IT HAS been almost a year since the initial announcement of the Metro Manila lockdown due to the pandemic. Although restrictions have eased and some normalcy to people’s lives have returned, it’s easy to feel like life has been wasted being stuck at home doing nothing. However, to an extent, being in quarantine for almost a year has offered a rare opportunity for many to reflect on the meaning of life or even resetting it—including mine.
The hustle culture became a buzz word for many during the first months of lockdown. People were getting in shape, doing all sorts of passion projects, or even trying out the latest trends they’ve seen on TikTok at home. I could not help but feel guilty for wanting to keep up with the same activities and trends. I was drawn to a productivity high every time I realized I have worked throughout dawn and it’s already morning the next day.
It’s easy to overwork because we’re convinced that if we pressure ourselves enough to meet deadlines or work demands, we could fulfill this heroic complex that we can do anything even if it damages us. Until we can’t do it anymore.
When I was first confronted with a physical impairment and was forced to unlearn old habits, it was frustrating to begin with. There were opportunities to decline, projects to postpone, and goals to place on hold. I always liked being busy, but when you’re conditioned to believe that you had to be someone by the age of X, it can be difficult to accept the reality that you cannot rush through life. Many young people are just as addicted to the speed and rush of life as I am. Yet, if it were not for my physical condition, I would still be chasing the next big goal I had in my quarantine to-do list.
The world has become surrounded by a lot of pressure to be successful earlier in life and it can be tempting to give into that. However, we need to start destroying the idea that we have to constantly be working or striving to be something just to find some sort of order or worth.
Instead, we should embrace this mindset that we can do more if we just choose to sleep or practice good habits. When the term self-care was first introduced in 2019, we all assumed it meant doing physical activities to consider ourselves cared for. The reality is, self-care can be just as simple as not doing everything everyone else is doing.
Nothing grandiose has come out of my quarantine, and that’s okay. Embrace the asynchronicity of life and the importance of rest and recovery. We owe it to ourselves that we keep our minds a good place, so if you ever feel like you’ve given into the speed of life, slow down. It doesn’t mean you’re behind everyone else. Sometimes, being unrushed lets you pay attention to the smaller, significant experiences. You’ll realize that in the stillness of life, time never ran out to begin with.
