• Life Lately

    Activities Keeping Me Busy This Quarantine

    August 8, 2020

    Aside from work, I have never been busy in my entire life. Although I wanted to take things slowly, I could not and I would not. The pandemic has driven many of us into our hobbies to keep us busy and sane. When things are back to the new normal, I will not be able to get back to those hobbies again. I will be juggling in between the demands of work and home. You know how busy we were at work before the pandemic.

    I wanted to figure out why I was so busy, but I could not find the time to do it.

    Let us take advantage of the time to make the best of it while we still can. We do not know when will this quarantine ends. But for now, just keep doing what we are enjoy doing.

    Blogging

    I made a lot of changes from the theme to the blog content. If you are a follower, you will notice the changes I have made. I have added some images and shortcodes to spice up a bit that boring post. It surely livens up that (dry) post, whatever you call it.

    Thank you, pngtree.com, for the one-line drawings.

    I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences with this quarantine for the time being. Honestly, I love this quarantine because I am a lot more inspired and creative. With all the ideas coming up, I think my brain is about to explode. Soon, I am going to run out of ideas and completely get stuck to that blank page again. I really admire bloggers and also vloggers who still continually share awesome content and never run out of ideas.

    Exercise

    I am in love with jumping rope right now. Who is not? I started to jump around mid-May when I was mentally and physically exhausted. Remember my post, Work from Home Burnout is Real, and how I managed to get out of it and cope with it. Pandemic can be very stressful. Jumping rope is a great way to escape the stresses and combat the effects of anxiety and depression. The benefits of jumping rope are better than we know and they can go a very long way.

    BTW, I bought my first (speed) rope at @jumpmanila through the Lazada Platform. Check them out!

    What’s Cooking: Pinaupong Manok (Recipe of My Dear Aunt)

    Cooking

    Cooking is more about feeding ourselves. It could also be some kind of entertainment to distract ourselves from anxieties. Ever since I started living alone, I have been cooking more and eating out less. Eating out has become a lot more expensive these days.

    I love cooking Pork Adobo, Chicken Adobo, and Pork Sinigang. From time to time, I challenge myself to try some of dishes I have found on the internet. Cooking at home is easy once you have made it a habit.

    On my Desk: Hobonichi Techo Weeks in Green Apple, Hobonichi Techo Original A6 in Pineapple, Kraftrina Stickers and Pilot Coleto

    Journaling

    I have learned that writing has the power to calm our minds and communicate with ourselves. I admit my May and June in my Hobonichi are empty. I have lost track and interest in writing my day-to-day activities. All I wanted is lie down in bed and stare outside the window.

    Today, I am trying to get back into writing, filling up every page and not leaving a single empty page.

    Binge Watching

    I am not a fan of anime. Whenever my teammates talk about anime, I listen as if I am interested, but I am totally not. Since I have been tired of watching Korean dramas, I have given anime a chance. I enjoyed the story-line of Spirited Away, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, and The Classroom of Elite.

    My recent favourites are Food Wars, Yowamoshi Pedal, Fruits Basket, Toradora and Himouto Umaru-chan. Next up on my list are Uza Maid, Shiro Bako and Death Note.

    I would love to hear what activities are keeping you busy nowadays. I have heard many of you become gardeners and interior decorators.

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  • 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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  • Health/Wellness

    Work from Home Burnout is Real

    May 11, 2020

    I have been slacking off at work since May began. I was feeling down all of a sudden. I became weary of responding to the status of this project. I have been through the first week, basically sticking to my bed and staring out of my window.

    In the past few months, I have been doing the best that I can, burning for eight or more hours every day working at home. Work does not end when the shift does. #WorkInQuarantine is very tough. I am overwhelmed by the demands, hazy about assigned tasks, and confused about our current work from home situation. I feel a little demotivated and lost enthusiasm at work.

    Read : A Day in My Life During Quarantine

    I slack off not because I am lazy or could not care less about work or being productive. It is hard to do your best when you are mentally and physically exhausted. With the current situation outbreak, maintaining good health has become important. Our mental well-being is just as important as our physical. It is essential to take care of our health.

    Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.

    A couple of days ago, I started jumping again. Staying active can make us feel a lot better. Jumping rope does not require any expensive equipment. All you need is a jump rope, space, and sneakers. We cannot do a lot of things that will help moderate our stress and anxiety. This physical activity does wonders about our mood; it improves our sleep, it reduces strain, and it makes us feel better. Jumping rope is not just about exercise; it is also about fun, as told by many.

    Also, I try to keep as many of my routines as possible, getting outdoors for daily doses of sunlight and fresh air. Establishing these healthy habit-filled routines is a great way to make our day more efficient.

    It is OK to cut ourselves some slack. Learn to stop being so hard on yourself once in a while. We are doing a lot better than you think.

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  • Work/Money Diaries

    How to Save Money During Quarantine?

    May 8, 2020

    I have been monitoring my expenses since Day 1. Most of it is spent on rent, debts, and food. Yes, I have never gotten out of debt. I have been trying the best  I can to manage my debt so that I can recover once the pandemic has passed. Even though we were allowed to work from home, we were not allowed to return to our provinces so I still pay rent. We do not know how long this pandemic will last, so now is the time to hold on to our money.

    Read : 10 More Ways to Save Money

    With the bills piling up and poor cash flow, not all stuck at home are saving money. Like many others, I wonder how to pay my bills and make my way through this financial crisis. The pandemic has affected both our daily activities and our finances. This is the reality of it. If there is a way to save money right now, I want to know.

    Plan Your Meals

    In the previous weeks, I have been thoroughly planning my meals. Arranging meals can help us keep our grocery list tight. It keeps us from buying too much food at the grocery store.

    I do not know what to buy in the first seven-day stretch of quarantine since I do not have a refrigerator. I have decided to store breakfast cereals, oatmeals, instant noodles, canned goods, pasta, and pasta sauces. We are in the eight-week now, but I still have those in my pantry.

    Make a Grocery List

    When buying, have your grocery list ready and follow it carefully. This is the quickest way to cut the bill down in almost a half. Before, I don’t mind not having a list. I always take my time shopping. Since we have a limited time inside the grocery store, we cannot do that anymore. Apart from saving time and money, preparing a grocery list has many other benefits.

    Batch Cooking

    I have been doing this for quite while now. Preparing meals can sometimes be tiring- the planning, the cooking, and the clean-up. But when you cook in large quantities, you are going to save more time. You are only cooking once or twice a week. Not only that, but you will also only be grocery shopping once a month.

    Cut Out the Non-Essentials

    It will be much more financially efficient to buy the essential food. Refrain from buying unhealthy processed foods, sodas, and juices for now. Get serious about what you need and want for the moment, and use it to spend less.

    Grow Some Food

    I do not know if I can grow food in my unit or at the roof deck. Even if I could, I do not know how to start.

    Unplug Unused Devices

    Unplug devices (cell phone chargers, laptop chargers, and wifi routers) that are not in use. Even if the device is in standby mode or off, the plugged-in devices’ energy costs may add up. This will help you save on your electricity bills as well.

    Turn Off the Lights

    Also, keeping the light uses a lot of energy. Let the natural light come into your home. Imagine the difference you can make if you turn off your lights during the day and take advantage of the natural light.

    Stay positive. Do your best to focus on what is generally essential to you.

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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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