• Life Lately

    Life Lessons Quarantine Taught Me

    July 4, 2020
    Remember that life’s greatest lessons are usually learned at the worst time and from the worst mistakes.

    Over a period of time, quarantine has taught us lessons about life. It made us realize that life is too short to be taken it for granted and to live with regrets. We do not realize how blessed we are until everything is taken away from us.

    The best lessons in life are learned during hard times.

    Every little thing in life has changed dramatically in a short period of time. It is hard to let go of our normal habits and daily routines. We cannot just go outside and live our ordinary lives.

    Being quarantined taught me a lot of things about myself and what I might want for my future. I hope that after this pandemic, we will become much better, stronger, and wiser.

    It taught me to appreciate little things. Being able to look at things with positivity is a valuable life lesson. No matter how difficult our life is, always be thankful and grateful. We will find ourselves happier and contented. We must not live with guilt and hate. There is something positive in every situation. Remember always to keep spreading positivity.

    It taught me to enjoy more of my own company. Being alone allowed us to take a chance to reflect on our lives. This quarantine motivated me to accelerate my thoughts and my feelings. It gave me the opportunity to rediscover and spend so much time with myself. At first, it really bothered me. Being alone can be exhausting and lonely. But as time goes, I learned to appreciate the perks of living solo.

    It taught me the value of our workplace. Not all have the option and privilege of working from home. But it is possible. Those engaged in manual labour cannot work from home. I am blessed to have the option of working from home. Thank you, Boss.

    It taught me that it is safer at home. By staying at home, we prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of infection. Staying at home is not as bad and hard as you think it is. We should be eager to sacrifice a little bit for the common good. Find hobbies and try anything you have not tried before to kill the boredom. At first, you will find it boring, but overtime you will get used to it.

    It taught me to go back to the kitchen. Cooking is a life skill that helps us understand how to eat healthy and budget money. Cooking is not that hard; rather, it is a fun way to enjoy something delicious afterwards.

    It taught me how important it is to have an emergency fund. While we were still living our normal lives, we often forget about saving for an emergency fund. There is no better time to start than now while we still can.

    What did you learn about life in these times? No matter what life throws at us, we have to keep going.

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  • Life Lately

    What I Will Miss Most When Quarantine Ends

    April 30, 2020

    Last week, I wrote about the things I miss about normal life, like quiet mornings, hugs and kisses, the crowd of people and those times before the pandemic.

    Things will not quickly snap back to how it was before. A new normal is going to be the norm. COVID-19 has changed how we live, work, and play. What has become “normal”? The quarantines, wearing masks and face shields, washing hands, and social distancing.

    Read : What I Miss About Normal Life

    It has been roughly a month and a half since we are forced to stay-at-home. There is nothing good about being indoor all day. But surely, I will miss these things when quarantine comes to an end.

    More Idle Time

    After my post about WFH Tips from a First Timer, I was crazy having a lot of free time. My Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are no longer “working days.” They may have realized that we are buckling down even on weekends and holidays. More idle time means more time for my hobbies— blogging, journaling and jumping rope.

    It’s Okay to Have Unproductive Days

    Forget about productivity. It is all right to slow down and take a pause, and it is okay not to be productive. We are in the middle of a pandemic, and we are all coping with the best we can. But when I feel like it, I am either drafting a new blog post (just like today) or journaling in my Hobonichi or just playing My Hospital. I always make sure that I am doing something every day to keep me on track.

    Lots of Cooking

    I was able to cook and try another recipe. One of my favorites is my Sinigang na Atay. It is kind of unusual, but if you are a Sinigang lover, you will undoubtedly love its sour and savory taste. Yummy!

    Working from Home

    I have learned so much about working from home, how to be productive, and how to keep track of the schedule. Not all employees are lucky enough to work from home. I am more than grateful to be able to work from home.

    Read:{Why} Work from Home is Not for Me

    Not Having to Set the Alarm

    I have not set the alarm since Day 1 of the quarantine. I do not know how I managed to wake up between 7 – 8 am without the alarm knowing I am a heavy sleeper and not a morning person. Maybe because I was in bed early and did not have any trouble in sleeping.

