POST-HOLIDAY MOTIVATIONS

Your alarm goes off. You hit it like a buzzer at a spelling bee. You check the time and date—that’s when you realize: the holidays are officially over and *cue scary music* it’s back to school or work.

Waking up and getting ready early in the morning is already a challenge, especially on the first day back from the holidays. We feel you, which is why we made a list of things to help you get motivated for your first day back.

ALLOWANCE

Whether you’re still in school or not, let’s face it: one of the things we looked forward to as students was our weekly allowance (baon). A long vacation is a double-edged sword: no classes is a huge yay, but that means no allowance, which is a huge nay. Wake up tomorrow and think of your baon. People say don’t do it for the money, but let’s be real— money is good motivation.

CRUSH

Oh, the crush. It would be a huge lie if you never admired someone in school or at work, even just a tiny bit. It helps to be excited to see a specific someone—aside from your friends, of course. After all, a little eye candy never hurt anyone, right?

OFFICE/CLASSROOM

When you’ve worked in a company for quite some time already or have studied in a school for most of your student life, it’s inevitable to develop a sense of familiarity toward the place. Whether it’s your office cubicle or your classroom, a piece of the office or school becomes a safe space or comfort zone. Don’t think of it as going to the office or going to school; rather, think of it as going to your second home. You do spend majority of the week there.

FRIENDS

It’s hard not to feel a bit of “sepanx” (separation anxiety) when we don’t see our classmates or workmates for a good amount of time, especially the ones we consider our barka

da (group of friends). At the workplace, some are lucky to have peers also as good friends. Getting back from the holidays, it’s basically a mini-reunion with your surrogate family.

WORK

Don’t roll your eyes. It is possible to actually miss the work; that is if you truly love school or enjoy what you’re doing for a living. If you do, bless you and your heart—then getting back to the daily grind won’t be so difficult. There is a sense of profound comfort in jotting down notes again or hearing the click-clack of the keyboard while typing.