I wanted to take this time to pause and self reflect on what I’ve learned in the stillness of this all so far. Being inside most everyday, all day, I have a lot of time with my thoughts. The good, the bad and the ugly ~ I have a mix of thoughts everyday, as I am sure we all do. It’s hard to stay positive during a time like this, but the little moments, the good, in everyday is what I am striving to find. It helps keep me balanced and positive (as much as I can be) I decided to make a list of one dozen things that I am grateful for. Some are firsts for me, and some, just a mid-takeaway from self-isolation. *writing this on day 23 of self-isolation
- I watched three documentaries – I love documentaries; there is just something about the way they are filmed, that makes me really get inside the story. During self-isolation, I watched: Tiger King, Cheer, and McMillions. My favorite by far was Cheer. It was very uplifting and the story really had me wanting more…I cried at the end!
- I had my first ever frozen meal from Trader Joe’s – I eat a lot of things from Trader Joe’s, but mostly fresh items, and for the first time, I had one of there prepared meals, and it was of course, amazing!
- Gratitude Challenge– I did a gratitude challenge on Instagram where I posted what I was grateful for for a week
- Participated in my first, but not my last, FaceTime – ‘Virtual’ seems to be the big word going around when looking to connect, or get that experience of being with others while being inside. I love FaceTime, or any way people can connect and be together virtually during this time
- I ordered my first Target delivery – It’s not too exciting, but I highly recommend Target online if you’re looking to stay put, but still get that Target fill ~ I, like most, love going to Target, in person, and shopping around, but as I am someone who really prefers to stay in as much as possible during this time, I found Target online to be great for many reasons. They have most items I am looking for, ship for an inexpensive price, and everything comes very timely
- Gaining more hours of sleep – With working from home, and my workspace being my bedroom, I have gained hours of sleep, which is an important part of self-care. As an early riser, I am allowing myself to sleep in as much as possible during this time, as it really aids in the care for my body and for my mind; a true sense of calm
- Tried a new tea brand – If you know me, you know I am as routine as it gets. As the place where I get my favorite tea does have an online store, it was far too expensive to ship, so I searched the internet until I found a tea, that dare I say may be just as good or even better!
- Discovered new walking areas – Getting outside at certain points of the week is crucial for me. I need any amount of sunlight and fresh air as my body thrives from Vitamin C. Walking outside on the weekends has been amazing, and has even opened pathways to new areas. A change of scenery has definitely been nice
- Picked up my paints again – As someone who takes pubic transportation, I am saving not only money, but about 2 hours a day where I would normally be on the bus. After work, I have found is the best time for me to pick up some of my favorite hobbies, like painting. Logging off, grabbing some paints, and getting creative is my perfect way to end the day
- Visited museums, virtually – Museums are one of my favorite things, and as those are closed due to the virus, most museums offer tours, and ways to virtually visit their museum and galleries. Learning about the art in the comfort of home really was something I never thought I would enjoy, as going to the museum is half the fun. It’s definitely a cool experience and would highly recommend!
- Continuing to do more Yoga – I’ve always loved Yoga, but mostly only attended free sessions here and there, and again, back to the whole time saving comment, I am now practicing my Yoga via YouTube in the evening and I absolutely love it. It’s super calming and really great before dinner, or before bed – having that continued sense of calm is what I am searching for nowadays
- Lastly, I’ve tried new restaurants – Ordering out once or twice a week has been a go-to and also a great way to support smaller businesses. I love exploring new menus and seeing who delivers close to me, and find that as an opportunity to try new things. Being stuck inside all day, means to me that I want a good meal, something to look forward to. I will definitely be revisiting some of these places post-self-isolation!
Finding the good in everyday isn’t easy, especially at a time like this. Do your best, practice self-care, self-love, stay inside and stay healthy ~
I’m also working on a photography page titled, ‘Self-Isolation’ – to be posted soon!
Jenna DiSanto 