    Not Rushing to Work

    I am taking my time to prepare in the morning. By 8a.m., I am in front of my laptop, either answering messages or working on a project.

    Wearing Comfy Clothes

    I regretted I did not buy more tank tops and shorts. This has been my everyday outfit, comfortable, and airy. I do not feel the need to add stress in wearing nicer clothes. I am trying to get as comfortable as I can.

    Not Leaving the Bed

    I work in bed, eat-in bed, and sleep in the bed. As if I had a choice.

    I am going to miss “Not leaving the bed” the most. What will you miss the most when quarantine ends?

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  • Life Lately

    What I Miss About Normal Life

    April 19, 2020
    Only when normal things are not normal anymore, do we realize how special normal things are. – Anonymous

    The most important thing we can do right now is stay at home. We have got a couple more weeks to go. Coronavirus lets us miss our daily activities. Well, I don’t mind staying at home. I spent a lot of my time indoors, even before that. I’m a little happier to be at home, though. Advised to stay home, what more can I ask for?

    I thought a lot about what I miss in everyday life. There are not many things that I miss in my everyday life, to be honest. Below are just some of the things I miss the most.

    I miss buying food or running late in the evening to 7-Eleven to grab a snack or a soda. Usually, I sit up late at night to get my hobbies done. And because I still don’t have a refrigerator to carry on drinks, I go out in the middle of the night to buy.

    I miss setting the alarm and waking up to the alarm.

    I miss the office, walking to and from the office every day, rushing to the office and coming home late after a long day at work. I don’t miss the coffee breaks, but I miss being around my colleagues.

    I miss wearing my uniforms and my office shoes, sneakers. I miss choosing what to wear on Saturdays (not really). I am looking forward to going back to work.

    I miss going out and enjoying myself. I miss leaving the house. Though, I still leave the house when I have to do some errands outside.

    I miss shopping in the mall and going to a grocery store without a queue.

    I miss having privacy, having a degree of confidence about the future, and feeling secure.

    I miss the freedom to do what we want to do and where we want.

    I miss the daily life, the vacations, and the weekends.

    I miss the hugs and kisses. I cannot wait to go home and hug my family. I missed my Dad’s 70th birthday (April 13). I was meant to be home to celebrate my Dad’s birthday.

    I miss the quiet mornings. My neighbors appear to be busy in the morning. Some are aggressively playing loud music, slamming their doors, and going on several conversations at once.

    I miss the crowd of people and interacting with strangers.

    I miss everything.

    I miss savoring the everyday life again, the joy of having a good day.

    I miss having a chance to appreciate all the things that we have taken for granted.

    I miss those times before the pandemic. Things will never revert to the way it used to be before. We are living in a different world now. We should not want life to be like what it is used to be. Pandemic has pushed us to take better care of people. We need each other out there. I do not want that feeling to go away again.

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  • Life Lately

    Work from Home Tips from a First Timer

    April 12, 2020

    This is supposed to be the last day of the quarantine period. I think I have spent quite a bit of time working from home. It is not that different from working at the office. When it comes to working from home, it is all about balance and enjoying the benefits of home.

    Below are some tips which helped me in the process. Hopefully, these tips will help you get to the groove and optimize your time working out of the office.

    Follow the Normal Work Routine

    This is the hardest part to adapt. With the technology that enables our bosses to communicate and reach us on a regular basis, we can end up working 24/7 (including weekends and holidays). A 9 p.m. work email/message can wait until the next morning for a response. Know when to log in and log out. If you get into work at 8:30 a.m., then do not log in until 8:30 a.m. Establishing a limit on the hours of work per day is critical to the prevention of burnout.

    Establish Boundaries

    Do not interrupt one’s family time or social time in order to complete pending works. Take your days off seriously. Working on weekends/holidays is sometimes necessary, but taking time off can do more for your health, especially this quarantine.

    Make Sure to Take Time for Lunch, Snacks, and even Breaks

    Use a break to go out for a walk or a little chit-chat with your family. Breaks can recharge you for a better job. If you do not have the work-life balance, you will not last too long working at home. Allow yourself to take a much-deserved break; it is a great way to get away from work.

    Listen to Music

    I am not too fond of silence. For some reason, music motivates me for different tasks. When I need focus, I go for instrumental music. When I am bored, I go for pop or rock or something upbeat.

