Chika Jonah Writes

Category: Lifestyle

  • All about you and me today; Journaling ideas and Why journaling is important.

    The alarm rang at 5am sharp but I was up by 4:42am this morning. Sometimes i hate the sound of my alarm because it can even wake the dead from the grave…but other times I’m glad, because its my life saver.

    I left for the bakery immediately, fifteen minutes past five I was there, welcomed with a crowd again, after rejoicing that I was on time today and was going to be among the first people to buy…I couldn’t help but remember school days in Madonna University.

    Where I had been pushed and I had pushed all in the name of leaving school on bank exeat. You struggle to get the permission, you still struggle to leave too. Everything was a struggle. Yet we relied on the hope that soon, after school it would all be over…but that was just another fantasy. The struggle never ends…

    Here i was in the bakery being pushed yet again… hahaha

    By 6:15 I was back from the bakery, had my bath, laid on the bed and had my morning prayer and study, slept off for another 40mins and woke up ready for work. Did a little preparation in the kitchen for today’s cooking and left.

    I was welcomed at work with a shit load of work this morning, finished off and had a little break by 11am, So i ate while watching an episode of “Cursed” show for one hour and began writing.

    I wrote for almost two hours, by few mins to two I decided to stop and rest a little, then I gisted with my colleagues and resumed writing again by 1:15pm

    Its 5:40pm and I’m still writing! Whoop!! I’ve successfully written two articles today and my IG post for today.

    I’m looking at my collegue and I can’t stop laughing at her, she is just sitting there quietly, because there’s no movie to watch…the girl just likes movie. Not more than me though.

    Thank God work was not much today. Its almost time to head home and I was invited by the rain again today. Portharcourt is just the home of rain.

    Its 6:25pm and I’m home, this is where I’m going to put the pen down for today. I’m already pecieving the aroma coming from the kitchen…gosh! I can’t wait to enjoy this Egusi soup. So after eating I’ll be at mummy’s shop selling, browsing, reading mails, replying DMs, chats, comments and, editing and publishing this post at intervals. Exactly what I’ll be doing till 12midnight.

    Thank you for reading. You just went through every detail of how my day was spent today.

    Clap a big hand for yourself.

    Why did I do this? You may ask…Well,

    I wanted to try journalling and documenting my life, more than that, I wanted to figure out what part of my life, took the most time and attention from me.

    With everything you just read you should know the answer to that.

    Writing.

    Over time I’ve realized the importance of keeping journals. Its like a mirror to what you did, do and is still doing, to what mattered to you at one point in your life, to look back and see your growth, your victorys, your mistakes. Sometimes even your hidden dreams, your thoughts, your reactions. Everything. To look at the present and see where you stand.

    Its like a second chance to look again and take a glance at what could be given a new opportunity to relive. To see if you’re still on your true path or if you’ve drifted away.

    The past may be the past but the past is what brings us to the future.

    Journaling fosters connection with yourself. Your thoughts, your actions and reactions.

    Journaling mirrors your experience and births a story from each experience. A story worth telling.

    You can start with these journalling ideas;

    • Thoughts journal
    • Life journal
    • Travel journal
    • Study journal
    • Writing journal
    • Plans/goals journal
    • Even the kind of journaling I did today as well.

    So don’t wait to start journaling. The best way to start is to just start.

    With everything I just shared you can see that what takes all my time and attention is exactly what I love doing so I’m so glad and happy. At least my day may be boring but it sure wasn’t empty.

    na wa, so no guy even asked me out today…

    Your turn.

    Tell me every single detail you can remember about today.
    And what part of your day took the most time and attention?

    Do you think journaling is something you’ll start doing?

    Share in the comment

    Remember today is all about you.

  • Traveling on a budget in Nigeria

    Yay!! The interstate travel ban has been lifted.

    You can now travel.

    Which is why I’m here to solve the problem faced by everyone who loves to travel in Nigeria.

    The problem of; how in Gods name can I travel in Nigeria without emptying my account?

    I know I should have answered this question a long time ago, forgive me. I’m here. Aren’t I?

    Traveling on a budget in Nigeria or any other country can be very tricky.

    Here are the key things to note;

    Don’t be greedy

            Just because you want to travel doesn’t mean you have to go to the entire thirty six states and capital in one week. Do not exceed three to five states. And only focus on one Geo-political zone. Stick to either the Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southeast and Southwest. Don’t say you want to visit Lagos and in two days time you decide your next stop is at Kaduna. You can’t achieve that if you’re on a budget.

