How to Spend Leisure Hours Productively

There is no question that we get effing busy once in a while but for sure, upon tidying up one’s schedule, there is always space for leisure. As unique as people are, there are a lot of options to choose from on where we are to put our remaining time and energy either for mere pleasure or personal growth. For the past few months, here are the few things I've involved with to remedy boredom and break life’s monotony.

May and June readings.

Reading books (always). When I was a student, I vowed to graduate on time so I could work and have additional hours for my reading. However, the reverse happened. I have less time for reading because I have paper works to finish and places to travel in relation to my job. Unlike when I was still a student waiting for allowance to be wired and could skip class in exchange of a gripping book, now I am earning my own dough and cannot merely say I got to pass work for a good book. I see to it though that I am able to finish 2-3 books a month to feed my brain cells.

The alphabet.

Taking a language class. It has always been my dream to learn a foreign tongue. It is also one way of meeting new people.  There are various institutions offering foreign language lessons in Metro Manila like  Alliance Française de Manille , The Bridge, and International Language Academy Manila. There are also universities that offer foreign language classes one of which is University of Philippines-Diliman. Their Department of European Languages offers extramural language courses. Other department also offers classes in Asian languages. As I have nothing much to do on Saturdays, I decided to take a three-hour session of French. 

Toastmasters busy evaluating speeches.

Attending Toastmasters. If you want to improve your leadership and public speaking skills the fun way, then I guess, you should try visiting Toastmasters meetings. There is certainly a toastmasters club in your area where you can club hop! Here you will meet seasoned speakers who are willing to mentor and give encouraging comments on how you could improve to be a better speaker. Members came from different backgrounds and fields of expertise.

My Top 10 Travel Essentials

Travelling light and easy.

A hand-carry bag, a backpack, and a pouch—you could see me balancing all the baggage whenever I travel even just overnight. I have this disease of bringing my entire wardrobe for a two-day affair or drag a stroller if it takes three days or a week. Traveling light is an art and for me it took time to learn. Now, whenever I pack, I ask the basic question, “Do I really need this?” For a week of travel, I am now proud to say I can survive with putting all my stuff in a middle sized backpack. Here are my top 10 travel essentials.

1.    Backpack. A comfortable and durable one with a laptop compartment. My Swiss backpack has served me well for years. I choose one with a laptop compartment as it is convenient and safe for me. It spares me the hassle of hanging my laptop bag separately.

2.   Flexible pair of shoes. I choose a pair of leather booties when I travel for trainings and any others. It is always ready to go and can carry different looks. Pair it with a long sleeve and jeans and you’ll have a semi formal look. Pair it with shorts and  sleeveless and you are ready to go for an afternoon stroll.

3.   Wardrobe essentials.  Clothes made from light materials like cotton are preferable as they are fold-able to the minimum size without the dire need for pressing. Jeans, jogging pants, shorts, t-shirt, a dress, one nighties, and lots of undies.

4.   Toiletries.  In a mini handbag, I see to it that all of my basic stuff like toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, shampoo, mouthwash, lotions, etc., are all in. I keep a mini size of all those to save space.

5.   Water. This has not been on top of my list until lately. Unexpected things might happen along the way and water is the safest stuff you could take to keep you alive.

6.   Headset. As a music fanatic, a headset is not a want but a need. Duhh, imagine a 24-hour bus ride or a delayed flight without anything that is preferable to you playing.

7.   Book. Sure, there are ebooks ubiquitously available with the invention of Android phones or you can read them straight from the desktop. But I am an orthodox lass who likes to flip pages once in a while and who is obsessed of book scent.

8.   Scarf. It is always multi-purpose. Scarves can serve as your blanket or towel, if needed. It is also a great way to travel in style without bringing too much.

9.   Good sunnies. The heat of the sun and wind might irritate your eyes. With neuralgia striking once in a while which makes me abhor glares, I could say sunglasses are functional fashion.

10. Slippers. I have a pair tucked on the side pocket of my backpack just in case I need them.


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What I Hate About Boredom...

What I hate about boredom is that it fancies a lot to bring your sanity at the brink. Sure thing, there are a million and one ways to remedy it, but the playful universe once in a while purposely brushed one’s emotion to remind you of your imperfections. I know this shall pass. It’s gonna be okay, but at the juncture no books, no booze, and no band can save me. It is exhausting to keep on running away only to find yourself at the very same spot you are supposed to escape…

Lakbay Albay: Peak Perfect!

Tale is true. Peak perfect! Mt. Mayon is definitely enchanting casting all the bloody curses I've thrown for the 13-hour eternity-like butt numbing bus ride from Manila to Legaspi City. Above is the view from where I stayed. It only dawned unto me after a couple of minutes staring outside the window. My timing wass a bit unfortunate for as I went closer the fog, clouds, and whatever that is became crazy. But what the heck, I traveled far so why not manage to raise two thumbs up. Ha! Ha!

Anyway don't forget to check out La Piazza Hotel's minced pork with eggplant in hot sauce. Superbly spicy. Awesomely yummy. Well, just try it. Maybe I was just too hungry ending up with a bias review. Yay! As twilight approaches, you could stroll at Embarcadero and have dinner there. It's some sort of a mall fronting the sea with an array of restaurants and food chains. Reminded me of MOA actually.

As the night goes deeper, walk just around the city and alert those gimmick seeking ears. Along the streets are bars fair enough to offer you tequila 3x more expensive from the original price. Just few gulps and I was on the dance floor with the band--headbanging, jumping to the beat, losing myself.

Brewing Boredom

Random thoughts from the desk of a creature bathed in boredom…

If life is a choice, where then are the options? If there could be any, I would say such options are limited. As limited as only choosing between A and B when C is supposed to be part of it.

As in the penning of these incoherent rants, I wonder how prawns give me hyper-acidity  Or why coffee lightens up everything, or what book am I suppose to read next. Keep reading? You might be as bored as me. Hey, it’s cool to know I am not alone here, buddy!

It is just 22: 34 and everyone is deep slumber, drowned to their own dreams. I am tempted to do the same but the milk I chugged did not do its job. I am still pretty much awake littering someone else’s thought. I guess a shot of gin and tonic or whiskey will doze me off, bother to be a company?

It just hit me then to check out what I did productive today.  Well maybe aside from oversleeping that left me a bad headache, I did also call my mom which I only do when there is something wrong. Tick-tock! I passed the day with just that? Hmmp, would you consider it productive to have a new playlist? My deepest apology, Youtube, a kiddie just ripped off the play button. I might also convince myself that I got a fulfilled Saturday because I'm finally done with What Einstein Told His Barber. Wait, what did he tell the barber? That I was such a lazy bone today, passing even meals because I feel so idle to drag myself out from bed. 

Still there? Did you ever realize how it means to me to talk to you? Self-talk can be a crazy habit sometimes and it still puzzles me how I get to live those days when I need to deal with people.  Promise I’d be ranting no more…