List of resources

for surviving this global pandemic as best you can.

I have never done a resource round-up like this before, but since the outbreak of COVID-19 I wanted to share how I’ve helped myself and how I’ve helped others, in the hope of easing the burden for anyone who reads this. I have already seen so many great posts from bloggers and influencers I trust, so I thought I’d compile a list for others. This is all so unprecedented, I’ve found myself looking to everyone in my personal and social network for their advice and overall take on the situation.

I’ve separated the list into two sections, one for yourself and one for others, with some images I pulled from Instagram at the end (check out my highlights #iorestoacasa). The section ‘for yourself’ is full of everything from tips on working from home, to staying sane if you’re in isolation alone. This pandemic has disrupted almost every aspect of our lives, and I hope some of these resources provide comfort and help you to get through this.

I felt so helpless at the onset of all of this, and one thing that made me feel better was making small donations when I could, to organizations helping those most in need. That’s why I’ve created a ‘for others’ section to this post, because there are so many people in need right now. For anyone who is in a position to help, please consider donating to any of the links I’ve included below. If you can’t donate, think about the non-monetary acts of kindness you can do in a day. I’ve included a few below.

Before I get to the resources, here is a short list of things that have helped me survive so far:

Call a friend and talk it all out.
Be extra caring with everyone, and remember that we are all fighting our own battles.
Make a list of what you’ll do after quarantine is over. Share it with friends and family.
Remember this too shall pass. My aunt said my grandma used to say that all the time, and I am holding it especially close now.
Notice the signs. They can be as simple as a butterfly or a bird, or as amazing as the photos I’ve seen from Italy of a crucifix in the sky. Lately I’ve seen a lot of robins, which are said to represent loved ones who have passed.
Make plans for the weekend, even if you’ll be at home.
Name three things you’re grateful for every night.
Get dressed and put make-up on, for work or for dinner.
Remember ‘you don’t have to make the most out of a global pandemic.’ If you’re feeling really down, let yourself feel that way but know that eventually the light will give way and everything will turn around. Do what you need to do to get through and allow the emotions to run wild for a while.
Make a list each week of what you’ll accomplish, anything from working out to creative projects you’ll enjoy. I always put my workouts and then one night each for blogging, studying Italian, and an art project.
Remind yourself that none of this is normal, and it’s okay to not feel okay.

for yourself

ON HOW TO WORK FROM HOME

I am actually really lacking in the good WFH skills department. I’m either not focused (aka cleaning or making a third shot of espresso at 10 am) or I’m so focused I get lost in one thing and all of a sudden it’s dark and I haven’t moved for five hours. My only contribution to this subject would be to invest in something like this daily overview notepad, which I found through Julia at Lemon Stripes. Plus make sure you get dressed and do your make-up as if it were a normal day, even make your bed. Here are a few of my favorite bloggers who put together WFH tips…

I loved this list from Krystal Bick of This Time Tomorrow. She used to work for Google and rang up her old friends there for some great tips.

I loved Grace’s tip of creating a list at the end of day for tomorrow. That way you can have a relaxing night! I’ve shared more from her blog, The Stripe, below.

Brooke, creator of World of Wanderlust, had some great advice in regards to healthy snacks and taking breaks, essential aspects of working at home that might prove helpful.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR WORK

Ashley from Everyday Pursuits made a great round-up of companies looking for work, in addition to a list of her blog readers willing to help people who are unemployed.

IF YOU’RE BORED ALREADY

Ashley is also always keeping things positive during this pandemic and made a comprehensive list of things to do at home if you’re bored.

And Grace from The Stripe, as a self-proclaimed introvert, made a similar list for time at home. I am working on a vision board as we speak.

Brooke gave us all her advice and a downloadable quiz for travel trivia on zoom. I want to try this soon! Maybe I’ll learn something and inspire future travels.

IF YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT MONEY

Julia wrote a great post with her accountant about protecting your finances during this pandemic. It covers a lot of areas from loans to mortgages to everyday costs, and what to keep in mind.

ON HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT

Disclaimer: you don’t have to make the most of a global pandemic. But if you are home and have the energy, why not spend your time doing something productive? If not, that’s okay too. Read this post from The New York Times on the psychology behind this.

Jamie of Ann Street Studio and now jamiebeck.co has been inspiring me for years now, but especially recently with her commitment to creating something every day during quarantine. She’s calling the series #isolationcreation on Instagram and has prompted thousands of other artists with the task of creating during quarantine.

Brooke is back with 10 ways to turn your life around in 2020. I absolutely loved the ideas in the post and want to commit to some of them myself.

Elizabeth and Sophie Minchilli, mother/daughter tour guides in Italy, have been my favorite follow during quarantine as they’ve been sharing beautiful photos and recipes from their house in Umbria. I’ve tried a few of their recipes and can’t wait to make others with more time in the kitchen.

IF YOU NEED A MASK

Which is all of us after the CDC’s most recent announcement.

