What’s Your Life Like Right Now?

I just discovered a cup of jo last night and I’m really enjoying it.

Where am I?
I’m in Wheeling, Wv.

Who am I quarantining with?
My daughters (16,11,8) and 3 cats

Am I working?
I stay at home with my girls and have been helping them with their schoolwork.

What’s hard?
It’s hard being single and not having a partner to talk to when I get worried or upset.

What’s bringing me joy? I am enjoying the slower pace of life and not having outside obligations. I’ve been reading and watching shows on Netflix with my daughter’s.

1. I’m in Atlanta, GA.
2. I’m with my husband and 1-yr-old AND, as of one week ago, we joined isolation bubbles with my parents (hail mary – i am not catholic nor footballish, but hail mother$*@^ing mary)
3. I’m working my tail off, from home.
4. As of getting help from my parents, things have been ok. For the last week, the hardest thing has been feeling guilty that I have it so good. But before that, things were much darker (though I still felt guilty that I felt so dark even though we were healthy and employed). Watching a 1-yr-old while working full-time is not sustainable. I don’t understand how people are doing this. I felt like I didn’t deserve my salary, like I was letting my coworkers down, like I was letting my child down… My husband felt the same pressure. Now I feel like we can do this, with my parents’ help, but what about all the other parents that are still struggling? I wish I could help them. And to think, we’re the lucky ones!
5. Spending extra time with my baby is amazing. I’m getting to watch her grow in ways I never thought I’d get to see. I was so sad every Monday (in the past) to send her off to daycare, but now I get to watch her learn to stand, learn to use a sippy cup, learn to talk. Honestly, it’s going to be hard to go back to the way things were. It makes me rethink how much time I spend away from her.

Who doesn’t want to feel more connected and share a bit of their story right now? I’ll play along!

* Where are you in the world? Granada, Spain (not my country of birth, but my current home)

* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? with my husband

* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? Both, I’m fortunate enough to have quit my regular job (teaching English) at the end of 2019 and have been focused on my writing career solely since then. Thus, to others it may seem that I’m dedicating 100% of my time to ‘hobbies’ and ‘passions’ (which, I suppose, is true) but it’s also my definition of work.

* What’s hard right now? Reconciling all of the different reactions from people / countries that I love. Living in Spain, we fell somewhere in the middle of the COVID-19 wave and so we were really living in the eye of the storm when my friends and family in the US still didn’t realize how serious it all was. That was really hard because I was having emotions and experiences that they couldn’t understand. It’s still difficult for me to go on social media and see that some people I care about “don’t believe in” something that is so real.

* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? Having time to really dedicate to cooking healthy and baking delicious. As well as online courses (one in English, on in Spanish, both about well-being and happiness), Yoga with Adriene every morning, online live Zumba classes to stay active, and getting lost in TV shows when I don’t want to be active.

Here are some questions, if you’d like to answer:
* Where are you in the world? Kitchener, Canada
* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? Living solo
* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? Working in national public health communications, which (as you can imagine) is a little bonkers right now. We’re extra busy because it’s also the federal year end, but I’m incredibly grateful to still have a regular paycheque.
* What’s hard right now? Realizing that I am making most of the effort to schedule FaceTimes with friends. I work from home after years of working abroad, and I don’t have as many close friends as I’d like. There’s a point in your thirties where a lot of people retract into the families they’ve built, which is beautiful for them, but hard if you’re single and were living far away for years. (I suppose some of the hard things were things that were hard before all this happened.)
* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? Honestly, the extra effort from my coworkers to connect now that we’re all working from home, rather than just me and a couple others. I feel less alone now that I’m not the only one feeling lonely and isolated working from home. Also, walks — they’re the greatest.

I feel so much better and more positive after reading other people’s experiences throughout the world. I feel for you all! thank you also to everyone who is helping out in different ways.

Rusty: My family immigrated from Australia. Its such a beautiful country! One day my husband and I will go back and visit. It is fun to read about people living there.

* Where are you in the world? We live in Northern California.

* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? I live with my husband and 12 year old tabby cat.
* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? working, still going into work as I am deemed essential. Its hard. Most people I know are able to work from home. I work in property management so I have to be here. We are closed to the public though so its been really hard. My depression has been awful. I am crying a lot and truly only feel ok when I am home with my husband and cat.
* What’s hard right now? Work, being at work in a dark and empty building with nothing to do for 8 hours a day. I feel so hopeless here right now and lonely.
* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? Being with my husband and kitten. Talking to my parents over the phone. Texting my friends. Watching cookie shows on tv with my husband while we eat. A good cup of dark roast coffee on my upstairs balcony in the morning while watching the sun rise. I live for weekends more than ever now! Right now its just get through the week as best I can and enjoy the weekend. I feel so stupid and weak but I am in survival mode right now with my depression and anxiety.

