What I am Changing After COVID-19
Many businesses are starting to (prematurely) open their doors, and needless to say, the world we are walking back into is not the same world we trotted before quarantine. As I have spent nearly two months hunkered down in my tiny apartment, I realized that I have learned a lot by being isolated, living life as carefully and calculated as possible. There have been two schools of thought during quarantine. You are either using this time at home to be productive, establish better habits, and improve yourself. Or you are like me, merely riding out the storm by the seat of my stretchy pants, motivated only by my next meal. At this point, I have an emotional support bottle of wine. Needless to say, the way we all will live after COVID will not be the same in our public, private, personal, professional lives. This is what I will do differently after COVID-19:
I will never decline an invitation to hang out.
I would be lying if I said that I had a flood social invitations before COVID-19, but having been alone with my dog for the past two months made me realize that despite my homebody nature, I need to be with people.
I will wear less makeup.
Since working from home, I don’t feel as compelled to get glam as I did in the office. Since working from home, I have allowed my skin to breathe by wearing less or no makeup entirely, and I learned I was wearing too much makeup in the first place. Probably because I just enjoy makeup, but the fact is I have good skin. Or at least I should given how much money I have thrown at it. Although I love makeup, I don’t need as much as I was wearing, and I think I actually look better with less of it. If/when business returns to normal, I will wear less makeup.
I’ll wash my hands with scalding hot water, every time.
Washing my hands has never been an issue, but cold water feels better in the summer. But I don’t care, if the rigorous scrubbing won’t get the germs off my hands, burning the top 3 layers of skin on my hands will.
I’ll eat pasta often.
I don’t know who I was kidding by withholding regular pasta consumption in my diet, but those dark days are gone. Aglio e Olio has at some point been my breakfast, lunch, and dinner during this pandemic. Capellini pasta tossed in a fried garlic, red pepper flake, and olive oil sauce. I am sure I used to deprive myself of regular pasta consumption for “health” reasons, but now I will eat pasta for health reasons. Emotional health reasons.
I’ll always tip 25%.
If there is anything that has been illuminated due to COVID-19 is the inequalities of America’s workers. As our service workers are out of work, they don’t get paid. For those who are working as food deliverers, the least I can do is tip them generously for doing this work in these uncertain times.
I’ll talk to my friends everyday.
When the stay-at-home orders were put in place, I had my friends from college download an app called Marco Polo. It is basically a better version of FaceTime, where you can record videos back and forth to each other and either watch them live as your friends are talking, or watch them later when you have a spare moment. Marco Polo has allowed my friends to talk all throughout each day, and all of us agree that it has not only kept us sane and connected during this time, but will continue to do post-COVID. Marco Polo has made me even more grateful for my friendships than I already was, and there are very few apps that make me feel truly connected like Marco Polo.
I’ll buy better produce.
Being stuck at home has meant that I am suddenly cooking three meals a day. When you are spending that much time in your own kitchen, you start to pay closer attention to the things you’re buying and eating. The fact is, I should have been buying organic things years ago, and being a young broke college student isn’t an excuse anymore. The first things I have upgraded during quarantine is olive oil, butter, meat, and veggies.
I will Pursue Seasonal passion projects.
Given that most of my hobbies are indoors, it has been really restorative to revisit some of my Spring/Summer projects. Namely, ice cream. Making ice cream is one of my favorite things to do, both in and out of a national shut down. Here’s what I’ve made so far. Let me know in the comments if you’d like a recipe :)
Black Tea Ice Cream
Lemon Almond Poppy Seed Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Oreo Ice Cream
Browned Butter & Orange Sage Ice Cream
I will donate, even if a little.
I am really fortunate to still be employed (for now), and I realize that a lot of people are struggling. This is a time where we can’t physically be there for those in need, but donating is a meaningful way to make an impact. There are countless worthy causes of your donation, and it’s none of my business to tell you who to give your money to.
My CEO told us that she will give us at least a month’s advance on when we are expected to return to the office, so I’ll be here in the great indoors for quite a while longer. Which means more pasta and less makeup. Hang in there, and I will see you back here soon!