By: Judy Ann Casas
It was March 8, 2020 when President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 922 that put the Philippines under ECQ or Enhanced Community Quarantine due to the COVID-19 threat in the Philippines. Tourists were banned from getting in and getting out of the country. Some businesses were momentarily put on hold while some signed bankruptcy; awaited events were either canceled or postponed; and all movements were monitored and quarantine passes were issued.
More than a month since the first announcement was made and we still couldn’t see a clear end to this. The news that is coming in is a mixture of good and bad, but as Gary Vaynerchuk says “Positivity always wins, always.” So let us try to find positive aspects in our situation like looking forward to better days.
Here are 5 Ideas on what I will plan to do after quarantine
- Every week, I will do one extracurricular activity
It may just be a simple swim in the pool, a basketball game at the court or a one mile run around the Camella Community, but the idea of freedom and being outside is sweet after its momentary prohibition.
- Appreciate the importance of gardening in small spaces
While working at home, I saw the importance of gardening. Not only did it keep me busy but it also fueled me to have a more nutritional diet. It is also through gardening that I was able to save money since most of my needed ingredients are just in the backyard.
- I will learn to cook my food for less but with style.
Cooking was never my forte, especially frying. But I enjoy eating delicious food and I would like to prepare such, and now that I have learned how to plant my vegetables I am able to cook my favorite dish which is not only flavorful but also healthy. There is more in culinary arts beyond frying and I am excited and look forward to learning more of them.
- From Time to Time, I will organize my things
It took me a while before I decided to get serious in getting organized and this was when my family made me host an event and we needed a simple emergency tool kit that I ended up buying, only to figure out a few days later that I have an identical tool kit lying around the house. The good thing is we now have two emergency tool kits. The bad thing was that I made an unnecessary spending mistake. Lesson learned: organize and make an inventory.
Whether you’re inherently an organized person or not, there will be a point in your life when you’re going to have to clean up. It is not an easy task but it sure is a rewarding one.
- Practice and Improve Physical Hygiene regularly
The current COVID-19 threat has brought a lot of focus on good physical hygiene, specifically on how important it is in keeping yourself and the people around you healthy. I, personally, have noticed areas in which I could be stricter about how I keep myself clean. Hygiene isn’t only a great personal practice but it is also a beneficial cultural practice since countries with high standards in cleanliness are observed to be less susceptible to sickness outbreaks.
While we may be confined inside our houses during this pandemic, it should not stop us from looking for things we can improve in ourselves and our surroundings. Keep yourself and your family safe!
