I’m a big proponent of the idea of mindful lifestyle design, and a big part of that is consistently reflecting on your life to take note of the good and the bad. The good is to fuel your presence and gratitude practice. The bad is to identify and get rid of pain points, whether personal, professional, or somewhere in the murky grey. 

Mid-2020, my quest for products that helped me eliminate new pain points emerging from pandemic was something of a spiritual journey, helping me to realize that, although I was powerless to the whims of the pandemic, I could at least take back some small semblance of control by way of my daily routines (and the items that enable them). 

As you read this piece, I encourage you to reflect on the pain points in your life right now, and to consider the resources at your disposal - whether products, services, or non-monetary supports - that could help ease the burden. I’m sure you’ve carried enough in the past year.

Best work-from-home items

Obviously, one of the biggest transitions many of us made during the pandemic was a long-lasting work-from-home policy. Unlike many my age, I stayed in my big-city apartment for the first four months of the pandemic, working day in and day out about four feet from my bed. I was lucky to already have a desk and chair that I could work from, but it soon became clear: the space was not optimized for 40+ hours per week. Bad wifi, low ergonomic support, and freezing cold hands became my biggest points of failure in the day, leading me to make some serious investments in my workspace setup. Here’s what really helped: 

1. Google Mesh Wifi. This product changed my life. Full stop. If you suffer from a weak internet signal in the place that you do your work, buy this today. I got away with just two of the devices; one plugs into your normal router to strengthen and extend the signal and the other gets placed in the room you need better wifi to help carry the signal into the room. Before Google wifi, I couldn’t take a Zoom call using my internet or easily stream to my Amazon Firestick. Now, I could do both at the same time, no problem.

2. Space heater. The second biggest game changer in my workplace setup. Being cold might sound like a silly complaint, but when the chill seeps into your finger bones to the point you can no longer efficiently type and/or focus, it becomes A Problem. A friend actually gifted me my space heater when moving out; I’d recommend checking out FB Marketplace or Craigslist before buying new to help reduce waste. 

3. Orthopedic seat cushion. Not all chairs are created equally ergo, and the one in my bedroom was certainly not meant for sitting on day in and day out. I found this ortho seat cushion on Amazon from high reviews alone, and it proved to help alleviate a lot of lower back strain. 

4. Sleek laptop stand. This stand helps bring my laptop up to eye level, so that I’m not looking down all day and straining my neck. You do have to buy a detached keyboard and mouse to make this work (I don’t looove the ones I purchased, more on that below). This stand is so sleek and looks nice on my desk. It also detaches and packs very easily, in case you’re mobile. 

5. Mrs. Meyers candles. I, like many of you, suffered many depressive moments related to the global pandemic. Candles have always helped improve my mood (and are a huge part of helping create my hygge bedroom). From a ton of experimentation, I love this candle in particular, because it’s affordable, clean-burning, and long-lasting. 

Best items for outdoor activities 

No gyms, group workouts, or indoor social gatherings left us all scratching our heads about how we were going to stay healthy, both mentally and physically, throughout the pandemic. I definitely didn’t have the fitness thing totally figured out, but I’ve gotten pretty good at park and beach gatherings by way of a few upgrades. Here are my new staples: 

1. Chic picnic blanket. This blanket has changed my outdoor gathering game. It’s a nice color, has a wool topside and waterproof underside, works for the park and the beach, and is machine washable and quick-drying. The carrying straps aren’t the most practical thing in the world, but very cute! It can easily fit 3-4 people or be used to lay out a picnic feast for two. 

2. Packable park chairs. As much as I love my new picnic blanket, it can become a bit of a strain to sit/lay on the ground for hours on end. Enter: our new park chairs. Ty bought us each a chair, and they always come with us to our outdoor gatherings. They pack down to the size of a loaf of bread, easily fitting two to a backpack. They are super light, assemble easily, and are comfortable to sit in for extended periods. 

3. Insulated wine carrier and cups. This bag is insulated, with a space for your chilled bottle of rose. You’ll have to buy the two insulated metal wine cups with plastic lids on the side, but it’s worth it to ensure not a drop misses your mouth (or ends up all over your new picnic blanket). 