* I’m in Cyprus, a small island-country in the Mediterranean
* Living with my cat in a family-owned building so in the same floor as mine lives my sister, and 2 floors below us live our parents. We get to see each other from afar, but it’s better than only online!
* I had 3 jobs, and all of them are now on pause. I used to be an event planner-decorator, a translator, and teacher. No events are on, nobody really needs official translations since all deadlines and procedures are off, and schools are out.
* It’s hard not knowing when I’ll be able to hug and kiss my family and friends, or knowing if I will have a job to go back to sometime soon.
* I try doing new things here and there, like trying new recipes which is always a creative and rewarding task. I also started trying to get into yoga for the first time in my life, and I fixed my bike and go on short rides without having to worry too much about getting ran over by a car or bus. I’m also happy to get to spend all day with my cat, and that I’m able to have long dialogues with him. But most of all I play with make up every day which makes me extra happy because it’s make up playtime all day, every day, and I’m grateful I have a place to call home, and food to fill my belly, and my family close and healthy (so far).

– I’m in Toronto!
– Bunkered up with my husband who I’m loving self-isolating with. And we have one more little house guest – a baby in my belly!
– Working from home four days and going into my office one day a week – I’m a property manager and we’re considered an essential service
– Not being able to see friends and family and enjoy the pregnancy the way we had hoped and planned (we had to cancel our baby moon and baby shower – but I know in the grand scheme of things, these are just small disappointments)
– I’m loving all the extra time we have to bake and cook together. The pregnancy is also a wonderful, exciting distraction. And it’s such a blessing to have so much time with by husband before the arrival of baby.

-Living in Dallas, TX
-with w/ my husband and our old dog
-We are both working (so thankful for this) from home. He normally works from his home office, and now I have invaded his space. It’s going well so far (knock on wood). My advertising job has kept me busy so far, but I am worried about the inevitable downturn. My company already did salary cuts at the beginning of all of this.
-What’s hard? Honestly everything related to politics stresses me out. I worry about the election in November, the vote-by-mail issues already upon us, the dictator in the white house and his utter lack of regard for science and how it will ripple across the nation for years. It keeps me up at night, but I try not to think about it or watch too much news.
-What gives me hope: I saw a Biden yard sign last week and while he was never my top choice, it gave me an odd feeling of hope, like “we do have a chance…we do…” Ironically his site is not shipping yard signs because of CV19 so we can’t support that chance.

– Brooklyn, NY
– Husband and 6 yr old son
– Working and homeschooling our kid at the same time. Or trying to.
– There’s a lot of tension in our house being cooped up all day with one another in a small apartment. Our already hyper kid is going even crazier and not listening to anything. It’s so hard and driving my husband and me insane. Especially today.
– I’m excited for the trees outside our window to bloom their green leaves. I’m predicting it will happen next Wednesday. That bit of nature brings me SO much joy. I also look forward to chilling out and watching episodes with my husband at night. I’m loving Unorthodox right now.

Thank you for the incredible work you are continuing to do.

* Copenhagen, Denmark
* With my boyfriend
* I’m a hematologist so unlike many my job takes up even more of my time at the moment. Our patients are vulnerable and scared so even when I’m not at the hospital I spend time emailing my patients trying to give them some advice and comfort.
* The obviously answer would be my job, but ironically this all happens at the same time my boyfriend and I are struggling to have a baby. We have been trying for some time and just when we were getting to ready to seek help, all fertility clinics closed down due to the virus. I’m trying to focus on my job but the longing for a baby is taking over my brain. Especially now where I can’t see my friends and family. I’m either working at the hospital or staying home in the apartment with my boyfriend and the hole in my heart just keeps growing.
* That hairdressers are allowed to open for business again next week! My boyfriend has a big, curly hair and it has gotten so long. He is so excited to be able to see again :)

-Skopje, Europe
-living with my 2 boys
-my husband is in Germany, working
-I am at home, but going to work once in a week. We doo homework from home , i do all by mayself. They understand the situation, but they want to play with friends.
-Iam scared about my husband health, he wants to came home, but the borders and aerport are closed. I dont think about the future, Iam concentrating only about present. because is PRESENT but it is hard time for me.

* Kosice, Slovakia, Europe

* my husband and three kids (boy 2 months, boy 2 and girl 4 years old)

* I’m on maternity leave for almost 4 years and my husband joins me when the youngest was born.
* don’t get crazy because of the kids :D we are trying to entertain, educate them but sometimes all we can do is serve the food and prevent them from hurt themselves.
* thought that husband does not need to leave us because of work (god bless or social system) :) sunny weather and drinking coffee in the garden.

