 konnichiwa~
Hello there & welcome to my blog. Here you'll read tidbits about my daily life, some random thoughts, & maybe a rant here and there. I'm sure you'll learn something about me, if you don't know me of course. Down below are links to find me (personal accounts not posted). I hope you enjoyed your stay while listening to the songs I'm recently listening to. Come back & read again~ ^w^/
find me:
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In a world of too much.
written on Friday, April 19, 2019 @ 7:48 PM ✈
A while back I checked out a few books from the library because I wanted to get back into reading, back into the days when I could go into another world. I ended up being so busy that I didn't have time for those books and ended up returning them. I did flip through this book, How to Thrive in a World of Too Much Busy by Tony Crabbe, and I couldn't bear to return it already, so I kept it. I finally started reading it. And what he says in the preface really resonates with me. I actually had quite a few things I would've liked to summarize here, but I kept reading and now there's too much I want to say haha so if you want to know the full story, pick up the book ;)
We are never not busy. We are always doing something. Our brain is always running, whether it be scrolling social media, or just worrying about what's due.
Something interesting so far was our solution to being so busy is time management. Can you believe that's actually the wrong approach? The "better" we manage time the "more time" for more things. Inherently, humans want to fill something that's empty, like an empty room. So when we have empty spaces on our calendar, we want to fill it with more activities, more tasks.
Stress isn't bad for us, in itself. However, for many of us, our sense of being overwhelmed causes us to push ourselves to superhuman feats of persistence and production. To get through all we have to do, we fuel ourselves with stress (and caffeine). We push, push, push ourselves to stay busy.
I have to say, I'm quite guilty of that. Because we're constantly working, we don't let our brains and bodies rest, we cause something called an "allostatic load"--> accelerated wear and tear on the body and brain, as defined by Crabbe. He mentions that in Japan, that is called karoshi, which means "death from overwork." He continues to explain that karoshi happens when "chronic fatigue, stemming from long hours and persistent stress, lead otherwise healthy young adults to drop down dead from a stroke or heart attack." That is all too familiar with how many stories of mangakas collapsing surface, whether in news or stories.
I'll end this quick preview of the book with him saying that the Industrial Revolution and the advancement of technology have increased the "busyness" that happens in society. It's not something that society will turn back. No corporation will tell you "slow down and relax." That's just not going to happen, so we have to work around it. Some solutions that he mentions are making the difficult choices, engaging, and focusing attention.
Oh, and the last thing. Smile.
Busy is not just a fact, it's also an experience. We get into spirals of activity; we feel under pressure, so we rush, which makes us feel under pressure... The final quick fix is simple: don't take it all too seriously! Wear your life more lightly.
Why don't you smile instead? Smiling is good for you: it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and releases endorphins... a single smile stimulates the brain as much as two thousand chocolate bars, or as much as receiving over twenty thousand dollars. People think you are more competent and remember you better when you smile.
No matter how much stuff you have to do, you don't have to take it all so seriously! You may feel less busy if you smile. ☺.
I may or may not continue writing what I end up learning in this book, but so far, it's a good read ^^Labels: book review
Overflow
written on Sunday, April 14, 2019 @ 11:16 PM ✈
Had a lot of fun this weekend + being busy with the online class, but I got sick.
Not sure if it's just the leftovers of allergies, but not feeling well. Heavy. Headache. Stuffy nose.
Anyway, my sisters and I went to eat our grandparents'. Afterward, Jim went out with Nancy, Jen & Jo went to T4. I didn't go to T4 because I was feeling really heavy, so they dropped me off home to take a nap. I ate medicine and video called Robin. When he picked up, I just started crying.
I don't know why I was crying. Was it just all the stress finally hitting me? (But what would I be stressed about?) It wasn't even my usual tears falling, sniffling I-miss-him crying; it was straight up, I was bawling (contained, though), like I had all this pent up feeling released because I was finally "letting go." Or, I just was so sick I didn't have self-control over my emotions LOL or was it just the medicine?
