March 12, 2020 was the day my office closed and my quarantine life began. All my co-workers and I packed up our laptops and some office equipment, expecting to return in two weeks. I flew back to Seattle thinking I’d take advantage of the temporary work from home policy and hang out with my family for a little bit. LOL. Fast forward 52 long-but-short weeks later, I’m still watching Wheel of Fortune every night with my parents on the couch.
In no particular order, here are some big and small things I’ve learned in the past year of seclusion and social distancing.
- My health is everything.
- I can log off of work without completing everything on my to-do list.
- I could eat avocado toast every day.
- Reading is the best escape from reality.
- The values I learned from playing sports growing up have helped me get through this pandemic.
- Content promotion is the most exhausting part of blogging. Thanks if you’re reading this!
- The Baltimore food scene slaps!
- I was not washing my hands enough in pre-pandemic times.
- Anxiety can make me feel like I’m going to die. But actually.
- It’s possible to run out of things to watch on Netflix.
- I am a hoarder and need to learn to throw things away instead of saving them for ten years “just in case.”
- I’m not afraid of needles/getting shots.
- The fact that I get along with my parents so well is pretty uncommon.
- Making an aesthetic charcuterie board is harder than it looks.
- I don’t need to spend money on stuff, just books, food, and experiences.
- I’m more introverted than I thought.
- In the 13 years I grew up here, I hardly explored Washington.
- I like to listen to podcasts more than music. Except Taylor Swift of course.
- I have to remember to renew my car registration, otherwise the late fee is lowkey massive.
- Virtual gift exchanges make everything better. Do a summer one and a holiday one!
- I can indeed learn how to ride a bike.
- It’s important to me to work at a company that has women in positions of power.
- I need to floss more.
- Racism in America is systemic, and it’s up to me to educate myself and do better.
- Getting 10,000 steps a day requires around two hours and four miles of walking a day.
- I can’t handle anything much spicier than Cholula hot sauce.
- There’s nothing more exciting and terrifying than seeing an animal in the wild.
- Night routines are easier for me to follow than morning routines.
- Leaving LA and moving back home does not mean I’ve failed.
- I have metatarsalgia, which is pain in the ball of the foot, and orthotics with metatarsal cushioning are life savers!!!
- I do not have an eye for interior design.
- Taking things day by day can be just as exciting as having a dozen things planned weeks in advance.
- If I feel like I need some retail therapy, I should find somewhere to donate instead.
- I’m an Enneagram type 3.
- If I wasn’t in advertising, I’d want to work in book publishing.
- It’s necessary to take a break from passion projects even though I love working on them.
- Larch Madness > March Madness
- Health insurance is more expensive than I want it to be, but it is worth it.
- I’ve become fairly competent in Excel.
- Putting on a beanie is the quickest way to feel warmer in the house.
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