Girls’ Night In – I want to feel comforted

1- Spend time in the *virtual* garden

“These videos from the famous Kuekenhof Garden in Holland are the most soothing thing I’ve seen on the internet yet. The garden will be closed to visitors this year, but the gardeners are still tending the flowers and making these videos to bring the landscapes to everyone. They brightened up my day and inspired me to contact my local florist for an arrangement to brighten up our house.” – Lauren S.

Go there now 👉

2- Dress up as your favorite TV or movie character

“Recreate the look of a character you love from a TV show or a movie using things you already have in your wardrobe and in your makeup bag. I did this recently with the character Rob from High Fidelity and felt so much better afterwards!” – Guest tip from: Ingrid Nilsen, Host of the One Step podcast

WATCH INGRID DRESS AS ROB 👉

3- Turn your kitchen into a coffee shop

“I’ve been really missing working from my local café, but I recently discovered a way to create the ambiance of a coffee shop or café in your study or living room. This tearoom ASMR background noise is extremely relaxing.” – Guest tip from: Emma Gannon, Author of the Multi-Hyphen Life and Host of the Ctrl Alt Delete Podcast

Listen Here 👉

4- Try your hand at cooking from scratch

“So, it’s sometimes quite hard to cook something from scratch in a tiny New York City apartment. During this tough time, I’ve been trying to cook recipes from Bon Appétit videos on YouTube – just watching them and trying something new makes me feel like I’ve been productive. This pasta recipe is pretty simple and not too expensive to make.” – Antara D.

GET THE RECIPE 👉

5- Listen to this podcast when you need encouragement

“One Thousand Words is one of the most encouraging podcasts I know of. It will cultivate your imagination to think about the good, the lovely, the beautiful, the true.” – Grace A.

LISTEN NOW 👉

6- Subscribe to The Sunday Soother

“If you need another comforting newsletter, this one The Sunday Soother because Sunday Scaries are still a thing, even while working from home.” -Loric A

Subscribe to the newsletter 👉

7- Incorporate more feel good news into your day

“Good Good Good is mailing a free Goodnewspaper to anyone who needs good news.” – Community Member

Get good news 👉

8- Listen to this podcast when you need some real and open conversation

“Listen to The New York Times Culture Podcast: Still Processing. Hosted by NYT Culture writers Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris, this podcast has connected with me on many levels for several seasons. They both are honest, informed and relatable. The topics they have covered are not only important but allow you to have personal reflection on the world we live in and what we’re choosing to take part in. But the episode I’ve linked to (A Pod From Our Homes) is everything I needed to hear during this time. It wasn’t more hard hitting news that made me anxious, and it wasn’t an influencer just preaching positivity. It was two people, two friends, being very real and open with how hard this is. They talk about what’s been a good distraction, what they’re already over and just how they’re feeling through all of this. I can’t recommend it enough for someone who just wants to feel validated by their conversation.” – Kaley C.

Listen now 👉

9- Revisit ~all~ the games and connect with loved ones

“My boyfriend has always been a big fan of games (board, card, and video), and now, we’ve found the time to play them together. So far, we’ve played Segrada and Jaipur, both of which are pretty calm, low stakes. We also played Quiplash for Switch via video chat with friends which is a good way to laugh if you’re feeling down!” – Beth K.

10- Look into fostering a homeless pet

Spending more time at home? Open your doors to a foster who may need support right now.

SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP 👉

11- Check in on your favorite zoo animals

Visit your local zoo’s website to see their live animal cameras. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a sleepy panda doing a Big Stretch.

WATCH INDIANAPOLIS ZOO WEBCAMS 👉

12- Learn to knit with Purl Soho

Purl Soho is not your grandma’s knitting site. But also, if you’re with your grandma ask her for her help! Purl Soho has many simple projects for beginners and pros alike, and their tutorials page offers step-by-step guides for more elaborate stitches.

SEE THEIR TUTORIALS HERE 👉

13- Try Google’s art camera to simulate a visit to the museum

Fight that stir-crazy feeling by going on a virtual excursion to the art museum with this tool from Google.

See the art 👉

14- Listen to The Daily’s “Alone Together” podcast

The title says it all. If you want to hear how folks all over the world are coming together in the face of crisis, give this comforting 7-minute podcast a listen.

