Illustration by Mita Sharma
In this difficult and tragic time, we at Quarto have been thinking through so much: how to build community, how to use our voice, how to create, and also simply (but not so simply), how to keep moving. We collected responses from our staff on how we each are trying to find joy and take care of ourselves these days. Many of us are enjoying the outdoors and walks in sunlight, staying connected with friends, and caring for our bodies. We hope you take something away from this and remember that there is no one way to deal with what is going on. Be gentle to yourself and take it day by day. We will get through this.
What is a source of joy for you right now?
Video calling my friends and playing my guitar!
A source of joy for me is dancing. I put on some upbeat songs and just let go! Some of my favorite danceable songs include Like That by Doja Cat and Cloud 9 by Beach Bunny.
Zooming through books and films
Long walks! Spring is here :)
Writing emails to friends, putting in place stabilizing rituals like calling my partner more, following the same Chinese singing show with a friend every night, taking walks by myself around campus (or to Riverside Park), and seeing the flowers in bloom. The sunlight is also almost always a source of joy.
Playing with my dogs has been a source of joy and a huge plus of being home. I’ve also enjoyed taking self care time in a way I feel I can’t at school.
Lighting a candle in my room at 3 a.m. and staying up til sunrise. Also, learning to play piano again.
I'm going for runs every day around my block. Getting back into running consistently has been helping me with managing anxiety. I live in Texas and the sweltering heat has been pleasurable surprisingly (it's consistently in the 80s these days)—the sun is just so pretty and I enjoy feeling it shine on my skin. I'm also enjoying mornings a lot. I drink a cup of warm coffee and stare outside of a window for a little bit and sit in silence. Also, honestly my bed has been a big source of joy. Like pillows? Warm covers? Wow. Rest is so lovely.
How are you taking care of yourself right now?
Sleeping in a lot!
I am taking care of myself by letting myself feel and release all emotions that arise in me. This includes crying, which is an extremely cathartic release. Also, those post-cry naps feel pretty great too.
Exercising and going on walks with my parents.
I have a list of things I try and do everyday, reading time, stretching, new projects, some exercise, and plenty of sleep.
Putting my phone on airplane mode and tossing it out of reach, reading sci-fi and fantasy as a source of escape, reducing interactions with screens as much as possible (very hard!).
I try to go on a walk each morning to get myself out of the house and put myself in a different headspace. When I can’t go outside (it’s been snowing!) I try to do something to get my body moving, like dancing or rearranging my room. I’ve also been really persistent about trying to give myself a break. I didn’t realize how much more time I seemed to have on campus, and I’m trying to stop myself from comparing my habits in NYC and my habits at home.
Being gentle with myself when I don't finish as much as I want to or am not as far into things that are pressing and due. Things have been taking me twice as long to do these days. And I'm trying to remember that's okay. So, I'm making smaller to-do lists and remembering that my best right now is enough.
Whipped cream on toast, but like, not every morning.
I try to not look at my phone before bed, and I also hid Instagram on my phone so I’m not too tempted to look at it. It’s difficult to see everyone talking about COVID all the time, and I try to mix it up with unrelated media, like old podcasts.
Like many others, I'm back in my childhood bedroom, and moving furniture around/cleaning out my junk from middle and high school has helped make it a space that I feel better about spending lots of time in. I'm also doing my best to go for a walk every day, just to move my body and leave my room for a bit (make sure to put on sunscreen before you go out!). Chatting briefly with neighbors, seeing flowers bloom, and waving at dogs reminds me that I'm not alone in these feelings of confusion and distress.
What book/tv show/movie/song/any other source of entertainment are you enjoying?
I’ve been listening to a lot of newly released music lately! Think includes: Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, Childish Gambino’s 3.15.20, and The Weeknd’s After Hours. Favorite song right now is Switchblade by NIKI.
Show: Drake & Josh—it was just added on Hulu and brings back a lot of good memories! Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse—cried happy tears when watching this. Book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi—a beautiful novel about family and remembering. Song: not necessarily a song, but anything by duendita—her voice is so soothing.
I’m currently rewatching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with my mother; it’s nice to imagine being an affluent white woman in 1950s New York every once in a while. I’m currently in a reading slump, and it feels a bit like my powers are failing me in a moment of need. I’m trying to to beat myself up about it, though, and I think I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve started reading Stephen King’s On Writing—if I’m not gonna spend any of my time writing, at least I can read about it. The Twilight soundtrack may single-handedly get me through this dark time.
Daily Battles (song), Ozark (tv show), Eyes Wide Shut (film), and Dune (book).
I just read The Kite Runner for the first time! It was beautiful and a far overdue read. Steven Universe, both the show and its soundtrack, are also an endless source of hope for me in sad times. My sister is also making me watched all of the bad late 90s, early 2000s movies of her childhood that I missed.
I absolutely loved Tender by Sofia Samatar. such brilliance and a graceful, imaginative grasp of linguistic possibilities. i also really enjoyed Who Killed My Father by Edouard Louis and A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson. I've been consuming a lot of sci-fi and fantasy. I am also enjoying the series 声入人心 (Super-Vocal), which features 36 classically trained male singers. it's super communal and wholesome because no one gets eliminated! I've already rewatched the movie Portrait of a Lady on Fire twice, it's become one of my favorite movies of all time. i'm organizing a watch party with a friend this weekend.
I’ve been listening to playlists on Spotify made by friends and family. I think I’m going to come out of this time knowing them a bit better and having found new stuff to listen to! I’ve also been on Pinterest a lot. Pinterest is better than instagram right now because you can control what you see. I’ve just been designing dream homes!
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (parts 4 & 5 were amazing)
I’ve been watching a lot of Brooklyn Nine-Nine—hits the nail on what I need: something lighthearted and funny and heartwarming. Because of said show, I discovered Andy Samberg is married to renowned harpist and singer, Joanna Newsom, and now I’ve become obsessed with her music in every way. Sapokanikan is my favorite song by her and I’m just listening to her albums, “Divers”, “The Milk-Eyed Mender”, and “Ys” on repeat. They make me feel lighter? Happy? I’m finally trying to finish Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.
I'm watching the current season of How to Get Away with Murder, and it's highly entertaining! I've also been catching up on Pose, which I really recommend - it's wonderful and emotional. For these last few weeks I've been listening to Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton, Intentions by Justin Bieber, and X Ambassadors' new EP on repeat, as well as old Florence + the Machine, The Teskey Brothers, FKA Twigs, and Childish Gambino and Dua Lipa's new albums!!