Greatist Comforts- FINAL

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic knocked us on our butts. We went from wondering which concerts to attend (BSB, please do another tour) to disinfecting Grubhub in the garage—all in the span of a few weeks. Now, as we inch our way to what will hopefully be post-pandemic “normalcy”, we’re ready to pause, reflect, and ask ourselves: What the eff just happened?! While many of us rode the struggle bus—hard—we were still able to find moments of comfort and contemplation in one heck of a year. To appreciate just how far we’ve come, we asked what made you feel less afraid, helped you cope, kept you connected, and lit the way through the COVID fog. Then we used your answers to put together this “year book” of sorts, to not only reflect, but to remind you to HAGS, because you earned it! There’s still a ways to go, but as future president Rihanna once said, “We found love in a hopeless place. ” We’ll cheers to that! – Jennifer Chesak

When we couldn’t break bread with friends in 2020, we decided to bake it ourselves. Compared to March 2019, yeast sales more than quadrupled over the four-week period after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic. But we didn’t just make bread, we also got fancy with our comforting carbs. Searches for the term “bread art” went up 130%. Here, a few bakers share how sourdough (and more) got them through lockdown.

How We Learned to Survive and Thrive During A Pandemic

In bustling pre-pandemic times, our homes might’ve been places we’d only visit in passing. But in 2020, they became our literal safe havens. We had to figure out how to work, workout, learn, escape, and chill — all in the same space. And even if no one else set foot inside those four walls, we did the whole sanctuary thing in serious style.

Enter the bed head fashion craze. Gone were the salon trips for split-end trims or a quick manicure. But even with a pandemic raging, we did not give up on self-care. We ordered the solutions and serums, panic bought the Manic Panic, and sank our stress beneath a bevy of bath salts, bombs, and brews.

Relationships — whether romantic or platonic — are hard in normal times, but they can be even more complicated in pandemic times. Staying connected to our support systems was increasingly important when it was so easy to become isolated. Dating happened differently, too. But the pandemic also fostered the opportunity for seriously satisfying solo time.

2020 was the year we learned just how many boardroom meetings could’ve actually been emails — or at least how many can be done remotely. (Hint: most of them.) By mid-year, 42 percent of the U.S. labor force was working from home. And we did so in comfort, whether we donned the nap dress, the snack dress, the Zoom top, or the jogger. We upped our Zoom background game and styled our work-from-home control centers to get the job done our way.

Gyms and other fitness facilities had to shutter their doors, but nature remained wide open for business. Bicycle sales dollars grew 63 percent in June of 2020, compared to the same month in 2019. Paddle sport sales grew 56 percent, and camping sales jumped 31 percent. Instead of just working out, fitness became the added bonus to getting some fresh air and gleaning comfort from communing with the natural world.

"I baked sourdough boules, focaccia, challah, and also made varenyky (Ukrainian pierogi). These brought me so much comfort and joy while making my apartment smell unbelievable! Baking gives me immediate gratification. And since my senses are fully engaged in the process — feeling the dough, watching it rise, smelling and tasting the bread — it forces me to be in the present moment. Is there a better way to meditate?" — Alexandra Shytsman, recipe developer and photographer for The New Baguette

"Cooking has always been my mental stress reliever, but the pandemic gave me more time at home to dive deeper into more complex recipes — specifically traditional Mexican mole recipes." —Joseph Striegel

"Baking fed my family, gave my day more structure, and motivated me to stay connected with my baker friends. We stayed with family in Florida through much of 2020, and I felt that [baking] was a small, and hopeful, way to thank them for providing shelter from the storm." — Erik Fabian, cofounder of Sourdough Hope, a search for the most hopeful sourdough baking story in America

“I made my own pasta at times, and cooked more pasta dishes overall because it’s a comfort food. There’s something comforting about cooking and serving stews, casseroles like macaroni and cheese, and freshly baked bread. I enjoyed slowing down and taking time to serve more homemade meals.” —Lynell Ross, resource director for Test Prep Insight

Quotes!

