A Day in the (Isolation) Life
Now that we’ve all settled into isolation, we’re getting accustomed to our new normal and looking for ways to make isolation life as positive as possible. Some of us have more time and others have less, but regardless of your situation, sometimes you just need some new ideas to get inspired and keep you happy and productive (at home, or out in the world once that’s allowed). Isolation has made us realize how much joy we get from great food and drinks as well as social interactions. So, if like me, you’re looking for ways to elevate the ordinary, I thought I’d share some of the best practices around structuring your day, as well as some recipes that will help add some spice to your life!
With all this time at home, it’s a great opportunity to test out new recipes. I challenge you to look at everyday items in a new light. For me – I decided to elevate my coffee and get creative with some of my other “go-to” recipes. Whether you need a ‘pick me up’ or just love the taste of your favourite coffee beverage, coffee is a versatile beverage that you can enjoy at any time of the day! Plus, with all this additional energy from your coffee, you’ll be able to implement some of these easy tips to keep you happy & productive.
Hint: make extra coffee in the morning or the night before and put it in the fridge so you have cold coffee on hand
Morning:
Coffee is a great source of energy, potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants so not only can start your day you have your favourite coffee, but you can mix Nespresso into some amazing breakfast recipes:
Mocha Berry Almond Smoothie:
o 1 Espresso Origin Brazil or Espresso Voltesso (40ml)
o ½ cup ice (only if espresso is hot)
o 1 tablespoon nut butter
o 1 cup frozen raspberries or strawberries
o 1/2 banana
o 2 scoops chocolate protein powder (can substitute for plain or vanilla greek yogurt)
o 1/4 cup almond milk, or regular low-fat milk
o 1 teaspoon agave or honey (optional)
Overnight Chia Pudding:
o 1 Lungo Leggero (110ml cold) or Lungo Alforazio (150ml cold)
o 1/4 cup coconut milk beverage
o 3 Tbsp. chia seeds
o 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
Coffee Oatmeal:
o 1/2 cup rolled oats
o 3/4 cup milk of your choice—almond milk, half and half or cream makes it rich
o 1 Espresso Vanilla or Espresso Voltesso (40ml)
o 1 pinch salt
o 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
o 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Tips to have a productive morning at home
– Wake up at the same time and establish a routine
– Work from home experts at HubSpot recommend starting your day with solo tasks and trying to schedule calls for the afternoon so you give yourself time to get organized and wake up
– Figure out what time of day is your most productive, plan tasks accordingly to keep you motivated and improve efficiency
o HubSpot recommends “Use slower points of the day to knock out the easier, logistical tasks that are also on your plate. Verily Magazine calls these tasks “small acts of success,” and they can help build your momentum for the heavier projects that are waiting for you later on.”
Afternoon:
Need a mid-afternoon to pick me up to get you through your day? These recipes are a perfect way to take a break and treat yourself.
Iced Coffee:
o Make your coffee the night before, I recommend brewing a few cups of Lungo Forte, Intenso or Bianco Forte
o Pour into ice cube tray and freeze overnight
o Pop a few cubes (3-4 ideally) into your glass
o Customize your coffee by adding your favourite milk/milk alternative, chocolate milk, chocolate syrup caramel, etc. and sweeten as needed
Iced Coffee Pops:
o Make your coffee the night before, I recommend brewing a few cups of Lungo Forte or Lungo Origin Guatemala OR Caramel Cookie to switch things up a bit!
o Place in the fridge overnight to cool
o Mix:
§ 2/3 cup of cream or milk alternative of your choice
§ 2 tablespoons of sugar
§ 500lm of your chosen coffee
o Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 1hr
Ramp up your afternoon
– Now that you have your afternoon pick-me-up all sorted out, you can focus on how to put that caffeine to good use:
– Allow yourself a quick 20-30-minute break when necessary and schedule a lunch break
– Maybe take your Iced coffee to go and head out for a short walk on your afternoon break OR enjoy your iced coffee pop while on your conference call (on mute)
– HubSpot recommends ‘matching your music with the task at hand’. I think this is a great tip whether you work remotely or in the office as music can be such a great addition to get you through any task.
o HubSpot interviewed a startup marketer, Ginny Mineo, who offers her work music preferences below.
§ “When I’m powering through my inbox, I need some intense and catchy rap/R&B (like Nicki Minaj or Miley Cyrus) blasting through my headphones, but when I’m writing, Tom Petty is the trick. Finding what music motivates and focuses me for different tasks (and then sticking to those playlists for those tasks) has completely changed my WFH productivity”
Evening:
Finally, we’ve made it to the evening, time to kick up your feet, enjoy some time with friends and family (via online communication), and have a nice treat to reward yourself for making it through another day in isolation.
May I suggest a Nespresso Quarintini?
Espresso Martini:
– 1 Espresso Leggero (40lm cold) OR Espresso Decaffeinato Intenso (if you’ve had enough caffeine for one day)
– 1 1/2 ounces vodka
– 3/4-ounce coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
– 1/4-ounce crème de cacao (white)
Or maybe you’re looking for a sweet treat to end the day with…
Affogato:
o 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
o 1 Espresso Origin Brazil or Espresso Voltesso (40ml hot)
Coffee Gelato:
o 1 Espresso Vanilla or Espresso Altissio (40ml)
o 2 cans of coconut milk
o 1 tsp vanilla
o ¾ cup of sugar
o Heat all ingredients together in a saucepan until dissolved
o Put through an ice cream maker or put in a freezer-safe dish and remove from the freezer every 40 mins and beat with a hand mixer
You’ve made it through the workday, now what?
– Force yourself to leave the house after your workday is done (even if it’s only for a few minutes):
o Go for a nice long walk to clear your head
o Sit outside and take in some fresh air
– Social distancing get-togethers through online platforms:
o Always have something to look forward to by setting up those weekly happy hour get-togethers with family, friends or co-workers
o Tired of a happy hour: try an online games night
o Whatever you choose, make sure you get some social interaction in and have fun!
– When you work from home it’s very easy for your work and home life to blend into one so make sure you set boundaries and reward yourself for a job well done.
Sources
· https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/productivity-tips-working-from-home
· https://www.thespruceeats.com/espresso-martini-recipe-761050
· https://www.homegrounds.co/coffee-desserts/
· https://www.asweetpeachef.com/coffee-smoothie/
By: Laura Sewell, Territory Manager (Alberta)
Hi, I’m Laura! I was lucky enough to join EVS Canada in March 2020 and have had an amazing time getting to know the business and people. Coffee is one of my favourite things in life, so having the opportunity to work with the Nespresso brand and enjoy endless cups of coffee was a natural fit. Caffeine may be what keeps me going, but my passion for finding the best solution for my customers is what really motivates me!