16 Smart Products For Living Alone During Quarantine
For those of us living 100% alone during a global pandemic, we know that when they say isolation, they effing mean it. This is a very distant and often lonely time, particularly for those of us with no one else in the house. I love a good Zoom happy hour as much as the next person but I’m really starting to feel the effects of never being around people. What helps a lot are the following truths:
1) This is temporary
2) I don’t have to fix this, I just have to ride it out
3) I’m allowed to be gentle with myself right now
To point 3 in particular, I’ve compiled the list below of items that provide a softer, more comfortable landing for those of us living through who knows how many weeks or months of global crisis with no one around to hug. We’re going to get through this—I promise.
Waffle Robe: I hate terry cloth robes. There, I’ve said it. If I wanted to wear a towel, I would. To me, robes should feel different, they should feel lighter but also cozy and comforting. I prefer to achieve this via waffle texture. Waffle texture is the only way to robe when your robe is more function, less lingerie. And right now, ladies, we’re all function. I love the color, texture, length, and collar of this one (essentially I love the whole thing), but there are plenty of other options out there for you if you want something more colorful, shorter, etc.
Single Serving Soup! Making soup is all fun and games until you have to store it somewhere. It’s unlikely that a full batch of soup can be consumed by one person living alone before it’s less than fresh, and when you freeze a full batch you’re just left with the same problem upon thawing. These little guys let you freeze single serving soup! If you don’t want a set of six, technically you could also just use these guys and pop out 2-3 cubes at a time. Either way, smarter sizing, and still the ability to make and freeze yourself delicious things.
Muffin Tin: Along similar lines, all of these loaves of things everyone is baking are really beautiful and delicious, but they’re also likely to grow mold before one singular person can consume them. I speak, unfortunately, from experience. Blech. I’ve started using muffin tins instead, which bake my treats into individually sized portions (for the record, my portion size is two), and then the rest can be enjoyed at will or easily frozen. If you prefer things in loaf format, this mini loaf pan is a smart move, too.
Tie Die Lounge Top & Pants: Anyone else gettin’ reeeealllll jealous of all this tie dye loungewear popping up all over famous people’s Instagrams? We deserve the full spectrum of loungewear too, us normals! To that end I’ve researched the very cutest and comfiest options out there for you. I tend to opt for a long sleeve top and long pants, because I like to be swaddled, but this short PJs set is perfect for the warmer days ahead. Or, if you prefer a one-stop shop approach, this tie dye jumpsuit looks like I could live in it the rest of my life, no big deal.
Lotion You’ll Actually Use: We always get so excited when we go to a hotel or even a restaurant bathroom and their products are Le Labo. Now is the time to make Le Labo come to us. While I have been known to use hotel-sized body lotions as hand creams, it’s actually better to use hand cream as hand cream, especially now when we’re all washing our hands 50 times a day. I love this convenient pump bottle atop my desk (I don’t keep it at the sink, I find that a few minutes after I wash my hands and am already at my desk again is when they feel dry). It is a small luxury that’s worth it because it’s in constant use. An alternative that doesn’t smell (at all, really) but is super affordable and affective is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hand Gel Cream that I’ve also been using throughout quarantine.
Perfect Pants: I’m very pants-picky. Especially now. I don’t even know the last time my skin came into contact with pants that have a zipper. I like a closure-free pant that slips on and doesn’t dig any sort of strong elastic into my tummy. Wide waistbands are my church, essentially. This pair of palazzo pants I’ve linked are my favorite, I own two pairs so that I don’t have to be without a pair when one is in the wash, that’s how much I love them. This pair is also a delightful option in the world of unrestrictive clothes for the bottom half of you. If you’re more of a joggers person, Amazon’s house brand also makes a delightful pair of those, and they’re ever-so appropriate for leaving the house, should you need to make a quick grocery run, etc.
Single Serving Dutch Oven: Okay I included this on cuteness alone, but it is very practical to have a cooking/serving vessel that’s right-sized for you, especially if you live in a space with a small kitchen/sink area. Washing a giant dutch oven is a pain in the ass, I speak from experience, and this little guy is a much easier lift all around. Also, cute. (Staub is my favorite brand for cast iron vessels, btw — this is the dutch oven I bake all my breads in.)
Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons: My measuring spoons and cups are terrible and I cannot take it anymore. They’re oddly shaped, difficult for scooping purposes, and honestly I think they’re a little imprecise. Just go with the standard, stainless, easy to measure and level options that get the job done properly. Cute spoons are great visually, but they’re not doing a damn thing for my brownies. Now is not the time for baking fails, friends.
Sleeveless Jumpsuit: We are dressing for ourselves, and ourselves only, and in these situations I believe we should be as comfortable as humanly possible. I also know that warmer weather is approaching, and it can’t be all sweaters moving forward. I love a good sleeveless jumpsuit for working from home, because it’s super comfortable, and it’s easy to toss a cardigan or even a blazer over it when you need to look more put together for a work call. This one is very affordable and comes in six colors to suit your tastes, but I’m partial to the gray, m’self.
Another Jumpsuit: I know I just mentioned a jumpsuit but look how cute this one is too! I feel like this…almost counts as real clothes? I might wear it somewhere! You know, when “somewhere” becomes a possibility for us all again.
Storage Jars: When you live alone, leftovers are inevitable. I’ve been trying to make a much more conscious effort in 2020 to use less plastic in my home, and to that end I’ve started saving every jar imaginable and using them as my storage vessels for leftovers, salad components during meal prep, etc. If you don’t already have a collection of jars that formerly housed pickles and jam, this set is a very efficient way to un-plastic your kitchen storage situation. I also love these for storing baking components in a stylish but also affordable way, especially now when it’s nice to keep essentials on the counter for easy stress-baking access.
A Good But Affordable Candle: Now, perhaps more than ever, our homes shouldn’t stink. Cooking smells and other less mentionable occurrences can cause our spaces to be less than fresh. If you have a cat, you understand my meaning. I know candles can feel like a racket. While I adore a good Diptyque as much as the next girl, I think spending over $40 on a candle just kind of hurts. But by the same token, spending less on a candle that doesn’t smell much is a waste of any amount of money. So I’ve sort of always been on a quest for a candle that’s affordable but also strongly scented. Boy Smells is what I’ve come up with. I’ve yet to meet a scent I don’t like, and they’re $32. I’ve bought three so far this quarantine and I regret nothing. Also my house doesn’t smell like shallots, a truth for which I’m very grateful.
Ugly But Comfy Slippers: Remember shoes? Neither do I. When you live alone, and can’t leave the house, I see absolutely no reason to put anything real or attractive on your feet. Rather, this is a time for the ultimate in fluffiness and comfort, and friends, I believe I’ve found it.
Pom Pom Socks: I don’t know what sort of batshit trends will emerge following this global crisis, but I certainly hope pom pom socks are one of them. How cute are they? Remember these? Again, no one around to judge you…just sayin…
Half Zip Pullover: TBH I’ve been revisiting many a trend from childhood during this rule-free approach we’re all taking to fashion. This one is very high quality (I love Alo), and it’s 40% off! This lighter option is also a steal and great for spring weather.
Affordable Full Length Mirror: An odd choice, but hear me out: I know we’re all spending an inordinate amount of time at home right now, and we should certainly love the spaces we’re in. My home has been lacking a full length mirror since I moved in, and I’ve always been cautious about them due to the price. I found this one on Amazon recently and it’s much better price-wise than others I’ve seen for similarly minimalist styles. I think it’s perfect to lean against a wall and intend to massively improve my bedroom with it.
