This pandemic brings so much anxiety, discomfort and threat not just to our physical but also to our mental and social health. There were times where I felt distracted with other things while doing my task in our work from home setup. It also happens where I do not even want to talk to someone and prefer being alone. I was not motivated to do any physical activities anymore and just slacking in the corner of my room. It was really a daily struggle for me during the past few months of the pandemic.

I think it was on time when a colleague talked to me about this thing languishing. In that article published in The New York Times, they described it as “a sense of stagnation and emptiness. It feels as if you’re muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield. And it might be the dominant emotion of 2021.” I was somehow enlightened by what I read and slowly picked myself up to start regaining my focus and motivation. Slowly, I put myself back on track by trying to balance the things I need to do and things that I love. So here’s what I did.

Books. I started reading again. I cannot actually remember the last time I picked up a book. So I started going through my shelves to select a lineup of books to read. I just realized that I have so many books that I haven’t opened yet which I purchased years ago. And also, I supported a friend who was selling some of his preloved books and took some which I found very interesting.

Physical activities. It is really hard at first but I push myself to do some physical activities. I bought some equipment that I can use at home so I can minimize going out just to exercise. Sometimes, I still do get out to for some sunlight but I make sure I do it in a much less crowded space. Good thing there are little parks and pockets near the place I live.

Gaming. I started playing online games to break my usual and daily routine. It is something that I enjoyed many years ago but neglected when I started working and building my career. There was a thought in my head before that gaming was built for the younger ones. But hey, there’s nothing wrong in doing it again at my age. Recently, I enjoyed playing Spider-Man Mysterio Rush which actually led me back to watching all the Spider-Man movies. Yeah! I am really a fan.

Social Media. I am using it now for practical reasons, connecting with family and friends and entertainment. But this time, I am trying to lessen not-so-important engagements or interactions to give more time to other important things that I love and I find helpful to gain my focus and motivation.