6 Ways to Make the Best of Quarantine

Hi. It’s hard to believe that we’re going on the 4th week of quarantine. How are you? If you’re having a bad day just know that there’s so many people who understand exactly how you feel. If this has taught me anything, it’s the importance of keeping a routine. It’s the only thing that I can control and it makes me calm when everything else isn’t.

Below are a few things that I’ve been doing lately to make the best of quarantine. Hopefully you can get some ideas to add into your own routine. 

Meditate & Workout

No commute to work means extra time in the mornings. Instead of sleeping in, I’ve been forcing myself to keep a schedule. I wake up everyday at 5:45 am, browse on my phone for 15 minutes, read The Daily Stoic, meditate and workout. Getting out of bed isn’t easy, but most mornings I look forward to it. I’ve been loving this meditation app called Balance. There’s a ton of meditations to pick from that vary in length and goal. Other apps that I’ve tried are Calm, Headspace, and Stop Breathe & Think. All of them are good. It just depends on what you’re looking for. 

In terms of workouts, I’m not following any specific plan. On days when I’m not active, I definitely see a shift in my mood and patience. I create my own workouts or do random stuff I find online. I recently subscribed to the Melissa Wood Health app ($10/month) and have been loving her workouts. They are a mix of pilates, yoga and strength training, but focus on achieving long, lean lines. I also do YouTube workouts from Alexis Ren, Yoga With Adriene and Boho Beautiful. I’ve put together a basket of home gym items that I can stash away when Vienna is around — resistance bands, dumbbells, yoga block, yoga mat and ankle weights. 

Block Out Your Calendar for Walks

Getting outdoors with Vienna needs to happen for my sanity. I block an hour out on my work calendar so my coworkers know I’m unavailable. I used MapMyWalk to figure out that 3 laps around my neighborhood equals a mile. Most days we do at least one mile, but sometimes Vienna wants to stay out so we do two. She loves riding her Joovy trike, but almost always ends up walking for the last lap. I’ve been trying to limit her screen time (which is HARD), so getting outside makes her happy and keeps her active. We count, point to animals we see, and practice jumping up and down. My neighbors surely think I’m crazy by now. 

Schedule Virtual Girls Nights

Girls nights can’t happen in person, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t schedule them virtually! By the end of the work week, I’m dying for interaction that’s not from my coworkers or my family. Schedule girls night for a time when dinner is done, kids are in bed, and you have some peace and quiet. I love getting dressed up because it makes me feel good, but do what works for you. I like putting on a cute outfit, spending an extra 5 minutes on my makeup, and slipping on a pair of black heels. Who says you can look and feel sexy while in your living room?! I find a comfy spot, light candles, and play background music on low. It’s all about setting a nice environment for yourself. 

Turn on Music

Music always puts me in a better mood and sort of makes me feel heard, if that makes any sense. I’ve been updating my Spotify playlists like crazy because I like background music while I’m working. If you want to listen along, here are some of my recent ones (Favorite Songs of All Time, Springtime 2020, Working from Home, Workout Jams). Also, I’m sure you’ve seen but so many artists are doing Instagram Live concerts from their home. If you miss them live, IG keeps them up on the user’s profile for 24 hours. Some of my favorites so far have been from Tori Kelly, Seaforth, and Lennon Stella. Lennon uploaded hers to YouTube and I strongly recommend listening. Seriously… if you listen to one thing today, go listen to that. Her cover of “Imagine” by The Beatles is absolutely breathtaking.

Cook Something New

I’ve always loved cooking, but especially now because it helps me focus on one thing at a time. During the day, it’s a constant juggle between work, cleaning up, and playing with Vienna. At night, I get a little bit of uninterrupted time to focus on getting dinner ready. It’s my zen. On Sundays, I like to browse through my cookbooks and plan dinners for the week. If you like cookbooks with lots of photographs, check out True Roots by Kristin Cavallari, Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten, Healthy in a Hurry by Williams Sonoma, and Cravings: Hungry for More by Chrissy Teigen. I also reorganized recipes on my Pinterest boards, so if you need some other ideas definitely look there. 

Invest in Cute Loungewear

Before the quarantine started, I visited my friends at Loft to try on really cute loungewear from the Lou & Grey line. Call it fate, because it couldn’t have been more timely. Now I truly understand the hype. I never want to take off their joggers! They’re hands down the softest pair I own.  And because I’ve wondered this too… putting them in the washer won’t make them any less fuzzy! In fact, I think they get better and better with wear. I also love their sweatshirts, which are made from the same material. They don’t have the lilac one that I’m wearing in these photos, but they have light gray, dark gray, navy, and black. 

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