It is 6:50pm on a Saturday evening and I’m writing this after baking a batch of (very yummy) cinnamon rolls which I call the Eric’s Stay-at-Home Bukkake Buns as it is drizzled with sickening cream cheese glaze that resembles a result of its namesake, a bukkake.
I was given the 5-day stay-home notice (SHN) by the doctor as I developed a mild sore throat and that would mean that I will be self-quarantined at home for the next few days to monitor my health and be a socially responsible person. I may or may not be a hypochondriac.
I find that it’s important to avoid situations where one can be an asymptomatic carrier and spread the virus unknowingly. Furthermore, this opportunity allows me to slow down and be more in tuned with my body and aware of my surroundings; something that I have been neglecting lately because of the demands from work.
While it is distressing having the world come to a standstill due to this global pandemic, it is also actually quite calming for me. As I have observed in the last few days working from home, the air feels fresher, birds are chirpier, and everything seems to have started slowing down to a pace that I really enjoy. I LOVE IT. Most importantly, limiting my contact with people recently has made life more enjoyable.
Being out of action means for me to cancel non-essential social obligations and say ‘no’ to experiences that do not serve me, effectively stripping away the bells and whistles of a so-called balanced modern life. Thinking of all the money that I can save from midweek drinks, TGIF drinks, Saturday dinners and drinks, Sunday brunches… I’m grateful to just stay TF home and vegetate. The FOMO in me has officially left the building!
I’m just glad that it only took a stay-home notice and not a life-threatening situation to help me realise that it is possible to take charge of my life and prioritise rest and self-care amongst everything. Being 6 years in business, I kind of grew a nose for detecting bullshit, yet time again I’m always sucked in by the allure of networking “opportunities” and “possible synergies” that I often get myself burned out from leads that go nowhere. This stay-home-notice forces me to focus on the essentials and say no to other distractions.
That said, I’m grateful for the resources that I have to keep life going as usual despite the minor inconveniences while working from home. Thanks to the internet and the nature of my business, I’m still connected with pals and able to get shit done fairly productively.
Cheers to SHN, and many more work-from-homes to come. To my freelancer/business owner friends struggling at this period, keep your chin up, tough times don’t last!
If you are curious with what keeps me occupied during my SHN, here’s what I have been up to with the help of internet. Will add on to the list as days go by.
Workout stuff because my gym is closed till May :(
Power Yoga with Alo Yoga
Deepend & Flow — Yoga with Adriene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKUNOvgM0Y4
A friend recommended this 30 days of Yoga which I have yet to try; looks pretty neat if we want to cultivate an on-going practice.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLui6Eyny-UzzFFfpiil94CUrWKVMaqmkm
Baking stuff if you feeling Stay-home Mom fantasy
Here are some recipes that I have tried and pulled off from my favourite youtube baking tutorial channel, CupcakeJemma. Redmart to the rescue or if you have a willing family member who would trade their time shopping for an unfortunate quarantine case for yummy baked goods. Although I’m not sure food prepared by a quarantine case is safe for consumption.
A fail-proof lemon drizzle pound cake is my go-to recipe for the baking noob with not much time in a day.
Tried and tested red-velvet cupcake recipe for the more advanced home baker, and also quite fuss-free in terms of acquiring ingredients.
If you are feeling confident in your baking skills and have a full afternoon, try this Cinnamon Rolls recipe. Bake them in a few batches and you can have soft sweet bukkake buns every morning and tea-time till your Stay-home Notice is up.
Some Netflix/Youtube content
The Platform
Bojack Horseman
Greatest Events of WW2 in Colour
Seven Years in Tibet (Currently watching. Young Brad Pitt hmm hmm)
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Yitiao Series on Youtube
