Best Coping And Self Care Tips from Urban Historians

It would be difficult to identify two words more in use this year than “coping” and “self-care.” Some UHA members travel the Norwegian route embracing hygge interior design to attain some level of “coziness,” though 2020 conventional wisdom says Danish Hygge is tired but Swedish Hygge is wired. Others, pound Ben and Jerry’s. In the end, we are all just squirrels trying to get an acorn in year filled with predators but not many acorns. I’m going to practice some self-care now, for myself and you dear readers, by simply introducing our editors’ various coping mechanisms for dealing with the horrible 12 months that was 2020.

Best Thing Bought to Cope

Angela Stiefbold: Bluetooth ear buds. Facilitates listening to my favorite podcasts while doing self-care activities.

Dylan Gottlieb: Incredible whole-wheat and rye flours from Bluebird Grain Farms, which really upped my sourdough bread game. 

Matt Guariglia: A water bottle so I could learn to drink water for the first time in my life.

Troy Hallsell: Stuff for a home gym: kettlebell, Bosu Ball, medicine ball, etc. It’s not much, but has allowed me to maintain some semblance of normalcy by going to the “gym” in my garage.

Avigail Oren: Peloton digital membership. Peloton’s yoga instructors are excellent.

Eric Michael Rhodes: Many pints of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked.

Charlotte Rosen: Embarrassing but my milk frother has added a delightful layer of decadence to my day. Embarrassing that I need to recreate the experience of getting an overpriced latte at a cafe to be productive! Brain worms. 

Ryan: Who says I’ve been coping at all? I bought Madonna’s greatest hits and perform each one in my living room EVERY NIGHT!