Category: Personal

My monotonous life, personal stories and ramblings.

Journal | 01

JoanaLeave a comment
Advertisements

This Holy Week I tried to reflect on where I am in my life right now, and how I feel about all of this. It’s been quite peaceful lately. Anxiety creeps in from time to time, I don’t think it really goes away. But what I am feeling is a “good anxiety”, the kind where I am eager to make a better future for myself. Sometimes pressuring yourself can be good, it means that you still have the passion to progress yourself and not be stagnant. It’s the pressure from other people that can be overwhelming.

The expectation from other people is something I despise. It’s great that they expect more from me, the belief they have that I can be the best is flattering but the thought of disappointing them can be devastating as well. This makes me feel like I am far from where I am supposed to be, even though I am happy where I am. They should be happy too, right?

I am 27, I should really learn how to filter the opinions of others, and not let it affect me this much. But the thing is, I owe my life to this people, and I feel that I am obliged to listen and follow them as a way to say “thank you”. I thought I was free, but I probably never will be.

Let’s follow each other:

Advertisements

Here We Go Again…

Joana1 Comment
Advertisements

There goes another year. What is time? It really does go so fast right?

I’m looking forward to this year, I’m not going to say that’s it’s my year but 24 is such a special number to me. It’s my birthday, there’s 24 hrs in a day to do things, Kobe’s number, and did you know that 2024 calendar is exactly the same as the calendar of year 1996? Which is the year I was born. It’s like a fresh start. So, I am not going to look back on 2023 but I am grateful for everything that have happened last year.

It’s going to be another year of happiness, laughter, and adventure. But it’s also going to be a year where we might get hurt, breakdown, and feel shitty. And that’s okay, we learn through those things. I’m full of hope in this coming year and I can’t wait what 2024 will bring.

Happy New Year everyone! Hope we all have a great one.

Let’s follow each other:

Moving Out…

Joana4 Comments

I finally did it! I moved out from my family home…

It’s my birthday and as a present for myself this year, I moved out and got myself an apartment. This was something that I’ve always wanted to do but I was somehow afraid and also, I was not financially stable back then to do it. I just turned 27 years old today and I know in some countries living with your parents at this age is somehow weird but not in the Philippines. Our culture centers around being family-oriented, so people will certainly question why you’re living alone.

I was originally saving up to buy myself a car this year, but I realized that it will be a waste since I only work from home, and I will not be using it often. Also, the traffic here is getting worst I really prefer a motorcycle when going to places. So, I decided to find myself an apartment instead where I can make my own decisions. Ever since our family home got renovated our personal space were not so personal anymore. We were sharing rooms and that’s fine with me before since I’m not home most of the time, but my current job is a work-from-home set up, so I really needed to have my own space to function well.

It took me just a week to find an apartment. I really just wanted to have a place where I can be alone and have some quiet time, but I didn’t really want to be far away from my family. So, I found a place in the same city but in a different neighborhood. I can still easily see my family whenever I want without the hassle of commute. I fully moved in last week and the stress of finding furniture, appliances, and other stuff was so tiring but somehow fun and fulfilling. I still have a lot of stuff to buy so I’m still in my humble beginnings phase right now lol.

It’s just been a week of being alone, but I feel like this is the best decision that I have made in a while. I feel so free right now. It’s overwhelming but also such an effective way to truly find yourself. I lived my whole life in my family home, I had to follow certain rules, and do it this way and that way because my family tells me to but now, I’m on my own and it’s like a clean slate. I can now have my own rules and move without worry.

I’m 27 now and I’m really feeling the weight of responsibilities especially now that I’m on my own. Here’s to enjoying the remaining years of my 20’s. I’ll make sure to make it last.

Related Post:
New Home + Life & Blog Update

To view blog series done on this site click: FEATURED COLLECTIONS
Discover new blogs to follow and sign up as well to include your blog click: BLOG DIRECTORY

Let’s follow each other:

Rebooting… | Daily Routine

Joana3 Comments

Made in Canva

As part of starting over, there were changes I needed to do to get myself in the right headspace again. A change in lifestyle and perspective. I needed to reboot myself.

In 2022, I had my job where I worked a graveyard shift. I started working from 9pm to 6am which at first was fine for me since I’m a night owl but I didn’t have my old teenage self to endure it. This is the job that I stated on my previous post that I thought was great but deep inside it was killing me. I started to realize how sleep was so important. I had a work from home set-up which I thought was awesome, but it was sort of isolating. And even though I slept more than 8 hours, sleeping in the morning and sleeping through the night was so different. I just felt so exhausted. My routine during those times were literally sleep, work, and repeat. Even when I have time to do other things I just chose to sleep. My body was really crying for help. For 8 months my body was running on caffeine and nicotine. I hated smoking but vaping was introduced to me, and it helped me to stay awake.

In the middle of April 2023, I finally left that job. I had to adjust a lot as my work has a different working hour. My rebooting process started.

