When my dad told me after I arrived back on campus after spring break that he would be coming to pick me and all of my belongings up, I really didn’t want to believe it. It was a heartbreaking end to senior year, so abrupt and painful. Adjusting to life at home was not easy for me. It was like being in high school again, except much worse, because I had almost four years of freedom under my belt. I also moved back into my childhood bedroom that I shared with my sister, was no longer in control of my groceries (hello, endless amounts of snacks!), and didn’t have a gym to go to anymore, since they are all currently closed. So, needless to say it was a very stressful and dramatic change of environment. But I did find some essentials that have made these past few weeks pretty bearable!
First up on my list, a good book, in print or on a Kindle. Although I’m a little biased to a Kindle (it makes reading endlessly so simple), there’s nothing like cracking open a fresh book that you can actually hold. Some books I have read these past few weeks that I would recommend: One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus, Call Me By Your Name and Find Me by André Aciman, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Next, for when you get bored of reading all day, a streaming platform. Whether it be HBO, Netflix, Hulu, etc., they all have excellent bingeing options for when you just need a good veg session. Some binge-worthy classics: The Office (Netflix), Rick and Morty (Hulu), Girls (HBO), and The Simple Life (Amazon Prime). And…I haven’t watched Tiger King on Netflix yet; yes I’m embarrassed, but I heard it’s a very wild and crazy watch, so I’m adding it to my list….
Another useful essential for when you’re feeling a little cooped up isn’t really a “thing” per se. But getting some exercise in by working out, flowing through some yoga, taking a walk, literally anything to get your body moving is a really great thing not only for your body, but also your mental health. Not being able to lift 5-7 days of the week anymore has really taken a toll on my mental health; a lot of days I feel just not “in it.” Ensuring that I get even just a little bit of movement in each day has tremendously helped my mood and outlook on life as it is currently.
Lastly, one last essential is also more of a verb, but the end product is a very yummy noun! I’ve been baking a lot more to just kill some time and distract myself. I’ve since made muffins, brookies (brownie + cookie bars – absolutely incredible), and I’m planning on making cookies and creme brownies in a little bit….on the flip (read: healthier) side, you can also experiment with cooking and try some recipes that you just haven’t gotten around to making, but have had bookmarked for ages (totally not me….as I flip through my literally 50+ bookmarks of vegan recipes…). Also, cooking ensures that you’re eating healthy, well-balanced meals!
Hopefully, some of these suggestions are helpful to you in managing your time and self during this weird time. Remember to stay safe, only go out for essentials, and maintain social distancing procedures! Love you all, we’re going to get through this!