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Can you remember back to the first days of quarantine, before we knew very much about the coronavirus? It seems like a bit of a blur to me, but I know I felt something like I did as a kid on a snow day (even though I work from home most of the time anyway). Spending more time at home and catching up on shows didn't sound that bad. 

"School's Out" - Alice Cooper

But very quickly, reality set in. What we were going through was / is very real and very serious. The economy came close to shutting down as we were told to stay home for everyone's protection.

"Locked Up" - Akon

At first, this made a lot of sense. Stay away from others and don't let this illness spread. I was patient and happy to wait things out and do my part.

"I Will Wait" - Mumford & Sons
"Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" - Jack Johnson
"Patience" - Guns N' Roses

Then I had to go out for groceries. It was still the early stages and there was such limited information other than the need for social distancing and staying at least six feet apart from anyone else. Everyone in the store was in the same boat, feeling unsure of what to do or how to act and trying to respect each other's space.

"Don't Stand So Close To Me" - The Police
"Can't Touch This" - MC Hammer

With a full fridge and freezer, and therefore no errands to do, I let myself relax a bit. Watching so much news was stressful and caused a lot of anxiety, so I switched to Netflix, phone calls with friends and some other random hobbies I rarely take part in.

"The Lazy Song" - Bruno Mars
"Dancing with Myself" - Generation X
"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

But I'm a pretty active person and don't really like to sit around much other than when I'm working. I started getting a bit stir crazy and also felt guilt for staying at home when so many people were working hard and putting themselves at risk to save others.

"I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" - The White Stripes

Friends started suggesting virtual happy hours and I really liked that idea.

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" - Alan Jackson
"Red Red Wine" - UB40

But then the nostalgia and loneliness would kick in, and I'd start thinking about my loved ones who I couldn't see.

"Here Without You" - 3 Doors Down
"Photograph" - Nickelback
"I Want To Hold Your Hand" - The Beatles

It got a little dark. Isolation is no joke.

"I Want To Break Free" - Queen
"All By Myself" - Celine Dion

But then I took a step back and realized the bigger picture. This situation is so much bigger than I am, and there are a million ways I can stay busy and productive and happy while supporting my community by staying home. I began to embrace the solitude, take on projects I have been putting off, check in with friends in the medical community more often, and find creativity in new places for my business.

"Lose Yourself" - Eminem
"Better Off Alone" - Alice DJ

And now, I'm using the metaphor of washing my hands to mean I'm working on myself, finding joy in quiet moments, exploring new ways to show my support to others. I'm also washing my hands. A lot.

"Hands Clean" - Alanis Morissette
"So Fresh, So Clean" - OutKast

I know that I am a stronger person having already experienced so much during this time - and it is not even over yet. Plus, I've done a ton of at-home workouts so there's that :) But now that I have gone through month's worth of emotions while writing this playlist and post for the past few hours, I am feeling pretty emo, so I'll leave you with this: We're going through something that has never happened before. There is no right or wrong way to feel, and how you feel one day is not really any indication of how you may feel the next, and that is okay! Be kind to yourself and check on your friends and family. Try to find some silver lining to this situation, and I truly believe that we will all come out of this as stronger people and stronger communities.

"Stronger" - Britney Spears

Listen to the playlist on Spotify at this link.

Europe

• The Da Vinci Code (Paris)
• Under The Tuscan Sun (Tuscany)
• Eurotrip (Europe)
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Iceland)
• National Lampoon's European Vacation (Europe)

Asia

• Crazy Rich Asians (Singapore)
• The Hangover II (Thailand)
• Mulan (China)

USA / North America

• Rat Race (USA)
• Into The Wild (Alaska)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Hawaii)

Central / South America

• Y Tu Mama También (Mexico)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Caribbean)

Africa

• Blended (South Africa)
• The Lion King 
• Casablanca (Morocco)

Oceana

• Couples Retreat (Bora Bora)

Multiple locations

• James Bond (all over!)
• Eat Pray Love (Italy, India, Bali)

 
​What's missing from this list? Comment below and let us know!

Let us know your frittata tips in the comments below!

Planning ahead is the best way to stay ahead. 

1. Immunization check - Give your doctor a call to see if the region you are traveling to requires or suggests any immunizations. 
2. Travel insurance - Protect yourself in case of illness or other travel disruption by purchasing travel insurance before your trip. Typically inexpensive to purchase, the 'better safe than sorry' attitude is one I always try to have when it comes to insurance. 
3. First aid kit - Make your own first aid kit *and be sure to put it in your carry on*! You don't need to carry full bottles of aspirin or boxes of bandaids that take up space and will likely go unused. Focus on what you can't get as easily at your destination (always bring extra prescription meds) and do a body scan to think of what to bring. Start with your head (e.g. ibuprofen, eye drops, nasal spray, etc.) to your throat (e.g. cough drops, decongestant, etc.) to your stomach, etc.

