I'll slowly begin my tasks

May 23, 2022

(photos from the month of April)

The air is cold but the sun warms my skin. The snow on the ground has finally melted and I'm left to wonder how will this spring change my life. We moved my workspace near the bedroom window and as I write this blog post, I notice the kids playing outside and adults walking their dogs. It is honestly a beautiful view I expected to see after the long winter.

The month of May has this kind of calm and silence that you feel before the storm. In my case, the storm represents an anticipated big but amazing change in our lives. There are so many things to do during this month yet a tranquil sense of restlessness comes before me that reminds me to be in peace despite the things we ought to do.

May is a month of getting ready and appointments too. I'm seeing a professional who could help me cope better with my mental state. I don't typically talk to strangers or someone about how I feel and what's going on. Every time I sit on the chair in the room, I really wish time would speed up and release me. To see the brighter side, talking could help me free myself from this introverted shell and voice out my concerns. On the other hand, I usually panic when someone tries to question me with intimate things. What do I do when I panic? I cry and I hate crying in front of people. I don't mean to worry you but honestly, I've noticed my mind is empty at the moment. I don't feel anything but happiness and love. Although I admit I have concerns, especially about my financial situation, I am more occupied with happiness. I guess I could give our sessions a try. We communicate in my third language so at least I get to practice my language skills.

The sun is shining again against the cold air, I can feel summer coming yet I have not put pressure on myself to fix our second room. It is the calm I've been talking about. I'm making ice coffees instead of planning and organizing but it's okay I'll slowly begin my tasks. My husband and his dad are fixing the backyard with the aim of finishing it just before summer starts. Although I feel so less productive, I know I deserve rest too (for a month).

home changes

Apr 1, 2022

As the new chapter of our lives is getting closer, we have been preparing our home for the changes. We got rid of the unnecessary things we have at home and planned designs for the three rooms. To be honest, my husband and his parents did all the work as I was not very helpful and skillful when it comes to renovations. The only thing I did was probably choose the new wall color and agreed to everything my husband suggested.

The wall colors were kept simple. In our room, we decided to get something closer to gray on the three corners of the room. However, for the middle wall where our bed is leaned against, my husband suggested white patterned panels which were installed by his parents and turned out a beautiful addition to the wall decorations. We are keeping our room as minimal as possible. Basically, it means less furniture and more space. In this way, we are able to relax more and breathe better. My husband and I share the same thoughts when it comes to our home. We like to have space and clarity and I honestly think I'm resting better mentality after the renovation of our bedroom. Although we only finished one of the two rooms, I'm looking forward to the result of the next room.

things to do in march

Mar 15, 2022

Hello there March. I can't believe we are closer to spring now. I'm counting the days when I can finally enjoy the sun and semi-warm weather outside. With spring coming up fast, my to-do list is expanding from spring cleaning to redecorating our home. The month of march started a little bit harsh in our household. We caught the covid virus and fortunately our symptoms were only marked mild. After long days of resting and healing, we recovered well enough together and we are back on our feet.

While we were on our backs resting, I began the list of things I should do during spring. Since we are entering a fresh new start in summer, we would like to purge our home of old clothes and stuff that we basically don't use anymore. My husband began his cleaning just after he recovered from the virus. I'm still taking my time though as usual. Another important note this month is my starting a new internship in an elderly home. It will be a new experience for me and mainly I would need to speak the Finnish language all the time. I'm also considering a change of career goals influenced by the environment, therefore, I will take this internship opportunity to see whether I'll be able to handle working in the care industry.

a to-do list

+ buy storage boxes and bags

+ free up old clothes, bags, and shoes.

+ free lots of space in the house and throw unnecessary things

+ do my best in the internship

+ create a vision board and plan room decoration

+ create a photo album

a list of self-care

Mar 1, 2022

There have been changes in my life that force me to look upon myself and evaluate my present and my future. For the past years, I've been in a constant battle between chasing butterflies and facing reality. I honestly would have preferred to bring clarity in my mind than battling possibilities. Today, I'm choosing peace and this will bring clarity to my life as I venture through my new journey.

I believe that clarity takes effort, focus, and consistency. At least I know this much. The idea of long-due self-care came into my mind as I breathe one moment at a time. These days, sometimes I'm on the verge of crying just because, but I don't let this come between what I deserve, what is coming, and my happiness. In my mind, I have a shortlist of simple self-care which I desire to practice in my daily life. After reading blogs and evaluating my lifestyle, I came up with three simple ideas for self-care that you might enjoy.

