• Random

    Why I Cannot Live Without Planners

    Do you remember the first time I learned how to keep a planner? It feels like a lifetime ago, on my very first day of school at just five years old. The school handed us these little “diaries,” and from that moment on, I was hooked.

    Even in this digital age, I’ve stuck to my old-school ways. There’s just something about putting pen to paper that feels right. My planner is my lifeline, my ticket to staying organized in this chaotic world. Without it, I’d be lost.

    I’ve tried all sorts of planners over the years, but my current favorite is the Take A Note Planner. It’s been my faithful companion for the past couple of years, and I couldn’t imagine life without it.

    One of the biggest reasons I love my planner is because it keeps me from forgetting important things. From birthdays to bill payments, I jot it all down. It takes the stress out of trying to remember everything and lets me focus on living in the moment.

    My planner also helps me manage my time better. Let’s face it, I’m easily distracted and prone to hopping from one task to another. But with my to-do lists neatly laid out, I can stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed.

    Not only does my planner boost my productivity at work, but it also helps me stay on top of things at home. From appointments to household chores, it’s all there, keeping me accountable.

    And let’s not forget about finances. My planner is a lifesaver when it comes to monitoring my spending habits. It’s like having a personal finance coach right at my fingertips, helping me make smarter choices with my money.

    But perhaps the best part of all is looking back and seeing everything I’ve accomplished. My planner is a testament to all the little victories along the way, reminding me that I’m capable of more than I think.

    There truly are endless benefits to using a planner, and I’m grateful for the sense of order and control it brings to my life.

    Do you remember the first time I learned how to keep a planner?

    It feels like a lifetime ago, on my very first day of school at just five years old. The school handed us these little “diaries,” and from that moment on, I was hooked.

    Even in this digital age, I’ve stuck to my old-school ways. There’s just something about putting pen to paper that feels right. My planner is my lifeline, my ticket to staying organized in this chaotic world. Without it, I’d be lost.

    I’ve tried all sorts of planners over the years, but my current favorite is the Take A Note Planner. It’s been my faithful companion for the past couple of years, and I couldn’t imagine life without it.

    One of the biggest reasons I love my planner is because it keeps me from forgetting important things. From birthdays to bill payments, I jot it all down. It takes the stress out of trying to remember everything and lets me focus on living in the moment.

    My planner also helps me manage my time better. Let’s face it, I’m easily distracted and prone to hopping from one task to another. But with my to-do lists neatly laid out, I can stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed.

    Not only does my planner boost my productivity at work, but it also helps me stay on top of things at home. From appointments to household chores, it’s all there, keeping me accountable.

    And let’s not forget about finances. My planner is a lifesaver when it comes to monitoring my spending habits. It’s like having a personal finance coach right at my fingertips, helping me make smarter choices with my money.

    But perhaps the best part of all is looking back and seeing everything I’ve accomplished. My planner is a testament to all the little victories along the way, reminding me that I’m capable of more than I think.

    There truly are endless benefits to using a planner, and I’m grateful for the sense of order and control it brings to my life.

  • Next Question

    How I Celebrated My Birthday

    I celebrated yet another birthday “alone.” Yes, I am once again alone on my birthday. I still can not believe we are under lockdown. I know that for some, celebrating alone might be strange and lonely, but for me, it is a nice experience, despite the fact that my options are quite restricted to staying at home and celebrating alone.

    I was determined to make this year’s celebration even more memorable than the previous year. Apart from the fact that it was my first time celebrating it alone and chronicling it on my blog, there was nothing special or extravagant about last year. Check out my post, How I Celebrated My Birthday.

    Insomnia hit once more, as it always does. I was awake when my phone chimed. My mom sent me a greeting. She either gets up extremely early or waits until 12 m.n. I absolutely love you, Mom!

    My phone chimed again just as I was about to go to sleep. My sister wished me a happy birthday as well.

    Then, I dozed off.