    Don’t travel with nothing in your account

          Don’t go on an all cash trip and don’t go on a cashless trip. Divide you travel budget into two; 50% cash and 50% in the bank. Make sure you separate your cash to different places. Stash some in your pocket for immediate use, some in your tothe bag and the rest in your travel bag. Also, you should be able to make a mobile transfer with the bank that has your money. Very important in case you misplace your credit card while on transit.

    Don’t lodge at the hotel for the entire trip

       If you plan to visit five states and you want to lodge at the hotel for the entire trip then I’m sorry, you can’t achieve that on a budget.
    The trick is to visit states that you have friends and family residing at. So as to make it budget friendly. So out of the five states you want to travel to, make sure you stay with a friend in three states and then lodge in a hotel at two states if you have no one residing there.

    Click here for some travel necessities you shouldn’t miss.

    Now to the budget

    Anita desperately wants to visit Abuja  and three other northern states she hasn’t been to.

    Anita writes a list of her friends staying in Abuja and finally calls one to inform her.
    Viola! Her friend was happy to have her.
    Accommodation in Abuja was settled.

    The remaining three cities were Minna, Nassarawa and Kaduna.

    Her transport to Abuja to and fro is estimated at approximately N20,000

    Anita loves food  so she estimated N10,000 for that.

    Her lodge for one night each at minna and kaduna was estimated at 15,000 (according to my research you can get an affordable hotel at 7000 per night in this two cities)

    Anita estimates other running around at N5,000

    Making it a total of N50,000.

    So with N50,000 Anita can comfortably visit four northern states she has never been to, explore places, eat their cultural food and have fun on her well planned budget. If she’s hard, she may even come back home with some extra change.

    This budget can also be used for those traveling to the southwest region; Lagos, Ibadan, Ogun etc.

    But Its lower for anyone traveling to the southeast and southsouth region. In fact you can comfortably travel to four cities in these region with N30,000.

    You can also use Anita’s plan to plan a budget for yourself regardless of the city.

    Please thank Anita for me.

    So guys now is the time to start planning for that long awaited trip. I’ve given you a road map that can guide you to fixing your budget. Its time to get to work.

    Drop your thought in the comment below. Thank you for stopping by

  • 4 FACTS THAT STOP YOU FROM LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

    Something is holding you back. Yes You!

    You may have a list of small things you want to indulge in hidden somewhere. Or you may have those things saved somewhere in your head, afraid that they are unimaginable or too big to be achieved.

    For me its guilt

    When I look at my family and I look at myself, i wonder what the hell I’m doing “I’m I trying to have fun when my mom hasn’t had fun in a long time”.
    That thought alone stops me on track.

    Or.

    When my sibling hasn’t achieved what he is supposed to achieve, i also wonder what the hell I’m thinking enjoying and living the life.

    Guilty for trying to live life when those around me aren’t doing same.

    Somehow I feel responsible for their life. That if they are not living life to the fullest then there is no reason i should.

    I knew what was stopping me, but I knew that wasn’t the only thing. There are a million things that hold us back from having a little fun even when its needed and much deserved.

    Why do you keep them hidden?
    Why do you stop yourself from truly living your best lives?
    What’s stopping you from living life to the fullest?

    These were questions that needed answers
    so I asked my IG family the same questions and here are some of their responses;

    For me it’ll be lack of focus. Been working on it though, i trust to get over it asap

    from Samuel Akpota

    Money. Actually, I reward myself when I achieve certain milestones. Until I get there, I don’t indulge myself.

    from Grace Christos

    For me its guilt

    from Toby Small

    Before it used to be what people would say or think. Now owo ni koko.

    From Susan

    Now we know that sometimes our lack of money, focus, fear of what people will say or think and guilt can stop us from not living our best life. But how do we get past these and truly live? How do we overcome this?

    Here is an answer from someone in the community that hit so deep;

    To remind ourselves that we all have different journeys. That our pain doesn’t lessen another’s. That we deserve to be happy no matter what. That we choose our lives. We can choose to be miserable because there is always suffering or we can choose to be a light of positivity. Not easy though! Plus understand where it comes from. Dig deep. That’s my take.

    From Toby Small

    I think that answer above is enough reason to rise up and start living your life to the fullest.

    What have you decided today?

    Share your thoughts.


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