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What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?
“Our home is our solace.”
It is what I tell my significant other. Which is true. Thankfully, we both share a mutual interest in converting our home to be as comfy as possible as we enjoy each other’s company as well as spending more time at home as we are both are rather busy during the day and most of the time, we only having time for each other at night before sleeping.
I’m not married yet nor am I cohabitating with him. That would deem impossible at the moment since we are almost 1000km away from each other despite being in the same country. Prior to us being in a relationship, I have always imagined my home as a solace, a place I seek rest, comfort and unwind after work. A place I find peace.
Being a House Officer, it is a physically demanding job in addition to learning on the job, completing the active joblists for the day and sometimes, not that we want to but in order to make our workflow smoother, we have to take care of everybody’s temper and mood, especially our superiors.
Thus, all these cumulative efforts with lack of sleep eventually leads to burn out, fatigue and sometimes even sickness.
However, albeit it being temporary, we still need to go about it everyday and carry on strong and care for others to the best of our abilities.
So, how do I go about it?
1. Keeping the place neat and tidy.
I’m not exactly a “clean” person. I merely go about my weekly toilet and shower cleaning and mopping. However, I am particular about vacuuming everyday.
For such a small studio unit, it doesn’t require much energy.
The reason behind this is, my hair falls a lot and though I have vacuumed earlier, the moment I wash my hair and dry it, there goes a number of strands on the floor and before you know it, dust accumulates as well as debris.
Hence, I simply like my floor clear, it clears my mind.
2. Making my bed everyday
This is another simple thing I do upon waking up which I’m sure we all do since kids.
The moment I am up from bed and prior to starting my day, I make up my bed by pulling the sheets to cover the bed before tucking it beneath the pillows.
It gives the room a pleasing view and a pleasing view calms my mind especially after returning home from work.
3. Eating home-cooked food
Nothing beats the joy and comfort of a deliciously home cooked food even if it is a simple one.
Plus, you save money too.
I would love to cook everyday. However, considering my schedule as a House Officer, that would deem time consuming.
Thus, I would cook during my off days and meal prep for the week.
Cooking is another activity that I love to do. Hence, upon returning from work, I would heat up my meal on the pan or wok and head of to shower before allowing myself to indulge in a hot meal.
4. Lovely scents
Scents affect the aura and atmosphere of the room and I am a big fan of it.
Back in university, I used to burn scented candles especially prior to enjoying a hot bathe and returning to a cold room and coating myself with scented lotions.
However, over here I am quite reluctant to burn scented candles even if I do like it for the fear I might burn the house down amidst my tiredness.
After all, I had a few incidents where I accidentally fall asleep with the fire stove lit while boiling water or cooking. Thankfully, no mortalities or further destructions.
Thus, I would treat myself to scented lotions and spraying my pillowcase with perfume and the room with a lovely air spray.
5. Soft, thick blankets with lots of pillow
In addition to returning home to a clean environment which smells good and the bed made with good food, the thought returning home to a comfortable bed for rest after a hard day’s work is just a blessing.
Since I was a kid, I’ve always been drawn to thick blankets and soft thick mattresses. I used to sleep with my stuffed toys, they kept me company while I was lonely.
I felt comforted.
Upon starting my housemanship journey in Kuching, Sarawak, I did not bring them over as they would only serve as unnecessary baggage.
Thankfully enough, I have pillows to take their place and when I go to bed for the night, I am surrounded with pillows and covered with a thick blanket in a cold room which smells great.
6. Brewed coffee
Last but not least, the important drug that keeps me going at work.
I always associate the smell of coffee brewing with productiveness and joy. Having the first taste of it for the day is as if I am drinking in the positive vibes that I associate it with.
Thus, I overdo it by filling two flasks with freshly brewed black coffee, another with green tea and a bottle of water.
That, my dear colleagues is why I carry a knapsack which I have been asked multiple times on the dual bags that I carry which are my knapsack as well as my sling bag.
The knapsack hosts my loyal 4 bottles of hydration for the day.
It’s not much but it greatly contributes to my mental health which is why I do it.
A good environment straightens the mind which contributes to the daily ability to work.
At least, that’s what I believe in.
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The Theoretical Doctor 