Right now, I was supposed to be driving up to North Georgia to spend two weeks in a cabin working on my next book. I’d applied for a writer’s residency months ago and just barely secured a spot.
But as you know, then the world fell apart. Everything I had planned for the next three months has been canceled. My work is down to almost nothing these days, both freelance and advertising. But so many people are worse off than me so I’m doing my best to focus on what I can be doing instead.
If you, like me, are trying to stay sane during these uncertain times, I present you with nearly endless options:
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Online Classes
This is the perfect time to learn something new or to keep up an existing routine.
CorePower Yoga classes: My favorite studio has online classes in 30 minute or hour-long versions with different areas of focus.
Writing classes: I have a class I created about turning your blog into a book. I’m also about to launch an intro to travel writing class.
DuoLingo: Always wanted to learn a language? Now is the perfect time! They have a website, app, and podcast to help.
Podcasts to Listen To
I consider myself to be a bit of a podcast influencer as I’m always listening to something as I work. Here are a few favorites.
Armchair Expert: interviews with celebs and experts in various fields
Absolutely Not: comedy podcast by Heather McMahan
Monster: includes Atlanta Monster, DC Sniper, and Zodiac series
Becoming Wise: interviews with spirituality experts, under 10 minutes
Believed: covers the Larry Nassar/USA Gymnastics trial
Chasing Cosby: covers the downfall of Bill Cosby
Cold: haunting series on the disappearance of Susan Powell
Criminal: episodic podcast covering unique crime stories
Disgraceland: music/true crime history podcast
Dolly Parton’s America: interviews with Parton and meaning of her songs
Gangster House: true crime story on an Atlanta kingpin
Girls Gotta Eat: comedy dating podcast
Going Through It: interviews with people going through a hard time
Happy Face: true-crime podcast from the perspective of a serial killer’s daughter
Hit Man: following the crimes that came from a guide on contract killing
Life Kit: short episodes on different aspects of daily life, series on coronavirus
Longform Podcast: interviews with writers and longform journalists
My Favorite Murder: the original true crime comedy podcast
Over My Dead Body: true crime series on a husband’s murder and the wife’s family connections
Root of Evil: the family connected to the Black Dahlia murder investigates their dark past
Slow Burn: covers the Nixon and Clinton impeachments
Swindled: episodes on scam artists, con men, and swindlers
The Catch and Kill Podcast: a deeper dive on Ronan Farrow’s book on the suppression of stories about sexual assault in media
The Clearing: similar to Happy Face, from the perspective of the child of a serial killer
The Dream: covers MLMs and the unregulated health and wellness industry
The Fall Line: true crime podcast on the underrepresented communities in the Southeast
Trashy Divorces: celebrity and historic divorce and breakup stories told with humor
Uncover: Canadian true crime podcast, most recent is on Satanic Panic
Up and Vanished: two seasons on the disappearances of women
Shows to Watch
It’s safe to say that I watch a lot of TV. This is what I’ve been watching lately or re-watching.
Big Little Lies
Broad City
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Catastrophe
Daredevil & Jessica Jones (should we watched together, skip the rest of the Marvel Netflix shows)
Dead to Me
Derry Girls
Doctor Who
Dollface
Drunk History
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Fleabag
Game of Thrones
Harlots
Killing Eve
Mindhunter
New Girl
Schitt’s Creek
Sex Education
Six Feet Under
Stranger Things
The Crown
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Walking Dead
Unreal
Veronica Mars
Westworld
Movies to Watch
Now is a great time to watch all those movies you’ve lied about seeing. For me, it’s the ones on the IMDB Best Movies of All Time List. Here are a few others I’m enjoying:
Almost Famous
Birds of Prey
Booksmart
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Forrest Gump
Harry Potter
Indiana Jones (original only)
Ladybird
Little Women
Star Wars
The Godfather (parts 1 and 2 only)
The Way We Were
Books to Read
Dive into those books you only skimmed in school. I have so many favorite books, but here are a few. Also, check out my favorite travel memoirs, my Goodreads recommendations, and Time Magazine’s 100 Best Books list.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert
Blackout, Sarah Hepola
Born a Crime, Trevor Noah
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, Michelle MacNamara
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
March, John Lewis
Persuasion, Jane Austen
Rising Strong, Brene Brown
Shrill, Lindy West
Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy Schumer
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher
The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy
The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World, Torre DeRoche
This Will Only Hurt a Little, Busy Philipps
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding, Kristin Newman
And if you’re looking for a way to support me directly, you can order my book on Amazon or any store near you!
Pick Up a Hobby or Craft
Making pasta 
Cocktail recipes 
Scrapbooking
I’ve finished one of the scrapbooks I’ve been working on for a while and am finally working on another! I had plenty of supplies already but ordered a few more online.
Scrapbook all those travel photos and ticket stubs
Embroider or cross stitch
Learn to use the features of your camera
Make your own pasta: You don’t need fancy equipment, just a rolling pin! Bowtie pasta is easy to DIY
Bake your own bread
Cook those recipes you previously thought were too time-consuming
Test out cocktail recipes
Make your own ingredients like bitters, shrubs, infused spirits or syrups
Make your own cold brew coffee: Again, no fancy equipment needed
Investigate your ancestry through genealogy
Spruce Up Your Surroundings
Start those home repairs
Organize spaces like your pantry or closet
Plant flowers
Wash your car (unless it’s covered in pollen like mine)
Purge clothing and other unnecessary items like Marie Kondo, save to donate later
Exercise or Practice Self Care
Long walk 
Elliptical
Take a walk close to home
Work out using items you have at home
Give yourself a pedicure
Take a long bath
Meditate
Journal
But DO NOT CUT YOUR HAIR unless you are a professional! DO NOT give yourself a tattoo or piercing you will forever regret.
Play Games (All Sorts)
Online trivia 
Houseparty
FaceTime loved ones on Houseparty
Play online trivia: Geeks Who Drink is my favorite
Put together puzzles
Play board games and card games: Cards Against Humanity and Ligretto are my favorites
Take an enneagram test or the Harry Potter sorting hat quiz
Give Back
Supporting breweries 
Giving blood
If none of the above were enough, here are some other ways you can stay sane and help out.
Make cards and letters to send to healthcare workers or those in assisted living facilities: My grandfather is quarantined at his home so sending cards is something we can do
Give blood: The American Red Cross desperately needs blood, especially type O
Donate money: The CDC Foundation and Meals on Wheels are two groups that really need your donations
Order takeout: Restaurants still need support and so do breweries so order items to pick up
Support those going without work: Donate to restaurant worker’s charities like the Giving Kitchen here in Atlanta
Make masks for healthcare workers: PPE are still greatly needed so if you have a sewing machine, use these patterns
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