Sleep schedule

I had to intentionally adjust my body clock. I usually sleep at 12noon until 8pm when I was still working at my previous job. But now my job requires me to start at 4pm. Right after my shift ends at 12:30am, I lie in bed and force myself to sleep. I still sleep with earphones on, I think I will be deaf soon lol. But it really helps me to have better sleep.

Taking away caffeine

This was quite hard since I really loved drinking coffee even preparing it was something I really enjoyed. But caffeine was something that I relied on so much to stay awake and to have energy. It’s really like a drug. My go-to Starbucks drink switched from White Chocolate Mocha to Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey. I switched to tea, which has a more calming effect on me.

Being more active

I tried to be more active. I started running again, it’s the first thing I do every morning and it’s not just to lose weight but it’s also the best source of energy. Before, I get tired easily and I found out that it’s due to my lifestyle. No activity, always lying in bed, eating junk foods and sugar etc. I now truly understand the benefit of exercising. I always see it as a way to be fit but it’s also good for your mental health.

Change in diet

I’m trying to lessen my food intake these days. I was always binge eating and ordering fast foods late at nights. I was scolded by my sister when she found out about it lol. I’m eating more veggies these days and I cut on fast foods and eat more proteins.

Feeding my brain

Best way to reboot is to feed your mind with positive outlook. I started reading books again. I didn’t know why I stopped though. I have always enjoyed reading back then but when the busyness took over, reading started to feel like a chore. After my everyday run, I read a book and it’s actually the best part of my day. I’m currently reading Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky which I’ll probably write a post about.

I think the most important thing in starting over is changing my outlook, and really convincing myself that I needed to change my ways to become the better version of myself.

Also, a big change is happening in my life right now and I can’t wait to share it. I am quite nervous but excited at the same time about it. So, there will be a huge interval on my posts in the coming days.

What are your ways to reboot or what is your daily routine?

Related Post:
Starting Over…

To view blog series done on this site click: FEATURED COLLECTIONS
Discover new blogs to follow and sign up as well to include your blog click: BLOG DIRECTORY

Let’s follow each other:

Cursed Generation

Joana2 Comments
Photo credits to Verisk

I believe everybody says that their generation is the best generation. We all have these arguments of how our generation tops the others. I was born in 1996 and I am part of the millennial generation despite what other articles say that I’m a Gen Z. I’m probably a hybrid lol. Millennials are born between 1981-1996 and now aging 26-41 years old. This post will be all about how great this generation is and how it’s also cursed.

I believe millennials is the best generation because we were in between the time when internet and cellphones were not widely used and also the “pioneers” of internet and smart phones. We enjoyed the cassette tapes, VHD, CDs, Walkmans, consoles without labeling it as “retro” and we actually grew up playing outside. In school, we needed to read and use the library as resource for our study instead of browsing the internet. We have experienced the simple life. But we were also in that time when social media, smart phones and other gadgets were on the rise. We were there when Facebook were all about games, Instagram were just really an online photo album, YouTube was just for funny cat videos etc. until it developed into what it is now. We are the Gen X and Boomers ask for help to connect to the Wi-Fi and how to navigate their phones, but we are also the ones who value nostalgia and appreciate the life before technology took over.

As great as this generation is, it is also cursed. I don’t know how our parents and elderly did it but most of them have their own family and live in their own houses at my age (26). The high inflation and with this economy, it’s impossible for young adults to start building their lives. In the Philippines, minimum wage salary is ₱610 ($11) per day that’s around ₱14,000 ($255) per month excluding weekends. Rent alone cost around ₱6,000-₱10,000 ($100-$200) I really don’t know how people in my country survive. This is why most of us millennials are still living with our parents and family, and afraid to go on our own because of the high cost of living. I see most of millennials nowadays prefer not to have a family and just focus on themselves, and I don’t blame them.

Also, I see a lot of millennials being a breadwinner and how their family have high expectations on them, and some were raised as an “investment”, the child that they nurtured to pull them out of their misery and give them a better quality of life which is kind of messed up. That’s why a lot of millennials are part of the “woke” society as we try to right the wrongs. We were given a platform and we air out a lot of our frustrations in life which sometimes can be too much lol. We can be overly sensitive at times due to lack of understanding from the society, that’s why the talk about mental health has become a huge deal. It’s a cursed generation because of how they have to compromise a lot of things just to survive. It’s cursed because of how the world works during the time that they should be starting their lives on their own that everybody seems to want to be in a different generation and go back to the old days. But I also say that millennials is the best generation because we adapt to changes quickly (we have to) and it made us be more open minded about a lot of things.

I know this post raised a few eyebrows especially to those who are not part of the millennials, that’s my goal though lol. Every generation has their own uniqueness. If you’re not a millennial, comment on why your generation is the best.

Related Post:

TOXIC FAMILY CULTURE: PARENTS TREATING THEIR CHILD AS AN INVESTMENT

To view blog series done on this site click: FEATURED COLLECTIONS
Discover new blogs to follow and sign up as well to include your blog click: BLOG DIRECTORY

Let’s follow each other: