Making a home feel a little more like… home.

COVID-19 has forced all of us to adjust in ways that we never thought we would have had to before. Daily trips to Starbs turned into dalgona coffee, classmates that never seem to stop asking for pad paper turned into our moms going “aNAK” every twenty minutes, and our own personal nooks at home are our new desk-chairs (to be fair, no one liked those anyway, right?). The change of environment can definitely prove to be difficult if you don’t have adequate personal space and time, but there’s always something to make it a bit easier for us. 

Now that we’ve all transferred our workspaces to our personal desks, it’s important that we make them as comfortable as possible. One way we can do so is just by having at least one item on our desks that brings us joy while we work throughout this difficult time. We asked Edukasyon.ph interns what items on their desks make their tasks a little less daunting.

1. A PLANT 🌱

Go, grow, glow.

“I enjoy having a plant on my desk because I find that it reduces my stress!” says Angela, 19, a freshman at Ateneo de Manila University. 

Did you know that there’s actually scientific evidence behind this? According to Empath PH, eco-therapy (the concept of humans being impacted by the environment) has proven to “reduce anxiety and stress”, allows us to recover from stress faster, and helps us “develop mindfulness”. So for all you aspiring plantitas, plantitos, or plant people out there, this is your sign to go for it!

2. A BUILDABLE CALENDAR 📆

Why do you build me up, calendar, baby just to break me down?

“I love reconstructing it every month, and it’s good for the environment!”, says Tatiana, 17, high school senior at the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School

If you’re confused as to what this is, this student tells us, “think Lego”. This student tells us that not only do they enjoy reconstructing it every month, but they also appreciate that it’s sustainable! We don’t know about you guys, but this sounds like a pretty fun break from staring at our screens until our heads hurt! Is it time to say goodbye to our favorite pre-new year budols?

3. A SQUISHMALLOW 🦄

Time to give Lucky Charms a run for their money.

“It is my comfort item because It serves as my stress ball”, says Elaine, 21, third-year undergraduate student at the University of Santo Tomas

Another student tells us that their comfort item is a Squishmallow! No, for those who aren’t aware, they don’t have marshmallows scattered around their desk, awaiting an ant colony to take over their space. A Squishmallow is actually a stuffed toy! (We knew that, obviously.) Having an inanimate friend actually doesn’t sound too bad, The Guardian recently published an article on adults talking about the significance of their stuffed toys. It might be time to look for a new addition to your rooms!

4. A PAINTING OF ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND 🎨

Pack it up, Van Gogh.

“It’s nice to be able to look at a happy memory of us while we wait until we can make new ones”, says Andie, 21, third year undergraduate student at the De La Salle University

Amid the risk of getting infected and in the interest of keeping both families safe, I  find a different way to spend time with my significant other. A lot of people have gone into some form of arts and crafts throughout quarantine, but it seems that not only is it a great pastime, but a new date idea you and your loved ones can do apart! I have a paint-by-number of my girlfriend and I behind my laptop stand as a constant morale boost during the never-ending deadlines and meetings. You can even get your own personal work of art here!

5. A STARBUCKS EARTH SIGN TUMBLER ☕️

Stay thirsty  hydrated (;

“I always forget to hydrate myself and will only drink when my body is giving me signals already, so it’s a really good item in terms of health (+++ adds up to my desk aesthetic)”, says MJ, 21, second year undergraduate student at the De La Salle University

While some of us may not be on summer break yet, the weather definitely won’t let us forget what we’re missing out on! As we all stare out our windows and simultaneously sigh at the seemingly unreachable vacation, we can’t forget to keep our water intake in check! This student likes sipping his from a special tumbler from Starbucks to remind himself to hydrate, and it doesn’t hurt that the tumbler isn’t hard on the eyes. If you’re reading this, this is your sign to drink your water. As a result, you get to check that off your beloved habit tracker. Immaculate vibes all around.

Evidently, comfort items come in all shapes and sizes. As we continue to deal with online classes, which brings countless challenges with it, we can’t forget to always take care of ourselves and to allow ourselves to find comfort in anything and everything we can. Take your mental health break with us by exploring our site for more inspiration to make all of this at least a little bit easier. Check out this article for tips to avoid getting burnt out and this one on how taking care of yourself physically can help as well!