The coronavirus, or COVID-19, has many people across the U.S. stuck at home, avoiding unnecessary outings and potential exposure to the virus. Some of us may be close to losing our minds, while others are enjoying the quiet and solitude and using this time to start new hobbies, exercise indoors, clean an entire home or apartment, or simply just read a good book.
Here are the ways our SPY.com editors are keeping busy while quarantined, from running outdoors to practicing indoor yoga, reading a hardcover book or paging through a Kindle, guzzling coffee or crafting a matcha, or learning a new skill like origami. We hope you can get some ideas from these small sanity savers that have made our excess free time a whole lot more enjoyable.
-
Essential Oil Diffuser
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “Cleaning and de-cluttering a home can calm the mind, but nothing works for me better than a soothing smell. Essential oils have all sorts of healing properties — I use them topically and in a diffuser like this one to create a tranquil environment in my apartment at any time. It’s become a part of my morning and nightly routine to turn it on and let the calm wash over.”
— Taylor Galla, assistant editor, SPY.com
-
‘The Complete Book of Origami’ by Robert J. Lang
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “I’ve been meaning to take up origami for years, and being stuck inside for two weeks was apparently the motivation I needed. This book is designed to take you from an origami novice to a complete master, and some of the designs at the end of the book are pretty intimidating. I’m making good progress so far! On my first try I made a passable mouse and a pretty good duck. It’s nice to occupy my hands and do something that doesn’t involve a screen.”
— Timothy Beck Werth, managing editor, SPY.com
-
Brooks Mens Adrenaline GTS 19 Running Shoe
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “Once a runner, always a runner. The beauty of running is you can do it without anyone else and all you really need is a pair of good running shoes. I’ve worn Brooks my entire life and the Adrenaline series gets better with every new release. Since being stuck indoors, I’ve found myself running for the mental break and the sake of doing it, instead of running for exercise. With our routines all flipped upside down so suddenly, I feel like getting out of your space and running is more important than ever. Even if it’s just for a few minutes to clear your head.”
— James Schiff, copy editor, SPY.com
-
Tumaz Yoga Strap
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Amazon “Thankfully yoga can be practiced anywhere and it’s times like these when we need our practice the most. This yoga strap has allowed me to continue my practice with my own props, and this strap is especially great because you can do simple stretches with it during the day to improve your posture or to stretch your legs after a day of sitting too long.”
— Jamie Miles, site director, SPY.com
-
‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R Tolkien
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “I’m normally a Kindle kind of guy, but for a story as legendary as Lord of the Rings, the hardcover, single volume just felt right. Working at home has been a bit trying at times; it feels like I have less separation from my work and home life than ever before. Whenever I’m feeling particularly antsy, I hop on over to Middle Earth. Even just reading a few pages during lunch has helped. Something about a totally fictional world can really take the stress out of your day.”
— James Schiff, copy editor, SPY.com
-
Bulldog Original Face Scrub
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “Right now my social circle consists of myself, my girlfriend and our doorman, but I still want to look good for them. I love the way my skin looks and feels after using this face scrub, which has simple, natural ingredients like aloe and green tea. Using this face scrub every few days is an easy way to take care of my skin and feel better about myself.”
— Timothy Beck Werth, managing editor, SPY.com
-
Waboba Moon Ball
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “With apologies to my downstairs neighbors, I love this bouncing moon ball. I’ve always loved bouncy balls, and I’ve been using this as a stress ball now that I’m working from home. This ball is designed to bounce much higher than you expect (seriously, it’s weirdly bouncy), and it’s a fun distraction as I’m pacing in my apartment.”
— Timothy Beck Werth, managing editor, SPY.com
-
Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Amazon “There’s nothing like a shutdown to make you realize what you seriously missed about your daily routine before COVID-19 hit. And for me, that void was immediately obvious when it came to my morning matcha. I used to go to Starbucks to grab a matcha latte, and now that we’re shut in, this green tea matcha powder has enabled me to make my own from home — and it’s saved me lots of money in the process.”
— Jamie Miles, site director, SPY.com
-
Kindle Paperwhite
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “Reading more is pretty much always on my list of goals for myself, and now more than ever I’m trying to spend a solid chunk of my free time cranking through books. The Kindle Paperwhite helps because I can download books quickly and it’s got a solid amount of storage so even with the influx of downloads I’m not worried about running out of space. I can also take it with me anywhere, which I haven’t been doing a ton of lately but it’s a great pro.”
— Taylor Galla, assistant editor, SPY.com
-
Bialetti 06800 Express Moka Pot
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “I drink far too much coffee, no doubt about it. I’m usually up before the sun to workout and read so I’m usually sipping on something by 7am. But since being stuck indoors, I find myself opting for my Moka over my Nespresso. Sure, the Nespresso is significantly more convenient, but there’s something wonderfully simple in the process of making a cup from the Moka. You can’t rush it. The beans take time to grind, the water takes time to boil, and nothing you do can speed that up. Now that there is close to no separation between home life and work life, I think that patience is key. Also, you know, the resulting coffee takes incredible.”
— James Schiff, copy editor, SPY.com
-
‘Ducks, Newburyport’ by Luxy Ellmann
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “I’m a big reader, and I’ve been meaning to read this book since it was published in fall 2019. This book has won a ridiculous amount of prizes and awards, and a lot of my favorite authors have recommended it. However, it’s long, y’all. Like, super long. The book has 988 pages and comes with its own appendix. It’s an epic stream of consciousness that has a hypnotic effect. In the same way that Russians needed a ridiculously long book to entertain themselves during the long winter, this is the absurd novel you need to get through these absurd times.”
— Timothy Beck Werth, managing editor, SPY.com
-
Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon “I couldn’t live without yoga, or a solid yoga mat to do it on. During these long days inside, time on my mat is what keeps me grounded, moving and breathing through it. This mat does a solid job without taking up too much space and isn’t too heavy. Highly recommend!”
— Taylor Galla, assistant editor, SPY.com
-
Jabra Elite 75t Earbuds
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jabra “I actually got these earbuds for Christmas (thanks, mom), but I’ve really started to depend on them over the last two weeks while I work from home with my girlfriend. I’m lucky to be quarantined with someone I genuinely like spending time with, but with both of us working from home, these earbuds help me stay productive when she’s on the phone (which is often). Now I’m using them on weekends, too. I like the soundscapes that come with the Jabra app, and it’s been a great excuse to re-discover my favorite musicians (The Replacements, The Hold Steady, Joanna Newsom).”
— Timothy Beck Werth, managing editor, SPY.com
-
‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ by Ocean Vuong
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Amazon “A good book has the power to remove us from ourselves and take us to a new destination without actually setting foot outside. Ocean Vuong’s writing is so powerful it does just that. Vuong was first a published poet and the language and imagery he uses in this book is captivating. Be warned: the story itself is not a feel good one. Rather, it’s a stunningly raw coming-of-age story you won’t be able to put down.”
— Jamie Miles, site director, SPY.com