A new strain of the Coronavirus has surfaced. COVID-19 is a disease that affects the respiratory system. It is very contagious and and has spread quickly across the world. To contain the spread the world is virtually on lock down.
Those who can work from home have been doing so, restaurants, bars and other service businesses have either closed or are only doing take-out, gyms are closed, pretty much everything is closed and life looks a little, well a lot, different right now.
Bookmark this blog post and be sure to add how you’re coping in the comments Let’s all help each other through this difficult time.
*This post is no longer being updated*
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Quarantine week 30: October 5 – 9
As the Christmas season approaches, I wonder how much our practices will change, Thanksgiving and Halloween are also just around the corner. What do your plans look like? How will things be different for you and your family this year?
Speaking of differences, we’ve all been working differently recently. On Instagram we did a mini poll about the work from home situation. How are you coping?
Quarantine week 29: September 28 – October 2
Have you been resting? Have you been finding the time for some kind of movement? Have you been reading? Have you been writing? Have you been sitting with your thoughts? Have you taken moments just for you?
In chatting with a few friends recently, they all reported how exhausted they felt. I had to keep reminding them that we’re going through a lot. We have never had to work, play, go to school, live in these kinds of conditions before. It’s not normal and it’s nothing we could have planned for, so we’re just out here doing the best we can. Now is the time though, for us to take our mental health even more seriously.
If you couldn’t make time for meditation before – make time. If you couldn’t do some light exercise before – now is the time. If you still think you don’t have time to read a book – make time. Now is not the time to be neglecting self-care. We need to be leaning into self-care more than ever. In this podcast episode I covered a few things we should be focusing a bit more on right now. Things I may have left out: sleep, relaxation practices, rest. I know a few people may be saying sleep and rest are the same thing, but they are not- an upcoming podcast episode will point out the differences.
So as we get dressed to spend another day in the living room, let’s take a moment to think about how we are leaning into self-care. On Instagram in our TEMPLATE HIGHLIGHTS we created a “Take Back My Evenings” template so you can start thinking about one thing you can do just for you every evening.
Quarantine week 28: September 21 – 25
This week, an important reminder.
Quarantine week 27: September 14 – 18
Honestly feel like this is becoming an obituaries thread. WTF 2020 ! I just… I don’t know what’s happening anymore. If you don’t know who Ruth Bader Ginsburg is then click that link for a fully stacked Wikipedia page. I only learned about her after several episode of Modern Family mentioned her (and I went searching), but to say she’s a feminist icon wouldn’t even be close to the decades of work she’s done in the United States.
In other news, Tiktok and WeChat could be banned from the United States in coming months – part of an effort to take “significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data” (a quote from the US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross). In significantly more troubling news Indigenous fisherfolk in Nova Scotia, Canada are being harassed by non-Indigenous fisherfolk. The non-Indigenous fisherfolk (using the politically correct term) are protesting the fact that the Indigenous fisherfolk have treaty rights and are allowed to catch as many fish that sustains their moderate livelihood. Apparently these white fisherfolk are upset because they’re saying that the Indigenous people (WHOSE LAND THEY’RE FISHING ON) are taking too many fish and affecting their commercial yield.
Then I had a full-on breakdown one day this week. Listen, this pandemic+ is a hell of a ride. If you’re over it, check out this podcast episode:
Quarantine week 26: September 7 – 11
Gonna be honest with you, I have been taking a break from the news and editing down my Apple news preferences to include ONE breaking news item and mostly human interest pieces.
So imagine my surprise on Monday when I was listening to the 5 minutes of headline news I allow myself each day and heard about how many fires were ravaging Washington and California. Then, I learned this week that Frederick “Toots” Hibbert frontman of Toots and the Maytals passed away.
This year – 2020 – has really been a series of “what’s the worst that could happen” and each month, each week, each day events continue to compete for the title.
Some countries across the world have already recorded recessions, unemployment and uncertainty loom as businesses close their doors, as our relatives continue to lose their jobs. So, how will we survive this year? This is the theme of the upcoming podcast episode. Until the episode drops have a good cry (if you need to) and listen two these two songs. I guarantee your mood will improve.
In good news this week:
We’ve secured some more exclusive deals for the Gronwup Millennial community, check them out here:
https://thegrownupmillennial.com/resources/
Quarantine week 25: August 31 – September 4
Where are you in this evolution process? I am inclined to see this more of an evolutionary cycle because every few weeks I feel like number 1 and then by the end of the week I am right back at UGHHHHHH.
Last evening I watched Last Holiday on Netflix and it really highlighted how “reserved” our thoughts and goals are sometimes. How we limit our capacity because we feel like we have more time. We think we’re not ready and that waiting is a primary part of the process. But the movie raises the question: what are you waiting for? I am not saying you should blow your retirement savings in one go, I am just saying we can look at our current situation and assess where we can take a few more risks. These risks may look different for everyone too – you may want to shave your head and your friend may just want to have a fancy spa day.
