Things I'm Taking with Me Out of Lockdown | Plain White Tee and Easy Pants
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Top: Uniqlo (similar from PACT) || Bottoms: Everlane || Accessories: Sézane Claude bag, Mejuri earrings || Shoes: Madewell
With a lot of restrictions for COVID-19 lifting in cities, my office is planning a return to the office plan as well. This has gotten me thinking about a few things: How do I even dress for the office anymore? But more importantly, what are some things I’ve found to be valuable during lockdown that I want to take with me for when things return to (a new) normal? I wanted to share some of these things today:
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My shopping self-control
For 2019, I did a complete shopping ban for the entire year. It was an awesome way to reset my spending habits and take a good look at the things I actually did wear and valued that were in my closet. While I was free to shop to my heart’s content in 2020, I’ve found myself not wanting to take the plunge at all. Sure, I’ve splurged on a few activewear/loungewear pieces here and there, but I can honestly count on one hand the number of items I purchased in 2020, and I’ve bought only a handful of things so far this year as well. With maximalism becoming a trend, I do worry that I may fall prey to it but I think I’ve found true value in adoring the things I already own and the environmentally friendly consumerist lifestyle that I’ve adopted since my shopping ban. I want to continue this for as long as I can.
My Discipline with exercise
To say that my weight has fluctuated a lot during this pandemic would be an understatement. When the pandemic first hit, I was going from getting a moderate amount of exercise to basically none at all. After about eight months in quarantine, I realized that I had gained close to twenty pounds! Now I understand that in the grand scheme of things that 20 pounds in eight months isn’t a HUGE gain, especially considering that not only was I exercising less, I was also getting up and walking around less (my old commute required a walk to and from the metro - city life creates a lot of walking opportunities), and also was eating more junk food while thinking nothing in terms of portion control. I wanted to get back to healthier habits so I started with getting my meal portions right and eating better, but equally importantly, actually moving my body. I started with the goal of going for a run or doing yoga at least three times a week and I can confidently say that I’m going for runs at least five times a week now. I’ve lost fifteen pounds in three months so still about five pounds left to get back to my pre-pandemic weight but, honestly, it was never about the weight and more about feeling better. My body feels lighter and I’m definitely a lot happier and less stressed out about things than during the height of the pandemic when I was barely moving all day and feeling sluggish. I want to keep that same energy going forward.
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My Ability to Unplug
My husband and I have tried during dinners to really unplug. It’s hard sometimes given that we have busy schedules and work pressure sometimes tricks us both into thinking we need to be constantly available, aware, and ready for all things. The truth is, it’s not like we’re brain surgeons or even doctors. Nothing we do is that high stakes so we’re allowed to unplug and talk to each other over dinner. These conversations have been so awesome and I credit them for why my relationship with my husband is as healthy as it is right now. We started the pandemic getting on each others’ nerves a lot because of the sheer amount of time we were basically forced to spend together since we normally went out to work. I think our no-screens dinner conversations have lead to a lot of realizations about ourselves, each other, and our relationship. We’ve asked each other a lot of thought-provoking questions, introspections, and an overall healthy marriage. Even after we go back to the office, I want to keep having unplugged dinners.
