FIRST of all, a big thank you to all the frontliners who are out there running the world at this very moment. Thank you cleaners, security guards, restaurant personnel, stocking clerks, inventory clerks, hospital workers, doctors, bank personnel, and all you brave people out there doing their jobs out of choice to keep this city moving.
Our business is closed at the moment as the lockdown has stopped public transportation so our staff cannot come to work. So just like many of you, I am forced to work from home. To say that it has been a challenge is an understatement and I would like to share here some of the tips to keep one sane and productive at this time of the lockdown.
I still remember being at the office that Monday, March 16, and I quickly brought all my things from work to be able to get home. I passed by the grocery and the craziness has already started with people panic buying goods. I stocked up on some canned goods like sardines, corned beef, vienna sausage and instant noodles. I only bought what we needed for 10 days and did not empty any shelves. I also got some condiments for the house like vinegar, oil and soy sauce. I am glad that groceries are still open at this time approaching the second week of the lockdown so people are not panic buying as much as when it was first announced.
What has kept me sane the last two weeks?
1. I continued with my gratitude journal. I had no excuse but to write everyday what I am thankful for. We are being bombarded with fake news, bad news and more bad news on a daily basis and keeping the gratitude journal has kept me positive.
2. Starting gardening from scraps. Did you know that you could start planting from scraps from onions, alugbati, kamote and Kangkong? Place branches of the said vegetables in bottles with water and place in a window which has access to sunlight. They will start growing roots and you can plant them in your pocket garden, in a pot in balcony. You do not have to have a big space to be to able to do this. This could be the start of your urban garden dreams and have some vegetables for personal consumption just in case the virus does not stop spreading.
3. My sister has bought chicks and they are growing. We are doing just in case the chicken supply dwindles out there, we are rising some chicken in the house.
4. I designated a space in the room as the home office. This is very important so I can continue to write, and do my work stuff at home.
5. Start reading books. There are a couple of books that I have been wanting to read for quite some time now. This time in the lockdown is no excuse. I have started on the book of Attorney Cabrera on They Will be Done, David Chilton’s the Wealthy Barber, and The Winning Attitude by John Maxwell.
6. I have given in and watched Crash Landing on You, the popular Korean drama love story regarding a South Korean heiress falling in love with a North Korean soldier. I highly recommend this show if you have Netflix or have access to it. It is a delicate and complicated Korean series with a lot of stories juxtaposed one over the other. A brilliant piece I must say. My first Korean drama series and probably not the last. I am dreaming of Hyun Bin lately -that brilliant actor who portrayed the North Korean soldier.
7. Try Coursera for free online courses. You can take courses from the University of Michigan, University of Florida for free. Try it!
8. I have started to do online course in Mandarin language. I have yet a long way to go but I am trying to discipline myself to do it as it will be a big help in my career so I am taking this time to start with it again.
9. I have also joined a Deepak Chopra meditation group that started a few days ago. I can share with you if you want. Send me a private message on twitter on Instagram if you want the materials.
10. You can still help and donate even if you are under home quarantine. There are different hospitals in the metro needing a lot of donations for the frontrunners in need of more N95 masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), face shields. Please send me a private message if you want the contacts and number of these different hospitals. There are also organizations doing relief packs for marginalized people. Please send me a private message if you wish to help.
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