Editor’s Note: This is a preview of USA TODAY’s newsletter Staying Apart, Together, a guide to help us all cope with a world changed by coronavirus. If you would like it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Saturdays, subscribe here.
Today, I put on earrings for the first time in months.
Work-from-home life has definitely changed how we dress and style ourselves. Some of us are letting gray hair shine, or we’re ditching uncomfortable footwear. Loungewear clothes have been selling out. And it makes sense. Without business formal (or casual) dress codes at an office, why get into a tight skirt that needs ironing? Why spend money on hair dye if the grays aren’t bothering you on Zoom calls? Why wear high heels to walk around your living room?
But I noticed that while wearing workout shorts and plain T-shirts everyday was comfortable, there was something missing. Don’t get me wrong, I love my new morning routine (roll out of bed, get coffee, throw on clothes, wash my face and walk to my computer), but I do miss getting dressed up and loving my look. My therapist even validated this impulse, noting that taking care of your appearance is a form of self-care.
So I’m not going all the way to black tie, but I did put on my favorite small earrings (yeah, it felt weird after months) and a necklace to go with one of my nicer shirts. It didn’t take too long, but I got a little thrill from it, and so far every time I look in the mirror that thrill returns.
Imagine how giddy I could become if I put on makeup. Maybe that’s a project for next week.
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Today’s cautiously optimistic news
Dawn is breaking on a COVID-19 vaccine.
At least, it’s early morning on USA TODAY’s vaccine clock, our project where we ask a panel of experts how close they think we are to a widely available vaccine. For August, the clock’s hands stand at 6 a.m., two hours closer to noon than in June, the first month of estimates.
USA TODAY’s expert panelists, increasingly optimistic about the prospect of a readily available vaccine, are concerned about who will get it first, how doses will be shipped, and what messages the government must send so Americans trust getting one.
As the tantalizing prospect of an immunization for COVID-19 comes into focus, educating the public about how the vaccines will work and the painstaking process required to approve them will be key to getting people to line up once they’re available.
See our full story here.
Today’s work from home tips: Internship edition
During the pandemic many companies have made their internships virtual. But do you get the same experience Zooming in to office meetings? USA TODAY Life’s summer intern Jenna Ryu offers her thoughts and her pros and cons for taking this educational and work experience online.
- Pro: A virtual internship overcomes many financial and geographic barriers that students face. An obvious perk of working online is avoiding the costly and time-consuming commute. However, another hidden benefit is the ability to explore options beyond the local job market.
- Con: After 3 months, I still feel like I don’t truly ‘know’ my co-workers or the company culture. One of the biggest downsides of working from home is limited interactions with your co-workers. I can’t just stop by my editor’s desk to chit-chat, and there’s less casual getting-to-know-you conversation.
- Pro: You’ll learn how to manage your time before your first job out of school. An internship is a stepping stone to your future full-time job – which requires independence, self-reliance and self-motivation. Without having your boss physically there to keep you on track, there’s more pressure to do things correctly on your own.
See her full assessment here, and hopefully she can help you (or your child or niece or nephew or grandkid) determine out if a virtual internship is the right step in the pandemic economy.
Today’s reads
Today’s pet
I’ve never seen a fluffier dog than Zorra the English Sheepdog, who is only four months-old.
Her human Steve Scott says she got her name because she “reminded us of Zorro from the TV and movies with the black mask! She’s almost potty trained and loves to snuggle on my lap and makes most of the hassles of the day go away.”
Zorra, you look infinitely snuggle-able.