FIND A ROUTINE

The best way to begin self-care is to find a routine - an everyday routine, a cleaning routine, or your weekend routine. Something I've been missing all along, well besides going to school every day and taking my nap. There are many benefits to developing a routine including reduction of stress level as well as to better your health. With that being said, finding your routine isn't as easy as it sounds, you will need consistency and commitment with the mix of inspiration. Naturally, for me to find my routine is to evaluate the things I do every day. I also watch videos of lifestyle YouTubers or tiktokers to find inspiration. If you don't have a routine just yet, I think it is better to start with something small so you won't be overwhelmed. For example, I'll start with a weekend routine which may involve cleaning my house and spending time outside until I develop a meaningful routine. Maybe I'll aim for something simpler as long as the goal is to find a routine and practice consistency.

Clean the house twice a week
Deep clean the house once a week
Take care of skin and hair
Do yoga
Wake up and sleep early
Schedule time for walking the dog or taking them to dog park

MIND THE PHYSICAL HEALTH

This category is a huge umbrella. There are many ways to mind your physical health such as exercising. It goes without saying that a healthy body develops a healthier mind. To those who are not physically active (just like me), I suggest as well to start simple. I begin with drinking the daily recommended water intake and make sure I get my 60 minutes of walking exercise every day. These are obvious ways to take care of your physical health but I made a little adjustment based on my lifestyle. When I am not able to walk as much as I should, I would instead do some extra cleaning in the house so my body could move to reach at least close to the target. Another adjustment I made is adding an eye cream to the list of face care and longer warm showers when I don't feel happy with myself. I want to take care of my face and skin better than I did before. I also will prioritize taking naps if my body is tired. I'll unwind by watching a movie or tv-series or playing games. In other words, I'll keep the balance between moving the body and resting everyday.

Drink daily recommended water intake
Walk at least 30 minutes a day (or more)
Spend at least 30 minutes outside enjoying the weather
Sleep in on weekend (preferably Sunday)
Do breathing exercises everyday

FIND CREATIVITY

Ah, my biggest goal this year is to find my creativity. Years ago, whenever I get stuck at home, I found ways to be creative. I used to take photos and edit them, write a blog post, learn graphic design and photoshop, and sometimes learn to tweak blog templates. Creativity is one of the ways to keep your mental health in check. To do something creative relaxes your mind, expresses yourself, and develops your skills. I aim to find my creativity, enhance whatever creative skills I have left, and maybe try to find something new.

Read a book or read more
Take a photo of something (or someone) everyday
Be inspired
Find a project
Try adult coloring
Learn a foreign language (or continue)
Write and blog

Worth the read:

5 simple self-care habits you should try

5 ways I'm taking self-care seriously in 2022

10 ways to upgrade your self-care routine in 2022

the first days of january

Jan 9, 2022

The smell of January creeps in which constantly reminds me that I'll be turning a year older. I used to dismiss the natural phase of growing but these days it's all I could think about. I convince myself to finally make big changes in my life since I'll be older than I was, yet I'm still in denial. I guess I've learned to let things grow naturally in their own time. Three years ago, I would have not been willing to fix my own problems, run my personal errands, or at least show a small amount of independence. Instead, I would have locked myself in the bedroom and waited for someone to sort things out with me. Of all the things I needed to learn, independence is my top priority.

During the holiday season (2021), my parents came to visit from Hongkong. They celebrated Christmas and New Year in Finland for the first time. I believe it was quite a different experience than what they were used to. The holidays in the Philippines are usually noisy and jolly. Here in Finland, we appreciate the quietness of the holidays when we are able to sit with our family or friends and have proper conversations. Finland also had a White Christmas which my mother witnessed. I honestly prefer Christmas filled with snow and cold as it lifts my holiday spirit up.

The firework shows my husband pulls is the best thing I look forward to every New Year's Eve. We gather around the backyard and on an ice rink at the night to watch his firework shows and they are always mesmerizing.

The day after the New Year, my husband planned a short trip to indulge in a holiday spa. We spent two nights in Holiday Club Saimaa where we enjoyed the indoor swimming pool, sauna world, and good food. I was able to relax physically and mentally during the trip. I honestly needed a longer vacation from all the things I had to do last year. But since my class started, I could only inhale a three-day vacation. Worry not because, before the end of the first week, my husband and I had one day free from school and work. He took me and my parents to a winter picnic. We grilled and ate sausages, and my mother enjoyed the winter weather in a frozen lake for the first time. I guess it was a really nice send-off because the next day, they flew to France and my husband traveled to Lapland. For a week, I'll be on my own, I'll take this opportunity to relax and unwind from all the stress I collected last 2021 and welcome 2022 worry-free.

Happy Birthday to me!