Now that hundreds of millions of people around the world have been home for more than a month now, many are missing their daily social interactions. Losing the benefits of interacting with others is one of the tolls of social distancing.
Early on in the Covid-19 crisis, a number of social, behavioural and brain scientists, including myself, raised their voices in mainstream and social media for public health authorities to stop using the term “social distancing”.
After a while, even the World Health Organisation decided to change their recommendation to "physical distancing".
One could argue that, when so many people die because of the pandemic, semantics are not a priority. It is because so many are dying that words matter even more.
First, asking people to socially distance from others is unclear and confusing. And in times of crisis, public health messaging must be crisp and unambiguous. Hence asking people to stay at home and to keep two metres of physical distance in public is a much more efficient way to communicate. People know what they have to do. There is less room for interpreting the recommendation.
You are not alone
With several million isolated in their homes, we must do our best to maintain social closeness despite the physical distance – because the virus is not just biological; it is also psychological.
And while the world has changed, our brains have not. Social isolation, either perceived or real, has significant negative effects on our psychological, hormonal, behavioural and brain functioning.
These include physical and mental fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, increased anxiety and hostility towards others that can lead to social withdrawal, as indicated in the Annual Review of Psychology back in 2015.
Do not just write that you will eat at noon and at 7PM every day. Write down the menu of each meal so you can visualise it
Four weeks ago, researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology shared the results of a study where they used neurotechnologies to measure the brain activity of two groups of people. For 10 hours, one group was forced to fast, while the other was socially isolated. After that, they reported feeling lonely and craving food, respectively.
Their results support "the intuitive idea that acute isolation causes social craving, similar to hunger". No wonder we tend to pay the fridge more visits than usual when under lockdown.
Four ways to ward off negativity
In the coronavirus version of the movie Groundhog Day that people under lockdown experience these days, the same day is indeed repeated over and over but without the possibility to physically and socially interact with the world.
We therefore need to fight the negative patterns we can easily fall into. Easier said than done, right?
Let me give you a few tips to designing and sticking to a routine that structures your days and helps regain control to help fight some of the negative effects of being physically distant from others.
Four words are key to fight isolation: planning, visualising, rewarding and socialising.
Plan it all, write everything down
First, plan everything if you haven't already been doing so. Your work, physical activities, meals, online social interactions, entertainment and sleep.
Also plan things like taking a shower and dressing up. In order to achieve efficiency and diversity in your structuring routine, plan for the week or the month on a sheet of paper or on a screen big enough for you to be able to read the details.
Do not just write that you will eat at noon and at 7PM every day. Write down the menu of each meal so you can visualise it. Plan who you invite to join you online over dinner.
This way your brain will quickly spot poorly planned meals and social interactions that are repetitive and not varied enough.
If your brain sees "steak kebabs with Ken" written multiple times on the planning, it will tend to make you add other dishes and guests in between and invite other folks to chat over a meal.
Ditto for physical activities, social interactions or entertainment intended to fill your free time. This visualising nudge from behavioural sciences has proven very efficient on many fronts.
Learn something, reward yourself
And if you feel like repeatedly snacking, distract your mind with another task: why not do a push up, a little dance, or if your physical condition doesn’t allow it, learn a new word in a foreign language before you eat.
Add a push up, a minute of dance, and an extra word every time before each meal. You will create micro-habits that are good for your brain and physical health. Note that this reward system works with everything you do often, like watching a TV show, for example.
It is important for brain health to learn something new. Why not use the extra time not spent in commuting in this way?
There are so many online tutorials that you will easily find something that suits you. Be mindful though to balance new skills that are easy to acquire with others that take longer.
Build micro habits
Quick and easy wins trigger the reward system in our brains that makes us feel good. Similarly, as we need to build micro-habits, we also need micro-rewards associated with easy-wins.
We need to balance between learning to flip a crepe and becoming a machine learning guru.
Yet, regardless of the goal, small or big, never forget to celebrate your achievement. Do that jig, sing, anything you want, but do it. And tell your friends about it.
And if you feel like taking days off in your routine, that is great too. Taking care of oneself also means knowing when to stop and relax.
Watching the world fall apart is a lonely feeling. It is what many in their homes feel right now.
Which is why it is so important not to let go of individual goals and social closeness despite the physical distance.
Professor Olivier Oullier is the president of Emotiv, a neuroscientist and a DJ
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Meydan Racecourse racecard:
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 | 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 1,600m
8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,600m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,600m.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Brief scores:
Newcastle United 1
Perez 23'
Wolverhampton Rovers 2
Jota 17', Doherty 90' 4
Red cards: Yedlin 57'
Man of the Match: Diogo Jota (Wolves)
Fight card
- Aliu Bamidele Lasisi (Nigeria) beat Artid Vamrungauea (Thailand) POINTS
- Julaidah Abdulfatah (Saudi Arabia) beat Martin Kabrhel (Czech Rep) POINTS
- Kem Ljungquist (Denmark) beat Mourad Omar (Egypt) TKO
- Michael Lawal (UK) beat Tamas Kozma (Hungary) KO
- Zuhayr Al Qahtani (Saudi Arabia) beat Mohammed Mahmoud (UK) POINTS
- Darren Surtees (UK) beat Kane Baker (UK) KO
- Chris Eubank Jr (UK) beat JJ McDonagh (Ireland) TKO
- Callum Smith (UK) beat George Groves (UK) KO
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
Honeymoonish
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OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Company%20profile
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