It’s no secret that inflation affects everyone’s cost of living; According to DANE figures, between 2018 and 2022 there has been a sharp increase in monetary poverty in Colombia.
As of December 2021, it was recorded that 39.3% of the population lived with less than $11,801 pesos a day and 12.2% with less than $5,730 pesos.
Economic inequalities become a headache, given the pressure generated by the consumer society, which erroneously projects happiness in shopping, abundance in food, travel and luxuries.
Mothers and fathers who survive on minimum wage or less, struggle to fulfill their children’s wishes for the long-awaited December 24; sometimes having to choose between clothes, dinner or a gift.
Adolescents who are in a situation of economic precariousness, suffer negative impacts at this time, sponsored by social networks, which show alternate realities and supposed luxuries.
Comparing their lives with those of others can lead to frustration and depression.
Poverty should not be accepted:
It is socially important not to romanticize poverty and stay alert with the economic reality worldwide; however, we must find the way in which mental health prevails and enjoy the holiday season.
At Al Poniente we bring you alternatives to enjoy without much money that allow integration and promote a different way of seeing the world:
1. Board Game Party:
On Christmas or New Year’s Day, it can become a party where board games such as cards, parquet, dominoes or those games like stop or triqui, are the protagonists of union and happiness.
2. Book Swap Party:
Second-hand books can be an excellent gift; Inventing games that allow for fun sharing can bring a great acquisition and new reading to enjoy next year.
3.Donate:
What for us is not very useful, for others it can be a treasure; look at home for everything in good condition, which can be donated to whoever needs it most.
A family search can be a nice way to enjoy a day of giving, without expecting to receive.
4. Clean your house in depth:
Let’s do it!
Renewing energy through cleaning, on the 24th or 31st, will help increase the hormone of happiness (Serotonin); Small cleaning challenges that are accomplished in one day bring joy physically and spiritually.
5.Personalized messages on social networks:
Personalize messages on social networks, find a good photo or an image that represents your love for that person and post it to remind them how special they are.
6. Visit free tourist places:
Most of the cities and municipalities of our beautiful country have attractive sites that we stop visiting; This Christmas is the perfect time to visit the traditional puddles, streams, parks or see the local lights.
7. Series marathon
They will need to identify a friend or relative who has a smart TV, computer or cell phone, connection to a series or movie platform; Accompany the night with popcorn that is easy to prepare and a great option to eat something delicious, which yields plenty.
8. Letters of good wishes:
The details can be handwritten letters with all his commitment and love for our loved ones; meeting with the family to write these messages addressed to friends and close ones, will imply an act of joy and love.
9. Release ritual:
According to your beliefs and those of your family, consolidate a moment and actions that allow you to release physical and emotional burdens, a walk in the woods, hugging trees, planting a plant or some religious ritual that allows you to have spirituality, peace, connecting with the universe. from gratitude.
no to liquor
If there are financial difficulties, the best thing for this end of the year is to forget about liquor, since it is a powerful depressant for the nervous system, and the effects it produces have to do with disinhibition and relaxation, which causes the false sensation of improvement of the symptoms of sadness, anxiety, negative thoughts, social isolation, among others.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages in moments of crisis can provoke aggressive reactions during the celebrations; It also represents an even greater economic imbalance and suffers from post-alcohol depression, post-drunken depression or also popularly known as hangover.
After the party comes the physical and mental discomfort induced by the depressant properties of the liquor, or aggravates them, if they already existed; causing increased feelings of guilt and imbalance.
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