What a time right? Learning how to cope during this global pandemic has been an adjustment for millions of people, and everyone is affected in some way by this situation. Choose to accept the things you cannot change, and adapt to a “new” normal. My heart hurts for my little brother and sister who won’t get to finish out their high school and college experience as they thought they would. Also, for the many Americans who have to jump through hoops to get the money they deserve and most desperately need in order to function day-to-day. And even then, the amount of money decided by the government to disburse is really not enough; not enough to live in this super expensive city of San Francisco (or most cities in the country), not enough to meet the demands of families and other responsibilities that most people are inherently burdened with/take responsibility for. The injustice, this growing and ever-fluid situation, the fact that the timeline will inevitably extend longer and longer in the wake of this pandemic, is unsettling, and I know we are all just doing our best to get through and put one foot in front of the other, and I am trying my very best to keep my positive and happy outlook on life, but I will admit I am struggling. I miss my friends and family, and it is really hard during this time. I want to take this time to say thank you to all the caregivers and essential workers; you are our heroes. Special shoutout to my dad, who is on front lines of this everyday, as a doctor dealing with patients. You all inspire me, and give me strength and hope.
What has been giving me hope and relief during this time is putting into practice the activities that I have always wanted to partake in, or strengthen. Here are my activities:
Learn a New Recipe 
Read a Book 
Listen to Podcasts 
Take up Yoga/Meditation 
Take a Bath/self care 
Do At-Home Workouts
1- Learn a New Recipe: I looked to Pinterest for various recipes to try for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert! Check out my recent Cooking Chronicles post to see what i’ve been making!
2- Read a Book: I was never big on reading books; I actually hated it growing up! One of my goals during quarantine was to find a collection of interesting books and read them all in my free time. Books that are on my list are: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Sorry Not Sorry by Sophie Ranald, Know Your Power by Nancy Pelosi, and Becoming by Michelle Obama.
3- Listen to Podcasts: I recently started listening to podcasts for motivation and inspiration. Podcasts have been a great way for me to unwind, hear different voices, learn something new about an experience, and get helpful advice on how to use their journey to guide how I can apply it in my life. The podcasts that I have been loving are The Second Life by Hilary Kerr, and The BossBabe Podcast with Natalie Ellis and Danielle Canty.
4- Take up yoga/meditation: I found through yoga and meditation, I am able to find small moments of peace and serenity throughout my day. I am thankful to have access to a rooftop so I go up there in the mornings when the weather is nice and take 15-20 minutes for myself, to stretch, meditate, and relax. I use the Insight Timer app to follow along with the routines.
5- Take a Bath/self-care: I am all about self care! This has been a staple in my life for a while, and even more-so during quarantine. I have been using face masks 2-3 times a week, braiding my hair, moisturizing my skin more, taking supplements and vitamins, and indulging in a bi-weekly bath. Products I recommend for the bath are all things Milk + Honey! They have luxurious bath bombs, incense, and candles to create a pleasurable sensory experience! During the bath, I pair the products with my favorite soft tunes on my portable speaker and a glass of red wine. Self care for me is also to call a friend or family member. I have been enjoying catching up with my close friends on a FaceTime call, or join in on a virtual happy hour via Zoom. Although we cannot be face-to-face with our favorite people during this time, virtual catch ups have been so important and life-giving to me and definitely have improved my overall mood.
6- Do At-Home Workouts: At-home workouts have been a savior for me! I live a pretty active lifestyle and i’m used to working out 3-4 times per week. Once the gyms closed, I was glad that many gyms and workout programs started to offer free virtual live workouts via either social media or Zoom, and are open to the public. My favorite at-home workout has been with Rumble boxing! The workouts vary between 30-min to 45-min sessions and are taught by select instructors from Rumble’s various studios across the country. These workouts consist of upper body, lower body, abs, and even some shadow boxing! I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a concise workout that will make you sweat! Outdoor workouts are also a great way to stay active and also get some fresh air and taking in the outside world. Of course, be conscious of your surroundings and maintain distance, but definitely enjoy a hike, run, walk solo or with your follow quarantine companions.
We are all in this together! Stay safe and healthy everyone!
