It’s a Sunday, and Sundays are strangely one of the busiest days of my week. It’s 8:00am now, and today, I plan to do the following tasks: meet for Miss Donki, review for the GMAT, do my monthly restart (shared in another blog), edit a graphic design commission, and bathe my dog, Doogie.
Today, I wanted to share the a typical day in my life as a student/small business owner, specifically the highlights of my day, some strategies I use to work efficiently, and just some small learnings that could be helpful to other people.
It’s a Sunday, and Sundays are strangely one of the busiest days of my week. It’s 8:00am now, and today, I plan to do the following tasks: meet for Miss Donki, review for the GMAT, do my monthly restart (shared in another blog), edit a graphic design commission, and bathe my dog, Doogie.
Today, I wanted to share the a typical day in my life as a student/small business owner, specifically the highlights of my day, some strategies I use to work efficiently, and just some small learnings that could be helpful to other people.
Lately, one of the valuable lessons life has taught me is the art of doing nothing. Enjoying the present. Rewarding yourself with silence. And most importantly, taking care of yourself.
From that moment on, I included into my weekly routine a pamper/spa night at home. The goal is to be free from reality and spend a couple hours in complete relaxation. I realised, that this is not at all difficult to do, if you have the right mood, equipment, and activities. In this entry, I’ll be sharing my three best pamper session secrets, so you can also have relaxing spa nights at home.
Lately, one of the valuable lessons life has taught me is the art of doing nothing. Enjoying the present. Rewarding yourself with silence. And most importantly, taking care of yourself.
From that moment on, I included into my weekly routine a pamper/spa night at home. The goal is to be free from reality and spend a couple hours in complete relaxation. I realised, that this is not at all difficult to do, if you have the right mood, equipment, and activities. In this entry, I’ll be sharing my three best pamper session secrets, so you can also have relaxing spa nights at home.
We’ve now reached the final week of May. Did I do well? I’d like to think so.. Instead of feeling nervous about the future, I find myself excited and hopeful. I’ve done everything I could, given our situation. I’ve worked on my health the past 2 months and did not take people’s concern for granted. I genuinely feel happier than I’ve ever been before.
We’ve now reached the final week of May. Did I do well? I’d like to think so.. Instead of feeling nervous about the future, I find myself excited and hopeful. I’ve done everything I could, given our situation. I’ve worked on my health the past 2 months and did not take people’s concern for granted. I genuinely feel happier than I’ve ever been before.
All days start the same, this is fact. It doesn’t matter what type of day it is. You wake up, you get up, and you begin.
Today is a big day, yet it somehow does not feel like it at all. Months before today, I imagined this day a lot different from how it turned out. We would be together, I would’ve surprised him, cooked his favorites. We would have watched movies or played boardgames (his favorite past-times). It would have been this, if reality didn’t have its way of pre-made plans.
Today, we won’t be spending it together. He told me, last night, he just wanted it simple. And I could give him simple, but I know he deserves more than that. All days start the same, and today is not an exemption. Regardless of this fact, it will be a big day ahead.
Caitlin
Last Monday, I celebrated my boyfriend’s birthday whilst separated from him. We haven’t seen each other for two months since the pandemic cases in the Philippines have increased. I honestly thought there was a big chance that we were going to be together, but 2021 had other plans.
As I’ve written, despite this hurdle, I wanted him to feel extra special on his extra special day – a challenge, since we’re all stuck at home. But my non-negotiables for him were this:
‘Celebrating’ with others
Factor of surprise
Cute birthday setup
The night before, I decorated my room with birthday balloons. He’s been recently into the Netflix Falcon and Winter Soldier series, so I thought it would be the theme. Around 9:30PM, (I was late) for our call, and I showed him his virtual surprise. It wasn’t as much as a ‘salubong’ as I wanted it to be, but (I thought) it turned out really nice.
Little did he know for the past week or so, I’ve been collecting birthday greetings and photos from his friends, and creating a scrapbook. This way, he would still feel the presence of his loved ones. I decorated it simply with stickers and scrapbook materials. It’s been so long since I made one.
Here’s a sneak peak of how I decorated his scrapbook!
On the day itself, I prepared and delivered his gifts (a combination of his favorite things plus items I thought might be useful to his everyday life) and the scrapbook. I added the ’33’ balloon to his gift box, and it also turned out exactly how I wanted it.
It wasn’t the birthday I was expecting, but I was grateful he was safe. 🙂
List of some resources:
Gift Guide | My boyfriend loves Nike, and there are a lot of Nike products by Zalora, just choose items that are good quality. Tip: order in advanced, so when you receive it you can check if you like the item or not. If you don’t you can have it exchanged with another item, or simply returned and refunded!
Gift Guide | If your SO likes boardgames, my experience with Geekbox was smooth and pleasant. They have an extensive list of boardgames, and even categories that will help you select which type of game you want.
DIY Guide | Scrapbook materials can be found in good ol’ National Bookstore or even online.
DIY Guide | Fujifilm Wonder Photo prints and delivers quality photos for you! You can send them a facebook message with your photos according to size (2R, 3R, etc). I’ve had many photos printed through the years, and theirs is by far my favorite (though a bit pricier, it’s worth it). They also have branches in several malls like UP Town Center.
DIY Guide | Lifehack, but Muji has awesome double-sided correction tapes. Here’s something similar on shopee.
Gift Guide | Number balloons are also online.
Dessert Guide | Did you know the famous Lord Stow’s also delivers! Nothing new, but they still have the best portugese egg tarts in town.
After being in quarantine for more than a year, I’m a bit uncertain whether I’ll still be able to socialize ‘normally’ once things start to ‘normalise.’
That may be a rhetorical question, because I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to do fine. The truth is, I don’t like talking online anymore. We’ve seen a lot of articles surfacing nowadays on how this pandemic has changed our way of life. For me, it was my socializing skill that was affected.
I’m almost sure it affects empaths a lot more too, people who value emotion above everything else. “I want to know you, but I can’t ‘feel’ you through my screen, and I haven’t ‘felt’ you in too long.” I can’t see a person’s happiness as they talk about their little achievements, the truth in the eyes, the light on their face.. and that irks me. Online conversation also almost feels transactional.
This pandemic made me realize how fleeting the days and years are. While I don’t believe in ‘wasted years’ (because we’ve made them count somehow), what makes life truly meaningful are relationships with other people. And these two years, I’ve struggled with exactly that. I am losing touch. I’m an introvert more than ever. There is less tangibility in words.
There have been several instances, I’ve questioned why I have so much trouble listening and keeping up a conversation online, when pre-pandemic, I reveled in chatting with my friends 24/7. Am I still capable of listening, let alone socializing properly? There are days I can even go without socializing with anyone at all, so I have to internally remind myself to talk to someone. My boyfriend and I try to call every night for at least 30 minutes (via Scener).
It’s definitely nothing personal if replies now come after a week, or more. If the words are shorter now on text, than they would’ve been before. Or if responses sound disinterested. When in fact I’m hoping to have a sleepover with you (if you are a girlfriend) or a coffee date or something more personal (video calls are ok too). It all boils down to how I don’t want to have this ‘important’ conversation with you over social media anymore. You are way too important to me for that. I can’t wait to hear your by the sound of your voice.
Someday that handful will open up to a multitude of unfamiliar conversations. While that will most certainly be super awkward, I’d rather have that pause of ‘I dunno what to say to this person in front of me’ than none at all. It’s going to be the best awkward moment of my life, and I’m already looking forward to it.
I guess that’s what one year of isolation does to you.
I’ve struggled with productivity and perfectionism, for as long as I can remember. Something that has affected my life, drastically.
If I’m not productive, I’m not worthy.
If I can’t perfect a task, I procrastinate.
If I don’t accomplish my goals, then I quit.
I’m afraid of letting people down.
An ongoing cycle.
Like every illness, it started out as a symptom. There was always something off about not getting that perfect score. In college, something devastating, about not being above average. At work, something unacceptable, not being able to contribute to my maximum potential. I’ve cried, lost a lot of weight, changed courses, quit my job, surprised and disappointed the people I care about. I’ve caused eyebrow-raises, statements of ‘that was fast,’ and questions of ‘so where to next?’
When I was unemployed last year for a good 6 months – I became so insecure about myself. It was then I decided to work extra hard at a very uncertain time. I tried out small businesses (some of which did not flourish as I would’ve hoped, some which did), and I was earning more money than I’ve ever earned in my life. It felt good. The productivity. The hustle. The achievements.
For a while.
But I still couldn’t find meaning in what I was doing. I was afraid of instability. I sought labels and promotions. I let society pressure me into finding employment, causing me to leave behind what I started on my own. Thinking employment would finally grant me happiness and meaning.
This spiraled me into having at least 5 breakdowns in a month. I stopped eating. I either could not sleep, or overslept. My anxiety was at its peak. All because I felt, even with an amazing new job, team, and a sideline – I was not hustling enough.
I quit again.
And I decided, to change.
I’ve been talking to my parents more lately, ever since I opened up to them about my struggles. I was surprised to learn from my mom, that majority of her life, she too hustled. My father even more so (to the point my parents never had a honeymoon). Now, at 58 years old, already have lived 3/4th’s of life, my mom thinks back and wishes she’d explored more during her youth
I’ve started writing again.
I’m slowing down. I’m setting goals. I’m finding my purpose. I’m researching and learning everything my heart put on hold.
I’m trusting the process.
I’m sharing my experience, because you can get burnt out at 25. A gentle reminder to people who’ve struggled with this type of culture, that there is no long-term meaning and fulfillment in overdoing productivity.
Find what you love and do it. Talk to your friends. Spend time with your family, with your significant others. Play with your pets. Protect your mind. Follow your heart.
Cause why wait to realize at 58 years old, hustling is not what life’s about.
It’s the first blog of caitdegreat for 2021. Just like that, one month has already passed.
First thing’s first, I started off the New Year with a few new habits I thought were worth trying out in 2021:
Meditation
Morning Pages / Future Self Journaling
Reading (fiction and non-fiction)
Waking up early
Sharing more online
Daily Affirmations
While I was only able to be consistent a little more than halfway through the month, most of these new habits definitely set my mind for the year. The only ‘needs improvement’ on the list would be item number four, because I ended up waking at 7:00am (which is not early for me), a habit I need to work on further this February.
My favorite new habits were meditation and morning pages. I’ll save a more detailed explanation in a later blog, once I get the swing of things but they are essentially forms of manifestation and awareness of one’s self. In times of anxiety and pressure, I find that writing my thoughts would relax me, the way it always has for more than 10 years of my life.
Now, I say my consistency only lasted a while because at some point I let a lot of my thoughts on loneliness affect the end of my January. The past two weeks were a constant battle between waking up to ‘another day of being lonely’ and ‘I am grateful for my life.’ Despite this, I am looking deeply forward to February. So to all those who are struggling in the midst of this pandemic, due to loneliness – I just want to let you know you are definitely not alone. I am here, and I’ll try my best to recommend ways to cope in the future (gimme a bit of time to experiment more).
Now! Unto my favorite things for the month. I say favorites because these people and objects definitely made my January more than bearable, and actually wonderful.
Coffee Favorite: Kori-Kohi from UCC Cafe (it’s pricey, but I love it) – ₱240
caitdegreat 