5 o’clock. With anxiety, uncertainty, and fear of the state of our health and future, we have become a world of unrest.

Sleeping habits have been compromised for most of us because we want to make sure we don’t slack off at work, we want to be constantly updated of friends and family we haven’t seen in months by checking on social media accounts every 10 minutes, and we want to keep some normalcy in our lives by still being updated on our favorite TV shows. All of these in exchange for not having enough sleep. With that, it is hoped that we realize that there is a problem and that it should something that we need to act on because rest and sleep are quite important to both our physical and mental health.

The study

The pandemic has forced everyone into lockdown, so most of us may have shared experiences about working from home. A majority of us find it difficult to stick to a routine because once we are about to get into the groove of a habit, something happens that throws us off. Then, we develop into bad habits like sitting and staring into our laptop for hours and disrupt our sleeping patterns.  No wonder recent studies reveal that since the pandemic, the world has failed on getting enough sleep.

Nearly 66% of participants blur the boundaries between work and life, while 55% find it difficult to switch off.

(Via: https://sleepstandards.com/work-from-home-and-sleep-patterns/)

Are you ready to be consistent?

It goes without saying that getting enough sleep has positive effects on our health. But with everything going on in the world, there are just too many distractions that hinder us from getting it. Moreover, good sleep can only be achieved when people commit and develop a habit out of it. Thus, we need to be consistent with our habits so that sleeping will come to us naturally. According to celebrated author Malcolm Gladwell, it takes 21 days to form a habit. James Clear counters with 66 days. The question is, are you ready to invest anywhere from 21 to 66 days of consistently sleeping at the same time, zero distractions in your quest to have enough sleep?

You can help your body establish a defined internal rhythm by keeping bedtimes, wake-up times, meals and exercise on a somewhat consistent schedule. Danforth pointed out that each of these activities sends signals to the brain, which regulates the body’s internal clock and can cue the release of melatonin, a hormone that can relax the body and help you get to sleep.

(Via: https://today.duke.edu/2020/07/3-ways-improve-your-sleep-during-covid-19)

 Keep work and sleep separately 

As mentioned earlier, it has become a norm for most of us to bring work even in bed. Whether it is to check some documents before getting our z’s or being in the comforts of bed for a late-night video conference, we seem to have converted our beds into an extended workstation. Moreover, because we bring our work to bed, the blue light emitted from our gadgets can further delay sleep. Thus, we need to make an effort to keep work out of the bedroom. Your bed should only be for sleeping, all other activities such as eating, social media checking, and especially working, must not be permitted.

When it comes to one’s bedroom to ensure a good night’s rest, Mrs Lythgoe advised: “Ensure your bedroom is the perfect place to get a good night’s kip.

“Firstly, be sure to avoid working in your bedroom if you are working remotely during lockdown.

“Associating your bedroom with a workplace may stop you from ‘winding down’ when you do want to go to sleep on an evening."

(Via: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1322177/how-to-sleep-routine-environment-napping-stimulants-food)

Make tech work for you

If you are still having difficulty sleeping, why not use apps that encourage meditation and rest? Instead of checking your social media accounts before going to sleep, tap on that mediation or white noise app that should lull you to sleep.

Sleep apps can be useful tools if you’re struggling to put some good sleep habits into practice, whether you need to overhaul your sleep hygiene completely or just keep a closer eye on it. Below, find the best sleep apps to help you build good habits, wind down at night, track your z’s, and wake up feeling refreshed.

(Via: https://www.self.com/story/sleep-apps)

 

Now, if you have been losing sleep over missing files and documents on your computer, let us help you get back on track. Read on https://www.harddriverecovery.org/hard-drive-recovery.html to know how to take advantage of our expertise. Get in touch with us, get back your missing files and sleep better!

How Do You Sleep? is available on http://www.harddriverecovery.org

source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/how-do-you-sleep/