On the evening of August 28, 2020 I was searching the internet for efficient ways to clean a microwave (I wipe after each use, but wanted to see if there were any specific products I should be using in there), and took a break to scroll through Twitter, and was met with this:
I was really not prepared for this announcement. Well, nothing can really prepare you to hear that someone has died, but the furthest thing from my mind was that this was on the horizon amidst everything else that’s happening right now.
Chadwick Boseman had been battling colon caner for FOUR years. In those four years he worked on some of our favourite movies, movies with powerful characters that changed our lives. Earlier this year we saw the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and 7 friends. John Lewis died last month. There have been several deaths since the start of the year (unrelated to COVID), and managing grief, your mental health, work, and your family while in a pandemic is rough.
It is especially tough as COVID cases begin to increase across the world. Several countries across have gone back to or have just started seeing hundreds and thousands of cases per day. India recorded a record-breaking number – over 70,000 one day last week.
I read an article recently that said we’re trying to act normal when our new normal is infinite uncertainty. Let’s be kind to ourselves and anyone else we may interact with – we’re all having a rough time, but we can get through it together.
Quarantine week 23: August 17 – 21
So, most tertiary level classes will be online while it’s still a toss up for high school, middle school and elementary. Countries, like Germany, where they decided to do go back to school but have everyone wear masks are re-thinking their decision after seeing a spike in COVID cases. Some countries are about to have elections, some have gone back to curfew hours… there’s a lot happening right now.
There has been a lot happening since quarantine and it might be difficult to try to imagine the end, or even the next few weeks. Check out this podcast episode about how to keep the momentum through different phases and chapters of our life.
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Quarantine week 22: August 10 – 14
Anyone else spending more in these past few months, then before the lockdown? Because I need to have a moment of silence for my past few credit card bills. Man! I suppose the same concept regarding why we feel for junk food more at this time of uncertainty could also explain these increased bills – the need for comfort, Junk food does something to us and the feeling is probably similar when we receive those Amazon boxes at our doorstep.
There’s no manual on what to do during a pandemic and even if there was it would still not be applicable to everyone. What are your quarantine habits? If there are things that will affect your negatively in the long run then we can try to curb them…but if these habits aren’t really hurting anyone and we’re content with them, then why not allow yourself some joy during this period of unknown.
Linking to this breathing practice again because it’s a few weeks down and you may not want to scroll that far down, but it is very helpful if you need to centre and tune into yourself.
Quarantine week 21: August 3 – 7
Remember in the first few weeks/ months of the quarantine when everybody was telling you to do courses online and to “learn a skill”, to take this time to “level up”? I think I am just having that moment now. I got the bug initially and signed up for almost every class (now my email inbox is a graveyard for virtual classes), but didn’t go to any of them…now I finally feel like it’s the time to take those courses and start thinking of the future.
To begin this whole “level up” prep for life post-quarantine, I’ve started with a book: The Power of Full Engagement. Honestly, wherever you are on this life’s journey you need to read (and perhaps re-read) this book. It is a little like The Compound Effect, but more practical (in my opinion). In addition to reading the Power of Full Engagement, I also have this podcast episode on repeat:
Quarantine week 20: July 27 – July 31
Well, here we are FIVE months in quarantine. Earlier this year when they first identified the virus I had no idea this is where we would be in the next few months. But the stories seemed to be getting better, it seemed like we were beating this. The media seemed to start slowly ignoring the scientists who were still telling us to stay home.
Grocery store lines got shorter, people forgot about physical distancing rules in store as they came to slowly browse for groceries, and flowers, ooh and maybe pick up some clothes. The sense of urgency disappeared. But, here comes the news again about cases popping up here and there. Then, we’re getting scared again, then we see that whoa maybe I was a bit too trigger happy with going outside.
Guys, I know it’s hard to be inside for so long (heck, if I didn’t have my friends, my hubby and these books I would’ve probably turned to putty), but we have to keep each other safe. We have no idea what’s happening with this virus and the scientists studying this thing everyday still can’t predict what the next few months will look like.
Stay safe. Stay at home, and catch up on some old (and new) blog posts 😊
https://thegrownupmillennial.com/content/
Quarantine week 19: July 20 – July 24
Since the start of this period of quarantine, have you been feeling more down than up? Like every week is a new challenge for you to conquer?
Well, you’re not alone and it’s completely normal at this time. Literally nothing is certain and we have no idea when we can go outside without masks and physical distancing rules again. It’s harder to see and talk to friends and without going out to work everyday your routines may be all messed up.
That quarantine weight gain feels like a short ride to giving up. But, we’re not giving up. We’re going to pause – take a moment to restore our mental wellness, get things back on track and find a routine that works.
You may need to switch up a few things in your routine every week, and that’s okay. Learn to love those new curves in your body and be gentle with yourself. Nothing is the same and you can’t pretend like your life is.
If you need a little “pick me up” listen to this ⬆️ podcast episode about how we can better organize our lives and accomplish what we really want. For routine ideas, check out Quarantine week 15.
Quarantine week 18: July 13- July 17
Quite a few countries have lifted their travel bans and restrictions on bars and clubs (while maintaining physical distancing), and in most places there have been increases in COVID-19 cases. Based on news reports, health professionals are unsure whether it is because of the re-opening of certain businesses and resuming outdoor gathering or just due to the “second wave” that should be coming or whether more people are just now presenting symptoms and are getting tested.
This is such a complicated time. You want to enjoy the summer, and get outdoors and live your best life…but the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over. So what do you do?
I honestly didn’t even realize that we were so far into the summer, but I am going to grab it with both hands. Here are a few things you can do to still enjoy your summer (while maintaining physical distancing protocols)
You may not want to take your vacation, since you work where you live and live where you work now…but you should consider taking it. Take a week or two off to really focus on yourself and how you can crush the rest of 2020
Learn a new skill (tons of online courses are free/ more affordable right now, and YouTube is always a great place to find some new ideas.
Pick up a new hobby. Think about something you’ve never had the time to do and start doing it! My hubby and I are getting into cycling (well he’s into cycling, I am still trying to master not falling).
Blind ingredient cooking. You blindly pick ingredients (or someone in your household chooses them for you) and you have to make a meal from whatever you have
Go for a walk in an area you’ve never been to before (ideally near your home, for safety reasons)
Board game tournament! There are probably a few people in your COVID-19 bubble who you’ve been seeing since quarantine started, why not have a standing board game night. If you don’t have a physical bubble, there are lots of games that you can also play online
Movie Marathon. Every weekend (or however you want to do this), select a series to complete in one day
Do a drive by/ car hang-out: drive out to a beach, park, lookout point or historical site nearby and have a little car picnic. If you can observe physical distancing, feel free to take that picnic outside
Home renovation project: now is the time to fix that bathroom, paint that wall and change those cabinets!
Workout challenge: you and a group of friends an challenge that #quarantine15 with a group workout goal
How are you spending your #QuarantineSummer?
Quarantine week 17: July 6 – July 10
Thanks to one of my oldest friends, I am watching The Babysitters Club on Netflix; but as I sit here watching episode 7 I can’t help but think of happier times – primarily before I was an adult, before I had real world problems and real world decisions and real world bills.
But how can we make happy memories right now?
Quarantine week 16: June 29 – July 3
It’s been FOUR months.
How do you feel about this?
A few weeks into this quarantine/work from home period, my work colleagues and I would talk about when we may be returning to work, to travelling and to traipsing around during our lunch/coffee breaks. But as the weeks passed, we stopped asking. The future seems a little unthinkable at this point – there is so much happening in the present. I have stopped following the news because this all just feels like a bad sci-fi movie.
Have you been feeling lazy recently? I can’t be the only one. It seems like nothing makes sense and we’ll never get back on track to normalcy. But, the exciting thing about this is that we can create a new sense of “normal”.
I overheard someone talking about the “racial stuff happening right now” and while it’s upsetting that some people still don’t understand the pervasiveness of anti-Black racism, I appreciate that some kind of conversation is happening about race, diversity and equity. So, there’s hope that after this extended period at home we can create a normal that is more equitable and diverse; a normal that is inclusive, rather than exclusive; a normal that feels normal. While you think about this, listen to the latest episode of the podcast:
Quarantine week 15: June 22 – 26
HABITS & RITUALS
That’s the theme for this week of the quarantine. We’ve all read how beneficial routines can be for out live s- to improve efficiency and focus. This has been multiplied ten-fold for me during this pandemic. Having any semblance of order, of sameness and dare I say “normalcy” has really helped me to stay in the game: to better process my emotions, manage them and notice when I need help.
One of those habits.rituals has been my morning routine. I’ll admit I went HAM initially. I wanted to :
Wake up, and say a word of gratitude
Do a daily devotion
Pray
Set my intentions for the day
Read my affirmation
“Bathroom time”
Read for a few minutes
Listen to the news headlines while I use my face roller
Listen to gospel music/ an audiobook while while doing morning yoga
Write a to-do list for the day
So you can see that this was a little ridiculous to do this all before 7:30 am. Going too hard with routines ironically does not help with productivity or focus. My mother always says “everything in moderation” and no matter how hard it is for me to admit it, she’s right. Putting too much on a to-do list, even when you’re trying to clear your mind for the day ahead, can be counter-productive so be sure to write down things you can actually accomplish. Things that are attainable and realistic.
Depending on the time: do 5 minutes of yoga stretches
May still seem like a lot of things to do, but things are a bit more flexible and I go with how my body and mind feels that day. My new obsession is affirmation cards. I pull one each day – that will provide a message that I need in this moment – and I pull a bonus card – that will provide a theme for that week.
The manifestation card is my favourite because it is a reminder that while hurdles, obstacles and challenges exist…we still have the power to create the future that we want. What rituals and habits have been helping you through the quarantine?
Quarantine week 14: June 15 – 19
As I sit on the couch typing this (and sipping Chardonnay), it is apparent now more than ever that we need to be mindful of what we consume (not just what we eat, but media products also), what we say, how we say it, and what we internalize.
Some people have called the chain of Black Lives Matterprotests “the last Civil Rights movement”, but even if it isn’t, it is shifting consciousness.
I won’t go into all the details about my feelings and thoughts during this time (and just generally on the topic of racism), but I will say that I am learning a lot about myself and what my role will look like. Focusing on yourself may be the last thing you want to do – there’s so much to say and do and fix…but try to focus on you and your own circle of friends and your immediate and extended circles of influence. Before thinking big picture, think about what you can contribute to your small(-er) circle and then how this feeds into the big picture.
We all have a role in life, and this role has two parts: the actualization of your potential and the impact on the world. They are not mutually exclusive.
In the context of all happening in the world, it is pertinent that we figure out what this means for our own lives beyond the life of these protests. This is heavy, you may not want to focus on this work that needs to be done, you may make every excuse to delay it … but life can’t be all smiley faces and lollipops, we have to deal with the bad stuff too, the ugly stuff, the things we thought we made progress on years ago but still have to re-visit.
This week’s update may feel like a lot, so to lighten the mood let’s talk about wine. I included that quote to break things up a bit. Need some wine to wash down that racial tension?
Between wine, yoga and my three friends I talk to about “race things”, I have been managing to navigate through all these emotions (especially with triggering images and videos literally at your fingertips, courtesy of social media). How have you been managing?
Quarantine week 13: June 8 – 12
It’s 6 months into 2020 and we’re probably all thinking that it can’t get any worse. Fingers crossed. We’re in the middle of a pandemic. Some of us are still at home, expected to work. Racial injustice (that’s all I need to say about that). Black Lives Matter protests. Everyone’s opinions about the Black Lives Matter protests. Anxiety around what a possible second wave of COVID-19. And the economy? There is a lot happening right now. Remember to take time for yourself.
We could all use some good news right now:
Quarantine week 12: June 1 – 5
It’s been THREE MONTHS in quarantine for me. How many has it been for you? Some countries have issued back to work orders. Are you back at work?
Not much has changed since week 11. The angst, the raw angst, is still present but instead of crying I have been talking to people almost everyday about how I feel, how they feel and how they feel we can make some kind of difference for the coming generation. I have mixed feelings about seeing my friends’ kids attending protests. It’s great to see the activism and the awareness, and it’s really great that they want to be involved…but I also cannot get past the fact that our ancestors already did all this, just for us to be fighting the same shit over …and over…and over again,
If you are reading this and you are a Black person, please remember to take care of yourself. I know you’re thinking about all the things you need to be doing, but remember to take the time to take care of yourself. Your mental health is also important and that should also be a priority at this time. If you’ve had any “off-the-cuff” emails from your non-Black colleagues basically asking you to absolve them of racism – I would suggest protecting your energy at this time. Some may say this is a missed opportunity to educate others, however if it takes the entire United States to be on fire for this colleague to reach out then this is going to be a long, difficult discussion and you will have to decide whether it is something you want to take on right now; something you want to table for another day; or figure out if its even worth it.
If you are reading this and you are a non-Black person, you should also be focusing on ways to safe-guard/maintain your mental wellness. While you may want to do something – please keep in mind that this “something” should be in the service of increasing the efforts of Black community organizations. In lieu of your own Instagram rant (which may be sensitive for some people to read/watch), amplify Black voices and share our messages. Search for Black community organizations in your area, share their messages and ask what they might need help with. Three relatively easy ways to help would be to: donate, share messages written by Black people, and continue to make space for Black voices and Black bodies. Do not ask the one Black person you know how you can be less racist. Do not tell them that you are thinking about them (this is a vacant response – you are committing to nothing and essentially communicating nothing), instead ask your Black coworkers, colleagues and friends, how you may support them right now. Do not be offended if they take some time to reply or do not reply at all – everyone is processing things differently.
In the latest episode of the podcast psychotherapist, business coach and podcaster – Annie Schuessler – spoke about how mindset is not the only recipe for success and how race, culture and sex can act as a hindrance of advantage to success.
Quarantine week 11: May 25 – 29
“Use your position of privilege to change the narrative”
-Nicolette Richardson
This has been a rough week. In addition to all we’ve had to deal with because of COVID-19 – there were at least 4 racially motivated crimes (against Black people) in the United Statues within a 72 hour span. One of these is the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis – this has resulted in a rebellion of sorts in the city. Protestors have been tear-gassed and many have been arrested. Almost all members of a CNN news crew reporting from the hub of activity were hand-cuffed and led away by police during a live broadcast.
Within this same week, there were civilian news reports about an alleged police killing of 29- year old Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Ontario, Canada.
These two deceased individuals are Black.
Black and Indigenous people have been dying at the hands of police for a very long time. I used to watch the news and see these reports and it used to feel so far from me. But, this week…this week, – everything felt so close. Too close. Full disclosure, I lived most of my adult life in Jamaica and since moving to North America, I am understanding what it means to be Black. The weight we bear as Black people in these spaces.
I am going to be honest with you, I sat down and cried for probably an hour. I can’t describe how it feels to realize (over and over again) that white people believe you are expendable just because of the colour of your skin. The other three events in the United States that did not result in death – included a man who lied that a Black man kidnapped him, after he was found leaving a motel. The truth was that this youth pastor was cheating on his wife. In another of the cases – there was a woman who threw her child into a pond (I think it was a pond), and when people realized the child was missing, she said a Black man kidnapped her child.
I think I cried so much, because it was in that moment – on the floor of my home, clutching my phone – that I realized that they will never respect Black bodies. The system that has oppressed our ancestors is the same system we’re living under today. They may have stuck a few rhinestones on it but the system is designed to oppress Black, Indigenous and other people of colour. The activities of this week reminded me of what the state of Mississippi did to a 14-year old Black boy in 1955- Emmett Till.
This week I also attended a Radical Self-care workshop led by some amazing Black and Indigenous people – one of them is my friend, Sashah. She led us through a breathing exercise that connects us to our wholeness, our bodies, and our ancestry.
Check it out below:
It helped me to get through this week, and I will definitely be using it again. Let me know if you try it !
Remember: “Your existence is resistance”
We all know I’m pretty much the poster child for therapy. So, in this difficult time if you feel like you need to talk to someone – remember help is one click away. Check out a list of the best online therapy options here.
Quarantine week 10: May 18 – 22
One of my mother’s many plant babies. 😍
I read on Twitter that this is the stage of quarantine where we all become plant parents, and with all the plant photos I’ve seen on Instagram it might just be true.
I would probably also be a plant mom, but I have no luck with plants. A cactus is the only thing I’ve ever managed to keep alive. A lot of work goes into taking care of plants too, plus sometimes there may be bugs living on them – eek ! I’m looking forward to going to Ikea to buy a few fake plants when it’s safe to do so [don’t judge me for wanting fake plants 😩].
In other news, the best clash of all time (at least of 2020) happened on Verzuz’s Instagram page recently. This may be my bias as a Jamaican showing but it was AH-MAY-ZING. I enjoyed myself from start to finish and was even happier when I realized they put the whole thing on YouTube (even the warm up). Click the link above to check it out.
I can’t believe it’s already 10 weeks since I’ve been coping from home (because we aren’t really just working from home, are we?). Everything still feels so surreal. What’s very real though, and something we need to be taking into consideration, is HOW we are working at home. Our overall wellness is important:
Hopefully these resources will help you as much as they have helped me to reconfigure my work from home setup (physically and mentally).
https://thegrownupmillennial.com/resources/
Have the best week!
Quarantine week 9: May 11 – 15
I may or may not have a problem. I have been to Costco 4 times in the past two weeks. Just recently I went to Costco two days in a row. It might just be that it’s the only place that we’re really allowed to go tht’s really a big department store.
Have you also been going for strolls in your supermarket?
Not going back to Costco for the rest of the month though (on principle and also based on my bank account statements lol). I’ve really been leaning into cooking now. Before quarantine I had a set thing I’d take to work each day for lunch (some kind of protein and salad mix, with nuts and fruit, maybe a protein shake), but since we live, work and play at home now there’s a bit more time to experiment. I hate spending a long time in the kitchen, so even though I am experimenting the meals need to be quick lol. So I’ve been sharing some of my faves each week on this highlight on Instagram.
Books (among other things) are also keeping me grounded at this time. We can’t use the excuse that we’re too busy to read books now – because even if you’re as busy as a bee, you can still allot that time you would have used for commute – to reading :).
To give you a little inspo, I’ll share what I’ve read/am reading so far:
READ:
The Skin We’re in by Desmond Cole
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Love Warrior By Glennon Doyle
Me Before You by Jojo Meyes
READING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison
After You by Jojo Meyes
AUDIOBOOKS (completed):
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
How to Become an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendships by Kayleen Shaefer
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
We’re two months in, and I’ve got to say… I think I’m getting the hang of this. We can all agree that it’s not ideal and we’d rather be welcoming Summer under different circumstances but, we have to do the best with what we have.
I recorded a podcast interview recently with a friend who works in the film industry (STAY TUNED to hear it) and she said she never really realized how important movies (and other visual entertainment) are to the fabric of our lives until now. Movies, documentaries and tv shows have definitely been keeping me “in the zone”.
So this week I’ll share a few movies, tv shows and documentaries I’ve been watching (some might be exclusive to Netflix):
TV SHOWS:
The Office (if you’ve never seen it, you need to go watch it and if you’ve seen it, just rewatch it)
Money Heist (a modern day Robin Hood story)
Self-Made (a limited series on Netflix about the life of Madame CJ Walker, first Black female millionaire)
This Is Us (the perfectly imperfect story of an American family)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (an amazing story of a woman in the 60’s who dares to become a comedienne after divorce)
Please Like Me (guaranteed laughs!)
Ozark (this is a cross between Breaking Bad and Schitt’s Creek)
Love (a story about how an unlikely match found love and had to redefine it)
Fargo (the wildest “tv series based on a true story” you will ever watch)
UPDATE about Fargo: Apparently it’s not based on a true story, even though it says this at the beginning of each episode. WOW! I feel lied to.
MOVIES:
The Richest Man in the World (a close-to-real account of the life of J Paul Getty – he was literally the richest man in the world)
The Harder They Come (a Jamaican film, shot in the 70’s about how a boy from the country became the most wanted man in Kingston)
Sprinter (also a film shot in Jamaica – telling the fictional story of one athlete’s rise to the top)
DOCUMENTARIES:
Becoming (even if you didn’t really like the book by Michelle Obama, this is a must-see)
Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians (such a great documentary about the rise of T-20 cricket and the high stakes of the Indian Premier League)
Matchday (this is a documentary about FC Barcelona. It shows the behind the scenes story of all the players and the pressure to perform)
Drive to Survive (I am a big Formula 1 fan, and since it’s cancelled I’ve been getting my fix through these documentaries)
Senna (documentary about the legendary Formula 1 driver – Ayrton Senna)
I Am Bolt (about the fastest man in the world – Usain Bolt)
Ronaldo (we either love or hate footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, this documentary shows him in a whole new light)
Betting on Zero (a documentary on Herbalife and whether or not its a scam)
Until next week !
Quarantine week 7: April 27 – May 1
Remember in that first week, when we joked about being in quarantine until May… well here we are.
Apparently we will me in quarantine beyond May, and you know what that’s okay (I type with little beads of tears in my eye). We need to stay hope and reduce physical contact because this virus is insanely contagious and we understand the gravity of the situation and we know we’re doing out part by staying inside… sigh.
We all know what we’re doing is the right thing to do, but that doesn’t stop us from missing outside. But, the good thing is that we’ve been taking this time to do a bunch of things like strengthen relationships (especially friendships); I see some of us have seen the light and taken manicures into our own hands (see what I did there? lol) with press-on nails; some of us have learned new skills, like cutting our own hair; heck, we’ve even become Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen.
I see you taking time to practice self-care, blow dust of these books and read them, while finding creative ways to stay in touch with the ones we love most.
I went on a few walks this week and while I am still packing on those quarantine pounds (please send help), we have to find some ways to move for a few minutes everyday. What does movement look like for you? A group of my friends have decided to move for 30 minutes each week-day in May (and hopefully this becomes a habit). How can you challenge yourself to get your move on?
I’ve got some good news !
Podcasts are a great way to keep your company, so just letting you know that a brand new episode of the podcast is out and you can listen to it right here (convenient, right?):
In some polls on Instagram we all agreed that friends are keeping us sane right now, so this conversation with Hope is very timely. I am also doing my first GIVEAWAY ever. Check out more details on Instagram !
Quarantine week 6: April 20 – 25
Guys1 I got dressed up to have an online dinner party to celebrate a friend’s birthday this week and I may have enjoyed it too much lol. It was such a nice time. I got dressed to the ankles (nobody wears shoes in the house, right?), prepared my Kraft dinner (I said I was lazy lol), poured my glass of wine and sat by the phone to toast my friend.
Lauren Messiah – a stylist I follow on Instagram – has always spoken about how much dressing up can change our mood and as I sat there in my black turtleneck dress, camouflage jacket and gold earrings eating Kraft dinner and sipping wine…I realized this was perfectly true.
Let’s just skip over the fact that I’ve gained 8 pounds since we’ve been in quarantine.
As we work on relationships during this quarantine period, it’s also essential that we look at parenting skills. Whether you are a parent, you will soon be a parent or you haven’t really thought about it, this conversation is for you. I spoke with a life coach who specializes in working with parents and we had a pretty comprehensive chat about what it means to be a parent in these times, and what parenting might look like as we prepare to raise the next generation.
Quarantine week 5: April 13 – 17
How the heck are you doing? Are you still hanging in there? Not gonna lie, it’s getting more difficult for us. The fact that we can’t really just go “hang out” or go have tea and raspberry lemon bars at the coffee shop down the street kinda got to us this week. I know, I know, this is a small price to pay to save a life, but I can’t help thinking about it sometimes.
