Quarantine Edition: 9 Ways to Spark Joy

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If you’re feeling listless, lost, and a little alone right now, please know you are not alone. I recently did a mental health check in on Stories, and so many people reported feeling anxious, fearful, and stressed. With loss of work, kids home from school, and our daily lives being shifted, I thought I’d put together some ideas to help you spark more joy. I know times aren’t easy right now, and sometimes it may take real effort to feel happier. One of the things my mom always says is to just do the next right thing, whatever that thing may be. Here are some ideas.

1. Reconnect with Your Pets

As you probably know, I have a 13 year old Siberian Husky, and one of the silver linings of this whole thing is that he gets to have his humans home! Here are some of the ways I like to reconnect with him:

• More Play Time

  • He loves this felt ball, this treat dispenser ball, and dog puzzles.

• Teach Your Dog a New Trick

  • In the past year, Buckles has learned to ‘Kiss’ and turn in a circle. He also knows how to shake, give a high 5, say prayers, and play dead, as well as bow, sit, and speak. Here’s a great video to help you teach your dog a new trick.

• Try a New Route

  • If you’re encouraged to be outside in your area, try a new walking route. It’ll be stimulating for your pup, and you’ll get to see a new part of your area as well.

2. Get in the Kitchen

• Balance your hormones

• Make Allison’s famous flourless banana oatmeal cookies

• Recreate some of your favorite restaurant dishes

• Get some knife skills (how sexy is that tomato cutting?!)

• Make your own yogurt

3. Read An Uplifting Book

My recommendations are:

• This is How it Always Is

• Tiny Beautiful Things

• How to Walk Away

• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

• Red, White and Royal Blue

• Night Tiger

• Kiss Quotient

• Things You Save in the Fire

4. Watch an Something Funny or Uplifting

Some recommendations are:

• The Intouchables

• Fried Green Tomatoes

• Best in Show

• Schitt’s Creek

• First Wives Club

5. Take a Fitness or Yoga Class

• Yoga for People who Slouch

• Hip Hop Yoga

• Bodyweight Workout Class

6. Try Something New with Your Beauty Routine

• Try a tucked braided updo

• Try my favorite body lotion - I swear it lifts my mood.

• Try my DIY Probiotic Face Mask

7. Get Cleaning, and Donate

• Speaking of beauty, consider organizing your beauty cabinet. If you find any unopened items you could donate, here are a few places to consider:

  • I Support the Girls (sealed feminine hygiene products

  • Project Beauty Share (gently used makeup and personal care items)

  • Share Your Beauty (unopened makeup, hair, and skin-care products)

• Organize your wardrobe, and donate to:

  • Blue Jeans Go Green (jeans)

  • Dress For Success (workwear)

  • I Support the Girls (bras)

8. Reconnect with Friends and Family

• Use Zoom, Skype or FaceTime and have a meal “together” to catch up.

• Support small business if you can, and send a care package to a friend or family member.

9. Make Memories in Your Own Home with Immediate Family or Significant Other/Roommate

• We’ve been busting out board games - my favorite is Scattergories

• Make a special meal (we did tacos the other night, which was sort of an out of the ordinary type of meal for us and it was so good), and enjoy said meal leisurely, together, no phones allowed (can I get an amen for that?!)

• We’ve been doing things way out of the ordinary for us - staying up late to enjoy a series we can’t stop watching (currently working our way through Peaky Blinders).

I’d love to hear how you’re creating more joy in your home during this time - let us know by leaving a comment below.