PLEATSMAMA | Editorial Vol.4

It was not uncommon to find myself drained—both mentally and physically—after an entire week of experiencing the daily grind. Consequently, my weekends were usually spent in bed, either binge-sleeping or engaging in some form of recumbent stress-relief. However, a new week always seemed to come along before I had the chance to fully recover. This inevitably created a predictable pattern of rinsing and repeating. Stuck in this protracted cycle of accumulating fatigue, I would rarely wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. The ever-present, overwhelming desire to go on a spontaneous trip would always be trumped by my sobering financial reality reflected in my bank account, while there never seemed to be enough time in my schedule to take up and sustain a new hobby.

I was unwilling to let my precious days slip away in an enervated state of being. Thus, I decided to come up with my own, personalized recipe for a healthy day. Despite being comprised of simple tasks, effectively putting this new formula into practice took considerable time and will power. Nevertheless, this entire process has not only affected my mundane days, but more importantly changed the way I view and approach them.

I write this issue in the hopes that our readers will also be inspired to apply small changes, which will not only have a positive impact on their physical and mental health, but also ultimately lead to a succession of healthier days.

When I was little, the teachers at school would frequently make us write a diary as part of our homework assignments. As I did not enjoy the activity at the time, I did what any child in my shoes would instinctively choose to do: I procrastinated. This habit would especially manifest itself during seasonal breaks. As a result, either the night or two nights before school started again, I ended up having to write the entries all at once while jogging my memory to remember interesting events I could utilize—anything to make my makeshift accounts seem more legitimate.

I only started keeping a diary again when I went to high school. The motivation behind this voluntary reinitiation was quite simple, and it sprouted from my deep interest in Keigo Higashino’s works. Wanting to be a writer someday, I chose my diary as a medium through which to practice and develop my writing skills. Instead of writing surface-level accounts of interesting episodes or a general outline of the day, I started to write simple entries revolving around my thoughts, struggles, and feelings—formulating them into specific words and a few short sentences. When I went back to read my past entries after about a year of consistent writing, I was surprised to find them full of emotions and events I had completely forgotten about.

Being able to catch glimpses of how I was in the past is a special experience. The fact that my little diary held such diverse accounts—ranging from unfamiliar aspects of my past self to introspections and nostalgia—filled me with a sense of wonder. Who would have thought the annoying homework assignment from my elementary days would turn into a source of personal growth?

Although I no longer write in the flowery manner I used to when I was in high school, I try to jot down a brief record of that day, even if it ends up being a short digital entry on my notes app. Hopefully, when I look back at those accounts some day in the distant future, I will once again be pleasantly caught off guard by how much I’ve grown as a person.

Since PLEATSMAMA’s headquarters moved locations, I no longer have to transfer subway lines during my commute. I would normally spend about an hour either watching videos on Youtube or listening to music to kill time. By the time I got off, however, my mind would be empty after having my eyes and ears glued to whatever was playing on the small rectangular screen of my phone during the entire ride.

I had always enjoyed reading books in the past, but it became more difficult to find the time to read after I started to work. Any type of resolve I would build up to read at home would melt away once I returned from a full day of work. Tired of consuming meaningless forms of entertainment during my commute, I decided to make better use of the time and start reading on the subway.

I left for work the next day with a book I bought a long time ago but hadn’t had the chance to read yet. (On a side note, I highly recommend PLEATSMAMA’s shoulder bag to carry one’s books.) Unlike at home, I was able to focus well during my subway ride. The sound of the carts speeding over the rails and the regular announcements came together to create a comfortable level of background noise. All in all, I was very proud of myself for warming up for work by reading a book.

These days, I become uneasy if I don’t bring a book when leaving the house. On top of feeling liberated from looking at my smartphone all day, being completely immersed in a world full of interesting characters has become an experience I look forward to every day. I truly hope our readers will also start carrying a book by their favorite author on their individual ways to work. I guarantee that a day started off by reading will exceed one’s expectations.

I assumed one of the biggest reasons behind my daily fatigue was my lack of exercise. Even so, I didn’t want to subject myself to working out in an enclosed space full of people while having my mask on the whole time.

It was at the peak of my restlessness that I found out the existence of an urban forest path in the area. The entire trail, which cut across the entire Mapo-gu district, was quite long and passed by in front of the office. As soon as I got off work that day, I embarked on my first walk. Rather than thinking of it as a comprehensive solution to the lack of physical activity, I started walking the trail with the simple attitude of getting some air after a long day of work.