Listen now 👉

15- Step up your snack game with the Home Cooking podcast

Tired of meal-prepping the same dishes each week? Listen to Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway on the Home Cooking podcast for some A+ tips.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN 👉

16- Create your own perfume

“If you have essential oils and a carrier oil (i.e. jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, etc.), you can make your own fragrance. There are also DIY kits available that provide all the supplies you need.” – Bre

Check out an example of a DIY kit 👉

17- Find a new favorite recipe with NYT’s cooking app

Find a new favorite recipe with NYT’s cooking app – Guest tip from: Ann Friedman, Co-Host of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast

Get Cooking 👉

18- Listen to Christmas music (that’s it, that’s the tip)

“Listen To Christmas music.” – Kelley Sue C.

19- Make some cookies (and have a dance party too

“These cookies made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Making them also took my mind off this quarantine business for 1-2 hours. I turned on the new Dua Lipa album, made these cookies, and danced around my kitchen.” – Kaitlin F.

GET THE RECIPE 👉

20- Have a pampering moment

“Take the time to pamper yourself in a shower or bath. Shave your legs, add a moisturizing body oil, embrace a hair mask. Anything to be kinder to yourself.” – Community membeR

21- Learn to make a new marinade

“Take the time to learn how to make a wholesome marinade. You can use them to spice up lots of types of food such as tofu and tempeh. All you need is an acid (vinegar or lemon juice), a healthy oil (such as olive oil), garlic, water, and some spices. Bonus points if you experiment with fresh spices, but use whatever you have at home. Yeah, that dusty ginger powder and the smoked paprika will work. Be your own marinade mixologist and make something delicious!” – Mickey G.

GET THE RECIPE 👉

22- Cook this quick pasta and chickpeas recipe

“I discovered this recipe a few years ago and it brings me so much joy. It’s easy, comfort food, takes amazing and feels like you cooked even though it only takes about 25 minutes. Plus- meat free protein always makes me feel good (I’m not a vegetarian I just love chickpeas!)” -Stacey

Get the recipe 👉

23- Begin your embroidery journey using things you already have at home

“Embroidery is a great meditative practice that really helps me calm my mind whenever I need it. In those uncertain times we need it more than ever. The digital embroidery pattern is available for instant download so no need to wait for delivery or go out. Right now @slow_evenings_embroidery is doing a daily Instagram mini course: ‘Start Embroidering With Things You Already Have Home’ to encourage others to learn embroidery without fancy supplies.” Miriam P.

GET THE PATTERN 👉

24- Satisfy your sweet tooth by ordering local desserts

Craving a sweet treat? You can support a local business in NYC or order for delivery nationwide from this list of Dessert Goals alumni vendors. 🧁🍰

Order a local dessert In indianapolis contact jamsjoyfultreats [AT] yahoo [DOT] com. AND in NYC contact Desert goals 👉

25- Make time for art while staying home

This experience is so charming and amazing — you can even color some of the featured illustrations on your phone, too! 🎨

START COLORING 👉

26- Need a cute dog video?

We don’t deserve animals. 😭 Watch this if you need something cute to lift your spirits.

Watch this one 👉

27- Background binge Gilmore Girl

If you’ve seen Gilmore Girls through as many times as we have, then you know that it’s a perfect background show. Play it while you’re working on a puzzle, baking banana bread, learning to knit, or working on a coloring page. If you haven’t seen it before, then get to it!

28- Subscribe to these comforting newsletters

We’ve made a list of newsletters that are sparking joy for us rn.

GET THE LISTS : INTERNET BRUNCH, JUST GOOD SHIT, GOODNEWSLETTER, HEALTHY-ISH NEWSLETTER, THE DOG PARK

29- Listen to “Staying In” with Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon

WE LOVE THEM, and we love their podcast about staying calm while staying in. Some background: Emily is a chronically sick person, and Kumail is her main caretaker — AKA they know what it’s like to stay in well.

Listen now 👉

30- Try a TikTok dance challenge

When in doubt, dance it out! Lucky for us, Tiktok exists. Try the “Renegade”, “Say So”, “Sunday Best”, or “Cannibal” challenges to get started with some choreography.

WATCH #DANCECHALLENGE VIDEOS ON TIKTOK 👉

31- Back to Stay Home Take Care Home

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