My Top 7 Must-Have Quarantine Items
While I hope I never get used to being quarantined at home, I have gotten in the swing of things a lot more than at the end of March when every day felt like a challenge. With no people to see and all my events cancelled, I’ve found myself in the push-and-pull of having more time in some areas and much less time in others. Some days I’m incredibly productive, and other days I just sit and read for hours (while Willow sleeps, anyways).
Regardless, there are a few things that have been my lifeline during this time, so I’m sharing them today. There are new finds (a fun podcast, a very simple app) and some of my trusty fallbacks that have been with me for years. Read on for some at-home inspiration, and let me know what YOU can’t live without right now!
1) A good book
Is this any surprise? I’ve found that during the day, I actually have much less time than I used to thanks to a certain demanding-but-cute toddler. However, since I have nothing to do in the evenings, I’ve been binge reading a whole lot of books. Recent favorites include Where the Crawdads Sing (totally lived up to the hype), In the Land of Blue Burqas (so eye-opening and a rare nonfiction favorite), and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (no idea where I found this but I’m glad I did!).
2) Jogging Stroller (here’s mine: Thule Urban Glide jogging stroller)
Truth be told, I actually don’t do a lot of my runs with Willow, and haven’t since I started marathon training. She won’t sit still for 8+ miles, and I don’t want to push a stroller that long! For shorter runs, though, this has been a lifesaver, and sometimes I will drop her off with Nathan after half of my run and finish without her. It’s also a nice little bonus when Nathan takes it on his runs and gives me a little break :)
3) Podcasts (Ali on the Run, That Sounds Fun with Annie F Downs)
I podcast on the run, at home while I work, sometimes when I’m cooking, and sometimes when I’m walking and need something to distract my mind. I am subscribed to an embarrassing amount of podcasts, but these two are recent favorites. Annie F Downs has been releasing a daily podcast during quarantine that’s fun, mindless, and perfect to make me laugh at the beginning of each day. I’m hooked!
4) Prayer Journal
Y’all know I love my prayer journal, and writing things down to pray for is the best way to ensure that I will actually pray for it! The format is so simple (if I had to journal every day, I just wouldn’t do it) that it’s sustainable for basically anyone. Plus, at the end of each month you can write down answered prayers. I’m always amazed at how many prayers have been answered when I start to keep track of them!
5) My water bottle (here’s mine: Coleman insulated water bottle)
I’m a huge sucker for beverages. If there’s anything I spend money on, it’s something refreshing to drink. It’s easy for me to slip out of the (good) habit of drinking enough water, so having a 40oz bottle that will keep everything cool for hours on end is a good motivator.
6) Pause app
I don’t like downloading new apps, and I normally don’t like things that are even a little bit cheesy. But somehow this very simple tool from John Eldredge is the perfect reminder I need twice per day to take one minute, pause, think, and pray. I can’t only credit this app with my mental well-being, but I can definitely say that stopping to pray in the midst of busyness has been a huge help to me.
7) Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow cookbook
There are days when I am motivated to cook, and days when at 6pm I have no idea what I’ll make. When I do cook, though, I’ve been opening up this cookbook by Shalane Flanagan, a retired professional runner, to look for new recipes that are both delicious and perfect for athletes. Her Superhero Muffins are my new favorite thing to bake1