Hey there! 👋🏼 I'm Hazel, a freelance Project Manager and Asana Services Partner from the Philippines. With an Industrial Engineering background and nearly a decade of experience, I help teams stay organized, work better together, and get things done. People often say I'm resourceful, organized, and genuinely committed to team goals.

🐾 At home, I'm surrounded by my furry family—I have thirteen cats (including one I adopted as a stray kitten) and two pups, plus one more with my boyfriend. I love spending time with them and even teach our dogs tricks using an app called Dogo! I also feed stray cats when I can and support community causes for animal welfare.

✨ One of the things that's sparked my interest in travel is the chance to taste local food. I've realized that some dishes just hit different (in the best way) when enjoyed in the places they're known for, and I'm curious about what other flavors and experiences are out there. 😋

For the past few years, I've also been intentional about habit-building and designing a daily routine that works for me. 🪴 It's an evolving process, but I find joy in seeing positive changes in my perspective and discipline.

While I'm a homebody at heart, 🏡 I love planning and organizing itineraries whenever I travel with friends or family, be it locally or internationally. Keeping things tidy and organized helps me feel grounded and at ease, and I bring that same sense of order into my travels, too. I also enjoy the everyday side of travel and like to embrace simple, mundane activities while I'm in new places. When I visited Tokyo earlier this year (February 2024), for example, I even did laundry despite our short stay!

As a guest, you can expect me to be respectful, adaptable, and always happy to lend a hand.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've joined this platform to step out of my comfort zone and try solo travel—something totally new for me. I'm curious to see how I'll carry myself in these experiences and to learn more about my strengths along the way. I want to challenge myself to connect with new people, experience different cultures, and gain fresh perspectives through travel.

I'm excited about the unique experiences this journey might bring and the chance to make memories with people from all walks of life! 🙌🏼

Interests

• animals
• arts
• dancing
• coffee
• fitness
• exercise
• gyms
• anime
• reading
• eating
• gym
• self-development
• water
• community
• self-improvement
• taking pictures
• wellness
• organizing
• digital nomad
• planning
• cats and dogs
• taking photos
• systems thinking
• organizing trips
• discipline
• planning trips
• slow mornings
• coordination

Music, Movies, and Books

🎶 One song that holds a special place for me is 26 by Paramore. It became my favorite during a tough time, and it's what I turn to when I'm not feeling my best. The line, “Survival will not be the hardest part. It's keeping all your hopes alive when all the rest of you has died,” resonates deeply—it reminds me to hold onto hope and keep pushing forward, no matter what.

🎥 For movies, my ultimate pick-me-up is Someone Great (2019) starring Gina Rodriguez. I love Gina's monologue at the end, especially the line: “When something breaks, if the pieces are large enough, you can fix it. Unfortunately, some things don't break, they shatter. But when you let the light in, shattered glass will glitter.” To me, this isn't just about letting go of someone—it's about outgrowing past versions of myself and embracing resilience and hope. My runner-up movies include The Invention of Lying (2009) and The Fundamentals of Caring (2016), both of which share unique perspectives on honesty, kindness, and seeing humor in life's struggles.

📚 As for books, I’m naturally drawn to self-improvement. My favorite is Atomic Habits by James Clear; it's a constant reminder of the power of small changes in shaping a meaningful life. Self-improvement books resonate with me because they offer insights I can apply in both work and personal life—bridging the two and helping me grow holistically.

After all, as an Industrial Engineer, improving processes and systems is part of what I do, so the drive to make things better extends into everything I read and practice.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I've done was taking the leap to go freelance. Leaving behind a traditional career path was both intimidating and exhilarating, but it gave me the freedom to shape my own journey. Since then, I've learned a lot about myself and connected with people I may never have met otherwise. My signature offering—Asana Consulting services—is in the works, and I'm excited about what's ahead.

Freelancing has its imperfections and will never be perfect, but it's something I don't think I'll ever replace with being employed again. 😌 This choice was a big risk that's led to both professional and personal growth and has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to share what I know about organization, productivity, and habit-building. I'm passionate about designing routines that feel balanced and fulfilling, focusing on consistency and purpose rather than perfection.

One habit I've built since 2021 is learning languages through Duolingo. 🦉 I'm aiming for a B1 level there, but I remind myself that I'm doing it for mental stimulation and continuous growth—not just to reach fluency quickly for work.

I'd love to exchange language tips, cultural insights, or productivity hacks with anyone interested in these topics. I'm also open to learning about local cooking, traditions, and anything that offers a new perspective!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Along with sharing my organization skills and productivity tips, I'd be glad to help with creative projects! People often say I have an eye for design. I was drawn to the arts when I was younger, and over the years, my way of expressing creativity has evolved. Now, I love incorporating "creativity" into long-form LinkedIn posts, designing slide decks at work, and organizing my bio site (affiliate networking). I'd also be happy to assist with any household tasks or pet care, as I have plenty of experience with my own furry family.

I look forward to connecting and lending a hand wherever I stay!

Countries I’ve Visited

Japan, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines