The Daily Check-In 5.9

Chickpea penne and green vegetables come together in this hearty, fiber-rich meal which tastes as bold as it looks. You could swap in readily available green ingredients like zucchini, green beans, and basil. Grate over some Parm if you’re feeling it.

With more time on your hands, you have the opportunity to be fully present in the moment during even mundane-seeming tasks, says Niloo Dardashti, Psy.D., adult, couples, and workplace psychologist.

This can cultivate mindfulness that carries over into the rest of your life.

“For example, try washing dishes without doing anything else. Be intensely in that moment, noticing the water on your hands, the feeling of the soap, and the sound of the water flowing," she says.

Don’t force resolution when tensions are high. Instead, try this three-step approach from Boston-based psychologist Katia Roth, Ph.D.

Kindly relay that:

1. You’re feeling too angry, upset, or anxious to continue the conversation right now.

2. You’re going to take a walk (mask on) or spend time in a separate room for X amount of time to cool off.

3. You’ll be back to finish the discussion afterward.

“This gives you an opportunity to regroup while letting the other person know that the conversation is important to you,” Roth says. “Everyone gets what they need without escalating the conflict.”