16/03/2026
MINI VLOG: My Slow Start Morning Where My Rare Plant Collection Sets the Tone for a Productive Work Day 🌿💻
HEY, IT’S PAO!
What’s up, everyone! I’m Pao, a work from home Social Media Manager based right here in Iloilo City and if you’re tuning in for the first time, welcome to my little corner of the internet! Today I’m sharing a mini vlog that’s all about how I kickstart my days no crazy alarms, no back to back meetings the second I wake up. Instead, I let my small backyard collection of rare plants guide the pace of my morning, and trust me, it’s made such a huge difference in how focused and calm I feel when I finally sit down to work. If you’ve been looking for ways to bring more peace into your own work from home routine, I hope this gives you some ideas let’s dive right in!
FIRST UP, TENDING TO MY RARE GREEN FRIENDS – WATERING & CLEANING UP
I always wake up before my alarm goes off most days, anyway! there’s something about the quiet of early morning here in Iloilo that I just can’t get enough of. The air is cool, the birds are already chirping, and the first rays of sun are just starting to peek over the rooftops. My first stop, without fail, is my backyard where I keep my rare plant collection. It’s not a big space just a carefully curated set of unique varieties I’ve been collecting over time but it’s my happy place.
I grab my trusty watering can with room temperature water super important for these sensitive beauties and start by giving each plant exactly what it needs. Some prefer a good soak, while others only need a light spritz I’ve spent hours researching each one’s specific care requirements, and I make sure to stick to their routines. As I move from pot to pot, I take my time to really look at each specimen checking for new growth, inspecting leaves for any signs of stress, and making sure they’re getting the right amount of light in their spots.
After watering, I grab a soft brush and a small cloth to tidy up the area. I gently dust off the leaves which helps them absorb more light, wipe down the edges of their decorative pots, and rearrange a few pieces so each plant gets equal sunlight throughout the day. It might sound like simple work, but there’s something so satisfying about caring for these special plants each one feels like a little piece of art. This whole routine only takes about 20 minutes, but it’s the perfect way to wake up my body and clear my mind no screens, no emails, just me and my precious collection.
FROM GARDEN TO KEYBOARD TIME TO OPEN MY LAPTOP
Once my rare plants are all taken care of, I head inside to make myself a warm cup of coffee strong and just a tiny bit sweet, how I like it. I carry my mug back out to the same spot where I was working with my plants, because why move away from all this beauty? I set up my foldable table right where I can see each of my favorites, plug in my laptop, and finally finally open it up to start my work day.
The first thing I do is check my calendar to make sure I don’t have any early morning meetings, then I pull up all the client accounts I manage. I start by going through comments and direct messages I make it a point to respond to every single one personally, because building real connections with each brand’s audience is so important to me. After that, I review how yesterday’s posts performed looking at engagement rates, which types of content got the most love, and jotting down notes on what might work better next time.
I spend the next hour or so mapping out content for the week ahead drafting captions, picking out photos, and scheduling posts using my favorite tools. Even though I’m deep in work mode now, having my rare plants right there keeps me feeling relaxed. When I hit a creative block which happens more often than I’d like to admit!, I just look up from my screen and admire the unique foliage and textures of my collection it never fails to help me think more clearly.
Sometimes I’ll even snap a few photos of my rare plants to share on my own social media pages. It’s a fun way to connect with other rare plant enthusiasts, and it’s great practice for experimenting with lighting and storytelling skills that I use every single day in my job as a social media manager.
WRAPPING IT UP WHY THIS ROUTINE WORKS FOR ME
I won’t lie work from home life isn’t always this smooth. There are days when internet issues drive me crazy, or when deadlines are so tight I barely have time to breathe. But starting each morning with my rare plant collection gives me a solid foundation to build the rest of my day on. It reminds me that even though I spend most of my time in the digital world, there’s so much beauty and peace to be found in nurturing something real and unique each plant has its own personality, just like the brands I work with.
I’ve been following this routine for a few months now, and I can honestly say I’m more productive, less stressed, and way more creative than I was when I’d jump straight into work every morning. It’s all about finding that balance between what we have to do and what we love to do and for me, that balance lives right in my backyard with my rare plants.
If you liked this mini vlog, please give it a thumbs up and hit subscribe so you don’t miss my next one I’m planning to share how I style photos for my clients using cuttings and leaves from my rare plant collection!
What kind of plants do you love to care for? Drop a comment below I’d love to hear all about your collections!
