How I’m Handling Quarantine Days

“But if that beautiful monster can’t be tamed, it sometimes tends to overwork itself like a sweatshop from a pseudo-socialist country.”

JIL DIAMANTE

Alaminos, Pangasinan| Philippines

The evening was deepening. I was sitting in front of my laptop ruminating my recent quarantine weeks. And by some twisted, although still an excusable sense of view amidst a miasma of recent events, I felt exhilarated.

Favored with an abundance of time, I devoted these past few weeks in evaluating (a cheesy but necessary term) my goals, routines, achievements and personal roadblocks. The caveat, I’ve been doing that since grade school; scribbling mawkish goals on any spare pad of paper or at the back of those doomed notebooks with ineffectual subject teachers, so this is no huge feat for me. There’s nothing congratulatory there. In some days back then, it was just a doodle of a happy stick person and a sunflower. Well, a kid still got to be a kid, right? Any existential angst derived from those drawings did probably come after lunch break.

Well, a kid still got to be a kid, right? Any existential angst derived from those drawings did probably come after lunch break.

However, these past few weeks’ writings and self-evaluation were pivotal for me. See, I’m a self-help book/podcast junkie, as painfully obvious that was. And by some stroke of faith, my current readings and podcast playlist did provide a jolt of clarity. Wait, more like vindication. The ideas were clear, to begin with, but my brain needed more hammering convictions and pragmatic steps.

Finally, in no specific order, here are my #quaranthings. Not as aesthetically tasteful as a Dalgona Coffee nor as engaging as a Tiktok dance number, but hey, these little self-discoveries made me happy during this pandemic stricken time:

• Pareto Principle – I have a degree in Business Economics and stupid enough to take on an MBA too (not yet done), hence I find it absurd that I took this principle for granted. After reading Koch’s book about the 80/20 rule, it’s immensely liberating to revisit this law and to free up that significant mental space for more essential things for me. It was impactful that I’m consciously applying it to any decisions I make now. In all aspects.

“.. it is absurd to say that I took this principle for granted.”

• Minimalism – For me, this movement is merely a residual idea from the Pareto Principle. But a more straightforward, laid-back approach I supposed. I’ve been gradually applying it since last year but recent actions done were to unsubscribe to unnecessary newsletters, groups, pages, and channels. The way I digest information daily will now be more curated and sensible. No meme pages have been purged in the process though. Since, humor is always non-negotiable.

“No meme pages have been purged in the process though. Since, humor is always non-negotiable.”

• Meditation – Look, I can’t emphasize enough how extremely occupied and convoluted my thought patterns can be. I love my mind and I benefited from it since I was six years old to this day be it academic awards or source of my parents’ joy. I considered it my first best friend. But if that beautiful monster can’t be tamed, it sometimes tends to overwork itself like a sweatshop from a pseudo-socialist country. Always thinking. Always hustling. Always chasing the next goal. So, as the owner of the factory, I decided to join those progressive anti-sweatshop movements to improve the welfare of its workers (brain and being). And that movement came in the form of meditation for me. Need I say more?

“But if that beautiful monster can’t be tamed, it sometimes tends to overwork itself like a sweatshop from a pseudo-socialist country.”

• Habits over Goals (Non-Zero Days) – I grew up with a disposition that a goal is far more important than a habit. Although, I succeeded countless times with that kind of mentality, I find it humbling that I am now appreciating the importance of habit building too in achieving goals. It is more sustainable, both physically and mentally. And far more rewarding. 

As I write this, I’ve performed five (5) of my keystone habits for seven (7) consecutive days. A feat I can’t recall achieving in the recent past. And this makes me happy. I like this work in progress.

“This makes me happy.”

Soon, I will learn and adapt to new ideas and habits again. Will fall off the wagon for sure. But photos below will always be reminiscent of me. Perpetually reflective, curious and zealous of life.