I woke up with my usual alarm clock, my Princess Tara. This time her meows were more urgent and I knew she was very hungry. True enough, the moment I opened her breakfast, she was lapping it like there’s no tomorrow. Poor girl. I hope she doesn’t become a glutton.
My work morning started slower. I guess folks are more relaxed after a weekend being sheltered in place. Millions of us who are still lucky to have a job are less stressed for a Monday for a change! No morning commute traffic to worry about. Just the ‘commute’ from the bedroom to some private space within four walls a few steps away.
It’s a been couple of weeks. I have been relatively adjusted. Yesterday, I was able to bring myself to go for a walk and that felt good. I also posted the #Masks4All video in our NextDoor neighborhood community bulletin and a lot of people are now mobilized and making some masks for donation! I’m so happy. It’s a community effort. There’s plenty of people who want to do something to help but they don’t know how. This one resonated with a lot of women, specially those who are retired and have a sewing machine at home. They feel a sense of belonging and a sense of accomplishment at the same time. I totally get it and I’m heartened by the response. There’s hope in humanity. THANK YOU!
Though I’m happy for this development, I’m saddened by the announcement by Macy’s furloughing 130,000 of its workforce nationwide. That’s a lot of people finding themselves unemployed overnight. Then, I also read an article breaking down the $1,200 per person that the US government is sending directly to those who are earning $75,000 or less annually, and it made me even more sad. A one-time aid is a lifeline but it’s not even enough for an individual living alone in major cities like San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles.
Lesson here – I have always been a planner and after the 2008 recession, and seeing a lot of people suffer financially, I promised myself that I will always save money to ensure I have something to draw from in case of a major emergency or in case another recession hit. My target is to always have cash in the bank equivalent to six months of my monthly salary. It’s a good cushion to have. If you are able to save more, the better. I know some of you may say you live paycheck to paycheck but if you plan accordingly, you can slowly siphon off some amount out of your paycheck for the rainy day. It may be a small amount monthly but it’s a good start. Best way to do this is to sign up for a 401K if your employer offers one. You don’t even need to think about it anymore because it’s automatically deducted from your salary. Plus if your employer is offering a match, why leave the money on the table? Having a budget to begin with works and also watching your spending habits is paramount. A lot of us get conditioned or subliminally influenced to buy things we don’t really need. Maybe it’s time for you to change that spending habit? One of the things to do differently post-CoVid19?
Between work and daily news, I forgot to check what was happening in the stock market. I was happy to note that the market is up today despite more cases of CoVid19 being announced in the US. Goes to show that folks don’t know what they’re doing in these uncertain times. Or more folks are willing to take more risks hoping their actions will pay off. Millennials maybe betting more for their future? Again if you’re a Gen X’er, do nothing for now.
Had a few conference calls today. I don’t know about you but I always felt that next to meeting face-to-face, the best way to get constructive results is through video or conference calls. Emails are ok but not the greatest way to accomplish results. Text or social app messages are even worst. Pick up the phone more often during these times! This is your moment to socialize. Stop hiding behind those emails.
For the last few days, I have started calling it a day at 5 pm. Unfortunately, much as I try to be more disciplined with taking breaks from work, I still forget the time. I get engrossed with what I’m doing and with no colleague to banter with or to invite me to go out for lunch, I forget! Hubby is working in another room and believe it or not, we don’t see each other during the day. Probably a good thing. We give each other space to concentrate on our individual work loads during “office hours.”
I was feeling closed in so I decided to take a walk. I needed some time to also think about a strategic initiative I’m planning for work. I think better on my feet and getting fresh air always helps me think creatively.
When I got back home, one of my Amazon orders arrived. I ordered a couple of glass bottle sprays since I wanted to start making my own surface disinfectant instead of using the commercial wipes from Lysol or Clorox. I realized that those wipes are not too environmentally-friendly plus they are now hard to come by. Very simple ingredient list which I found online – 1.5 cups of water, 1/4 cup Isopropyl alcohol and 4 drops of liquid soap. Mix/stir together and place in the spray bottle. Voila – a disinfectant spray for your home! I use my absorbent kitchen cloth from Trader Joe’s to wipe surfaces instead of paper towel. Again, just being mindful of using less paper. I wash the cloth with soap and water after my nightly disinfecting routine and let it dry overnight.
When I get the aloe vera gel I ordered online, I will also start making hand sanitizers for us. No more worrying about where to get one or paying jacked up prices online from hoarders trying to take advantage of the situation. Some people!
This CoVid19 will surely change how we behave and consume. I’m already starting to do DIY projects and I feel I’m making progress.
What behavior are you planning to change post-CoVid19?
