21 Things I’ve Discovered + Enjoyed + Recommend Since the Pandemic Started
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It’s been about 8̶4̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ 21 weeks since the pandemic changed everything about life as we know it.
And while tons of things have gotten canceled or closed, I have noticed that I’ve discovered some new things that I’ve come to really enjoy over these past five months.
Arts, entertainment, nonfiction, audio, bingeable shows, technology, productivity, finances, it’s a whole smattering of stuff. But all of it has made my days a little bit brighter. And in these out of control times, I don’t know about you, but that’s exactly what I’ve needed.
21 Things I’ve Discovered + Enjoyed + Recommend Since the Pandemic Started
Masterclass. This is a collection of 80+ video lessons from world class experts. Think: Thomas Keller on cooking. Christina Aguilera on riffs. David Sedaris on humor writing. I love professional development, books, and conferences, and Masterclass gives you a front row seat to learn about a variety of crafts from those that do them best. (I’ve loved Bob Iger, Chris Voss, Bobbi Brown, and Steve Martin’s classes so far!)
Grocery pickup. Theoretically I knew this was a thing for a while but #pandemiclife pushed me to finally make this the way I grocery shop. In a past life grocery shopping was a way to get out of the house and do an activity with Eloise, but now that we’re not using it to kill time, might as well get it done easy peasy with pickup. I don’t hate it. (If you haven’t tried Walmart Grocery Pickup, use this link and get $10 off your first order.)
Working at home full-time with my husband also working at home full-time (without additional childcare). This took a little adjusting and finagling but we’ve finally gotten into a routine where we split hangout time with our toddler and split work time. It’s amazing how much work you can pack into 5 or 6 hours instead of 8 if that’s what you HAVE to do. (And I’ve freed myself from the traditional workweek hours because I can’t tell you how much I can get done on a Saturday morning when my inbox is dead!)
Building a Storybrand (book + podcast). Guys, this book on branding and connecting with your customer as the hero of the story has helped me more in my business this year than any other. I can’t recommend both the book and the podcast enough. Clarify your message!
Becoming. I loved listening to Michelle Obama’s audiobook to hear her incredible story of little girl growing up on the south side of Chicago to First Lady and beyond. What a ride. It’s so well told and inspiring.
Never Have I Ever. Created by Mindy Kaling, this Netflix show has a hilarious, smart script. It’s perfect high school pandemic escapism.
Hamilton on Disney+. I saw this cast of Hamilton at the Rodgers from the top row of the balcony, so seeing this up close multi-camera version was so satisfying. Highly recommend!! (Cap it off with John Adams on HBO if you never saw the miniseries! [I hadn’t and it’s GREAT. LAURA LINNEY IS QUEEN.]
Refinancing my mortgage. This goes in the adulting category, but if the pandemic gave us anything it’s at least low interest rates. We’re saving hundreds of dollars per month on our mortgage after refinancing. That makes a substantial difference for our monthly budget.
Everybody switching to video meetings and working remotely. I wrote a whole essay about this one for HuffPost so I don’t know that you need me to expound upon this further, but I’m still celebrating the inclusivity that has occurred as a result of social distancing. It’s also better for the environment to WFH, so there’s that.
Interviewing all star podcast guests. I have to be honest, I don’t know that I could have snagged time with Dan Pink and Jen Hatmaker if they hadn’t been homebound in the spring. What an incredible opportunity to talk one-on-one with those two and other incredible writers and thinkers.
WW app. (Mom alert) I started WW in March NOT KNOWING I would want to stress eat for all of April. Luckily, this actually gave me a little corner of the universe to control amidst the chaos and that was really, really nice. I also love the community piece of the app and the never ending recipe ideas. (This link gives you one month free if you want to try it.)
The Last Dance. We all know I’m not sporty but I’m ENRAPTURED by Michael Jordan’s obsession with excellence and how the Chicago Bulls worked together as a championship NBA team in the 90s. Did you know it takes more than just talent to be the best?? This series is so fascinating and inspiring. And it’s on Netflix now!
Saving money. I’m still mourning the loss of our Disney trip that was killed, but it was astounding to see that we spent about 30% less per month during lockdown. It made me realize that if we get to a point in the future where we really need to tighten our belts and trim spending dramatically, we certainly can. That’s freeing.
Fairfax County Parks. I’m really grateful to live somewhere that has dozens of gorgeous parks so we can socially distance and enjoy the great outdoors! We just became official members of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and I’ve so loved strolling with Eloise throughout the beautiful space. Burke Lake Park is also a new favorite.
My daughter learning to walk and talk. Perhaps the most thrilling happening of 2020 has been Eloise emerging out of infancy and into toddlerhood. She began to confidently walk and quickly run during the spring and now regularly speaks in sentences. “It’s a…” is a favorite sentence. (It’s a plane! It’s a broom! It’s a bow!)
The Peanut Butter Falcon. This is my favorite film we’ve watched this year on our weekly Family Movie Night. (Honorable mentions: Fighting with My Family & Roman Holiday)
Run. Very fun limited series on HBO with Dohmnall Gleason who is one of my favorite actors! Like a mid-life crisis/comedy/heist/travel movie mostly set on a train. If I can’t travel IRL at least I can watch people take a cross country train ride.
Morning Brew. I only have a few email newsletters that I read religiously. This is one of them! It breaks down the day’s business news in an entertaining, lighthearted way. Here’s a referral link. I think I get a coffee mug or something if you sign up.
Fairfax County Covid Case Data Dashboard. I know, I know, a bit of a downer, but information is agency. I check this every day to see how the case count is in my county and even my zip code. The news is not always helpful in figuring out what is really happening vs what gets clicks, so this data is welcomed information I get every day.
TRX To Go. I’m still grieving my canceled gym membership but these straps help! I love the TRX system and this was so easy to install and throw over the door in my home office so I can incorporate strength training into my daily routine.
Airpods. I know they look bougie but the freedom to not be physically wired to my mobile device in order to enjoy audio provides unexpected joy. Phone calls while cooking. Podcasts while strolling. Masterclass on audio mode while driving. I just can’t. This is my favorite technology purchase in years.
There ya have it! I hope you’ll take me up on one of these recommendations, and let me know if you do! Now I’d love to know: what have you discovered over these past 21 weeks that you’ve enjoyed?!
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