Conveniently, part of the route went along the subway stations I passed on my way home. As I trudged along the path while organizing my many thoughts, I was surprised to see so many people out, even in the late hours of the night. 30 minutes had already flown by when I finally looked at the time. My initial worries that taking long walks might worsen my exhausted condition were completely dispelled. I felt my body becoming lighter as I continued this routine throughout the following days, and the intrepid fatigue, which had refused to go away even after hours of sleep, started to gradually melt away.

I no longer feel I’ve ended the day properly if I do not take a walk for at least 30 minutes. The time when I get to be physically active has become a new source of energy, providing me with the necessary strength for the next day. I highly recommend our readers to incorporate daily walks into their schedules, even if they only take you a few blocks, just like my own. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself energized as if you had taken a whole bottle of vitamins.

When I was little, the teachers at school would frequently make us write a diary as part of our homework assignments. As I did not enjoy the activity at the time, I did what any child in my shoes would instinctively choose to do: I procrastinated. This habit would especially manifest itself during seasonal breaks. As a result, either the night or two nights before school started again, I ended up having to write the entries all at once while jogging my memory to remember interesting events I could utilize—anything to make my makeshift accounts seem more legitimate.

I only started keeping a diary again when I went to high school. The motivation behind this voluntary reinitiation was quite simple, and it sprouted from my deep interest in Keigo Higashino’s works. Wanting to be a writer someday, I chose my diary as a medium through which to practice and develop my writing skills. Instead of writing surface-level accounts of interesting episodes or a general outline of the day, I started to write simple entries revolving around my thoughts, struggles, and feelings—formulating them into specific words and a few short sentences. When I went back to read my past entries after about a year of consistent writing, I was surprised to find them full of emotions and events I had completely forgotten about.

Being able to catch glimpses of how I was in the past is a special experience. The fact that my little diary held such diverse accounts—ranging from unfamiliar aspects of my past self to introspections and nostalgia—filled me with a sense of wonder. Who would have thought the annoying homework assignment from my elementary days would turn into a source of personal growth?

Although I no longer write in the flowery manner I used to when I was in high school, I try to jot down a brief record of that day, even if it ends up being a short digital entry on my notes app. Hopefully, when I look back at those accounts some day in the distant future, I will once again be pleasantly caught off guard by how much I’ve grown as a person.

Since PLEATSMAMA’s headquarters moved locations, I no longer have to transfer subway lines during my commute. I would normally spend about an hour either watching videos on Youtube or listening to music to kill time. By the time I got off, however, my mind would be empty after having my eyes and ears glued to whatever was playing on the small rectangular screen of my phone during the entire ride.

I had always enjoyed reading books in the past, but it became more difficult to find the time to read after I started to work. Any type of resolve I would build up to read at home would melt away once I returned from a full day of work. Tired of consuming meaningless forms of entertainment during my commute, I decided to make better use of the time and start reading on the subway.

I left for work the next day with a book I bought a long time ago but hadn’t had the chance to read yet. (On a side note, I highly recommend PLEATSMAMA’s shoulder bag to carry one’s books.) Unlike at home, I was able to focus well during my subway ride. The sound of the carts speeding over the rails and the regular announcements came together to create a comfortable level of background noise. All in all, I was very proud of myself for warming up for work by reading a book.

These days, I become uneasy if I don’t bring a book when leaving the house. On top of feeling liberated from looking at my smartphone all day, being completely immersed in a world full of interesting characters has become an experience I look forward to every day. I truly hope our readers will also start carrying a book by their favorite author on their individual ways to work. I guarantee that a day started off by reading will exceed one’s expectations.

I assumed one of the biggest reasons behind my daily fatigue was my lack of exercise. Even so, I didn’t want to subject myself to working out in an enclosed space full of people while having my mask on the whole time.

It was at the peak of my restlessness that I found out the existence of an urban forest path in the area. The entire trail, which cut across the entire Mapo-gu district, was quite long and passed by in front of the office. As soon as I got off work that day, I embarked on my first walk. Rather than thinking of it as a comprehensive solution to the lack of physical activity, I started walking the trail with the simple attitude of getting some air after a long day of work.

Conveniently, part of the route went along the subway stations I passed on my way home. As I trudged along the path while organizing my many thoughts, I was surprised to see so many people out, even in the late hours of the night. 30 minutes had already flown by when I finally looked at the time. My initial worries that taking long walks might worsen my exhausted condition were completely dispelled. I felt my body becoming lighter as I continued this routine throughout the following days, and the intrepid fatigue, which had refused to go away even after hours of sleep, started to gradually melt away.

I no longer feel I’ve ended the day properly if I do not take a walk for at least 30 minutes. The time when I get to be physically active has become a new source of energy, providing me with the necessary strength for the next day. I highly recommend our readers to incorporate daily walks into their schedules, even if they only take you a few blocks, just like my own. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself energized as if you had taken a whole bottle of vitamins.