By Arsiak Vartenian

If your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything like mine, I think we can agree it's been difficult— and in many ways, it will continue to be. 

In my view, these are the peaks and valleys where authentic personal growth happens. I’ll even go as far as to say it has been a period of self-discovery amid loss, fear, and unrest in my personal life. 

I’ve even had to relearn my day-to-day routine; what came into focus was that it was the little things that truly keep me going. I call them “life's simple luxuries,” and here are 5 hacks to make your day that much brighter: 

1. Move your body every day

Simply put, I need to move my body every day. While there are physical benefits to being in shape, I do it for my peace of mind. Here’s the hack: it doesn’t have to be a fancy gym or fancy trainer. It can be a walk outside on a warm day or standing up and marching side-to-side while watching your favorite show. 

Regular exercise maintains healthy blood pressure and weight, helps you feel more energetic, lifts your mood, and lowers stress and anxiety. The best part? You will never regret taking a few minutes to take care of yourself.  

2. Start each morning with meditation or gratitude

Each morning I think of how grateful I am for the people in my life. I’ve gotten in the habit of carving out time in my morning routine to count my many blessings every single day. The air I breathe, the life and love of those around me, or the new pair of earrings that stylist George Ramirez picked out for me. I’ve got it all — and so do you. 

Be sure to sit with this regularly before you hop onto your first Zoom meeting or complete a to-do for the day. I picture it like charging myself with positive energy for the day. It creates alignment and better flow throughout the day. It’s all about your mindset. 

3. Brows, Perfume, Lotion 

If you are on the go and, like me, have fallen out of the getting ready for work routine (hello, Zoom fatigue), start with three things: eyebrow gel, perfume, lotion.  Something about those three has made my mind and mood switch into feeling like I’m put together and ready to conquer the day. 

4. Keep it Clean 

In my view, if you clean your living space or workspace before the day begins, you're starting your day off right. Make your bed up every day. This has been my routine since I was a little girl and it is key to what I believe is the right start  to the day for me. 

No matter your cleaning routine, square footage or storage opportunities —trust me when I say that your productivity will thank you when your mind and space is clear. Plus! Assuming you get nothing else done that day, at least you will have checked off “making your bed,” and that’s still an accomplishment. My routine? I do a quick house scan for 20-30 minutes/day. I take care of anything to make sure the house feels and smells fresh.

Take it from Libby Sander, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Bond University Business School who’s research into this same topic confirmed that “the physical environment of the workplace has a significant effect on the way that we work.”

5. Connect with a loved one

I connect with someone I love every day — even if it’s only for 10 minutes. I’m not kidding when I say that I have conference calls every morning with my mom and aunts. With our daily use of social media, emails, and texting, we are more connected to each other than ever before — but ask yourself, when was the last time that you heard their voice or a story that was tailor-made just for you? I have recognized the value in talking to one person I love each day, whether it’s having a conversation with someone I live with, calling an old friend to check-in, or going on a walk with a neighbor. I’ve also been using voice memos to connect with them. It captures the essence of conversation for when you are in a pinch. 

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Arsiak Vartenian is the Founder and Host of Smart Is the New Sexy, an uplifting talk show and online platform that highlights the power of dreaming big through storytelling, connection, community, and heart.