MICHELLE ROBLES-DE CASTRO
VP for advertising, Sta. Lucia Land Inc.
During the first few weeks of quarantine, I knew that this was the only time when I can clean, edit and reorganize our space so I made sure to make the most out of it by creating different sections of our home to fit our new routine.
I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, so being with them at home all the time can more likely make the household quite chaotic. My husband and I decided to transform our entire living room into a huge playpen so they can scoot, slide, run, dance and bounce around while we do our own thing. Basically, it’s a place where they can use up their extra energy so we can all be at peace .
Adjacent to our living room is our lanai which we recently transformed into our home gym. Even before the lockdown, it has been a habit of us to work out together at least once or twice a week—this has been our way of enjoying each other’s company instead of the usual date nights. This area is where we usually goof around and bond with each other while we watch our kids play.
Another space where I spend most of the time is my walk-in closet that I turned into my bike studio. I make it a point that I start my day with a good cardio workout by attending my Spinning and Hiit classes online. Before starting, I make sure to pump up the speakers, turn on the essential oil humidifier and disco party lights so that it would make me feel as if I’m partying inside the studio when it’s just really in a small cramped space. This space can also be used as a home office whenever I need to work at home. The room has just the right amount of sunlight and a solid internet connection to make it a perfect place for Zoom meetings or calls for work. Since my kids are well aware that it’s Mommy’s sanctuary, they usually don’t enter this space unless they really need me.
My room has always been my sanctuary even before the crisis. I have everything I need in it for work and for relaxation. Since the quarantine happened, I just added a small set up with a work desk and chair to keep me productive whenever I need to work from home. It’s also convenient since amid the challenges of the crisis while working, I can easily have access to my TV to unwind or get news updates, or take a break in my bedroom to recharge.