Quaran-thirteenth
I was adamant when all this COVID-19 stuff was going on; I was too sure that I will never create any form of a blogpost about it - boy was I wrong!
We are at the advent of global contagion with COVID-19 and staying the eff home is our best bet to flatten the curve and ensure our healthcare system does not crash. I, among the many others, have been self-quarantining at home for what seems like 2 weeks now and it has come with pros and cons.
Pros
- Having to eat snacks when I can.
- Not having to take a bath.
- Not having to go out and mingle with people.
Cons
- Not working and having used up all my leaves for the year, I have a few days this cutoff that will be tagged as absent.
- Having to go full gear when going to the groceries: hat, mask, "outside clothes" and constantly having to use the alcohol spray.
- Feeling a bit guilty having the ability to work at home while others couldn't.
- Having to worry about how long my food will last me.
- Being alone with your thoughts and feeling powerless.
It took 13 days before I had a mini-mental breakdown. It was the perfect storm: a mix of fear, anxiety, depression and a nagging feeling that I am at the mercy of this virus and that it is taking control over me. My body broke down on me, broke into a fever and I opted to feel everything in and allow my body and brain to heal itself. I have not had any Flouxetine in months now and I have thrown away all my prescriptions to avoid me having to use it and be reliant on it.
Here are some of the things I did to keep my mental health in check:
- I did some smudging at home - white sage and palo santo do wonders for me. It cleanses my body and spirit and it helps me invite good vibes into the house.
- I have uninstalled Facebook as it has been a breeding ground for fake news and all these statistics that do not seem to help me at all.
- I set a time to reply off to personal messages and find time to curate what I needed to say versus what I wanted to say at the moment. I tend to get too involved in so many things that I needed to step back a little bit and remember that I do not need to take control of everything.
- I reached out to a few mentors sharing feelings I have been harboring and that tremendously helped me a lot. I was reminded that there are things that we cannot sugar coat all the time - just lay the truth and how I react will be totally up to me.
- After the mini-meltdown, I decided to do some grocery shopping - this meant having to go out when the sun was up. The warm feeling of the sun in my skin did amazing for my well being, I need to stay grounded and be attune with what I feel and that it's valid to feel powerless and it's human to fail sometimes.
- I also took in the time to use my extra hours in reading articles that I carefully selected thru an app called Medium. Medium is a place for sharing ideas and essays made by users in an easy to read publishing platform. You can download the app here: iOS and Android.
- During my "shift" at night, I listen to these playlists: 90s House Classics, Lofi Hip Hop and Quarantine Jams helps me enjoy my 8-hour shift without getting too distracted.
- Also read from trusted sources and not places like Buzzbox or PinoyChikka about the latest news - visit the main website like CNN, CDC, and DOH. If you can also avoid sharing stuff then just don't.
Things I will do:
- I also will commit to finishing a book during these crazy uncertain times - I have Good Omens which I have been re-reading but never got the chance to finish it.
- I also get sluggish having to stay home and be too comfortable so over this weekend (my weekend is every WedThur) I will do quick exercises from Youtube and try to get back in shape.
- I will try to write more and more here in the blog and share food recipes and I am looking into doing mini-vlogs but I am just not comfortable yet doing that right now. But know that I am looking into it.
- I am lucky to have a wide yard and a good open space with trees and will schedule a "night-out" with coffee, good music and just chilling under the stars. Lately, I have been noticing how clearer the night sky has been and it's about time to just be present and still.
- I have recently subscribed to Stories After Dark podcast which showcases Philippine true crime and mysteries. I will definitely start listening to mix up my podcast playlist. If you want to just listen to people talk and do chores while doing so, here are a few suggestions:
The Open Ears Project - Part mixtape, part sonic love-letter, the Open Ears Project is a daily podcast where people share the classical track that means the most to them.
The Trypod - In this weekly podcast they dissect their experiences as internet creators and best friends who have made a living failing upwards.
Dear Hank and John - Hosts John and Hank Green (authors and YouTubers) offer both humorous and heartfelt advice about life’s big and small questions. They bring their personal passions to each episode by sharing the week’s news from Mars (the planet) and AFC Wimbledon (the third-tier English football club).
The Anthropocene Reviewed - The Anthropocene Reviewed, #1 New York Times bestselling author John Green (The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down) reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale.
Unpopular Culture - A psychotherapist dives into the broken underbelly of society, shining a light on more neglected topics in Pop Culture, Psychology, & Modern Media.
Don't Blame Me - Don’t Blame Me! is a weekly call-in advice audio and video podcast. Fellow work-in-progress, 20-something actress and internet personality Meghan Rienks brings her blunt, truthful, and hilarious wisdom on topics such as sex, mental health, and relationships. The advice may be questionable, but always well-meaning. Hey, you can’t blame her for screwing up your life.
Ear Biscuits - Join Rhett and Link, hosts of the popular daily YouTube show Good Mythical Morning and authors of the New York Times bestseller “Book of Mythicality” in a candid weekly conversation for your Internetainment.
My Favorite Murder - Lifelong fans of true crime stories Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans.
- I recently got Netflix back and I recently watched Tiger King and it was crazy good. Watch it! Over my rest day, I will watch The Platform.
As we ride the waves that is COVID-19, may we all find peace in these trying times and stay grounded. It can be hard and challenging but remember to still be grateful. Grateful for having roofs on our heads, food on the table, beds to sleep in and friends and family who are safe from illness. We are all in this together and we need everyone to stay the fudge indoors and stop spreading the virus. If you feel a bit lonely, call a friend - reach out to old colleagues and rekindle old relationships.
What are the things you are doing to stay sane?
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