    I woke up early and began preparing for work. I would have requested a personal leave, but I decided against it since I will be working from home. It is OK to get a few things done on my to-do list this week.

    I was expecting a video call from my family before I started working. You know how much I love that my family calls me first thing in the morning on my birthday. Unfortunately, they were unable to contact me in the morning due to an unforeseen power outage in our town. What is going on, Nuvelco?

    Greetings were sent out over Facebook, Messenger, and Viber. It is amazing how messages started pouring in as soon as Janice, my closest friend at work, wished me a happy birthday in our Viber group. Thank you, team! I enjoyed your well wishes.

    I am actually undecided about what to get myself this year. I enjoyed last year’s cake, but it was rather pricey. So I sought another option and discovered that Boulangerie22 was offering a great deal. In addition, I ordered rice and beef bulgogi. I also got myself Army Navy’s famous LiberTea, Salted Caramel and Brown Sugar Milk Tea. The glass mason jar astonished me. I can always reuse it at home for making my own drinks.

    At about 3 p.m., I lit my birthday candle and sang a birthday song. Singing had me a little teary-eyed.

    Happy Birthday, Self!

    After that, I called my family and sent them photos.

    I really had a great time celebrating and eating. Because of the outpouring of greetings, I decided to treat my family and close friends for a low-key meal.


    How do you usually celebrate your birthday? I would like to know.

  • Next Question

    How Are You Today?

    Today, I tried a new way of answering the question “How are you?” I am curious to see how my colleagues react to my response and whether it will spark an interesting conversation.

    I was supposed to answer, “I would say I am a 9.99 out of 10.” to avoid answering follow-up questions. But the silly me typed, “I would say I am an 8.5 out of 10.” instead. 8.5 is pretty good, but not the best.

    I can honestly say that it really started a conversation. Many sent their warm messages. And that alone brightened my day. Hmmm, I love you, guys!

    The pandemic has created a world in which we are unsure of our emotions. I know I am OK but not fine fine. And I do not want to give them the same old, same old boring response: “I am fine, thank you”. It is boring, yet useful when you do not want to engage in a conversation. I would not want that.

    So I made a point of keeping a few more real, funny, and unique responses on hand for the next time they ask.

    1. Somewhere between better and best.
    2. Somewhere between blah and meh.
    3. Navigating the twists and turns of life.
    4. Getting better with every passing minute.
    5. Each day is better than the next.
    6. Living one day at a time.
    7. Sunshine all day long!
    8. Dancing to the rhythm of life.
    9. Taking life one sip at a time.
    10. We age not by years, but by stories.

    Here are some more one-of-a-kind responses.

    1. Medium well.
    2. Under renovation.
    3. Fair to partly cloudy.
    4. 50/50.
    5. Currently on energy-saving mode.
    6. Unplugged.
    7. Fifty shades of tired!

    And these..

    1. Overloaded!
    2. Overworked and underpaid.
    3. Waking up blessed, not stressed. Or other way.
    4. Working on myself, for myself, and by myself.
    5. Excited and intoxicated.
    6. Better days are coming. They are called: Saturday, Sunday, holidays, and payday.
    7. I feel like I’m already tired tomorrow. (me all the time)
    8. I can’t complain! (another me)
    9. I can’t complain, but sometimes I still do. (and me)

    Next question, please.


    So how are you really? I would love to hear from you.

  • Next Question

    How To Stay Focused?

    “Where was I again?” I often ask myself this question after getting distracted. My attention span is very limited. I find it hard to focus on almost everything. It is pretty annoying when I am often troubled by distractions. The more I am interrupted, the less I am able to concentrate. And when I return… I am not sure where I left off.

    How do people manage to stay on track throughout the day? We live in a world filled with diversions. Like today, the stubborn me took over. Instead of working, I am making rounds on my blog, attempting to write about how to focus. It is beyond 7 p.m. anyway.

    How can someone like me with a short attention span focus? Here is how I do it.

    Arrange My Workspace

    Keeping our workspace tidy has a huge impact on our ability to focus. A cluttered desk is distracting most of the time. Before I start working, I make sure everything is tidy and within my reach: my food and drinks. So I do not have to get up to get food or drink in case I get hungry or thirsty.

    Create a Task List

    It became my habit to make a to-do list before starting work, clocking out, and going to bed. I categorize them according to their importance and due dates. Every time I slash out a task, it motivates me to do everything.

    There were times I had to switch from one task to another. Changing tasks makes my brain stay alert sometimes. Oftentimes, it (multi-tasking) is not effective for me. More pending tasks are happening.

    Play Some Music

    Listening to music could calm my troubled mind and improve my performance. It can even make a tedious chore more enjoyable.

    When I am feeling down, I listen to the classics: cellos and violins. When I am bored, I listen to rock music. When you see me wearing my headphones, it means I am either trying to concentrate or I am bored. Whichever of the two. So don’t.

    Work Offline

    I limit my phone use in order to stay focused and complete my tasks on time. I usually put it aside and concentrate on my work. Notifications easily pull my attention away from what I was doing, so setting it to silent mode can have a significant impact.

    Take Mental Breaks

    Short breaks are the best thing to do when you cannot focus any longer. Taking a little rest allows our minds to recharge or reboot. Our brains are not capable of working for 3 hours straight. This is why I set my hourly alarm (even though I am at work). I am training myself to focus on a task for 45-50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break from the computer.

    When you see me stretching away from my desk, I am taking my mental break seriously.


    Distractions are everywhere. And remaining focused is a difficult challenge. Following these can be daunting at first, but with perseverance and dedication, we will increase our focus.

  • Random

    Hello 2021

    Life is getting tougher and tougher nowadays. While others are almost back to their normal lives, here we are staying at home doing our part. Despite the trials we have gone through, I am grateful that we are continuing to resist.

    Because of the pandemic, I have learned many realizations in life. I have not been careful with my actions and decisions in recent years and only now do I realize their importance.

    This year:

    • I will be more careful about my decisions and actions in life
    • I will not get swayed or get encouraged by anyone
    • I will stick to my plans and goals
    • I will prioritize my needs, then next come
    • I will get in touch with the people I love
    • I will change my spending habits. 2020 has thrown a lot of money-wise decisions
    • I will get back to cooking and stick to home-cooked meals
    • I will support my family throughout the years

    Realization help you make better choices in the future.

  • Life Lately

    Things I Am Thankful This 2020

    Many things happened in 2020 that were not expected. Who would have thought that this pandemic would last for several months? I thought in a month or two, things would get better, but it did not. The pandemic brought us a lot of learning. Gladly, I still have work and I am working from home. My sister got back to being a nurse. My nephew turned one. Dad passed away. Typhoon Ulysses hit us and left a great impact. And so on.

    God is good.

    Even though I was discouraged by the time Daddy left us, He never left me. I have learned to accept the fate that daddy is gone and he is now in good hands. He had suffered enough. He did the best that he could.
    Life is unpredictable. It changes along with every individual. Today you have and tomorrow you may not have. Be thankful for the good that stays with you. – Rashida Rowe
    I am thankful to my family, especially my mom. Do not give up. We can do this. Keep believing and trusting. I know we can overcome all the trials we face today. To my sister and BIL, hang in there. The best is yet to come. We are all in this together. To my nephew, you are amazing. Thank you for bringing so much joy to the family. I am beyond grateful to my relatives. You are truly a blessing to us. We will never forget the tireless support, especially in times of distress. Thank you for extending your arm when we needed a hand. I am thankful for having good company and good colleagues. I am happy with the help I have received since day 1. Thank you for your usual support.

    Thank you, thank you, everyone.

    Most of all, thank you self for not giving up and for striving hard in these trying times. I am so proud of you. Always take good care of yourself.

    Just keep going.