"I was finally able to install the shiplap wall I had been wanting for a long time! My daughters had the great idea to write little messages on it before we hung up the boards to record what we were doing during the pandemic." —Brooke Grasley, Creator & Founder of Restore, Decor & More

"Living alone and not being around that much meant I never paid much attention to the lighting in my home. During the pandemic, I did an overhaul of the curtains, seat covers, and rugs to offer the house more light. The dull walls also got a bit of a facelift with a few paintings and other wall art – particularly string art wall hangings for their sophistication. My love for gaming also inspired me to install color-changing neon lights to the back of my TV, and invest in a gaming chair for more comfort." —Harriet Chan, co-founder of CocoFinder

"I tackled a lot of home decor projects. The one that made the biggest impact was transforming the unused portion of our finished basement into a music room. By adding some paint, a reclaimed wood feature wall, and repurposing some furniture from another room, I was able to turn a glorified storage space into a rock-and-roll haven." —Brianna Thomas of DIY blog Bloom in the Black

"The one thing that really made a huge difference to the overall vibe of my flat is adding some plants. It’s amazing what a little greenery can do to liven up an otherwise boring apartment. I also got some fun flower pots from many of my favorite places around the world to make my plants look like little pieces of art. " —Vanessa Magdalenova, marketing manager, Independent Fashion Bloggers.

Quotes!

"I had some expired tea leaves laying around in my cupboard, so I used them to make myself a relaxing scented bubble bath. Needless to say, this has become a weekly ritual, and I started experimenting with different teas as well. The effects are quite different. P.S. I’m definitely no longer waiting for the tea leaves to expire before bathing in them." —Nick Habre, owner of Your Coffee & Tea Essentials

“No matter what news I heard during the day, I always had an evening skincare routine of cleanser, makeup remover, toner, quartz roller, moisturizer, and eye cream to help me feel grounded. Rubbing lavender hand cream methodically into my hands helped me feel calm and ready for bed. Finally, a silky lavender eye pillow was magic for falling asleep quickly!” — Jen Bradley, owner of jenbradleymoms.com

"I feel like days can blur together when I work from home, so I often take full moon baths to slow down and reflect. I’ll build my bath around a theme using insoluble crystals, flowers/bath tea, bath salts, scented oils, candles, etc. It’s like I’m washing off the old energy and coming out with the new energy!" —Jessie DaSilva, Esq., online intuitive business coach.

Quotes!

“LEGOs! I totally got into LEGO sets for the first time in my life. Turns out, following directions was super soothing for my anxiety, and I’d make way more of them if I had more places to display them.” —Monica Paul Hackney

“I’m a lawyer of Cherokee descent, and my pandemic comfort hobby has been doing traditional Native American beadwork. I made earrings from Czech glass beads and from seashells I’d gathered. When beadworkers make our crafts, we’re supposed to think positive thoughts and pray. We believe it becomes a part of the beadwork, and that if we give it away, we’re also extending prayers and thoughts to others. This practice calmed me during the pandemic because even though I’m a millennial, I have many old friends — the eldest is 99! Praying, including for them, helped keep me from worrying about them.” —Shannon Prince, PhD, JD, an attorney on Boies Schiller Flexner’s Tribal Affairs Task Force

“Gardening! Man, it was really the one place I could go for guaranteed happiness. I have about 100 square feet of raised-bed space now and am growing all sorts of goodies — strawberries, peppers, celery, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, herbs, etc.” —Celeste Sepessy

"I start my day with a practice that I invented called daily doodles. It’s where I instinctually pick up some random colors and draw what comes to mind at the start of the day. I then reflect on the colors I was drawn to and write down my thoughts.” — Sravya Attaluri, mental health and feminism "art-ivist"

Though our usual entertainment outlets were on hiatus, our creativity could not be canceled. We found inspiration within ourselves and in nature from virtual gardens on Animal Crossing to tending real ones on our balconies and backyards. We took online courses and learned new skills. And we rekindled relationships with old hobbies we’d neglected. Pandemic projects meant new horizons— the only limit was our imagination.

Quotes!