A smooth ride is the best way to start a travel adventure.

1. Purify your space - Bring some antibacterial wipes with you to wipe off the armrest, seatbelt buckle, tray table, headrest, steering wheel, etc. depending on how you are traveling. Also, you may want to invest in an air purifier which you can clip to your shirt or wear as a necklace to disinfect the air around you. I don't know if I buy this, but my mom swears by it... I guess it can't hurt!
2. Turn the air ON - While many people believe that the airplane A/C is recycled and should be kept off, it is actually filtered and a great way to keep germs away. In fact, these days the air on most aircraft is circulated through hospital-grade HEPA filters which remove 99.97% of bacteria and airborne viruses. 
3. Just say no - to water - Unless it comes from a sealed container! The water used to make coffee and tea on many planes has been found to contain bacteria time and time again, so it is heavily advised not to drink them on board! Similarly, the water you use to wash your hands in the bathrooms may be harboring the bad stuff as well. So this is one of the very few cases where it is actually best to use antibacterial hand sanitizer once you are back in your seat than to wash your hands in the bathroom. (Check out this recent study for more info)

You may be on vacation, but don't leave your common sense back home!

1. Wash your hands - Before you eat, when you get to the hotel room, and when you've been touching things in shops, tourist attractions, etc. Sometimes it is easy to forget that things are germy when you're trying to close your mind and be present on vacation. Always carry hand sanitizer and wash your hands whenever you can. 
2. Bottled water - This is a tough one, and it definitely varies based on where you travel, but if you have a sensitive gut, it may be beneficial to drink bottled water while you travel. It is more expensive and not great for the environment to go through so much plastic, but if it can help you feel well on your trip, the benefit may outweigh the negatives. If you prefer to drink from the tap and are in a more remote location, there are filtered bottles, purifiers and cleansing iodine tablets available at stores like REI that can be lifesavers. Boiling water also purifies it.
3. Bug spray - If you're traveling to a place where bug bites can give you more than an annoying itch (zika, malaria, etc...), be sure to invest in a good bug spray and to use it! I find the bugs always get me right at dusk, after the spray from the day is worn off and the little guys come out to play. DEET is no longer considered to be 'bad for you' as an ingredient in many insect repellents (interesting article here), but many people prefer natural alternatives. If you find a good bug spray - natural or chemical - comment below and let me know! I still have scars from itchy bites a month ago!
4. Disinfect your room - Just like you wipe down your airline seat, bring some extra wipes to clean the doorknobs, toilet flusher, sink and TV remote in your hotel room. Even if you have housekeeping services at your destination, it doesn't mean these things are disinfected, and it is an easy way to protect yourself from germs of past guests.
5. Down time - When I travel, I like to see and do as much as possible. But sometimes I wear myself out and then am out of commission and unable to do other things on my list. So my tip is simply to listen to your body and to pace yourself! Sitting at a local coffee shop for a half hour to rest your body or letting yourself sleep in instead of being first in line at a museum can keep you feeling fresh and energetic throughout your trip.
6. Eat with caution - The food preparation regulations abroad are not always in line with those in the US. Raw food, like fruits and veggies, can be more susceptible to bacteria from the chef's hands, so opt for hot, steaming food when you can (or fruits and veggies you can peel yourself). And while you may come across places where gloves and hairnets are nonexistent, try and select cafes and food stands where the food is covered from flies and the food is prepared with utensils vs. bare hands.
   

Bring back more than a magnet or keychain?

1. Shower - Regardless of what time you get back from a trip, I always suggest throwing your clothes right in the hamper and taking a nice hot shower to wash off the plane germs and travel stress. They say the headrest on a plane is the dirtiest... who wants that on their pillow?
2. Laundry - Wash everything in your suitcase, even those outfits you never ended up wearing! This way you get rid of any bugs that may have crawled in your suitcase (bed bugs, too!) and you also get rid of that yucky suitcase smell if you know what I mean.
3. Feeling off? - If you feel sick after you return from your trip, don't ignore the symptoms. Give your doctor a call or visit an Urgent Care location and be sure to tell them where you have been traveling so they can help you feel better.

Have another tip to help people stay healthy and safe while traveling? Add it to the comments below!

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