    Find Your Ideal Working Spot

    Just because you are not in the office, it does not mean you cannot have an office. It could be an empty room or a spare room. Since most of us do not have the luxury of having a new place to turn into an office, regardless of the space, set up an area that works best. Make sure you have enough natural light, too.

    Do Not Work from Your Bed

    It is essential to have a distinction between your relaxing space and your working space. This is another killer of productivity. While it may be tempting to stay in bed, you will find yourself sitting in a position that could end up with back pain.

    Pretend Like You are Going to the Office

    Get up, get out of your pajamas, take a bath, put on nice clothes, and make a coffee cup. With the right mindset, you will be able to get your work done.

    Plan on What You will be Working

    Projects do take time. Commit to do more than you set out to do. Before the day comes to an end, try writing your next day’s schedule. Having a carefully planned day can help you carry out more of your tasks.

    Dive in To-Do List as Soon as You Started Working

    It can be challenging to keep track of what you have to do throughout the entire day. Stick to your task list. After each completed task, cross it out.

    Stay Connected

    Our team makes use of Messenger as our mode of communication. Learn to communicate as much as possible. Do not be afraid to ask questions if further clarification is needed. Make sure that you check in on a regular basis, just as you would in the office.

    Technology Enables Remote Work

    You must have a laptop (I am using my personal), a decent Wi-Fi connection, and the right software to work from home. Find out what resources your company will be offering and paying for. (Hopefully, my company will reimburse me for these expenses.)

    At first, you may find it a bit challenging to get settled. But yes, you are going to adapt in no time.

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  • Life Lately

    A Day in My Life During Quarantine

    March 24, 2020

    I cannot believe I have been in quarantine for almost a week now. I have survived this far. This is what my day looks like now. A new routine has consumed my everyday life.

    7:30 a.m.

    I am not (really) a morning person. My morning usually starts at 7:30. I get up, make my bed, and go straight to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. Next, I prepare a cup of coffee. I like it creamy white, but I like white caramel more. Then I go to the rooftop for a daily dose of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise to get my blood flowing.

    The sun feels comforting.

    I have been doing this for quite a while now.

    8:00 a.m.

    I go straight to the bathroom to take a warm bath and prepare for the day ahead. I wear house clothes all the time.

    I am an introvert at heart. I love being at home.

    9:00 a.m.

    I look over and prioritize my to-do lists, respond to messages and emails, and eat breakfast, starting with a bowl of cereal, sitting cross-legged with my computer in my lap. Usually I have cereals, oatmeal, or anything on-the-go on weekdays. I go for corned beef, toasted bread, and eggs on the weekend.

    Each morning, this has been my routine.

    11:00 a.m.

    I try not to spend much time on the internet reading or watching the news. I have a couple of breaks in between.

    Noon

    What is available in my pantry? For today’s lunch, I am getting Spanish sardines, some veggies, and an apple. Either I am taking a few minutes to work on my blog or I am running some errands.

    1:30 p.m.

    I will continue working on anything and everything I need to get done. I am working on pending projects I have. I spend most of the time dutifully responding to my colleagues’ initial inquiries. During this time, I aimlessly planned out the next day. In between, I have a little chit chat with my 6-months old nephew.

    While I am working, I usually snack on something like Combos or Le-mond (try this one, they taste the same), butter cookies, smoothies (no ice), or coffee. I do love snacking in between. I also love roasted peanuts in between emails.

    5:00 p.m.

    Every afternoon I try to spend 10 to 15 minutes outdoors getting some fresh air while doing stretches, then go straight to the bathroom for another warm bath. I consistently bathe twice a day.

    6:00 p.m.

    Evenings are my favorite time of the day. Before eating dinner, I binge watched for about two hours. I am currently watching the last couple of episodes of the Kingdom. Then I made more family phone calls.

    8:00 p.m.

    I made spaghetti with lots of cheese for tonight’s dinner. I usually read or blog after dinner. Either of the two.

    Midnight

    I went to sleep at about midnight. I have been trying to go to bed earlier but have not succeeded so far.

    I always look forward to waking up and starting a new day. How is your day so far?

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