4. Baseball cap and straw sun hat . Spending more time outside has been amazing for my deficient vitamin D levels, but less amazing for the inevitable sun damage my skin is bearing. To help ease the load, I’ve invested in two new hats: one for daily outdoor walks and runs, another for breezy social gatherings in the park or on the beach. 

Best kitchen items

One of the biggest adjustments I’ve had to make during the pandemic is feeding myself 3+ times a day. Getting reacquainted with my kitchen and cookbooks has been a begrudging, but ultimately fulfilling endeavor. These are the supplies that have made it easier: 

1. Scotchbrite dish wand. If you feel like you spend half of your life now handwashing dishes due to overly frequent snacking, you need this wand (and a couple refillable scrubber heads). I’m always aghast when I hand-wash dishes at other people’s houses, and all they’re working with is a regular sponge and maybe a bristle head scrubber. This wand is SO much more efficient, because it’s a sponge, scrubber, and soap all in one. This is my cheapest and strongest recommendation. Run, don’t walk, to buy. 

2. French press. Once I started making all of my daily cups of joe at home, I knew I needed to step up my coffee game. The Keurig 2.0 was not cutting it. This french press is elegant, simple, and allows you to make a cup of coffee perfectly tailored to your desired strength. 

3. Electric hot water kettle. Important pairing for the french press, but also enabled innumerable cups of hot tea throughout 2020. Mint green tea in the afternoon, ginger turmeric in the evening is my preferred rotation. 

4. Cool Beans cookbook. After cooking so much more for myself, I wanted to add some pizzazz to the experience. I’ve been jazzed on the nutritional benefits of legumes for over a year now (learn more in my Slow Carb Diet post), so thought investing in more bean-based dishes would be a good use of quaran-time. These recipes aren’t the most simple and accessible, but they are always delicious, and highly educational on the possibilities of legumes. 

Random items that delight 

1. Kindle Paperwhite. I’m not a big e-reader, in that I much prefer paperback for reading longer works vs digital screens. However, with my beloved local library shut down due to the pandemic, my only option for continuing to rent books is the e-reader. On especially bummer days, I treat myself to an actual book purchase, especially if it’s something I’m eager to get from the library, but have been on a waiting list for weeks. I recently purchased “The Vanishing Half,” and it’s been such a well-developed novel to sink into on long weekend days.  

2. Airpods Pro. I got these as a gift for my birthday, and they’ve been amazing for all the walks and runs I’ve been going on in the absence of studio classes and commuting. I love their noise canceling feature and the easy start/stop sensor. Definitely an upgrade from the first gen Airpods. 

3. Dainty satin scrunchies. I only have two hairstyles these days; recently washed and unstyled, or unwashed and up in a ponytail or bun. These cute, inexpensive scrunchies do a good job holding my hair in place and add the tiniest touch of cuteness to my otherwise *casual* appearance. 

Items I bought and didn’t love

Full transparency, I’ve made some recent purchases that I wouldn’t want you to repeat. Here’s what to avoid:

• Stainless steel pen. I wanted a beautiful pen to make journaling feel more like a special occasion, especially because I’ve been filling it with a few more emotions than usual. Unfortunately, this pen just doesn’t have a great grip and requires expensive refills. 

• Running belt. Due to limited exercise options, I’m running more than I ever have. This is good. However, I hate gripping my phone during these runs and also feel like arm bands are pretty inefficient. This is bad. I tried this running belt to see if it would be a good solution for a phone pocket, but it sits uncomfortably and makes me look/feel more bulky. Plus, the phone is hard to pull out. 

• Apple magic keyboard. It’s so sleek and beautiful, but it’s just not ergo for the amount of work I have to do on it. 

Ok your turn: What pain points are affecting you today? How might you be able to work backwards from your ideal lifestyle in order to alleviate those pain points? Maybe a new item could significantly help. Maybe more time alone listening to and dialoguing with your own thoughts is what the doctor ordered. Remember that mindfulness takes all different types of forms, and that however little it may feel like it right now, you are still in control of your life. What will you do with it to live to the fullest? 

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links, but I have purchased and owned every single one of these items, and only promote that which I find substantial value in. All opinions are my own.