  • Random

    Why I am Loving Work from Home Now

    I used to fantasize about working from home. I really do, but it changed when I started working from home. It is far different from what I pictured and read. I cannot think of a reason why we are not allowed to go home to our provinces and work from there. I assume that the province is safer than the city.

    There are a lot of misconceptions about what it is like to work from home. If you can remember my post, Why Work from Home is Not for Me. I have mentioned 4 reasons why it is not for me.

    Today, I am sharing why I am loving it, after months of settling into my home-office set-up and new routines of working from home.

    What is it about working from home that I am so taken with it right now?

    I am more rested. I do not have to get out of bed early to pack my lunch and get ready for work. I can spend less time getting ready for work. 35 minutes is plenty of time already.
    15 minutes (shower and getting dressed), 2 minutes (setting-up workspace), 18 minutes (preparing breakfast and coffee)

    I can sneak out and tend to personal business, like picking up my groceries, cooking my meal while attending a meeting, or chatting with my nephew.

    I can listen to loud music, use my headsets, and sing my heart out without worrying about anyone being disturbed. I do not mind them (my neighbors) anyway. They do not mind me either.

    I can focus on one task at a time. There is a less chance of distraction. No more unimportant meetings and interruptions from coworkers. Kidding! Read: How to Stay Focused

    The weather does not prevent me from working except when I am really under the weather.

    I can talk freely to myself. Hello, me! How is it going? You know how much I love talking to myself. We disagree most of the time. It is totally normal btw.

    I have the option of taking a midday break, aka power nap. The reason why I am unable to respond to your messages immediately during midday. That can wait till 1 pm, right?

    I can work on whatever clothes I decide to wear. Except for times when I need to attend meetings that need to have the camera turned on. Nothing like that seems to have happened as far as I remember.

    I can either work in my bed, in my home-office set-up, or elsewhere in my apartment.

    Everything I need is within reach, including food and drinks.

    I do not have to be sneaky anymore whenever I use the comfort room.

    No more office dramas and politics. Although, I miss office conversations sometimes.

    I do not get swayed by trying out a new drink or restaurant. I stick to what I already prepared for lunch and snacks.

    I can have my dance breaks instead of the normal stretching that I do in the office.

    And most of all, by staying and working from home, I am safe from communicable diseases (not just Covid-19) and getting sick will be far less common.


    What do you like best about working from home?

  • Next Question

    How I Celebrated My Birthday

    Things did not go as planned. But everything turned out well. This birthday is the most memorable birthday I ever have. Never did I imagine myself celebrating my birthday alone. But hell yeah! I managed and loved the idea.

    My insomnia hit me. I was up till 6am watching Netflix movies, tossing and turning in my bed. Mom called me the minute I was about to shut off my eyes. My nephew was looking for me. I heard him saying Chicha, Tatata in the background. My nephew was not grumpy that morning. He was just looking at me, smiling, and giggling while feeding on milk. What a wonderful sight to start my day. Then we both fell asleep.

    Read: How to Celebrate Happy Birthday Alone

    I woke up past lunch time, checking on birthday messages. I immediately get up and prepare for lunch. I decided to cook Pesto Pasta instead of what I planned.

    I almost forgot the cake. I ordered Mary Grace Cheesecake thru FoodPanda. I rely mostly on FoodPanda these days.

    By 3 p.m., I decided to lit my birthday candle and sing myself a birthday song. It was the saddest out of tune birthday song.

    Happy Birthday, Self!

    While I obviously miss my family and friends, I enjoyed the day so much more than usual. It was my first time celebrating my birthday alone. My birthday turned out great. I was able to actually appreciate life.

  • Life Lately

    Thirty-Six and Thankful

    Would you ever know that I am now 36 just by looking at me? Nah, I bet. I just turned 36, and I am pretty proud of it. That is right. I do not have to be coy about my age. Not anymore. I used to lie about my age. Do not get me wrong. Lying about one’s age is regarded as socially acceptable. People often think that I am a bit younger than I am because of how I carry myself and express myself. I will never get tired of hearing people gasp when I tell them my age.

    This is exactly what a 36-year-old looks like.

    It is hard to believe that I am this age. I am a little past halfway through life, and I still have a lot of living to do. I am looking forward to having my own family (fingers crossed). Life requires us to keep on going.

    It is TIME for the next chapter.

    I thank God for making my life so beautiful. I am so blessed to celebrate another birthday. A lot of appreciation and love are sent to each of you for your kind birthday greetings and wishes. It means a lot when you send me greetings on my birthday. You made a great day even more exceptional. Hearing from you slightly lessened my despair at turning a year older.

    I cannot thank you enough, Lord Jesus, for bringing me this far in my life. This may not be what I had dreamed of, but you have blessed me with a life of good health, happiness, peace of mind, and good fortune. Such presents are worth more than all the money and treasures in the world. Please keep my heart away from sadness and my mind away from worries. [
  • Next Question

    How to Celebrate a Happy Birthday Alone

    Spending your birthday alone can make you feel desolated and miserable, but this is not a bad thing at all. With the current situation, and the majority of us are still in quarantine, there is nothing wrong with going solo on our special day.

    So what if there is no one around on my birthday? It does not mean I cannot enjoy the special day alone. Even though my family and friends are miles away, there is no reason to celebrate birthdays alone when there is technology. What is the use of video calls, anyway?

    Sometimes, we need to be alone. Not to be lonely, but to enjoy our time being ourselves. – Anonymous

    The best way to feel less solitary is by celebrating and having a great time. Our birthday comes only once a year, and we should not miss celebrating it even if we are alone. Whether it is birthdays or anniversaries, celebrations do not just stop during a worldwide pandemic. The pandemic took a great deal from us- our daily normal routine and even our jobs. Do not let it ruin our special day, as well.

    Here is how (I plan) to celebrate and enjoy (my) birthday alone while still being safe and healthy.

    Start the day by getting up early and giving thanks. There is no better way to start the day than by getting up early. This puts us in a good mood for the entire day. I am not a morning person, but I will try to wake up a little earlier on my birthday. I promise!

    Enliven my place, like hosting a big party with birthday banners and inflatables the day before my birthday to get into the party vibe. Waking up smiling, seeing your home decorated, is a pleasant feeling. For birthday banners and balloons, check out happydayph at Shopee. I received my orders a day after I placed my orders. That fast!

    Watch a live broadcast of the Mass. Since my birthday falls on a Sunday and public masses are still suspended, watching Mass online is one way of staying connected with the parish and the church. Thank God for technology!

    Treat myself to a delicious meal. Who does not love good food? For lunch, I will cook Pinaupong Manok, and for dinner, just Pesto Pasta. Or better yet, order via Grab Food/FoodPanda.

    What is a celebration without a cake? So what if no one brings me cake this time? I can get it at any rate. Buy that cake I have been looking forward to tasting. I love the minimalist cakes of Wadough’s and Aegyo Cakes. I could have secured a slot on my birthday if only I inquired earlier. All August slots are already taken as early as July. I still have Mary Grace Cheesecakes in my options, anyway.

    Binge a new series (not necessarily a new series) while having cocktails. I am planning to start watching “The 100″ on my birthday. I have not seen that post-apocalyptic fiction drama yet. There are lots of TV shows on Netflix. I bet it is well worth a watch because it is highly recommended by the Netflix Community. And yes, having cocktails while binge watching.

    Lockdown is only temporary. When this is over, there will be a time to celebrate with our loved ones. Plan a great party or trip for when everything is over. Or just begin to think about next year’s party celebration.

    Before the clock meets 12, write about things I am thankful for  or anything that I would like to remember about my birthday in my journal.


    Missing my family and being sad on my birthday is really OKAY. I realize that it is not as bad as what others are dealing with. I know I am not alone in this fight.

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