The Lenten holiday season is a highly anticipated extended break for many working Filipinos. Whether you're religious or not, you should not let these precious holidays go by aimlessly.Â
Religious traditions mean that many of us will most likely be visiting churches, while the full blast of the summer heat may also find many locals heading to the beach for a much-needed rest. For some unfortunate employees, Lent may just be a regular work week. Here are some tips on how to make the Holy Week meaningful regardless of where you spend it.
1. Spend it with family and friends.
Photo by Animesh Basnet on Unsplash
Take advantage of the long break and spend it with the people you love. If you're stuck at work during the holidays, take this as an opportunity to strengthen your ties with your colleagues by watching films together during a break or after office hours.
2. Get in touch with your spiritual side.
If you're religious, you may visit church events to reflect with people of the same boat. If not, you may simply isolate yourself from others and try to commune with nature. If you are at work, then, just a personal and solemn prayer will do.
3. Break out of your shell.
Photo by Roger Steinbacher on Unsplash
Some people go out from their houses for camping, hiking or beach as their "Panata" during Holy Week. If you are staying in the office over the Lent holidays, try making some small changes in your routine to encourage mindfulness. Sit with colleagues from another department during lunch break. Go beyond small talk and get to know the company security guard, utility staff, or parking attendants by having longer chats with them.
4. Embrace silence.
Photo by Suresh Kumar on UnsplashÂ
We are bombarded by noise on most days. With our mobile phones constantly ringing and buzzing, it's so easy to be distracted by things that truly matter.
Welcome silence into your life over the Holy Week. Try abstaining from TV or social media. Set a time to literally unplug from your devices, and use your screen-browsing time for reading or meditation.
At work, try to refrain from complaining aloud or gossiping about co-workers. If you're accustomed to always wearing headphones, try to make do without it for a while. Don't be afraid of surrounding yourself with silence. Allow yourself to listen to your internal thoughts. Your mind will thank you for it later.
However and wherever you may be spending the Holy Week break, we hope you find moments of peace and respite from our hectic modern lives.
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