I’ve also been dealing with some health issues, so I probably haven’t been in the healthiest frame of mind. But my husband had the great idea to go for a drive every evening. At first I was like…nah but it was really nice to safely get out of the house and drive around. It’s also not a bad time for a drive-out because gas is the cheapest it’s ever been right now.
I’ve downloaded desktop versions of all the apps I use to talk to my friends, in an effort to use my phone a bit less. I don’t know about you but since this quarantine thing I have been married to my phone. I don’t even want to look at the Screen Time notification anymore to see how many hours a day I’ve spent on the phone. So, since I’m using my laptop most of the day anyway, let’s just stick to one screen.
Speaking of screens. Have you been taking sufficient breaks? You might get carried away working from home and end up taking less breaks. Please don’t do that. Stand as much as you can, stretch, take sufficient screen breaks and remember to eat well. You might be as tired of cooking as I am, so it’s always easy to make a salad or have some fresh fruit nearby. I know I’m incredibly lazy so I try to have the lettuce already shredded, and I buy the cherry tomatoes , and even pre-chop the avocados – so then I just grab a bowl and throw everything together. Having canned tuna is also pretty handy for an easy protein boost (so you don’t have to cook any meat). I’ve got you covered!
While I wouldn’t say my productivity levels have returned to normal, I’ve been more productive this week than the entire quarantine period. Largely due to the fact that I’ve been planning out my days, by the hour using this daily planner. I know, it sounds insane to plan out the day hourly, but it has been so helpful to keep me on track. I’m not saying I follow it to the T, but it keeps me focused.
Did you caught any good online concerts lately?
Quarantine week 4: April 6 – 10
It’s been 4 weeks – A WHOLE MONTH – since we’ve been at home. I hardly remember the days of the week anymore and last Sunday I jumped out of bed thinking it was Monday and I was late for work.
By this time we’ve probably all experimented with some kind of home project. Some of you may be changing your hair colour, giving yourself haircuts, doing your own manicures, I even heard of some people making their own at home wax (you are very brave!). What kind of at-home project have you been doing?
I’ve been doing puzzles, and my husband and I had a puzzle challenge. I thought I would win but I lost miserably lol. I completed the puzzle in 22 minutes, he finished it in about 7 minutes. I also tried press-on nails for the first time. A few friends had told me about it and I wasn’t sold initially, but it felt like the perfect time to try it since I won’t be seeing my manicurist for some time.
They came out pretty good and I don’t know how I will ever return to acrylics ever again. These took no time, and there’s this adhesive strip you can use, instead of nail glue (for anyone who might be allergic or wondering about whether the glue might damage your nails).
While uncertainty and disaster looms and the impacts of COVID-19 continue to stretch closer to us, there has been one silver-lining: the ability to connect/re-connect with friends. Now is the time to lean on our relationships and figure out those difficult friendships. Friendships (like any relationship) are difficult, especially as we age. With all the “extra time” we may have it seems like a good time to dig into those relationships, those friendships, to see whether you and your friends are on the same page, to say the things you’ve always wanted to say, and really evaluate the friendship.
Without the usual distractions, I have been able to have some serious heart-to-heart talks with some friends and it has completely changed our relationship (for the better).
Another relationship worth evaluating:
Parents, I know you’re probably overwhelmed with keeping your family sane, working from home, home-schooling, and keeping everyone fed, but now might also be a good time for you to evaluate your parenting skills.
We all have “stuff” that we have carried with us throughout our lives. “Stuff” that occurred in childhood, that we can’t or choose not to explain. Now might be a good time to look at how you’re framing these childhood years for your future adults. Is there anything you want to do differently? What kind of memories do you want them to have of these years?
Getting your kids involved in this kind of discussion might also be helpful. One of my uncles asked my little cousin what she thought they should do together as a family and sis had a whole list of ideas (including doing more activities together – all three of them). These “nowadays children” (as my mother would say) are not the same as previous generations – they have lots of thoughts and opinions and they probably want you to hear them.
In a few days I’ll be sharing a conversation I had with a therapist (who specializes in coaching parents) about the skills we need to raise the future generation. Listen here:
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thegrownupmillennial/Episode32-Apr20202.mp3 Episode 32: A New Era of Parenting with Victoria Anderson
Quarantine week 3: March 30 – April 3
Shit is getting real.
Apart from the fact that we’ll probably be at home for at least another month, the impact of COVID-19 is becoming apparent to all of us. While we scroll through Instagram and see the work from home hashtags and activities to stay busy at home, there’s a very real world of worries looming out there. I have a few friends who are concerned about their future at their companies; a few others who have already lost their jobs; and a few who have are in limbo.
This is not an easy or enjoyable time for anyone, but if we continue to support, check on, connect with each other, it will at last make it bearable. A few ways we can support ourselves and each other:
Check on your friends and family members.
