7 things that are saving my sanity
Remember in the Before Times, when if someone said "How are you doing?" your answer was usually "Good!"? Even if things weren't entirely good, that was the social convention, unless you actually wanted to get into detail.
Sometime in the spring, that transitioned to "Well, under the circumstances". And now, almost a year into our new reality? I feel like I'm hearing a lot of "You know, I'm having good days and bad days". And tbh I'm saying it too.
Don't get me wrong – I'm fine, if tired of my own cooking. And January is tough at the best of times in this climate. But I think I would be having even more bad days if I didn't try extra hard to take care of myself. And so, here are some of the things I do to boost my mood. Please send me your own ideas to share!
1. Light exposure
Right now I have my computer set up in our dining room, next to our south-facing patio doors. So when the sun is shining, like it is now, I get a ton of light. We also make an effort to go outside every day – even on gloomy days, the quantity of light is significantly more than indoors.
And I spend half an hour every morning in front of a SAD light, which I highly recommend. The one we have isn't available anymore so I can't send you to it, but I suggest getting one that's battery powered so it's portable and, therefore, much more versatile. (We have also taken ours on trips to other time zones – remember those? – to help with jet lag.)
2. Chocolate
It's no secret I'm a big fan of Soma. And, oh, it looks like they have a giant cherry-walnut heart for Valentine's Day, which you should all buy and enjoy in my stead because I can't eat walnuts. But my current favourite is the Old School Milk bar. What it lacks in attractiveness it makes up for in flavour.
3. Virtual get-togethers with purpose
I know, we're all heartily sick of Zoom. And if I never have to join another purposeless call with 10+ people, it will be too soon. But at its best, video conferencing is a gift. And with a few guidelines, it can be fun, not painful.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to have a focal point. One of the best things in my life during the pandemic, for instance, has been my bridge club. The four of us used to get together in person, before one member left town for a new job. We never managed to get it going properly again, until last spring, when we were suddenly all stuck at home with nothing else to do.
Now, we're meeting almost every week, with Zoom running alongside a website called Bridge Base. We chat about other things, of course. (Promising Young Woman is on the list for this weekend.) But the presence of the bridge game gives us a focus that disperses any awkwardness and Zoom fatigue.
If you don't want to have a regular bridge game going (!), there are a few other tricks that work for me. One is to try and keep group sizes small – no more than four to six. And if you must have a bigger group, make sure someone is in charge to direct conversation – a virtual emcee, if you will. And finally, know thyself. Personally, I have a hard time with evening calls, so I try not to schedule many of them. (Sorry for yawning through book club, everyone!)
4. Comfort food classics
Comfort food is a personal thing, so the specific items will depend on your culture, where you grew up and your own individual memories. (Tara O'Brady discusses this in the intro to her Butternut Lentil Soup recently published in the Globe and Mail, which I haven't tried yet but Daniela recommends.)
But also, in Canada in January, it's about being warm and cozy when it's cold and dark outside. I've been digging into my Russian cookbook for old favourites like borscht, mushroom soup, pan-fried potatoes and mushrooms and baked cabbage, and I made a really nice red lentil dal the other day with carrots and kohlrabi.
5. Food and drink rituals
Like many a caffeine addict, I basically go to bed looking forward to my morning soy latte. To prevent the day from feeling all downhill from there, I've added an afternoon chai latte to my regular routine – caffeine-free because I am a Bad Sleeper.
And in the evenings, we'll often have baked apples for dessert, which are tasty and also make the house smell good. (I like to stuff them with mincemeat, but I've also seen plenty of recipes like this one that are seasoned in other ways, or you can bake them plain.) We've been enjoying Spartans lately.
6. Embracing convenience
I like to cook, and I have the time for it, but I definitely don't always have the energy or motivation. So there are a few convenience tricks I use to keep the plant-based eating going even when I'm mostly interested in lying on the couch.
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Number one is vegetables in jars. I put up some pickled beets and cucumbers in the summer, and I find myself reaching for them often. (I wish I'd done some beans and other pickles, too.) Other staples include sauerkraut and kimchi. They take just seconds to put on your plate and are also very healthy.
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Then, of course, there's the freezer. Edamame in pods is one of my go-tos (my new thing is tossing it in Zing Hakka-ish Chili Crisp) and I always have some sort of fake meat product in there for a quick meal. The Beyond sausages are quite decent, and we are going through a hot dog phase again (I like Yves jumbo wieners).
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I am also all-in lately on vegetables that last forever in the fridge. Unlike spring mix, lettuce or even broccoli, a head of cabbage or bag of potatoes will be there for you when you're ready. This Creamy Braised Cabbage from Food & Drink is nice (it goes with the Beyond sausages), and I've got David Lebovitz's Cream of Cabbage Soup on my list to make soon. I also accidentally bought four pounds of turnips. Does anyone have any favourite ways to prep turnips other than turnip fries?
7. Ordering meals ahead of time
Scrolling your phone for dinner ideas when you're already hungry kind of sucks, and we've actually had one Friday night order get cancelled on us quite late, resulting in a 9 pm pancake dinner. So I've gotten into a bit of a pre-ordering routine.
Last week we got Korean delivered from So Daam (the potato salad is epically good), and this weekend we'll be enjoying a vegan Oaxacan feast from La Bartola and southwestern Chinese street food from The Depanneur. I love ordering ahead because it gives me something to look forward to. Which is what we all need right now, right?
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