Advice on covid & lockdown life.

Why do people do small grooming rituals like shaving or getting a haircut?

Josh argues it's less about how others perceive you and more about the feeling you give yourself — small acts like shaving your neck, brushing your teeth, or dressing 'work ready' create a 'visceral change' in how you feel about yourself.

Does going for a walk actually make you feel better?

Josh suggests that going for a walk will make most people feel better, likening it to grooming rituals as simple, reliable mood boosters.

Is paintball a good idea for a team bonding event?

Tommy warns that paintball venues are a financial trap: you end up paying far more than expected because you have to keep buying extra ammo and gear beyond the initial booking cost.

How should you plan a Christmas party during COVID restrictions?

Jess suggests favouring open-air venues like wineries over crowded indoor venues (e.g. arcades), since open spaces allow more distancing and less shared touching of equipment, and notes venues will likely run reduced-capacity time slots.

Should I use hair product after a haircut?

Josh avoids hair product after haircuts to prevent setting an expectation of needing it daily, preferring to let people see him with minimal effort so he isn't reliant on products (e.g., if stranded on an island).

What should you do if you're caught somewhere you shouldn't be?

Tommy says his instinct is to keep walking and get out of the situation without over-explaining, while Josh notes his own reaction depends on the environment and his sense of confidence or standing in that situation.

How do you cope with feeling out of control about an uncertain future?

Stop ruminating on the unknown and instead focus concretely on what you're doing today, tomorrow, this week and this month — similar to writing a to-do list to regain a sense of control.

How should you handle negative or triggered comments online?

Recognize that during a stressful period like COVID, people's negative reactions are often out of proportion to what's actually happening, so don't take it personally.

Do I need to get a COVID test if I have mild symptoms but haven't left the house?

If you've been isolating and not going anywhere, you probably don't need to rush out to get tested; just stay indoors and monitor symptoms, since the main spread risk was people with symptoms continuing to go to work.

How can I make myself go for a walk when I don't feel motivated?

Drop every excuse or 'reason' attached to the walk (exercise, errands) and just go for the walk itself, even though it's hardest to do when you don't want to — treat it as the bare minimum, non-negotiable action.

What should you do if you're feeling down during lockdown?

Make yourself a coffee, ride it out, and read a book — things can look up.

How can you stay mentally steady amid pandemic uncertainty?

Recognize unproductive thought spirals as they start and consciously let them go rather than following them; keep up practices like meditation as an anchor.

How should you think about following public health rules like mask mandates even if uncertain?

Rather than clinging to pre-COVID ideas of individual freedom, practice a kind of detachment — just comply with guidance ('I'll do what you say') since the alternative (confidently refusing based on conspiracy thinking) tends to be more stressful.

How do you manage a negative spiral around work frustrations?

Notice when you're in a negative spiral, acknowledge the emotion, then deliberately redirect by asking what you're doing right now and where you're putting your energy, so it doesn't derail your broader goals.

Is it safe to get fast food right after a COVID-19 test?

Keep it contactless: don't talk when the staff member hands over the food and take the bag from the side opposite their hand.

How long can you use a single mask before replacing it?

Masks, including N95-style ones, are generally designed for single use or a single session rather than extended multi-week wear.

How should a business handle delivery platforms like Uber Eats?

Use delivery apps only as a temporary necessity; push customers to order directly by promoting your own phone number/call centre, since platforms take ~30% and the business can't legally be stopped from directing customers elsewhere.

What are good icebreaker questions for a dating profile or first interaction?

Ask specific, revealing questions like 'if you had to get a tattoo right now, what would you get?' to quickly surface personality and compatibility.

Should you trust sensational headlines about public figures?

Read beyond the headline and check what evidence the article actually provides before forming an opinion, since headlines can imply wrongdoing that the body of the article doesn't support.

How do you judge safe distance from someone in public during the pandemic?

Use smell as a rough gauge for distance — if you can still smell someone's perfume, aftershave or washing detergent as they pass, you probably haven't put enough distance between you.

How should someone prepare for an unscripted radio interview appearance?

Have a few short, punchy personal stories or talking points ready in advance, listen carefully to figure out the angle the hosts want, and give quick, real answers rather than long-winded or cliché responses.

Should you go out and do everything once lockdown restrictions ease?

Pick one activity (e.g. gym OR pub) rather than doing everything, to reduce the risk of becoming a 'super spreader' by mixing multiple venues and crowds.

How do you cope mentally with major life disruption, like losing your job overnight?