Take advantage of the free resources online now. It’s so great that people are choosing to offer their services for free or at a reduced cost at this time. Want to learn that skill? Now is the time.
Get organized. You’ve been wanting to get your house/room in order for a long time. Nothing like some government-mandated time at home to get it done.
Learn to cook. I don’t love cooking but I have been exploring the kitchen way more now that I am at home. Try that funky recipe!
Download the Houseparty app and play games with your friends!
Start/ join a book club. I read with the Rebel Women Lit Book Club a few months for the year (if you’re not reading with them, then you should be) and my friend and I also started a Toni Morrison book club. It’s just for the two of us, because I’ve never read her work and I am embarrassed and can’t continue life without reading all her books (yeah, I am the definition of a drama queen lol).
Remember to check in with yourself and practice self-care. If the news is too much for you – plug it out, turn it off, swipe left and scroll up. If you just need a break – take it. Listen to your body and honour your needs.
Below I’ve included some free resources that will help you get, and stay on track with your self-care and productivity goals.
https://thegrownupmillennial.com/resources/
Money is a big concern for a lot of us right now, and I spoke to a Millennial Money Expert about making money in a crisis, how to get out of debt and he also gave some helpful tips about managing life during a recession. Listen here:
For more coping resources, scroll down to week one. Remember to leave a comment on how you’re coping during this quarantine.
Quarantine week 2: March 23 – 27
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This is the second full week working from home and I have never thought of video call fatigue or email fatigue until now. I recently received a 30-email thread in my inbox. What does one do with a 30-email thread? I am getting so many emails, I have no idea what to do. I thought there would be less work while working from home but apparently there is way more and I was not mentally prepared for it.
If you’re like me, when you feel overwhelmed you shut down. You look at the work, you see your to-do list and you just do the bare minimum and tip toe around the work because actually tackling the list just seems TOO MUCH. To fight this inaction I took drastic measures: I created a very detailed outline of my day, including when I would wake up, take breaks and what I would eat.
It was difficult for me to work on side projects initially while working at home, because I wasn’t able to physically separate work from home and my “job job” from my passion project.Now that I am working from my passion project space, it felt weird and I felt like I was neglecting my passion project and just felt very blah. However, with the detailed outlined I was able to etch out time to split up my day into reasonable time chunks that allowed me to allot hours to my passion project.
You may still be getting used to this whole “social distancing”, “stay at home” situation and that’s okay. Listen to this episode of the podcast, it may help to provide some clarity. Remember to let us know how you’re coping in the comments.
Quarantine week 1: March 16 – 20
Well, we may be home for a while (see what I did there? lol). This was officially my first week working from home. Our department is doing a trial 3-week period working away from the office. I anticipate we’ll be home a bit longer than 3 weeks and I am kinda dreading it.
I haven’t worked from home in a while and I am finding it a little hard to re-adjust. All I want to do is sleep and eat snacks. I have already been to the supermarket three times this week ( I know I should be at home, but I keep running out of snacks!). There is a lot we will have to get used to in the coming weeks, being along is one of them, toilet paper being almost as valuable as life itself is another, and there’s also the social distancing lines at Costco and other supermarkets that will probably double or triple the length of your 10-minute shopping trip.
“Social Distancing” (which later became physical distancing) is a term many of us hadn’t heard before this week, but it’s one that will lace the stories we tell our kids and grandkids in the future. The Government of Canada has outlined, pretty simply, what social distancing means:
avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings
avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes
limiting contact with people at higher risk (e.g. older adults and those in poor health)
keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, as much as possible
For those of us who are still wondering what this really means for our everyday lives, then CNN has got you covered with this article. Essentially, we can still order take out, but if we can avoid public transportation then we should. You should not be travelling at this time, except from your bedroom to the kitchen (unless you’re still outside of your home country, you need to try to head home while you still can/ if you still can), and generally, you don’t need to be wearing a mask unless you feel ill.
Here is a list of some ways we can stay sane, and less isolated:
With the gyms closed, and with all the snacks in the house it’s not a great combination this had not been a good combination for me. Plus, exercising helps to temporarily distract us from life’s problems. So, I’ve been doing Fitness Blender workouts on Youtube plus @angoswede has ramped up her IG content with no-weight workouts, perfect for this period. I’ve also heard of a few gyms doing free online classes and yoga classes by zoom. If you know of any share them in the comments section !
It might be a rough time for extroverts and it’s okay to admit that you miss going outside, see your friends and just hanging out. I would suggest getting into a new hobby in the meantime.
If you miss your friends and still want to connect over your favourite shows, host a Netflix Party !
Take the time to reach out to people you haven’t heard for a while. I generally only text people and I am trying to either have more meaningful connections via text or connect by phone.
Reach out to your parents and loved ones a bit more, they may also be very concerned about the current events.
If you’re an iPhone user, download iTunes University. There are so many free courses to take advantage of. I am currently enrolled in four !
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