How to Encourage People

All of us like to be praised. Sometimes it is really important to give your friend or colleague an encouraging pat on the shoulder. Here’s what to say in such moments.  1. You’re coming along well. (Ты делаешь успехи) 2. Keep up the good work. (Продолжай работать хорошо) 3. That’s a good effort. (Это хорошая…

How NOT to Wear a Mask

While it’s good news that many people are doing their part to slow the spread (распространение) of coronavirus, the bad news is that many people are wearing their masks wrong.  Wearing a face mask takes some getting used to (привычка). To get the most benefit, you need to avoid these common (типичные) mistakes. Read more in English…

Coronavirus Hits Men Harder. Here’s What Scientists Know About It

The coronavirus crisis seems to be placing everything under a harsh (суровый, неприглядный), unforgiving spotlight: economic inequality, the vulnerabilities (проблемы, слабые места) of healthcare systems, the fragility (неустойчивость) of globalization and the challenges of dealing with scientific uncertainty. Here’s another issue for that list: men’s health. The early evidence leaves little doubt that Covid-19 poses a greater…

Agreeing With People

Instead of always saying “yes”, “sure”, “certainly”, “of course” you can use other phrases to show your agreement with other people. Here are some of them. 1. I’m with you on that one. (Я согласен с Вами в этом) 2. I couldn’t agree more. (Полностью согласен) 3. Yes, absolutely. 4. I’d go along with that. (Я…

Do I Have Allergies or the Coronavirus

Feeling sick in any sort of way right now can be scary. And as allergy season settles (устанавливается) upon us, with blooming (цветущие) trees and pollen filling the air, many of us are waking up with sore throats, stuffy noses, and the same question: It’s probably just allergies … right? Read more in English in New York…

How to Help the Helpers

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed medical professionals into the front lines (линия фронта) of danger. Health care professionals are the helpers we turn to in times of need. Now that they’re under siege (под угрозой), they need our help as well. Here are some ways to help — even if Moscow is not New York.  Read…

Advice from Italian Parents on Lockdown

In Italy, schools were shut down as early as February 21 to mitigate (сдержать, препятствовать) the spread of the coronavirus. As New York enters its second week of shuttered schools, we ask parents in Italy for advice on how they’ve managed (смогли, им удалось) to keep their kids entertained — and themselves sane (в здравом уме).  Watch…

Cheering People Up

Sometimes other people around us feel a bit down (в подавленном настроении) or unhappy about something. Here are some phrases you can use to try to make them feel better. 1. Cheer up! / Chin up! / Lighten up! (Взбодрись!) / Smile! (Улыбнитесь!) 2. It’s not the end of the world. (Это не конец света) 3. Worse…

Tips to Spark your Creativity While Working Alone

We can binge (непрерывно смотреть) shows, exercise and hold Zoom meetings for only so long before the mind needs something more. Plus, creative activity has been scientifically linked (связанный) to improvements in mental health. (This as nearly half of Americans surveyed say their mental health has declined during the pandemic.) Read more in the Washington…