Piterman describes reaching an 'acceptance' after two to three weeks by surrendering control, focusing on what happens 'between one's ears,' and not spending each day fretting over finances or trying to control everything.

How do you keep a pandemic-era studio comedy taping feeling energetic without a live audience?

Max Price suggests not making excuses for reduced energy from no-audience filming, deliberately not referencing COVID-19 in the show itself, and instead just pushing crew to laugh and engage multiple times to capture usable reactions, trusting that audiences have already adjusted to this 'new normal' seen across other shows.

How can you make a perfect Aperol spritz every time?

Count the pour out loud as you do it: 3 counts of Prosecco, 2 counts of Aperol, 1 count of soda. Saying it out loud while pouring is the trick to never getting the ratio wrong.

What should you do if you find a large non-venomous snake near your house?

Snake catchers advised that if you're comfortable leaving it, it's fine to leave the snake alone, especially if you don't have small pets like a chihuahua or guinea pig it could threaten.

How can you make a DIY face mask during COVID-19 without a sewing machine?

Take an old t-shirt and cut it just under the sleeves; you don't need a sewing machine for this method, just thread the material to create head straps for the mask.

How do you announce a new relationship when you can't see friends in person?

Intentionally message a handful of close friends directly to let them know, since the casual in-person moment where it would naturally come up isn't available during lockdown.

How can I get cheaper Uber Eats delivery during lockdown?

Josh suggests that ING customers can activate a promotion running until the end of April for free delivery, and gold-tier Uber members can get an extra 15% off for a limited time.

How can I make daily cooking less time-consuming during isolation?

Josh recommends batch-prepping staple ingredients like chopped onions in one go so you don't have to repeat prep work every day.

How should I handle a passive-aggressive dispute with a real estate agent over a rubbish bag?

Rather than leaving a passive-aggressive note, consider 'killing her with kindness'—apologise proactively, frame it as understanding that she did the right thing for herself, and tie the ask back to a shared goal like getting the house sold to an investor.

How can someone get around during lockdown if they don't have a driver's licence and tests are paused?

Consider Ubering to the airport, hiring a car for the return leg with someone who has a full licence driving, or doing a supervised drive with a learner's permit and a licensed passenger riding along for practice.

What's the best way to squeegee windows without streaks?

Use a figure-eight motion with the squeegee rather than straight up-and-down strokes to avoid leaving lines.

How often should you get a flu vaccine?

Get the flu vaccine every year, ideally during the prime window of March to May.

How can individuals help the economy and local workers during a lockdown?

Look around your house, office, or life for jobs you've been meaning to get done and hire someone to do them now, since tradespeople and casual workers are desperate for work.

Should people still shake hands given the coronavirus situation?

Stop shaking hands and find alternatives like fist bumps or elbow bumps, since people likely won't return to the same level of handshaking even after the pandemic passes.

Why doesn't hand sanitiser or antibiotics work the same way against viruses as bacteria?

Grace explains that antibiotics target bacteria and don't work on viruses, so to kill a virus you need a sufficient percentage of alcohol in hand sanitiser rather than relying on antibacterial products alone.

What should you do if your laptop breaks during lockdown with Apple Stores closed?

Grace suggests Googling for an authorised Apple repair store near you, since official Apple Stores may be closed, and having AppleCare Plus can significantly reduce repair costs.

What makes an apology feel genuine?

A good apology should sound sincere and avoid qualifiers like 'but' or phrasing such as 'I'm sorry if you took it the wrong way,' which undermines the sincerity.

How can I combat feelings of isolation while physically distancing?

Recognize that physical isolation doesn't require social isolation; proactively reach out and build connection through your 'weak ties' network, becoming the host or connector who gathers people together (e.g., via regular Zoom hangouts).

How should you negotiate with companies offering pandemic relief deals (like free subscription extensions)?

Ask for more than what's being offered as a default, since the company already has a baseline they're willing to give and there's a chance they'll agree to more.

How much distance should I keep from others to be safe?

Crystal Andrews recommends keeping about 1.5 metres from the nearest stranger, with an unnamed caller adding an updated guideline of roughly 4 square metres per person indoors.

What's a thorough way to wash your hands during a pandemic?

Harry describes a 'two-tap' method: turn on the hot tap, wash and soap your hands, turn on the cold tap, wash again, then turn off the hot tap and wash, then turn off the cold tap and wash once more — so you never touch a dirty tap with clean hands.

Where should you get reliable information during a pandemic?

Go directly to government and World Health Organization websites for facts rather than relying on media outlets, which have financial incentives to sensationalize.