I know I’m late to the game, but better late than never;

* Where are you in the world? I am currently in my hometown of Geleen in the south of the Netherlands

* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? I am living with my boyfriend of 18 years and our two cats

* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? I am working from home and he is too, it’s not always easy but we make it work :)

* What’s hard right now? Everything it seems; since the first week of staying in the following has happened; in the first week his grandmother died of Covid-19, she was 93 and was going to die sooner than later but it was still hard. Since it was the beginning of all new regulations etc. there wasnt really a funeral wich was sad. Two days after the funeral my boyfriends dad, who had been taking care of grandma, was hospitalized with Covid-19. He spent a week in hospital but returned home safely in the end. The day after he got home we got word that my aunt wasnt going to live through the week. She had cancer and had decided against any treatment so she was now at the end of her journey. She died last friday and yesterday was het funeral. Here in the Netherlands there are only 30 people allowed at a non-Covid funeral and since my dad has seven brothers and sisters the only people who could join the funeral were direct family members, my boyfriend couldn’t come.
So, hopefully we get some rest from now on…

* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? I have been baking things again and ordered a nice embroidery pattern to work on, but my favourite thing to do right now is to sit in the sun and read. It transports me to a totally different world and apparantly I need that right now :)

Where are you?
Carlsbad, Calif., previously Santa Monica
Living with?
I was solo for the first month in my tiny (400 sq foot) apartment but relocated to my parents this past weekend. Gracie the Boxer dog is also here.
Passing the time?
I’m working from home. I’m a video game producer so our 300+ person team is now transitioned to working from home. It’s sort of crazy but also much better for work-life balance. I also feel immensely grateful to be employed. Sending love to anyone whose employment was impacted by the pandemic.
What’s hard right now?
Gosh, at first everything seemed so much harder. Grocery shopping required many outings because all of the stores in Santa Monica were nearly wiped clean. It was overwhelming and I felt so unprepared. Now, I’m trying really hard to not get anxious over how long this may go on. I’m almost 35 and I had a lot of trips and dating planned. I’ve cancelled one trip thus far and may have to cancel at least two more. I’m an extrovert so the lack of physical interactions with people has also been difficult. Thank goodness for Facetime and other video conferences!
What’s bringing joy?
I’ve been enjoying baking, knitting, catching up on TV shows and movies. I’ve been trying new recipes and baked goods. It’s been nice to not feel like I’m in a race and always falling behind between work and home.

Where are you in the world? Terceira, Azores (middle of the Atantic), Portugal
* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? Living with my husband and two daughters (8 and 9).
* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? Working, homeschooling the girls, cooking, cleaning.
* What’s hard right now? Not spending time wth my parents and friends, not running with my best friend (used to run every weekday at 6 am).
* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? extra family time (just us 4), cooking, baking, wine, gardening, watching Ozark.

* Where are you in the world? American in London!
* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? Living with my husband
* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? I lost my job not long before this all happened, and COVID has certainly made it more difficult to find a job as so many companies are on hiring freezes.
* What’s hard right now? Not having a job/income/ways to fill my time and days
* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? planning all of our meals and spending a ton of time going through recipes and watching cooking videos! Lots of cooking and baking happening here. Also, sitting in the sun, exercising daily, walks to the river and looking at all the beautiful flowers :)

* Where are you in the world? – Seattle
* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)? – My lovely husband, my BIL, and my adorable pupper
* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways? – I’m thankfully still employed and working from home, but I work in theatre, so working from home is pretty impossible. I’m thankful for the work I am able to do. I’m also doing a lot of reading, napping, and walks.
* What’s hard right now? – Not being able to give friends hugs! I made a cake for a friend who is an OR nurse to bring to work last weekend and on my way home from giving it to her, I cried. I’m an introvert and truly have been fine through quarantine, but my soul misses hugs.
* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? – Reading, taking walks with my husband and puppy, knitting, baking new things. I’ve baked three new recipes in the last three weeks. Looking forward to what I decide to bake this week.

* Nashville, TN
* Living solo
* Still working
* Not being able to touch people. I didn’t realize how important touch was to me until the past few weeks.
* I’m currently painting all the rooms in my apartment, and that makes me happy. I’m also learning how to pencil shade and taking lots of walks. A couple of weeks ago I felt like I was spiraling so I’m reading through the Book of Psalms every morning. It’s helping and I feel like I can start my days a little more grounded.