I’m lucky to have an aunt who is both a quilt maker and super generous, so she sent masks for my whole family. If you haven’t found one on Etsy or managed to make one with a bandanna and two hair binders (super easy actually, I did this before mine arrived), here’s a post from Cool Materials with a lot of mask options in a range of prices. This list from Health has five different options, each from shops that are giving back with every purchase.

IF YOU’RE IN QUARANTINE ALONE

Grace has been super open about how it has been to be in quarantine alone in New York City. She wrote a great post on how to maintain your mental health during this hard time.

If you’re furloughed as f**k as Sophie Bradshaw put it, my new favorite follow on Instagram, try watching Gilmore Girls and devoting your energy to cooking. She’s sharing divine recipes and advice from her quarantine in York, England (which looks quite lovely actually).

My cousins and I started using the Longwalks app, which is a journal app made for sharing. Each day you answer a prompt, and you can see your friends or family member’s response. It’s been fun to answer each day, and I’m learning new things about them. Makes me feel like we’re connected right now.

IF YOU WANT TO GET CREATIVE

MoMA is offering free art classes. I definitely want to check one of these out! I can’t wait to get back to MoMA when this is all over.

IF YOU WANT TO WORKOUT

I have been loving practicing yoga or doing short at-home workouts on the days that I feel good. On the weekends it’s nice to take long walks or bike rides. My go-to for yoga has been Yoga with Adriene, all of her videos are free on YouTube, and for workouts I love following Caro Daur’s quick videos.

for others

Helping others during this time could be calling a grandparent or checking-in on a loved one, leaving a roll of toilet paper out for your mail carrier, or saying hi to someone you pass on a walk (properly social distanced and masked, of course). Think about the older people in your life who may not feel so connected over social media and technology and make sure they’re being taken care of. Do you have friends who are nurses or doctors, or other kinds of essential workers? Bring them a meal or ask if you can help them in any way.

FOR LOCALS TO SAINT PAUL

Hope Breakfast Bar transformed into a community kitchen at the onslaught of this pandemic and has been providing free meals to families in need. It’s very easy to donate, and there are different price point options to choose from that will feed families or neighborhoods.

Another great resource if you want to donate local is to visit Give MN’s website, where they have a special section focused on COVID-19.

FOR NEW YORK

Follow @nastasiaspassport on Instagram for New York-based campaigns. Nastasia has been sharing all the ways to help out the city she calls home when she’s not traveling.

My favorite Italian restaurants in New York, Supper NYC and Lil Frankies, are providing healthy meals for front line workers at the current epicenter of this pandemic. Consider buying a gift card to donate back to their efforts and buy a meal for healthcare workers.

A new initiative called iPads to Hospitals is recycling unused iPads from across the country so that patients who are isolated from their families don’t have to die alone. This makes my heart break to hear about, so if you have an unused iPad think about donating it to this cause.

FOR ITALY

As I wrote in my blog post, A Personal Plea, many Italians began crowdfunding campaigns to help the hospitals get the necessary supplies they need, and new wards are being built in record time to hold patients. Thankfully each day their numbers are going down.

If you had planned a trip to Italy, consider postponing for next year instead of cancelling everything. Cassandra of Travel Italian Style has been reminding me of all the beautiful places in Italy that I cannot wait to return to when I’m back. Italy Magazine also has a shop page, if you’d like to support Made in Italy artisans from afar.

FOR THE USPS

The US Postal Service needs our help. If you’re like me and have resorted to snail mail during this time, consider helping them out. Here’s an excerpt from Jess Ann Kirby’s blog:

The USPS needs our help. The President and the GOP are refusing to give them the aid they are requesting to survive this pandemic. Without them, among other things, we would be unable to vote by mail in November. This would have drastic consequences on our ability to participate in a fair election. If half the adults in the US purchased a book of stamps it would raise $1.5 billion for the USPS. If you are able, buy some stamps. And then sign this petition to save the USPS.

FOR TRAVELERS

There’s a new initiative started called Adopt a Hostel, which is allowing travelers to purchase gift cards for hostels to support them now, and which can be used once it’s safe to travel again. I have so many great memories staying in hostels, they have helped me do so much traveling affordably, it breaks my heart to think how many of them might not survive this pandemic.

FOR ARTISTS

As I mentioned, Jamie has been creating something in isolation every day, and those beautiful prints are on sale, with 10% of all proceeds going to the Foundation for Contemporary Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund.

ETC.

Jess is donating 5% of her profits to Crooked Media, and sharing great information on how to help, on her Instagram and blog. She also shared a campaign for Direct Relief, a nonprofit that helps people who are threatened by disaster, disease, or poverty.

One of my favorite recent follows is Dr. Shieva Ghofrany, an OBGYN with the handle @biglovefiercejuju. She has been sharing valuable information on the coronavirus and how we can keep living our lives during this pandemic. Watching her stories always makes me feel better, and she brings positive vibes to the platform every time.

I shared the Roam pendant on my Instagram stories yesterday, and it’s a great idea for Mother’s Day, especially because right now Louie and Harry are offering a buy one / gift one. In addition, 20% of proceeds are going to Second Harvest Heartland with any purchase from Louie and Harry or Guilded Grey (a great source for one-of-a-kind pieces).