Anyway, got back to SJ and did my quiz that I forgot to do.
Nose still stuffy even after Claritin. Starting to feel heavy and a headache coming on, so time to K.O. for the night.
Stressed again, what's new.
written on Monday, April 8, 2019 @ 8:22 PM ✈
So I realized just how much work I have to do this week, and how much is going on.
I don't have much to do; just the things I have to do take a bajillion years to finish. I've been cutting out so much of, like, eating time so yesterday and today, I started trembling at some point. Or more prone to trembling, woops. I know I'm all about self-care and everything, but even I will struggle to relax and make time to care for myself. Trying not to stress too much is also difficult.
As far as I see, I would be able to relax/reset after Wednesday. HNG.
RESET
written on Sunday, April 7, 2019 @ 2:39 PM ✈
Time for a little reset.
Not gonna lie, going to Irvine over spring break screwed me over. Sorta.
I have so much to do--not saying I won't get them done-- but I would have had some extra resting time to end the spring break. Instead, I'm rushing a couple different assignments at once. I just finished up an essay due Tuesday, so I don't stress about that, though I already know my way of prioritizing assignments is odd LOL Like, I do things that are due a little later, instead of doing ones that are due, say, tomorrow. Woops. But finishing that essay plus making my bed and doing the dishes and laundry made me feel really good about the day, and just overall productive.
A few tips to productivity!
- Use a calendar for due dates/events. Use a memo pad/sticky notes, notes/stickies on laptop/phone for lists/to-do/notes/reminders.
- Make a list of assignments due & note which ones are priority (or due soon) OR
- Make another list to plan in what order you will do the assignments.
- Before you start an assignment, write down the steps you'll do, if any. You can also do it for all your assignments, but it might feel overwhelming!
- Do you have chores to do as well? Sprinkle them in between your homework assignments if possible.
- Don't forget to schedule in breaks and breakfast/lunch/dinner. Get up and stretch!
- Overall, do your assignments in chunks/over time :)
For your lists, you can also include time-frames if they help you~
Self-care is also important~ Eat, sleep, hygiene/skin routines, drink water etc. Exercise or quick stretches too~ Sleep early, wake up early. Just get enough sleep ;)
This video is about waking up early, but her tips on making a routine rings true: Make a rough routine; not too rigid! And don't let the idea that you didn't strictly follow your routine make you guilty and stuff. Make it flexible and adjust accordingly.
Making my bed made me want to start cleaning up but I know I can't be using my time to clean up when I have assignments. Also, I'm moving out soon so we'll save organizing/cleaning for the new place ;) Did I also mention I'm trying to start doing make-up LOL though I haven't had time to practice/I'm refusing to actually start x'D I will though, I will...
Ah, I've also fallen through my gym routine for like two weeks because Robin was here and then I went to Irvine, but time to start going back to the gym again!
Well, those tips are just a reminder to myself. I overwhelm myself with a lot of tasks, and sometimes I forget what I need to do too. On top of school and work, I took on helping "Kaeru" and now my online class is also starting soon. I really need to do be on top of my shizz.
Side note. I just finished eating my green tea Castella cake and I'm sad that someone chipped my "What's wrong" bulldog plate from Daiso :(
Spring break is over
written on Friday, April 5, 2019 @ 7:24 PM ✈
Spring break came and went. I spent spring break in Irvine, and it felt like nothing. I had to come back to SJ for work. A lot of (home)work to do; I did work for "Kaeru" instead of my homework ^^; I just flew back in this morning, then went to work and I am so sleepy right now. I don't even want to work aiyah. My eyes hurt.
