My 2020 Essentials
As 2020 comes to an end, I thought I would document my favorites and/or essentials that helped me get through this year. Whether they made WFH a little more bearable or helped me occupy my free time, they all played a part in getting through 2020. In no particular order…
Airpods - I’ll admit, I was a diehard wired earbuds person up until April 2020. I swore by my Panasonic wired earbuds, but after misplacing them during quarantine, work from home started to become unbearable. I resorted to using my work headset as my means of listening to music, watching videos, etc. While they were wireless, no one wants to walk around their apartment all day with their work headset on. I ended up buying Airpods 2 to survive quarantine. I don’t think they’re perfect, but it’s been a great addition to my quarantine experience.
Plants - I’m no hardcore plant mom. In fact, I killed 2 two plants (and an almost successful propagation) this past year or so. In no way am I wearing that as a badge of honor, but I do not profess myself as some sort of plant guru. However, I have been tending to the other plants I have, watching them grow by my work setup. I’ve replanted a few, had a few successful propagations, and bought a mister. It’s been lowkey nice looking after something else while I’ve been isolated inside and of course, a little greenery always helps.
Nail Polish - One of my biggest, personal achievements this past year or two (since graduation at least in 2019) is that I’ve stopped biting my nails. I was an avid biter my entire life, but I finally solidly broke the habit in 2019. This year, doing my nails has been a major part of my quarantine activities. Every 2 weeks or so I change up my color. I don’t necessarily need anymore polishes anytime soon, but I’m hoping to buy more from indie brands in the future.
Clif Blueberry Crisp Bars and Snyder Cheddar Cheese Pretzel Pieces - My go-to snacks. I’m not a huge breakfast person, even if I have to time to make breakfast at home now, but the bars were my go-to choice for much of quarantine. I’ve since fallen off from eating them as often, but my pantry is still stocked for when the craving hits. As for the Snyder pretzel pieces, they’re crunchy and cheesy, so what else do you need to know.
InstaCart - Prior to the pandemic, I used to go to Shoprite or 99 Ranch every once in awhile to stock up on non-produce items. Or I would take a rare visit to Trader Joes or visit Target after work. I’d Uber to and from some of these grocery stores, but with the pandemic I’ve avoided taking these trips. It’s a privilege to be able to order groceries, so it’s important to be mindful of it. The downside of InstaCart the slight upcharge on items, in addition to sometimes a lacking online inventory/selection, but the service has definitely helped me this year. Don’t forget to tip!
Twitch - My boyfriend started streaming this year. Follow and subscribe. Since I created a Twitch account to follow him, I started watching streams from a bunch of other people. While I don’t play video games, I don’t mind watching some video game content (even before the gamer boyfriend, but mostly minecraft content lol). However, I’ve found myself watching a lot streams, or at least having it on in the background.
Face Masks - Duh. I have a handful of them, but I like these masks a lot. I prefer this type of face mask shape because it seals my face in. I also like having more nude 2-layer masks. I kind of wish the inside wasn’t white, but that’s okay.
Tupperware - Is it strange to say Tupperware and takeout containers? Since I no longer commute in and out of city, I’m no longer enticed by grabbing a quick lunch somewhere or going out for dinner with friends. Sure, I meal planned before and whatnot, but it’s a guarantee now that I have leftovers in the fridge. Even at home, you get lazy and don’t want to cook some days. I also keep the takeout containers I get when I do order out. In particular, I’ve been using one of those cylindrical soup take-out containers as my drinking vessel of choice while I’ve been home, since it’s larger than a typical drinking glass. I ordered iced tea once and it came in the 32oz container and that’s how I’ve been drinking water during the pandemic — out of a large takeout container with a metal straw haha.
Indulging in the Influencer - It’s not a physical thing, but it was definitely a “good” time waster. The evolution of binging the reality star is indulging in internet influencers. I’m a sucker for watching lifestyle/fashion/beauty YouTubers and following their Instagram accounts just to see what they’re up to. It’s not a productive habit, but it passes the time.
Skincare - It’s been a good year for my skin overall. Since I haven’t been wearing makeup regularly and don’t worry too much about the grime and pollution of commuting everyday, my skin has had a nice break. I maintained my normal skincare routine (from Nature Republic), but I’ve been more interested in trying new products and seeing what works. I can’t tell if my acne subsided from me aging or actual changes in habits, but skincare!
Here’s to finding more things to occupy our time and make things a little bit better.