Staying Apart, Together: Week 5? 6? Something like that

Happy Tuesday, friends. Yes, it is in fact, a Tuesday. Especially on the weekdays it is hard to tell what is when and who is where, but you are already one-fifth done with the work week. Four days to go. 

In today's edition, we have some working from home advice (it's been so long, we're all experts, right? Nah.), a basic pantry recipe that never gets old, weeknight movie suggestions (it's a thing now), some great reads, a worthy cause and, of course, some dogs, because they are getting me (and hopefully many of you) through this right now. 

Today's work from home (and self care) tip

If you are struggling to complete your work tasks right now – whether because your kids are making a racket in the other room, your technology is subpar, general stress or any reason – a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy technique might help projects seem more doable. Chunking is when you break down a task into smaller, more manageable pieces that you do one at a time. So instead of a big project on your to-do list, all you have is maybe "send a follow-up email" or "write 100 words." You get a sense of satisfaction for every step, and are less overwhelmed by your work. I've been doing this since college and it is highly effective for me. 

Today's entertainment

My husband and I have been into weeknight movies when we've had the time so far in quarantine, something we could never do before because his commute wouldn't get him home until close to 7p.m. Now, on a leftovers night, we can fit in something that's not the length of "The Irishman." Next on our list (besides all the James Bond movies I mentioned last newsletter) is "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" on Hulu, and maybe this year's Oscar winner for best picture "Parasite" again, because boy do we love it (also on Hulu now).

Our film critic Brian Truitt is a better authority here than I am, and he picked 100 great films worth watching in quarantine. I endorse everything except the horror movies. I'm a wimp. 

Today's recipe

Rice and beans are sustaining us right now, and I have been relying on Mark Bittman's classic recipe from "How to Cook Everything." I made a batch with some chicken quesadillas, tortilla chips and topped with sour cream and guacamole (tip, your avocados stay longer in the fridge once they've reached peak ripeness on the counter). It felt like a pretty luxurious (dare I say restaurant quality? Let's call it restaurant adjacent) spread without too much effort. 

If you don't have that cookbook (and it is really as comprehensive as the title suggests, it's worth getting at some point in your life) there's a similar version online here. Also my fabulous coworker Sara Moniuszko rounded up a whole list of pantry ingredient-friendly recipes, a public service right now. I've tried her cauliflower fried rice, she's legit. 

Today's reads

• If any of you had a virtual Passover seder last week, you can probably relate to travel social media editor David Oliver's experience. His account of his family's seder, held over a chaotic Zoom call, made me cry, I am not ashamed to say. If any of you have similar stories, from Passover, Easter or any other virtual gathering, I would love if you shared them with us. 
• Paste BN's breaking news and lifestyle reporter Maria Puente did a deep dive into familial conflict amid coronavirus. Her writing style is always sharp and hilarious, and there may be some catharsis in here for you. 
• If you want something to read that's (thankfully) not really about coronavirus, our books reporter Mary Cadden reviewed Marie Kondo's new book about tidying up. Since Mary, who edits Paste BN's Best-Selling Books List, was on the KonMari train long before the Netflix show, I trust her opinion in all things organizational. Read the review here.

Today's giving

If you have the capacity and desire to give back right now,  Masks for Docs is an organization with "one goal: Get protective supplies into the hands of healthcare workers as quickly as possible." Also, several restaurants near me are selling boxed meals that they are donating to healthcare workers at nearby hospitals. You buy a meal through their website and they cook and deliver. I know this is a trend in multiple parts of the country, so it may be worth looking into in your town or city.

Today's animal coworkers 

Alison Maxwell, managing editor of Life and Travel at Paste BN (and my boss, hi Alison!) has two very good dogs helping her run things while she works from home in Arlington, Va. (More VERY good pets here.) 

From a reader

Our latest tip for getting through it from one of you! Send your tips to my email address, below. 

Embrace the small things, even if that means looking out a window with an iced tea, waving to your neighbor ... every little act is precious right now. - Bridget in Arizona

That’s it for this Tuesday. Stay safe, stay well, and we’ll be back in your inboxes on Saturday, with a special appearance from another Paste BN Life reporter while I'm out for a few days. If you want to have your pet featured, a question answered, or have anything to share, email me at klawler@usatoday.com. And feel free to fill out our survey at any point to help shape the direction of this newsletter. We want to do whatever will help you the most.