#WFH Series: My Top 13 Quarantine Trends
Wearing a Princess Polly dress.
After more than two months of social distancing, B.C. residents can now enjoy certain health safety measures being relaxed. Specifically, a variety of non-essential businesses, such as retail stores, pubs, and personal care services, have begun to open again under strict regulations regarding hygiene and social distancing. As well, we are now allowed to gather in groups of up to 6 people from outside of our household (hugging and kissing, however, are still not permitted). On a somewhat related note, I can hardly believe that I’m in my tenth week of working from home!
Personally, I’ve been doing quite well during this time as I’ve had a lot of hobbies to keep myself occupied. However, I can’t help but miss spontaneous happy hours, long seawall runs, and coffee dates with my friends. Not to mention celebrating family events like Mother’s Day in person! As a result, I’m really looking forward to picnics and other hangouts with friends and family in the near future.
Now that the end of “quarantine” seems to be on the horizon, I thought it would be fun to discuss some trends that have become randomly popular during this unprecedented time. In no particular order, I have listed and described the ones that I have noticed the most lately.
1. TikTok Videos:
Everyone and their mother (I mean this literally— I’ve been seeing many mothers using this app nowadays) has been getting active on TikTok lately. This app has been the origin of many viral trends, including Dalgona Coffee (to be discussed later) and that darn “Bored in the House” song.
While I have yet to make my first post, I’ve often gotten lost within the vortex of my never-ending TikTok video feed. As well, I’ve helped my hubby to create a few random TikTok videos, which has helped me to understand the process a little more. So far, my favourite genres have been comedic and/or hot Asian guys (sorry Peter), cooking, dancing, and pranks. However, many people use the platform for DIY inspiration and many other fun projects.
Many individuals will recreate “challenges” in order to jump on a viral trend. For instance, when my favourite idol Jackson Wang released his latest single “100 Ways,” he created a dance challenge on TikTok that became extremely popular. He also encouraged people to participate by reposting his favourites.
2. Quarantine Drinks:
Since we can’t be outside buying drinks from coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants, many of us have been forced to recreate them at home. As a result of this trend, I realized that my mugs and glasses were seriously outdated and felt obliged to buy new ones (yes, I know it’s ridiculous). See below for some of the most popular ones I’ve seen on my feed:
Caffeinated:
Dalgona Coffee: This South Korean “whipped coffee” craze was popularized by TikTok and has since blown up all over several social media platforms. Other than being delicious, this coffee can be very aesthetic if made correctly. While I do like the taste of it, I’ve found that instant coffee is much too strong for me and I feel extremely over-caffeinated after drinking it. Also, if you don’t have a mixer, you’ll be forced to whip the coffee by hand for at least 5 minutes (which is, admittedly, a good arm workout). As a result, I partake in this trend as little as possible.
Iced Coffee: Personally, I prefer this trend much more as it’s lighter on the caffeine, healthier, and much easier to make. Also, now that it’s getting warm out there, an iced coffee is the perfect way to cool off. Last but not least, it’s also very aesthetic to post on the feed…
Matcha (Strawberry) Lattes: I’ll admit that I haven’t dabbled in this trend yet as I haven’t figured out where to buy matcha powder during this time yet; however, I have been loving the various versions I’ve been seeing online.
Alcoholic: While I usually only drink in social settings such as happy hour, being stuck at home has resulted in my social circle being quite limited. As a result, I usually drink some wine or cider during the weekend with the hubby. However, I have seen many individuals on social media creating their own pretty cocktails or enjoying some bubbly in pretty glasses (which was another reason for why I wanted new glasses for myself).
Starbucks iced coffee and skincare from The Body Shop.
Smoothies: For the healthier ones among us, smoothies have become a daily occurrence. I honestly need to get more into this myself as it’s always a struggle to consume enough veggies and fruits.
3. Skincare Routines:
While skincare has been very important to me for years, I’ve observed that nowadays many females are placing a new emphasis on skincare. Since most of us are stuck at home, we now have less excuses about putting more time and consideration into our skincare routine.
4. TV Binges:
As discussed in my last post, TV show binges have become more acceptable and even necessary (for better or worse). Other than my Korean dramas, I’ve been catching on the latest seasons of my favourites (i.e. Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and trying fun new ones (i.e. Never Have I Ever).
5. Fave Reads:
For as long as I could read, I’ve been a dedicated bookworm who could spend hours on end at the local library or bookstore (a trait I’ve attributed to my dad, a retired librarian and lifelong book lover). However, I will admit that in this fast-paced world of social media and streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, books have been on the back burner for me in recent times. Happily, more time at home as resulted in much more time to slow down and read the numerous books that I’ve left unread on my shelf.
6. Home Workout Routines:
A shot of the hubby during a long walk and run outside.
Exercise has long held an extremely important role in my life. When I was younger, I started working out regularly for the usual reasons of weight loss. However, as time went on, I started to appreciate exercise more for physical and mental health reasons. Before social distancing began, I usually would work out 5-6 days a week at the gym. However, since everything began, working out at home has become a crucial part of my quarantine routine.
For the first couple of weeks, I didn’t exercise very often as I was still adjusting to my work from home schedule. As a result, I started to feel lethargic and lazy after sitting on a chair and the couch for the entire day. However, I soon began using YouTube home workouts (that focus primarily on bodyweight and cardio HIIT exercises) on a daily basis. As well, I supplemented those workouts with regular runs outside maybe 3-4 times a week.
For the past month or so, I’ve been working out around 6-7 days a week now and I feel more healthy physically and mentally. As well, I’ve been seeing online that many other individuals have been sharing their favourite home workout routines (which also motivates me to work harder)!
7. Cooking:
My first successful attempt at omurice.
Prior to quarantine, cooking was at best a sporadic affair for me. I usually would cook a big batch of food (i.e. turkey chilli or curry) that I could pack up for lunch during the work week. However, now that I’m always at home, trying new recipes has become a fun new pastime for me.
After watching so many Korean dramas, I started craving the food that the actors often ate onscreen. Jangjangmyeon and kimchi jjigae got me started— then I started moving onto other Japanese and Chinese dishes such as yaki udon and omurice. On social media, it has become more popular than ever to share favourite cooking and baking recipes (since more people have time to actually try them).
8. Story Template Tags:
Before all of this, story templates were the sole domain of bloggers trying to fill their IG stories with more interesting material. However, nowadays, it seems that these templates are being used by everyone now (even my husband) to pass along fun challenges or to see what favourite Korean dramas are being watched by your friends.
9. Sunset Skies:
Now that it’s become more difficult to go outside, capturing beautiful nature shots such as gorgeous sunset colours has become increasingly popular. In particular, sunsets over the water have become the most coveted shots.
10. Zoom/Skype/House Party Virtual Dates:
Although they have many shortcomings (i.e. Zoom video-bombing), virtual meetings and dates have become an essential part of quarantine life. For work, I use Microsoft Teams on a regular basis. With my friends, we either meet on Skype, Zoom, or play games together on the HouseParty app.
11. Home Redecorating:
One of the new vases I recently bought from Crate and Barrel.
At first, I resisted this trend as I was afraid to spend more money on my home decor. However, after being stuck at home for so long, I became struck with the irresistible urge to redecorate just about everything. At first, I started small with new dishes, cutlery, vases, and pillows. However, I’m now tackling larger projects as such redecorating my balcony patio (since we spend so much more time out there now). Also, I have even convinced the hubby to get us a new couch and armchair as soon as we can go into stores again to check them out!
When I look at social media, I see that I am far from being alone as home redecorating has pretty much become a full time occupation for my fellow quarantinees. As well, DIY home decor projects, many originating from the depths of Pinterest and TikTok, have become incredibly popular pastimes for the more crafty and handy individuals out there (which definitely does not include me).
12. Lounge Wear and PJs:
Wearing a tie dye lounge set from Ardene.
After working from home and being stuck indoors for more than two months now, comfy clothing pieces have become essential during this time of uncertainty (also largely because there is no need to wear fancy clothes anymore). In particular, loungewear and pyjamas are at an all-time high in popularity. I myself have been guilty in buying a set (or three) to accommodate this ultra-comfy lifestyle.
P.S. For some inexplicable reason, tie dye also
13. Journals:
My favourite notebook of late— also the one and only souvenir from our Scottsdale trip in January.
My last trend to be discussed within this post is that of journalling. While journals have always been a great way to self-reflect and safely vent out one’s feelings, they have become even more necessary during this time for the purposes of meditation, organization, and gratitude. If you scroll through social media, you will not be hard pressed to find a several different journals geared towards fulfilling one or more of those aforementioned purposes.
While the previously-discussed trends are the ones that stood out to me the most, I am aware that there are a million more out there. What trends are your favourite? Which are your least?
P.S. At the time of writing this, I have been able to reunite with a few of my friends and have cautious hopes that things will slowly improve for my home province (and for the rest of the world). While I have been very happy to be able to socialize with individuals outside of my immediate household, I still am aware that we need to continue practicing social distancing and excellent personal hygiene. We are all in this together!
Cheers,
Debbie (aka The Stylish Wordsmith)