A Mental Health Self Care List In The Time of Quarantine From Photographer, Food Stylist and Recipe Developer, Julia Gartland

Image credit: Julia Gartland
Julia Gartland is a photographer, food stylist and recipe developer living in Brooklyn. In full transparency, we have known and loved her for years. Julia's wise, honest and a true talent. We trust her recipes implicitly and initially inquired about culinary suggestions for self isolating times. To our surprise and excitement, she had created a list of things to keep her fed, yes, but centered, sane, and ideally content during this difficult and anything-but-certain period.
In her own words, "I have found so much solace making this list. It’s a small something I can put my anxious energy into to care for both myself and my loved ones. I highly suggest others personalize their own list (or add to mine) with what works for them. Even though, ironically, I feel too anxious and scattered to do very much each day, so far, I’ve restarted my sourdough starter, made bread, and danced it out to Billie Eilish."
QUARANTINE SELF CARE
- COOKING (MAKE A SOUP, STEW, BRAISE, ETC)
- BAKING (MAKE BREAD, MAKE DESSERT, MUFFINS, SNACK BREAD, SOMETHING FUN)
- READING (FICTION, NON-FICTION, ARTICLES, POETRY)
- AUDIOBOOKS
- MAKE THEMED PLAYLISTS (MINE: @SASSYKITCHEN)
- BULLET / ART JOURNALING
- DRAWING / PAINTING (GOUACHE, WATERCOLOR, ETC.)
- TAKE ONE WALK A DAY
- WORKOUT OR MOVE BODY 1X/DAY
- STRETCHING / FOAM ROLLING
- MEDITATION / DEEP BREATHING / MINDFULNESS
- WATCHING ALL THE MOVIES
- WATCHING ALL THE SHOWS
- FACETIME FAMILY / FRIENDS / COUSINS / AUNTS + UNCLES / NIECES + NEPHEWS
- FACETIME DATES W/ FRIENDS (W/ WINE - MAKE IT A DATE!)
- CHECK IN WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, ELDERLY DAILY
- JOURNALING YOUR FEELINGS
- ORGANIZING (UNDER SINKS, PANTRY, ETC)
- NOWNESS VIDEOS (ESP. IN RESIDENCE SERIES)
- MAKE OR REVIVE SOURDOUGH STARTER (BAKE BREAD!)
- YOUTUBE COOKING VIDEOS
- HAND LETTERING TUTORIALS
- HOME MANICURE / PEDICURE
- FACE MASKS, EXFOLIATE BODY (make natural exfoliant w/ oil + sugar)
- CLEANING / TIDYING
- MAKE INSPIRING PINTEREST BOARDS (HERE ARE MINE)
- LOOK AT BEAUTIFUL MILLION DOLLAR APARTMENTS ON STREETEASY
- CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET
- DONATE $$ TO YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS/FOOD BANKS/ANIMAL SHELTERS, ETC.
- RE-READ ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS
- NAME YOUR PLANTS / TALK TO THEM
- SING YOUR FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW
- WATCH OLD MUSIC VIDEOS (BEYONCE, MARIAH CAREY, JANET JACKSON, ETC)
- PUT ON YOUR HYPE SONG AND DANCE IT OUT
- WATCH AND/OR DO MAKEUP TUTORIALS (LISA ELDRIDGE, PIXIWOO)
- SELF PRACTICE CREATIVITY ONLINE WORKSHOP
- SELF PRACTICE “SELF TALK” WORKSHOP
- HOME PROJECTS (HANGING PHOTOS, REARRANGING FURNITURE, ETC.)
- SEND SOMEONE YOU LOVE A LETTER
RECOMMENDATIONS
TELEVISION:
- I’M NOT OKAY WITH THIS (NETFLIX)
- THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD (NETFLIX)
- SEX EDUCATION (NETFLIX)
- HINTERLAND (NETFLIX)
- BETTER THINGS (HULU)
- KILLING EVE (AMAZON PRIME)
- GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF (ALL SEASONS, NETFLIX)
- CHEER (NETFLIX)
- SUCCESSION (HBO GO)
- FLEABAG (AMAZON PRIME)
- DEAD TO ME (NETFLIX)
- MADMEN (NETFLIX)
- HIGH MAINTENANCE (HBO GO)
- BIG LITTLE LIES (HBO GO)
- CRASHING (NETFLIX)
- BABYLON BERLIN (NETFLIX)
- LOVE IS BLIND (NETFLIX)
- THE SOPRANOS (HBO GO)
- SEINFELD RERUNS (HULU)
- GREYS ANATOMY RERUNS (HULU + NETFLIX)
- SVU RERUNS (HULU)
- THE OFFICE RERUNS (NETFLIX)
- PARK & REC RERUNS (NETFLIX)
- GILMORE GIRLS RERUNS (NETFLIX)
- SATC RERUNS (NETFLIX)
MOVIES:
- THE FIRST WIVES CLUB
- IT’S COMPLICATED
- BEGINNERS
- 20TH CENTURY WOMEN
- CABARET
- PARIS IS BURNING
- THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
- BILL CUNNINGHAM DOCUMENTARY
- PARIS (W/ JULIETTE BINOCHE)
- WILD AT HEART
- THE FAMILY STONE
- JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
- SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE
- UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
- YOU’VE GOT MAIL
- THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
- THE BEFORE SUNRISE SERIES
- NOTTING HILL
- BRIDESMAIDS
- SISTER ACT 1 + 2
- VOLVER
- PARIS, TEXAS
- THE FAVOURITE
- IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
- FARGO
- A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
- BURN AFTER READING
- PHANTOM THREAD
- PURPLE RAIN
- THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH
- DOGTOOTH
HOME WORKOUTS
SWEATY BETTY: BALLET BOOTCAMP 1
SWEATY BETTY: BALLET BOOTCAMP 2
BOOKS
- RED TO THE BONE
- SELF-HELP (LORRIE MOORE)
- BIRDS OF AMERICA
- AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE
- THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
- ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS
- THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE
- BLACK LIGHT: STORIES
- EDUCATED: A MEMOIR
- THE WOMAN DESTROYED
- HALF EMPTY
- FRAUD (DAVID RACKOFF)
- HEARTBURN
- I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK
- PLAY IT AS IT LAYS
- THE COLLECTED STORIES OF LYDIA DAVIS
- HUNGER: A NOVELLA & STORIES
AUDIOBOOKS
- ALL DAVID SEDARIS BOOKS! ESP: LET’S EXPLORE DIABETES WITH OWLS
- HUNGER - ROXANE GAY
- INHERITANCE - DANIELLE SHAPIRO
- MATING IN CAPTIVITY - ESTHER PEREL
- DESIGNING YOUR LIFE
- DESIGNING YOUR WORK LIFE
- THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE
- THE UNTETHERED SOUL
- BLOOD, BONES & BUTTER
RECIPE IDEAS
SQUASH WITH GRAINS + TAHINI HONEY
CHICKPEA & CELERY SOUP WITH CHILE GARLIC OIL
PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER, WHOLE LEMON & PARMESAN
STEWY WHITE BEANS W/ GARLIC, ROSEMARY
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CREAMY MISO KABOCHA SOUP W/ TURMERIC & CRISPY LENTILS (DON’T HATE ME)
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RESOURCES
PRACTICES THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL ACCOMPLISHED
BOOK SHELF - READING RECOMMENDATIONS
SELF PRACTICE (@self.practice)