10 Self Care Tips While Working Abroad


By PANGYAO_Official on 13th Nov 2020

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Working and living abroad can sometimes make you feel dejected. But for the sake of our family and loved ones, we need to hide our true emotions and most of the time our real situation. 

 

We Filipinos always say, "Walang hindi kakayanin para sa pamilya”. Which is true, the reason why there are so many Filipinos working abroad and clutching on that hollow feeling of being far away from home. Sometimes this line can also get us into depressing times, mentally and physically. 

But you know what, working abroad can be fun if you know how to take care of yourself. Here are the 10 self-care tips you can start practicing even when you are based overseas:

 

Do a 15-minute feel-good yoga

Most of us will agree that coffee is life in the morning. Yes, we love kapeng barako, or any other brewed coffee, with pandesal or sinangag. While coffee is life, why don't you add a 15-minute yoga in your morning routine? Sounds pang-mayaman but it's not. This will wake up your nerves, stretch your body to avoid cramps and get your blood flowing. It can relax your body and at the same time your mind especially if your bills are coming up. While staying abroad we need our body to be strong and our mind focused. 

 

Another, maliit lang ang tirahan sa abroad especially in Hong Kong, so yoga is the best exercise for you because it only requires a yoga mat and a small space.

 

Eat healthy food

Most of the time, when we are so exhausted from work, we tend to forget to eat healthy food and go for to-go menus instead. While this is the best solution for us working abroad, it is not healthy for our body at all. Yes, we love junk foods but we should not forget that we Filipinos also love to cook. 

 

As much as possible during your off duty, try to cook something healthy and warm like sinigang, adobo, tinolang manok, bulanglang, etc. Try to watch out your diet because the more you eat fast food, the more you'll have brain fog and that's not healthy at all. 

 

Have time to watch videos you love and that will inspire you.

Now that there is a lot of social media on the internet and pretty much all of them are made to entertain, you can probably find the right platform where you can watch videos and relax. Inspiring and funny videos feed not only our eyes but also our mind. They secrete happy hormones that can make us feel good all day long. 

 

Do you know the phrase "Netflix and chill"? That's exactly this is all about. Netflix is currently the hub for introverts and people who want to relax after a tiring day. You might find the right movie or series worthy to binge for on Netflix. 

 

Find a local friend

Having a local friend is your ticket while working abroad. For instance, in Hong Kong, you may not understand Mandarin unless you studied Mandarin. But if you have local friends, they can teach you things the local way. Hindi madali makahanap ng kaibigan pero may darating at darating. 

 

Remember tip no.1? If you want to make friends you can try signing up in yoga classes where you can meet different people. There is always a studio near you. Have fun, stretch your body, and make friends.

 

Join a sport

Having a sport cannot only get you a friend but a team which you can consider as a family in the long run. There are sports clubs you can sign in like Hong Kong China Rowing Association, Hong Kong Triathlon Association, and Hong Kong Football Club. Aside from these, there are many Filipino sports clubs you can join in case you're a little bit hesitant to mingle with foreign people. 

 

Did I hear basketball and volleyball? Favorite ng mga Pinoy yan that's why it is sure that there are basketball and volleyball teams you can join in for fun or sports. 

 

Go out with your friends

In Hong Kong, you can only have at most one day off duty so make the most out of it. Sunday is the usual day off and the best place to go and meet other kababayans is by going to the Central District area. 

 

Pinoys are mostly found under towers and shades with their foods, playing cards, blankets, laptops, etc. It is usually crowded during this day because it is their catching and "tsismisan" time. So, if you're feeling chatty on Sundays, come to the Central District area. 

 

Look for a support system

Being an alien in a country is scary at some point in time. That's why you need to find a support system for your emotional stability or social security. There are non-government organizations (NGOs) founded by Filipinos but there are NGOs founded by non-Filipinos to help Filipinos live a better life in Hong Kong. 

 

Take vitamins and supplements 

Do not forget to take vitamins and supplements whether it's for glowing skin, healthy bones, healthy blood cells, etc. You need to take care of your inside body. Vitamins and supplements help in improving your body's wellness by filling the nutrient gaps. This is especially important if you’re a busy person, your immune system is weak and you don’t have easy access to healthy food. 

 

Learn new skills

Either it's learning Mandarin or how to mix cocktails, it is always helpful and useful to learn another skill. This way you are not only working but also growing professionally for better career options. Do not stop yourself right where you are, strive harder and equip yourself with new skills that you can utilize in the future.

 

Save Money

This is easier said than done most especially if your family needs extra financial help back home. Andyan si Mama na need ng extra money para sa kapatid mo, si anak na kailangan billion ng laptop, si kaibigan na nanghihiram ng pera, etc. To help those in need is a Godly act, but you still have to save some money for yourself. 

 

You need to reward yourself with the things you need and want. After all, it is your body that works hard to earn money. You need to reward your body with things that can pamper you and renew you. Remember, you have to be happy for you to enjoy life away from home. At the same time, you need to save money as a contingency fund in case of emergencies. -Charlot F.


(Photo credit: Jad Limcaco on Unsplash)