“Before lockdowns, [my literary community] only had in-person meetups for members in Jamaica. Switching to virtual meetups has been one of the best decisions we’ve made. Our book club has provided support and a sense of community for many Queeribbean people across the globe. It gave us the opportunity to get lost in fictional worlds and reimagine new futures.” —Jherane Patmore, founder of Rebel Women Lit

“In my long-distance relationship, my boyfriend and I coped by having regular phone and video calls, as well as playing video games together online. This helped to feel like we were in the same room sharing an activity without having a ‘forced’ conversation over the phone.” —JC Way, editor at Sex Toy Collective

“I got a vibrator! It really has helped fill the gaps that the pandemic ushered in. I still just keep to myself since I haven’t been vaccinated (yet!) and want to remain as sexually healthy and responsible as I can. Sex isn’t fun when you’re worried about getting sick.” —Talyah Regusters

“My husband got deployed at the beginning of the pandemic. He was gone for 321 days, during which I did a ton of solo play while reading romance books. This played such a key role in my mental health and my well-being.” —Melissa Gill, owner of Steamy Lit

Quotes!

“Taking inspiration from a coffeehouse aesthetic, I painted my walls, bought new furniture, upgraded into a wireless set-up, and put up posters and prints of my favorite things. The comfortable office set-up was not only fun but it made me very productive, because I know I could never have this same experience working in an office space.” —Sharon van Donkelaar, CMO at Expandi

“Without a commute, hour-long lunch breaks, and frequent coffee breaks, there’s more time for concentrated work. I’ve realized that I much prefer a shorter workday than a drawn-out one. If I started work at 7:30 a.m., I could finish up by 1:30 p.m. and have the rest of the afternoon to spend with my family.” — Grant Aldrich, founder CEO of OnlineDegree

“I'm a speaker, and so most of my work attire was professional and stage-friendly – a lot of jumpsuits, dresses, and skirt-blouse combos. [But] there’s just something comforting about wearing Christmas pajamas on the bottom and a blouse on top for a virtual presentation while I’m working from home. There’s definitely a [saying that] if you dress better, you feel better. But I believe that if I dress in a way that makes me comfortable, I’ll be better at my job.” —Jessi Beyer, entrepreneur

“I go days at a time without putting on ‘real’ pants. I’ll dress up and wear heels for mundane tasks, like going to the grocery store, because that’s the only place I go! The freedom to wear comfortable clothing has helped [me manage] my stress and my body image as well. I hope other folks with similar experiences get tokeep working from home if they want!” — Aurora Smith, health and fitness advisor at fitnessfixedgear.com

Quotes!

"During the pandemic, I took a camping trip with my family in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. We had a great time. I spent a lot of time on YouTube looking up how to tie a fishing line, make a fire, protect our campsite from bears, etc. It definitely brought us comfort and is something we will be doing again very soon. Connecting with nature, and disconnecting from the [everyday noise] is something that our family now tries to include in our weekly routine. We’ve started viewing fitness and exercise as something that happens when we are living our best life, and not just an experience confined to an hour per day at the gym." —Matthew Gaedke, founder of KetoConnect

“One of the things I learned from kayaking is it’s nice to get outdoors, away from the noise and stress of life. It's been such a great outlet for me. I can paddle as hard as I want, and it's a good arm, shoulder, and core exercise. Plus, being on the water helps me clear my head.” — Steve Morrow, founder of Paddle About

“I live near three national parks and many national forest trails where you can hike for miles in solitude. Even though so many things in my everyday life were different and unsettling, nature was unaffected. The birds still chirped, the deer still grazed, babies were born, and the circle of life continued. Spending time where the world continued unphased helped me to feel stable.” — Melanie Musson, wellness expert with the life insurance site QuickQuote.com

Big flour dreams

Mood lighting

Bathing in self-care

Creative ways to cope

Doing it and redoing it well

Joggers all day, all night, all year

The Great Outdoors

Comfort in Chaos:

"I got really into bike trail riding during the pandemic — far more into it than I expected, really. The feeling of getting out in the open air and clearing my head, thinking about anything but work, was critical for maintaining my mental health." — Nate Tsang, founder and CEO of WallStreetZen

Photography by Breakfast for Dinner and Aleia

Photography by Breakfast For Dinner