What's Been Getting Me Through Quarantine
If you’re starting to feel like you’re in a lull with social distancing, you’re not alone. I’ve heard from so many people all over the country that they felt energized by the newness of it all for the first few weeks, and now, they’re starting to feel stuck, as well as, run out of recipe ideas and motivation.
Clearly I’m in this with you and because no one has gone through this before, I don’t think I’m an expert at social distancing. BUT, I do know a lot about keeping up with daily habits that help you feel aligned, no matter what. So today, I present to you my very first “try guide”—a list of things that have been bringing me joy, keeping me fed, and rhythms spur on my motivation. As with anything, your life, needs, and bank account are most likely different than mine, so this is by no means a complete list, but hopefully it will provide some inspiration!
Let’s Get Real, We’re all Here for the Food:
Typical Breakfast:
Morning smoothies—I’ve finally become the smoothie girl I’ve always wanted to be. We use a Magic Bullet and this super simple recipe because we had everything on hand! I’m hooked because it’s an easy way to get my fruit intake while trying to extend the time between shopping trips. I also had a bunch of pancake mix on hand too, so one day every 2 weeks, I make a ridiculous amount of waffles and throw them in the freezer for another quick breakfast option. Add coffee & daily vitamins, and I’m set!
Comfort Food For Lunch:
I can’t say enough about this Summer Vegetable Chili recipe. This is the perfect comfort food and it will not break the bank! Honestly, I think you can make this whole meal for $5 and have left overs! Additional options: We skip the mushrooms, add ground beef, and make some cornbread—so dang good. Rumor has it you can put this in the instant pot too.
Easy, Seasonal Dinner:
Did you know that it’s asparagus season and it only lasts for about 6-8 weeks?! Needless to say, asparagus is a staple in our house right now. We love throwing it in a pan with a bit of oil, garlic salt, onion powder, and a bit of lemon juice! Simple & delicious when ripe. You can add your choice of meat, Brussels sprouts, onion, and sweet potatoes for a flavorful, one sheet meal! Eating seasonally is so great because you’re getting veggies at their peak and your tastebuds thank you for it! If you’re trying to support local farmers or simply know more about which items to choose in the produce section, this seasonal foods website is really helpful! It’s also the time to sign up for a local CSA for seasonal veggies until fall.
Staying Healthy at Home:
Taking walks daily!
Thank the heavens above the weather turned right as COVID-19 was hitting KY or else I don’t know how I’d be doing this. Getting outside means fresh air and being able to wave to neighbors from a distance. It’s also incredible for my mental health, a good time to pray or walk house tensions off. On colder, rainy days I’ve been doing this Latin Dance Workout from PopSugar on youtube—they have lots of free videos to get your heart pumping! (Just make sure you’re not in the back of a ZOOM call happening in another room—learn from my mistakes!)
Evenings Around a Fire
This fire-pit is everything. Recently I wrote a blog about intentionally finding stillness and this fireplace was the star. Not only does it take are of yard scrapes, it is a good time for us to unwind each night with a cup of tea. Plus it was relatively inexpensive compared to other fire-pits we considered, so I count that as a win! If this breaks the bank, there are even cheaper options online.
Inviting Spring In
All bulky winter blankets and decorations are out of sight. We replaced them with indoor plants, throwing open the windows, and cleaning off our outdoor spaces so they are more inviting. None of this involved special trips to the store or spending money! Admittedly though, each time William goes to the grocery, he grabs a bouquet of flowers to lively up the place. We are also going to be building an over the bed plant wall with scrape wood we had, so stay tuned for more!
Shopping from Home:
Reflecting On My Days
We just got these One Line A Day Journals in February and now I’m really grateful. It’s a great place to revisit and process my days in the evening before bed. Plus I love that in a few years from now, when we are looking back at this time, I’ll be able to remember the ups and downs and how I was getting through all of this.
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Originally I bought my Blue Mic just for my podcast, but it’s amazing how much easier virtual meetings, family hang outs, and coaching calls have been! My husband is even using it for his job regularly too & it’s definitely paid for itself.
Cultivating Helpful Rhythms at Home
I don’t have a picture of us watching TV, but I do have evidence we’ve been eating a lot of popcorn! ha!
Making TV Nights Special
We’ve been watching the West Wing, Gilmore Girls, and Scrubs. However, because it’s so tempting to watch TV during all day, every day, we’re limiting ourselves only a few episodes each week & are trying to make TV evenings a whole thing. So we make a big deal about grabbing the blankets, popping the popcorn, and settling in. Add Cilantro Lime or Everything Bagel seasoning to the popcorn and….just yum! We also are keeping the same bedtime each night so we don’t binge watch our lives away.
Caring for Something on a Weekly Basis
I’ve had mine for a while, but apparently now having a sourdough starter is the cool thing to do! Making bread for me is a 36 hour long process, and there’s something significant about feeding my started every Sunday afternoon—it’s a small way to mentally prepare me for the start of a new week. Even if you’re not into sourdough, having something simple in your home to care for can provide a lot of peace, connectedness to your home, and be a centering point throughout the week (animals or children don’t count because there’s more at stake). Other options are watering your indoor plants on a specific day, feeding a fish, weeding gardens, or tending to a bird feeder.
This is in our old kitchen & I so miss those counter tops!
Our Buy-in-Advance Shopping Method
When we moved to KY and had to replace all the household/grocery staples, we started a new system because I HATE running out of something and needing to go to the store for “just one thing.” Our first trip to the store, we purchased 2 of everything, then each time we ran out, we’d buy one more. That’s a weird way to say, we make sure we always have an extra on hand. There have been so many times I’ve run out of laundry detergent, and been so thankful to have to just go to the garage for the next one and add #2 to the shopping list. Now, it’s allowed us to stay out of the stores for longer periods of time, and not add to the panicked bulked shopping. I feel really passionate about making sure we use what we have and only buy what we need, so of course this system is really just for staples. (To be clear, there’s nothing revolutionary about this system, but it was new to us and I thought I’d share.)
That’s a Wrap
These are simply a few recipes, rhythms, and items that are keeping me aligned and healthy during this season! As I was writing this, I got more and more inspired and…
I created a new resource just for you!!
Cultivating at Home: 30 Daily Rhythms to Keep You Aligned During Times of Uncertainty. It’s a calendar entirely done for you to help you make progress on your goals—for body, mind, soul, and fun!