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In a world of too much.
written on Friday, April 19, 2019 @ 7:48 PM ✈
A while back I checked out a few books from the library because I wanted to get back into reading, back into the days when I could go into another world. I ended up being so busy that I didn't have time for those books and ended up returning them. I did flip through this book, How to Thrive in a World of Too Much Busy by Tony Crabbe, and I couldn't bear to return it already, so I kept it. I finally started reading it. And what he says in the preface really resonates with me. I actually had quite a few things I would've liked to summarize here, but I kept reading and now there's too much I want to say haha so if you want to know the full story, pick up the book ;)
We are never not busy. We are always doing something. Our brain is always running, whether it be scrolling social media, or just worrying about what's due.
Something interesting so far was our solution to being so busy is time management. Can you believe that's actually the wrong approach? The "better" we manage time the "more time" for more things. Inherently, humans want to fill something that's empty, like an empty room. So when we have empty spaces on our calendar, we want to fill it with more activities, more tasks.
Stress isn't bad for us, in itself. However, for many of us, our sense of being overwhelmed causes us to push ourselves to superhuman feats of persistence and production. To get through all we have to do, we fuel ourselves with stress (and caffeine). We push, push, push ourselves to stay busy.
I have to say, I'm quite guilty of that. Because we're constantly working, we don't let our brains and bodies rest, we cause something called an "allostatic load"--> accelerated wear and tear on the body and brain, as defined by Crabbe. He mentions that in Japan, that is called karoshi, which means "death from overwork." He continues to explain that karoshi happens when "chronic fatigue, stemming from long hours and persistent stress, lead otherwise healthy young adults to drop down dead from a stroke or heart attack." That is all too familiar with how many stories of mangakas collapsing surface, whether in news or stories.
I'll end this quick preview of the book with him saying that the Industrial Revolution and the advancement of technology have increased the "busyness" that happens in society. It's not something that society will turn back. No corporation will tell you "slow down and relax." That's just not going to happen, so we have to work around it. Some solutions that he mentions are making the difficult choices, engaging, and focusing attention.
Oh, and the last thing. Smile.
Busy is not just a fact, it's also an experience. We get into spirals of activity; we feel under pressure, so we rush, which makes us feel under pressure... The final quick fix is simple: don't take it all too seriously! Wear your life more lightly.
Why don't you smile instead? Smiling is good for you: it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and releases endorphins... a single smile stimulates the brain as much as two thousand chocolate bars, or as much as receiving over twenty thousand dollars. People think you are more competent and remember you better when you smile.
No matter how much stuff you have to do, you don't have to take it all so seriously! You may feel less busy if you smile. ☺.
I may or may not continue writing what I end up learning in this book, but so far, it's a good read ^^Labels: book review
Overflow
written on Sunday, April 14, 2019 @ 11:16 PM ✈
Had a lot of fun this weekend + being busy with the online class, but I got sick.
Not sure if it's just the leftovers of allergies, but not feeling well. Heavy. Headache. Stuffy nose.
Anyway, my sisters and I went to eat our grandparents'. Afterward, Jim went out with Nancy, Jen & Jo went to T4. I didn't go to T4 because I was feeling really heavy, so they dropped me off home to take a nap. I ate medicine and video called Robin. When he picked up, I just started crying.
I don't know why I was crying. Was it just all the stress finally hitting me? (But what would I be stressed about?) It wasn't even my usual tears falling, sniffling I-miss-him crying; it was straight up, I was bawling (contained, though), like I had all this pent up feeling released because I was finally "letting go." Or, I just was so sick I didn't have self-control over my emotions LOL or was it just the medicine?
Anyway, got back to SJ and did my quiz that I forgot to do.
Nose still stuffy even after Claritin. Starting to feel heavy and a headache coming on, so time to K.O. for the night.
Stressed again, what's new.
written on Monday, April 8, 2019 @ 8:22 PM ✈
So I realized just how much work I have to do this week, and how much is going on.
I don't have much to do; just the things I have to do take a bajillion years to finish. I've been cutting out so much of, like, eating time so yesterday and today, I started trembling at some point. Or more prone to trembling, woops. I know I'm all about self-care and everything, but even I will struggle to relax and make time to care for myself. Trying not to stress too much is also difficult.
