Making the best out of Ms Rona... because staying positive is the way to go
So…because Singapore is on a Circuit Breaker, I guess that’s when I decided to not write anything. It has been such a crazy beginning of the year with Covid-19 cramming all our styles. If this did not happen, I would now actually be writing a piece on how much I love New York as I sip on a shitty cup of venti latte from Starbucks in Madison Avenue.
Ms Rona does not need any introduction to any of you, but the bigger question is, how has the lockdown been affecting you? I’m definitely one of the affected ones. As you know, I’m such a social animal that being isolated with no social interactions actually is annoying. Even working hours feel a lot longer as there is no clear break in the setting of your workplace. That said, I’m not looking at this in a negative light. If there is one thing you should know, I am a glass-half-full kind of guy so I make the best out of every situation, just because.
Besides panic shopping for totally unnecessary things (you’ll know if you follow me on Instagram), here are some conscious actions I make to ensure I continue to stay active and maintain strong mental health:
Keeping a workout routine, even if it’s at home
I’ve lost all those Dad bod and I’m not about to let a virus take that away (or rather give back to me). Keeping fit and healthy has become part and parcel of my personal priority. Despite the lockdown, I’m thankful for a personal trainer who personally follows through your routine and set goals with me. I’m also glad that there is so much online materials including companies like Down Dog that give out free usage during this difficult time. One can continue learning and practising your favorite yoga sessions at your own time, and at your own pace. I also schedule in at least 30 minutes of walks every day around the neighborhood to clock in some steps. More importantly, it’s something you can look forward to that is different from work.
Upping the culinary skills
Frankly, I’ve always enjoyed cooking, and I like eating pretty things. I’m often fascinated by people who can cook and make it aesthetically pleasing. I’ve been watching a lot of Gordon Ramsay and Nigella at the table, obviously. But hey, if you want to do something, do it well, am I right? I’ve signed up for Masterclass and I’ve been following a few healthy chefs on Youtube. So, check out some of these new foods (including some baking!) I’ve been making and testing out compositions and plating.
Breaking the script with close friends
I genuinely missed my friends and the times we can dress up and go out for a great time of food and banter. But who says you can’t do that with your friends, even if it means it goes off script a little. I threw a “Secret Dinner” session with the crew and mandated everyone to dress up. The rule though, I’ve assigned specific people to different friends and the task is to order and deliver food to the other person. Clearly, people were rambling about what the other person will like but give a tad bit of challenge to the process so they’d better work b*tch (queue Britney).
There are a few other things that I’ve embarked on, but that’s a story for another day. I choose to stay grateful and thankful for a homely place I can call home, good friends who deal with my bullshit virtually, and most importantly, health that I can still be sitting here writing this.
I hope you are staying engaged to people around you and keeping yourself busy by picking up a new skill or two. You can emerge out of this with new experiences and skills that will make you a lot more interesting as a person.
