Washing your hands is one of the best ways to keep germs from spreading. To wash your hands properly, wet your hands, apply soap, then work the soap into a lather by rubbing your hands together. Be sure to spread the soap across your palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails. Continue scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds, then rinse off and dry thoroughly. If you do not have access to running water and soap, use a hand sanitizer. Apply the amount directed by the product label and rub the product all over your hands and fingers until dry. Cold viruses can be spread through the air. When you cough or sneeze, you are releasing thousands of virus particles into the air that can then infect other people. Limit the spread of those viruses by containing your cough or sneeze. Don’t hug, kiss, or shake hands when you or the other person has a cold. This can increase the chances of transmission from one person to another. Also don’t share drinking straws or eating utensils, such as forks and spoons with someone who is sick. Use a disinfecting cleaner spray and disposable paper towels or disinfecting wipes to clean these items thoroughly. Cold viruses can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours, so cleaning them frequently helps limit the transmission from person to person.

Summary: Wash your hands often. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your arm, not into the air. Avoid close contact with others when you or they are sick. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, TV remotes, and children’s toys.


The most important thing you’ll need while writing your symphony is an idea. To generate ideas, you’ll need to start thinking creatively. Set up a musical session with some of your instrument playing friends to improvise some potential melodies. Look back through old journals to remind yourself of feelings or life events that you might be able to use in your work. Keep a notebook with you at all times to record ideas. Whenever an idea comes to you, write it down immediately so you don’t forget. Practice writing your music the way those composers wrote theirs. It isn’t plagiarism to be inspired by someone else, and that inspiration fused with your own point of view will make it so that your music will sound completely like your own. Try to listen to a wide cross-section of different symphonies. Different composers have different styles and use different techniques. Listening to a lot of different styles of symphonies will help you become inspired to write your own. Check out the list of symphony composers on Wikipedia. The list is reasonably complete dating from the Baroque era to present and most composers on the list aren't well known. Essentially, symphonies are musical stories, and should have characters, or, themes. These themes are then explored in different keys throughout the piece and in music, in what’s known as exposition. Try to pick contrasting themes, like good versus evil. Symphonies are traditionally composed of four separate movements, which each have different forms. The first movement tends to be in Sonata form. The second movement is usually on the slower side and may be a set of variations. The third movement will generally be a Minuet or Scherzo and Trio. And the fourth movement is there to give the piece some closure and is often in rondo form.  In your outline, list out everything you want to pin down about your symphony. This can include your inspiration, emotions, form, key and themes. List these out for each of your individual movements. Don’t be afraid to make the form your own. If you want to create something different than the traditional four-movement symphony, do that. Sometimes composers swap the second and third movements. There have been three movement symphonies, usually omitting the minuet. There are five movement symphonies, often adding a March, or maybe another Scherzo or Minuet  between the third and last movement. There are some with more than five movements, taking inspiration from Beethoven's 9th; the best known of these including the Romeo et Juliette symphony by Berlioz and Mahler's Symphonies. Rarer still are some with only two movements. Often symphonies have had a thematic material that ties all of the movements together since the romantic era which may stay the same or vary as well.      Think outside the box and have fun with it.

Summary: Get inspired. Listen to composers you admire. Pick your themes. Create an outline.


Making an herbal-infused oil consists of three parts: oil, your chosen herb, and heat. You need to choose an oil to be the base. You will infuse the herb into the oil to make your herbal oil. Make sure to use a high-quality, and preferably organic, oil. You can use virgin olive oil, safflower oil, castor oil, argan oil, or coconut oil. These can be found at local health stores, grocery stores, or online. When making your herbal oil, you have to decide which herb or herbs you want to use to make oil. Each batch will be a bit different because it depends on the season and the area from which the herbs have been gathered, the conditions around the time of harvest, and they type of herb you are using. You can use any of the herbs listed below, or any others that you grow or find.  Lavender. This oil is used for relaxation aromatherapy.  You can also use it to scent soaps.  Lavender has antimicrobial properties as well. Calendula. This is used as an anti-inflammatory and to promote wound healing. Cannabis. If this is legal in your area, you use it for anxiety and pain relief. It can also be used as an antispasmodic and anti-nausea agent. Garlic. This is primarily used in oils as an antibacterial agent.  Ginger root. Ginger is used as an anti-inflammatory agent.  Goldenseal. This is used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Mullein. Mullein is used for respiratory and ear infections. Rosemary. It can be used in aromatherapy and in soaps. Rosemary is often used as a nootropic, which increases cognitive abilities and memory. Rosemary oil is also used as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic. Thyme. Thyme is used for respiratory infections and to calm coughs. Oregano. This is used as an antimicrobial agent and immune booster.  St John's wort. This is used as an antidepressant and to help get to and stay asleep.  Chamomile. This is used as a relaxant and sleep inducer.  Peppermint. Peppermint is used for digestive problems and irritable bowel syndrome. Eucalyptus. It is used for respiratory infections, sinusitis, and to calm coughs and relieve congestion. Most oils are measured out using a parts method for the ratio. This means you can easily adjust the amount of oil and herbs needed for the quantity of oil you want to make. Five parts of oil to one part herb is a very common ratio.  For example, you may put one tablespoon of dried herb for five tablespoons of base oil. The strength of the oil general is based on the length of time the oil infuses and the amount of heat used. However, each batch will probably be different due to factors of the herbs, including the growing and harvesting conditions or if it is fresh or dried. You can use herbal oils for so many different things. You can use them for natural medical treatments, cosmetics like hair care, face care, baby care, or body care, or even for cooking. Knowing how you will use the oil determines which base oil and herb you use.  For example, if you are going to use the oil for cooking, you may choose a high-quality extra virgin olive oil. If you want to use the oil for cosmetics, jojoba, coconut, or argan oil may be a better choice. Different oils have different properties, so knowing why you need the oil helps you choose your herb.
Summary: Decide on the base oil. Choose your herb. Use the right ratio. Decide how you will use your oil.