Adulting Series #3: The Places That Keep Me Going

Lately, life has been a mix of small wins and quiet chaos, bouncing between the nuances of work and my personal projects. I guess this is the trade-off for the new path I'm taking, so I'm believing it's all worth it hahaha.

Adulting isn’t as structured as I thought it would be... but maybe that’s the point? Just figuring it out as I go, fueled by caffeine and documenting little moments that make it all worth it.

Finally making it to the National Library

A few weeks ago, I promised I’d write about my time in the National Library—and now, here we are. I didn’t expect to enjoy working there as much as I did, but it turns out, that being surrounded by books and free resources is an oddly comforting way to spend the day. 

There’s something grounding about sitting in a quiet space, knowing that just a few clicks away, I have access to peer-reviewed journals, case studies, and archives—all completely free with a PNL account. (Seriously, if you haven’t explored it yet, do yourself a favor.) The lifetime ID costs PHP 120, but I'm telling you, it's all worth it.

It felt nice to work in a space that encouraged deep focus—no distractions, no unnecessary noise, just me and my thoughts, trying to build something that, hopefully, makes sense.

Rediscovering Coffee...

Lately, I’ve been hopping between coffee shops, trying to fuel both my caffeine addiction and my need for an environment that lets me think, strategize, and sometimes, just breathe.

At Good Vibrations Coffee Shop in Cubao, I met my first-ever client for my venture. It still feels surreal—one of those moments where you realize, "Oh, this is actually happening." I always thought my first big business meeting would be in a fancy, well-lit office, but instead, it was over a cup of coffee in a cozy corner of Cubao. 

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Then there was Bulan, where I had a hearty lunch with a friend before her birthday. The kind of meal that stretches on longer than expected, because the conversation is just too good to rush. We talked about life, work, and all the things in between—how we’re both just trying to navigate the complexities of adulthood, one decision at a time.

In between these stops, I rediscovered old favorites—Pick-up Coffee, with its reliable and affordable comfort drinks, and Zus Coffee, which somehow always hits just right. These little caffeine rituals have become a lifeline of sorts, a necessary jolt to keep my brain running through the endless stream of ideas, strategies, and problem-solving sessions.

Being Productive At Best

And speaking of strategies—one of the biggest things I’ve been learning lately is how to make my own workflows in Trello. I’ve always been a little obsessed with organizing things (or at least, trying to), but there’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing a customized workflow that actually makes sense for the way I work. 

I’ll write a separate post about it soon, because honestly, figuring out a system that works for you is such an underrated life skill.

For now, though, I’m just trying to keep moving forward, fueled by good coffee, meaningful conversations, and spaces that make me feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.