Happy Wednesday, y’all! I mentioned on Monday that I took a brief hiatus from writing here and one of the reasons is I have been enjoying some time to myself and truly learning how to relax. I acknowledge how lucky David and I are that we are safe and healthy, along with our families, so I am trying to take advantage of this time and not squander it. With all of the uncertainty that still exists, here are unexpected things that bring me joy during quarantine. I’d love for you to share your favorite things in the comments below!
14 Little Unexpected Things that Bring Me Joy During Quarantine
My Daily Skincare RoutineÂ
My daily skincare routine has never been stronger. I have found a pretty good routine of using products, particularly at night depending on what my skin needs. I really look forward to it in both the morning to get my day started and to get ready for bed. It gives me a sense of normalcy and consistency! I recently added this face mask for my nightly routine and alternate with this watermelon mask and this avocado mask.
Morning Meditation
Every morning, I start off with warm lemon water and 5-10 minutes of quiet time to start the day. I enjoy the mediation prompts in CorePower Yoga, but I also just like to turn on the “Rise” playlist on Spotify to ground my day. I’ve found that setting a daily intention is helpful.
A Good Cup (or Cups) of Coffee
It’s no secret that I enjoy multiple cups of coffee throughout the day. I typically drink black coffee, sometimes with a splash of almond or oat milk, so I don’t skimp on flavor. I have a bi-monthly subscription for coffee from Cultivate Coffee Dark Roasts, but I also like Starbucks French Roast if I need to buy a bag of beans in between coffee bean delivery. I recently bought a frother and have been using that oat milk to make an at-home latte.
An Afternoon Tea
I enjoy having a cup of afternoon tea on our front porch. I try to take a break in the afternoon to get some air while reading an article or a book related to work or leadership. I’m loving the ginger turmeric tea from Trader Joe’s.
My Nightly Bath
I very much love taking a bath, and I’ve come to look forward to my nightly bath. Sometimes, I’ve have another cup of tea, or other times, I have a glass of wine to unwind from the day after work and my evening workout. I turn on my favorite Spotify jazz station, take my book with me, and turn my phone off so I can truly decompress. I alternate using this lavender Epsom Salt set, these detox salts, and recently picked these up during the Sephora sale to use.
Burning Good Candles
I love a good candle, and I always buy my favorites at the beginning of the month to have. You can see some of those here, but really, anything that Na Nin Studio does is right. I also enjoy Capri Blue Volcano and Nest candles. Next on my list of scents to try are these from BeautyPie and more scent from Brooklyn Candle Studio.
Reading Time
Having time to read is maybe one of my favorite things that has come out of quarantine. I just finished reading The Splendid and the Vile and I highly recommend if you like history. I’ll be sharing a post in the coming weeks about what I’ve been reading during this time, but I’ve also enjoyed having time to read some books for work that I hadn’t had time to read prior to this.
Nightly Happy Hour
Thanks to the recommendation my friend, Clarke, I got a monthly subscription to The Wine Feed both for their rosé subscription and their relax subscription for white wine. It’s such an interesting way to try new wines while supporting a local wine shop. They offer curbside delivery + will deliver within a certain radius in the wine wagon (up to 20 miles). David and I have a routine that after I work out, we have happy hour together before I take my bath so we can decompress together from our days. It is a nice routine that I hope continues in our routine. I recently updated my stemware during the quarantine with these beautiful glasses.
Daily Walk with my Boys
Our times vary depending on my day, but David and I take the boys for a walk every day, and it is one of my favorite parts of the day. We walk them together on longer walks to get our exercise and to enjoy the fresh air. Our fluffy boys really look forward to it, to the point that now, if we haven’t gone for a walk by a certain time, they start getting very antsy and let us know that it’s time to go.
Cozy Blankets
Okay, listen, I know that summer is rapidly approaching, but I love to be under a blanket. Having cozy blankets is one of my favorite ways to unwind, either while I’m drinking my coffee in the morning making my to-do list and setting my goal for the day or at night when I’m reading before bed. I am also a big fan of my weighted blanket if I’m feeling anxious.
Making Our BedÂ
Y’all, the first thing I do every day is make our bed. I do not like an unmade bed, and it’s even more important for me to have a routine and order. Making our bed helps set my day off on the right foot plus it makes everything feel organized and put together for when we get ready for bed. I just picked up these bed linens, by the way, and I am obsessed!
BLTs at Lunch Time
I have mentioned before that I love a BLT, and it has become my lunch of choice during this time. I am currently experimenting with different flavors but at the end of the day, my favorite version is a BLT on sourdough with Duke’s mayo, pepper jack cheese, crushed red pepper, and oregano.
Fresh Flowers
One of my favorite pick-me-ups is to have fresh flowers around the house. It’s peony season, so local florists and Trader Joe’s have great selections. But I love simply hydrangea stems, and they last forever if you just freshen the water with warm water and cut the stems.
Yoga Practice
I’ve mentioned before how much I’ve been enjoying yoga, but truly having my daily yoga practice has been clutch during this time. I appreciate the opportunity to stretch out after sitting and working from a computer for the majority of the day, plus the opportunity to connect, feel empowered, and to flow. I’d love for you to virtually join me at a CorePower Yoga class by checking their virtual calendar on their Instagram feed! Find my hot yoga favorites here.
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