Hello to all the TEDxErs out there reading this post!

We hope you’ve had a safe month this past March. We are officially well into the springtime and we thought this would be a great time to bring y’all more content.

We reached out to several members in our beloved TEDx team, and asked them what the one thing was that helped alleviate their boredom or enhanced their daily routines. Whether it was a book, a movie, a TV show, or a skincare product, we’ve compiled it all into a list of favorites that the TEDx members wanted to recommend to our readers. 

So we hope you’re ready for: TEDx March Favorites 2020!

After Hours by The Weeknd

The Weeknd has never failed to release a bop, so it’s no surprise that this album also ended up extremely popular with listeners. Our communications director, Evie, has “been listening to this album every time [she] goes biking.” She finds it really different because the sounds within the album are generally upbeat and funky, but the lyrics behind them are much sadder. It’s a strange contrast that’s bound to hook anybody that listens to it.

Jackbox Party Pack

If you love playing multiplayer games, this next one’s for you. Jackbox Party Pack is a set of party video games that can be played virtually - perfect during the quarantine time! The games in the set range from murder mystery trivia, banterous prompts that involve a quick wit, a "Mafia” style game, and more! Evie’s been playing this with her friends over Google Hangouts and found that it's been a blast.

Adobe Creative Suite

This next one you might’ve heard from our Instagram stories. (If you haven’t, be sure to follow us and keep up with our stories to watch members of our team take over the Instagram for a day and other content!) But the entire adobe creative suite is currently being offered for only $20 for the entire year through the UT Campus Store. Yes, you read that correctly. ONLY TWENTY DOLLARS. TWENTY DOLLARS to be able to access Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro for a whole year. So take this as a sign to indulge in your creative side :)

Yoga With Adriene

Some members of TEDx have, during the month of March, formed a yoga club to be able to practice together via Facetime. A staple of the yoga club? The youtube videos of “Yoga With Adriene.” Adriene has a wide variety of yoga videos on her channel, and the TED team has been doing one almost every day for the past couple of weeks. Overall, her videos are very relaxing and easy to follow, especially if you're new to the practice.

Running Outdoors

Maybe you’ve been going to the gym for a while, or maybe you’re just getting into the fitness journey. No matter where you are in your journey, you might’ve felt discouraged at not being able to go to your regular gym. No worries, because this next recommendation is a solution to that! Abhi, the TEDx President, found running to be a good source of cardio to make up for the absence of swimming he would be unable to do with the pool being closed. He and his brother found a small field next to the community swimming pool, complete with a total of 16 magnolia trees, 8 lined up in a row on each side. A scenic route absolutely perfect for running!

Five-Minute Journaling

It’s important to practice mental health during this time. This next favorite is a great way to practice mindfulness. Fellow blog writer and communications member, Maria, found that writing in a gratitude journal can help shape the day to a good one. Writing in a grateful journal takes only three minutes in the morning, and two minutes at night! Maria found that it helped her be grateful and really gets her in a positive mindset. 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Now is a better time than ever to really get binging on a new book, and lose yourself in the plotlines of a good story. For those like Iris, one of our communications members who managed social media, if you don't have HBO and can't watch the series, the book Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty was a great way to still be able to enjoy the characters and story. The novel takes place in a fictional town in Australia called Pirriwee, and centers around three mothers navigating their marriages, social problems, kindergarten kids' lives, and other social problems as well as, yes, murder. It's an easy yet captivating read!

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Another literary recommendation is The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The page-turner mystery starts in the Louvre and incorporates historically accurate facts, allowing you to become fully immersed in the twists and turns while still learning many real facts at the same time. Elif, our Memberships VP who recommended the book, says she doesn’t read very often but found that it was a book that she couldn’t put down. It kept her engaged the whole time and loved that she could never predict what was going to come next. If you’re up for mystery and surprises, be sure to give this book a turn.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Quarantine is the perfect time to really hone your skincare routine and find what products really work for your skin. In that case, this next favorite could be great to try. Kevin, our other communications member who manages social media, loves the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. From the calming light blue packaging to the fresh scent, this product has everything you need to obtain that glowy, hydrated skin. This overnight gel mask quickly absorbs into your skin while you sleep, working to bring the moisture back into your skin. It feels lightweight and refreshing, giving a bouncy glow to your skin in the morning without any excessive shine.

We hope that there’s something for everybody within our favorites list! Be sure to try these things out and we wish everyone a safe week!

Until next time we connect,

-TEDxUTAustin