Well 2020 is about to meet the end, and here we are all, stuck at home. Since the MCO (Movement Control Order) was announced back in March 2020 in Malaysia, I can say that my life changed a lot. Starting from the lifestyle, workstyle, eating habits and also my music taste? I used to listen to pop songs a lot back then, it do help me cheer up my day but then, after being stuck at home, I realized that this genre doesn’t fit me well anymore.
I’ve started using Spotify since 2015 and only by 2020, I learned how to fully utilize the apps. I always being busy with my job, got no time to explore stuff, and this pandemic helped me changed myself. As I only “staying at home”, I discovered a lot of music genre available out there. The one that fits my mood, fits my activity and fits the weather (really?) (maybe). Usually in the morning in the office when we arrived in the office, we will have a greet from our colleagues saying “Good Morning”, ”Hello” and stuff, but when you’re at home? Most probably the sound you will hear first is your cat “meow-ing”.
Podcasts
So how do I start my day? I listen to podcast.
A podcast is an episodic series of spoken word digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening.-Wikipedia
For me, podcasts is very good as it help enhance my listening skills, improve my communication skills and also generate new information in my brain.
Not to mention, I feel like I’m communicating with the host.
In the morning, once I wake up I will go to this channel. It is called “BFM 89.9.” From the sight of Malaysian me, this is the best place where I can find the latest news on what’s going on with my country. Covid-19 update? Here. Economic update? Here. Health? Business? All is here. From home and I can get all the update of what’s on-going while sipping on my cup of coffee.
Next, it’s “The Aida Azlin Show”
Sometimes, the inner me need some inspiration & motivation. Working from home can be too stressful sometimes. Remote working? Meetings? Paperwork??? Nah. Enough. I have to get back to the right path.
From my perspective, I love listen to this channel as the host, Aida Azlin, always put on some nice motivation inside. Most of her words come from the “Hadith” & “As-Sunnah” coming from SAW (Pbuh Muhammad) and the “Quraan”, a letter from our creator (Allah-Islam) .
When I’m working, I can tell that I really got no time to dig into my religion stuff so on. I only will go prayer (which is 5 times per day) and then back to work. In every episode she will also bring up some guests (worldwide), with their own inspiration stories.
So this podcasts help me gain it all, while working in front of my laptop. What a very convenient options? Thank god for this existing podcasts!
Well for my other friends who is in the another religion, I believe you can find some similar podcasts that fits you. You could gain something new too. Go, go find one! xx
Well honestly, I really listened to a lot of podcasts. Its depend on my mood sometimes. So here we go, another one, “Mamak Sessions”! by jinnyboy.
I listened to this podcasts because the host, Jinny, always make me feel like I’m talking to my friends. I’m an extrovert person, so I really really talk a lot sometimes, and I can’t live my life without communicating. It’s hard!
The host also bring some guest inside, and it’s making the vibes become more better. They talk about how theirs’s life is, how is it going and so on. Just like how you walk to coffee shop/food stall with your friends just to chit chat. Yeah like that. Feeling comfort at its best!
and the last one, is “TED Talks Daily”
Well I believe this one quite familiar and popular around the another country too.
I usually will listen to this when I’m done with my 1st choice, BFM. Local update can be boring sometimes, let’s get the global one. All this channel need is your time because there is so many interesting topics inside, from a good-background speaker.
Stay at home, but expand your mind.
Music
Yeah I listen to music too. It’s necessary right?
Sometimes you need to calm your mind. Task is coming in, deadlines is chasing, and you still got lots of stuff to do! No worries, you can do it all but first, calm yourself. Not to mention yoga, good music also helps.
My top chart will be “Lo-fi” music.
The genre is calming and it helps me send positives vibes to my brain. I feel relaxed. I can think better. When you’re stressed with the so “online meetings” or whatever pressure you have out there, go listen to this one after that. It helps, trust me.
I also listen to “Pop”
Well you know, I guess all of us know very well how does Pop songs sounds like. I knew not many people into it because of the beats, but sometimes when I’m in a good mood. I open up this one.
My job requires to solve issues/error quite lot, and when I manage to solve it, surely I want to cherish the moment. How about the “Feel this Moment” from Christina Aguilera and Pitbull? Sounds good right. Or “Watermelon Sugar” from Harry Styles? Good vibes isn’t? x
and Spotify also create a new playlist for the users, “At Home”
I don’t exactly recap how this playlist is good for me, but it’s kinda help me when doing the house chore. During cooking, tidy up my room, clearing up the laundries, yea all that. I need music in every verb that I involve with and I find everything just fits me nicely in Spotify.
Thank you Spotify.
Oh and I also managed to create my own playlist.
Listened to this while getting my work done too.
The named sound quite weird but that it just what happened to me. 2019 and below my playlist is all filled up with pop singers such Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber etc. but this year, mostly filled up with R&B. Yea, like what is exactly happened to me?? I find it calming too! It sound great!
Well that’s all from me. I hope everyone is doing well in this pandemic state. If you have any opinions/comment, please drop it here. I’ll be glad to read em all.
Till then, please take care.
Sincerely, Farah xx
p/s: It’s my very first time writing in medium, and I hope it’s not that awkward.