As far as I see, I would be able to relax/reset after Wednesday. HNG.
RESET
written on Sunday, April 7, 2019 @ 2:39 PM ✈
Time for a little reset.
Not gonna lie, going to Irvine over spring break screwed me over. Sorta.
I have so much to do--not saying I won't get them done-- but I would have had some extra resting time to end the spring break. Instead, I'm rushing a couple different assignments at once. I just finished up an essay due Tuesday, so I don't stress about that, though I already know my way of prioritizing assignments is odd LOL Like, I do things that are due a little later, instead of doing ones that are due, say, tomorrow. Woops. But finishing that essay plus making my bed and doing the dishes and laundry made me feel really good about the day, and just overall productive.
A few tips to productivity!
- Use a calendar for due dates/events. Use a memo pad/sticky notes, notes/stickies on laptop/phone for lists/to-do/notes/reminders.
- Make a list of assignments due & note which ones are priority (or due soon) OR
- Make another list to plan in what order you will do the assignments.
- Before you start an assignment, write down the steps you'll do, if any. You can also do it for all your assignments, but it might feel overwhelming!
- Do you have chores to do as well? Sprinkle them in between your homework assignments if possible.
- Don't forget to schedule in breaks and breakfast/lunch/dinner. Get up and stretch!
- Overall, do your assignments in chunks/over time :)
For your lists, you can also include time-frames if they help you~
Self-care is also important~ Eat, sleep, hygiene/skin routines, drink water etc. Exercise or quick stretches too~ Sleep early, wake up early. Just get enough sleep ;)
This video is about waking up early, but her tips on making a routine rings true: Make a rough routine; not too rigid! And don't let the idea that you didn't strictly follow your routine make you guilty and stuff. Make it flexible and adjust accordingly.
Making my bed made me want to start cleaning up but I know I can't be using my time to clean up when I have assignments. Also, I'm moving out soon so we'll save organizing/cleaning for the new place ;) Did I also mention I'm trying to start doing make-up LOL though I haven't had time to practice/I'm refusing to actually start x'D I will though, I will...
Ah, I've also fallen through my gym routine for like two weeks because Robin was here and then I went to Irvine, but time to start going back to the gym again!
Well, those tips are just a reminder to myself. I overwhelm myself with a lot of tasks, and sometimes I forget what I need to do too. On top of school and work, I took on helping "Kaeru" and now my online class is also starting soon. I really need to do be on top of my shizz.
Side note. I just finished eating my green tea Castella cake and I'm sad that someone chipped my "What's wrong" bulldog plate from Daiso :(
Spring break is over
written on Friday, April 5, 2019 @ 7:24 PM ✈
Spring break came and went. I spent spring break in Irvine, and it felt like nothing. I had to come back to SJ for work. A lot of (home)work to do; I did work for "Kaeru" instead of my homework ^^; I just flew back in this morning, then went to work and I am so sleepy right now. I don't even want to work aiyah. My eyes hurt.
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we live under the same sky
“To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment; who make all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.”
- James Allen Quotes
Sometimes I wonder how people see me and what they think of me. It scares me a bit, honestly. I am sure though, that what they think of me,
what they think my life is, is a complete misperception. I have always tried to show myself as a carefree person, as someone who wont get bothered
because of public judgements. I am sure my friend and family think there is nothing going wrong in my life, that I do not worry enough, that
I am always happy. And I am sure they probably somewhat hate me for it because, lets admit it, there is nothing worse than seeing someone
whose life seems so perfect while yours is a complete mess. Truth is, I have become an expert at pretending. I think we are all experts
or at least we are getting there.
I kept the image on the left bc it was kawaii-ne~ & this above bc I really liked what the creator wrote ^^
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: afeeqah azhar, 19 march, malaysian .
: hidenobu suzuki, + follow