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

We've asked women across the country how they are managing to care for their mental health during the quarantine. Check back daily for lists and suggestions from voices we know and trust.

Author:
The Fold Team
Publish date:
Mar 16, 2020

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

BALLET BEAUTIFUL: ARMS

BALLET BEAUTIFUL: LEGS + BUNS

SWEATY BETTY: BALLET BOOTCAMP 1

SWEATY BETTY: BALLET BOOTCAMP 2

POPSUGAR FIT TV

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

PANTRY STAPLES RECIPES

NON-PERISHABLE RECIPE LIST

MEAL PREP SAUCES

SQUASH AU VIN

WHITE BEAN SPRING SOUP

CRISPY SOY MAPLE TOFU

TAHINI RANCH

SQUASH WITH GRAINS + TAHINI HONEY

CHICKPEA & CELERY SOUP WITH CHILE GARLIC OIL

ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER, WHOLE LEMON & PARMESAN

EVERYDAY LENTIL SOUP

CARLA LALLI’S CHAI

STEWY WHITE BEANS W/ GARLIC, ROSEMARY

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