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
ONE POT PASTA W RICOTTA & LEMON
OVEN POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS & THYME
PEA & COCONUT SOUP (A PLUG!!! LOL)
CREAMY MISO KABOCHA SOUP W/ TURMERIC & CRISPY LENTILS (DON’T HATE ME)
WINTRY SLAW WITH ROASTED SHALLOT DRESSING
CREAMY WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH SPICY PAPRIKA OIL
SESAME NOODLES WITH CRISPY TOFU
5-INGREDIENT ALMOND FLOUR PANCAKES
BEST GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
VEGAN PALEO BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
SALTY COCOA ALMOND ENERGY BITES
PISTACHIO CARDAMOM DOUGHNUTS WITH MASCARPONE GLAZE
TAHINI CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH BITES
SALTED CHOCOLATE TAHINI THUMBPRINT COOKIES
KABOCHA OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE
SALTED CHOCOLATE CHIP BUCKWHEAT COOKIES
RESOURCES
PRACTICES THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL ACCOMPLISHED
BOOK SHELF - READING RECOMMENDATIONS
SELF PRACTICE (@self.practice)
