Tips to use your social media during the quarantine and don’t suffer from anxiety

During this quarantine, social media has a significant impact, either positive or negative, in your lifestyle. For this reason, it is important to follow some tips to manage the impact and not let them overtake you.

First, control your time. During this quarantine you may spend a lot of time scrolling in social media. You should consider this and don’t let this time spent in scrolling affect your other activities such as home office, online classes, or your family time.

It is recommended to turn off your phone when you are working and don’t need to be in touch with someone.

Second, check who your contacts are and what pages you are following. It is common to follow pages you don’t like or that you don’t even know what they are about. You should consider reviewing them and find out what content is not healthy for you.

Third, it is necessary to select your sources. During the hard times we are going through, the flow of information is excessive and we might receive daily information that is not reliable. It is important to select trustworthy sources so you have up to date and reliable information, which will also be helpful to find out if the information your family and friends are sending you is true.

Fourth, establish information priorities. Don’t let all the flow of information worry you as this can cause instability in your emotional state of mind. Don’t let fake news or excess of information overwhelm you.

Last but not least, consider taking a time out. Due to the overload of information and the increase in the amount of time spent on social media, you might start feeling suffocated. Just remember that it is okay to take a break whenever you feel you need it.

Cheap and easy meals for students

Being a foreign student is not an easy job as everyone might think. We know that it is hard to find time to cook, clean, do grocery shopping, and run all other errands at the same time that you try to make time to study, do projects, homework, and prepare for exams.

Cooking and eating well are the most important things you must take care of; however, it is also one of the things students struggle the most with. That is why we are sharing with you some easy and inexpensive recipes you can cook while studying abroad.

Pork and peanut dragon noodles

Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles - with VIDEO - Budget Bytes

Total cost: $3.75 recipe / $1.25 serving

INGREDIENTS

DRAGON SAUCE

  • 1/4cup chili garlic sauce ($0.53)
  • 1/4cup soy sauce ($0.24)
  • 1/4cup brown sugar ($0.16)

PORK AND NOODLES

  • 1/2 ground pork* ($1.50)
  • 6 ramen noodles ($1.00)
  • 3green onions, sliced ($0.20)
  • 1/4cup unsalted peanuts, chopped ($0.12)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Combine the chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl.
  2. Add the ground pork to a skillet and cook over medium heat until it is fully browned*. Once browned, add the prepared dragon sauce and chopped peanuts. Allow the pork and peanuts to simmer in the sauce for another 5 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced by half.
  3. While the pork is browning, begin boiling water for your noodles. Once boiling, add your noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain the noodles in a colander.
  4. Once the sauce has reduced and the noodles have drained, add the noodles to the skillet and toss until everything is combined and coated in sauce. Top with sliced green onions and serve!

 

Creamy tuna pasta with peas and parmesan

Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas and Parmesan - Budget Bytes

Total Cost: $6.01 recipe / $1.50 serving

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 pasta ($0.67)
  • 2Tbsp butter ($0.26)
  • 2cloves garlic, minced ($0.16)
  • 1cup frozen peas ($0.38)
  • 1cup half and half* ($0.75)
  • 1/2cup shredded Parmesan ($0.95)
  • 12 can solid albacore tuna, drained ($2.79)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until the pasta is tender. Drain the pasta in a colander.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the dish. Add the butter and minced garlic to a large skillet. Sauté the garlic over medium heat for about one minute, or just until it is soft and fragrant, but not browned.
  3. Add the frozen peas and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for a couple of minutes more, or until the peas are heated through.
  4. Add the half and half to the skillet and allow it to come up to a simmer, stirring frequently to keep a skin from forming on the surface or the bottom from scorching. Let the half and half simmer for about 3-5 minutes, or just until it reduces slightly.
  5. At this point, the pasta should be finished and drained. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and stir to combine. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the pasta and stir to combine again. Allow the heat to melt the Parmesan as you stir. Once melted, turn the heat off. Taste the pasta and add a pinch of salt and pepper, if needed.
  6. Finally, add the drained tuna and fold it into the pasta. If you are using whole tuna chunks, break them up slightly as you stir. If you are using chunk light tuna that is already in small pieces, fold gently to avoid breaking the tuna up too much. Serve warm!

 

Hearty black bean quesadillas

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas - Vegetarian - with VIDEO - Budget Bytes

Total Cost: $6.61 recipe / $0.66 serving

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 15 oz.can black beans** ($0.56)
  • 1cup frozen corn kernels ($0.48)
  • 1/2small red onion ($0.44)
  • 1clove garlic ($0.08)
  • 1/4bunch fresh cilantro ($0.21)
  • 2cups shredded cheese ($2.50)
  • 1batch taco seasoning ($0.34)
  • 10taco sized tortillas ($2.00)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Drain the can of beans and rinse lightly. Place the beans in a large bowl along with the corn (no need to thaw).
  2. Rinse the cilantro, remove the leaves, and chop roughly. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the cilantro, onion, garlic, and shredded cheese to the bowl with the beans and corn. Lastly, mix up a batch of taco seasoning and add to the bowl. Stir everything until evenly mixed.
  3. Place a half cup of the filling on one side of each tortilla and fold over. Cook in a skillet on both sides over medium heat until brown and crispy and the cheesy filling has melted.
  4. To freeze the quesadillas, simply fill each one and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the freezer for one hour to solidify the quesadillas and then transfer to a freezer bag. To reheat either microwave (for a soft quesadilla) or cook in a skillet on low heat (make sure to use low heat so that the filling has time to thaw and melt before the outside burns).

 

For more recipes click here. (https://www.budgetbytes.com/hearty-black-bean-quesadillas/#wprm-recipe-container-32876)

Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook or Instagram! You can find us like @mshomestays

7 Tips to study and to work from home

Working and studying from home can be hard as there are many distractions that make it easy to get off track; however, there are a few tips that you can use to increase your productivity.

  1. Set a schedule

In order to avoid falling into the temptation of turning the TV on and watching Netflix or sleeping in, you must set a daily routine and follow it. It is important to wake up at the same time every day, get dressed as if you were going to work or school, set specific time to start and end your designated work or study session, and respect your lunch time and breaks.

  1. Create your own office at home

It doesn’t mean that you must have a space to be used exclusively as an office but you should designate a place at home that makes you feel comfortable and helps you not to get distracted easily.

  1. Let your family and friends know that you are not available.

Working and studying from home doesn’t mean you are available as if you it was the weekend or outside of your office or school hours. Let your family and friends know your work and study hours so they know they can contact you once you are done.

  1. Take short breaks

Sitting in front of your computer or your books uninterruptedly for prolonged hours can decrease your level of concentration. Try to stand up from your working space every hour to walk around the house, drink water or have a snack.

  1. Change your workplace if you feel alone

If you feel alone working by yourself, try to be in a place where your family or friends are.

  1. Keep your house clean and organized.

An organized place can help you increase your level of concentration and therefore your productivity. Try to keep your work place as neat as possible during the week so you focus on work and avoid wasting time tidying it up.

  1. Finish your workday

It is also easy to lose track of time and keep working hard but do not work more hours than you should.  When you are done with the work of the day, stop working and do something else to relax and prepare for the next day.

Have these tips worked for you? Let us know! To contact us you can look for us on Facebook and Instagram as @mshomestays