50 Things to do when Lockdown goes Long-term (Part 10)

I’m trying something new: this is a LIVE blog post – that means I’ll publish five parts per day for 10 days. If you haven’t already, start by checking out my original COVID-19 post then follow along with me on Instagram for daily updates! Comments are SO welcome, what are you all doing these days? Let’s brain pool.

1. Commit to something

Sudden restriction is far from easy! To keep yourself moving, hold yourself accountable. Set a goal and make a timeline. Really break it down into small steps so you can see yourself progressing daily or weekly. Don’t be afraid of committing to something time consuming because you’ll take it piece by piece. In the end you’ll have some work done, hopefully something you’re passionate about.

This blog is my fuel to keep doing something even when it’s much easier to do nothing… day.. after day… after day… what will be yours?

2. Ask yourself: “where do I want to be and who do I want to be with?”

If you’re lucky enough to have some mobility and there’s a place which would be more comfortable for a long stay consider relocating. If there is someone you’d like to be with (and the feeling is mutual) get to each other ASAP. If your area is in a “phase” of lockdown where some visits are allowed with people outside of your household form a “germ pod” — that is, a group of close friend/family from another household you can trust to see exclusively and periodically perhaps for Friday movie nights or Sunday brunches, weekend walks in the wild.

If physical presence isn’t possible, who are two people you can call to check in with every day? Also consider checking in on your neighbors; no-one should be all alone in times like these. Be the helper.

3. Take a look at what’s inside your toiletries

What are those lotions and potions really made of? What you put on your skin can seriously impact long-term health. I try to avoid the following:

Benzylparaben
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Butylparaben
Diethylphthalate
Ethylparaben
Formaldehyde
Formalin
Hyptylparaben
Isobutyparaben
Isopropylparaben
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylene glycol
Methylparaben
P-phenylenediamine
Paraformaldehyde
Polyethylene glycol
Propylparaben
Quaternium 15
Triclosan
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
Benzophenone-3

When in doubt, search by ingredient with the Environmental Working Group’s database, here’s a link.

Find some of these in your toothpaste, body wash or makeup? Make a note and next time consider buying one without such potentially harmful components!

Some better options I’ve been able to find:

Weleda skincare
Acure haircare
Burts Bees mascara
Ilia/Honest lipstick
Goddess Garden/Honest SPF
EO/Honest hand sanitizer
? Deodorant –this is tricky / to minimize aluminum risk but stay fresh I go for Crystal
Aura Cacia air fresheners/essential oils
Ecover detergent
Ecos cleaner
Larabar/perfect bar/RX bar
Naturelo vitamins (or Rainbow Light)

4. Consider what’s “essential”

In March 2020, as the globe began to shut down in unison– to a scale which was utterly unimaginable until a pandemic was upon us– something important came into clearer view: the work that makes everything possible. Those jobs deemed “essential” weren’t high payroll positions, they weren’t what many spend decades planning and training for. Often, positions involving labor and care are looked down upon. “If you can’t do, then teach” — I hate that saying!

When our world comes to a stop we rely on our lifelines: that’s agriculture, that’s transportation, that’s trade and commerce, health and education. Lawyers and bankers get a whole lot of credit, an awful lot of the time, but who truly takes care of all of us in a crisis? Grocery store cashiers. Cleaners. Delivery personnel.

Who takes care of the CEO’s children? Who keeps her home tidy? Who services her car and makes sure she has a stable supply of food on the supermarket shelves?

Too often these jobs are overlooked, or worse, looked down upon. The truth is, we need each other. I hope this is a lesson which will stay with me long after the COVID-19 crisis sees its ending.

5. Netflix Binge IRL

Take a day of back-to-back episodes one step further and theme your day around it.

My go to quarantine shows include:

Terrace House — best paired with sushi, mochi, Pocky, miso, omurice… and a cup of Sencha green tea or a Kirin Ichiban beer in your comfiest loungewear and slippers 😉

Queer Eye — try out Antoni’s recipes and (online) shop along with Tan or get styling tips from Jonathan — self makeover moment?

Money Heist (Casa de Papel) wear read head to toe + indulge in tapas and Spanish wine to ease the suspense

Easy Tapas

toast with olive oil + crushed tomato + salt
toast with olive oil + crushed tomato + manchego cheese
drunked goat cheese (queso de cabra al vino) topped with olive oil
Spanish tortilla: an omelette with potatoes (and onions if you’d like)
(black) olives from Aragon
Manzanilla (green) olives
potato chips with a dash of paprika on top
pan fried sardines (in olive oil) with fresh lemon squeezed on top
shrimp fried in garlic and olive oil topped with parsley
muscles cooked in a tomato, garlic and olive oil broth topped with fresh parsley
mushrooms fried in garlic oil and balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon and parsley on top
pan fried padrón peppers sprinkled with sea salt
sliced baguette (extra dry) for dipping in excess oils/broth from the dishes above