* New York City!
*Living with my boyfriend
* I work as an editor at a trends forecasting company and it’s been full-on since mid-February when every single event we were going to attend got cancelled and had to totally change our calendar for the year. I was supposed to be writing about luxury product design, instead I’ve been writing on how the travel industry can survive, which is alternately inspiring and soul-crushing.
* I’m lucky that the small things are hardest, like missing out on spring, choosing whether to watch another episode of GoT (we’re just working through it now) and convincing my boyfriend to stop playing video games and help make dinner (which, to his credit, he always does!)
* I’m loving all the livestream exercise classes and it’s been great to have time to read all the loooong books I’ve put off. NYC apartment buildings are also on point with their flowers this year and I’m loving spotting them on early morning walks.

Hope you’re all doing well!

* I live in Worcester, MA, USA
* I live with my husband and our roommate (shes’s one of my best friends, and yes, we are adults who all like living together!)
* I’m working 40-hours week as a development manager for a nonprofit but from home
* What’s hard? Rethinking/redoing/reimagining everything we had planned for work this spring. Searching for non-profit funding in a very uncertain world. I’m also constantly feeling guilty about how relatively unaffected my life is. I don’t have kids, and my husband and I can both work from home (which we have the space to do). Everyone in my household still has their job. I have a LOT of hobbies (reading, cooking, house plants, embroidery, correspondence) so I can keep myself very entertained. But I know how many people are making sacrifices, working so hard, and getting sick. It is so unfair that the most that is asked of me is I stay home. I also want to bail out every person/business who needs help right now, but I know my money doesn’t go that far.
* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)? Observing nature, immersing myself in cooking projects, hourly kiss breaks with my husband, sending mail to my families and friends, weekly zoom calls with my college girlfriends.

Oh, my god … I forgot to write here over the weekend and now I’m scrolling through all the comments and had to cry. Because with all this chaos it is in a way comforting that we are all in this together and I feel so close to people I don’t know.
– I live in Munich, Germany
– normally I live alone, but my boyfriend and I decided to do home office together. We are planning to move in together in the summer, so that’s the best test now ;)
– I’m an editor for a magazine and luckily we are able to work from home. I miss my colleagues and our talks, but I’m grateful that I can work from home and don’t have to worry about money like some friends
– I find it hard to not see my mother and my sister who live 400 km away and I miss my niece and my nephew. And I worry about the next weeks and months, if a lot of things will change.
– seriously, reading cookbooks brings me joy. And I really like to plan meals now and find baking so calming. And to look for a new series, I can recommend Babylon Berlin :). Also: Pilates and the little moments like the birds outside, the most wonderful sunset yesterday and finishing a dress I started sewing 5 years ago. And running. A friend of mine always says it’s the best psycho hygiene and right now I fell it helps me when I have a bad day.
And thank you for this blog, it is the best now to browse through old articles :)

a little late to the party, but!
* lisbon, portugal
* kind of a mix! my boyfriend and i decided to move in together but for now we still have 2 places, so i work at my place (we’re both working so it’s easier for the 2 of us this way) and go to his when i’m done, sleep there and come back the next morning. it actually helps me get into work mode (it’s really hard to work from home for me!)
* working, i’m lucky!
* it’s hard not to see my grandma (the rest of my family i “see” on videochat and stuff, so it’s easier…) and it’s hard that my sister is far away (london)…
* baking, cooking, finding and testing new recipes, playing scrabble, reading, going for little walks :)
thanks for asking!

* Where are you in the world?
Hasselt, Belgium

* Are you living solo or with other people (and if so, whom)?
My husband and our two cats.

* Are you working, or passing the time in other ways?
I am working 3 days a week, and we are getting technical unemployment from the Belgian government for the other two days. This means we will get about 70% of our salary for two days, paid by the government. As an American I do not take this for granted and am extremely grateful for the relatively well organized reaction to Covid.

* What’s hard right now?
I feel out of touch and out of control for my parents and sister’s health and well being back home in the US. They are spread far and wide, all in different situations.

* What’s bringing you joy (making, baking, playing, watching, etc.)?
I recently bought an apartment friendly electric cello – I played throughout my childhood.
I am going on “bookmark” walks that start and stop my workday and capturing a little diary of stunning morning and evening photos around the old Abbey we live- a swan and her nest, the cows getting fed, a pheasant, insane sunrises.
I’m tuning into Y7 yoga studio on instagrams, reading a thick book “Gentleman in Moscow” and cooking more dinners than I ever have.
I have more work-life balance now than ever before as I’m used to working 13 hour days and commuting to a bigger city. I don’t know how I will go back when the time comes.