5 Essential Products you need to Survive Lockdown

Well, it’s been quite a year. I had high hopes for 2020 and thought it would be a defining year, but not in a global pandemic, take down systemic racism and fire global wild fires kind of way.

In the last eight months I have embraced a new normal where our homes are our offices, Zoom hosts our happy hours and our pets are living the dream. One thing that hasn’t change is my propensity to online shop. I have been in a steady relationship with buying online since my first credit card and this year I only became more loyal to my digital carts.

Here are some of the things I bought and loved during quarantine.

5 Essential Products You Need to Survive Lockdown

The Peloton App and Bike+

Ok, *technically* it’s my a gift for my sister, but I do get to use it too. I plan on doing a more in depth review once we have tested it sufficiently but so far we are impressed. The app is stellar and has wide a variety of exercises from yoga, barre, to HITT and outdoor running classes.

The Bike+ features a larger monitor that the original bike that rotates so you can pair the cycling classes with other workouts offered on the peloton app. I love that there is a strong sense of community that exists both on social media and within the live classes. You get high fives from fellow riders. You can even video chat with friends (if you aren’t too out of breath!) during the class.

Yes, at $2,495 the price tag is hefty and there is an ongoing subscription of $39 a month on top of that. But it’s totally worth the investment, especially during these winter months were it will be harder to be able to exercise outdoors.

I do need to caution that there are some issues with delivery and availability, specially in the last few months were a lot of people invested and the pandemic reduced delivery and supply chain capabilities. Be prepared to wait 10 weeks or more for delivery.

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

I don’t know what took me so long to get on the blue light glasses bandwagon. I am in front of a screen all day and my bloodshot eyes show it. Plus it’s another opportunity to add a stylish accessory to the mix.  You will never hear me turn down the opportunity to turn down an accessory, which is why I naturally now own a questionable number of pairs. Amazon sells a variety of brands for very reasonable prices and there are even bundles to choose from. This one is one of my favorites.

The Daily Sneaker

There was a time when I would wear heels everyday. Boy, how times have changed. Now I am basically barefoot or in grandma slippers. While I love using flats when on the go (these Rothy’s ones are my favorites), they do not offer the best support after a long day, so I am now embracing the wearing sneakers.

It took me a while but I found my perfect pair in the Stella McCartney Ultraboost. What attracted me to is the form fitting shape and no laces to slow me down, trip me up or make me obsess if they should be tucked in our out. These do run big, so size down. I would recommend them for light activities as opposed to a HITT class of marathon running.

Two items I already had but have been life savers

The Nespresso Lattissima Touch Espresso Machine

I actually got this when I turned thirty and had mostly used it on weekends only. Yet now, since being cooped up inside for months without the easy access to my local coffee shops, this little cappuccino and espresso maker went from the occasional treat to a daily essential. My favorite capsules are all found in this variety pack. I also keep these decaf capsules on hand, just in case I want to cut back on the caffeine or have a cup later in the day. The capsules are recyclable and the Nespresso’s customer service has always been top notch.

BoostIQ RoboVac 15C Vacuum Cleaner

Ah this little one… Of all my home purchases, I think I appreciate you most of all. I named him Wall-e after the lovable Pixar robot, because he too patiently cleans up after us messy humans. My little vacuum even puts up with my pup’s constant abuse. You can set a schedule for it to run and it comes with a companion app that allows you to control it remotely. It does need to be cleaned daily and to change its filters ever 3 months for optimal use, but that is minimal effort on my end, compared to life before Wall-e. My house is much easier to maintain clean and the time it saves me is priceless.

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