Day #170 - Setting My Pace

A good pace is important for a long race.
Not too slow.
Not too fast either.
A pace that is slightly uncomfortable to push myself,
And still be able to do it tomorrow.

Goals of the Day:

• Transfer funds into savings account for long-term interest gains
• Achieved
• Work out the details of the remaining of the NZ trip
• Not Achieved
• Figure out which guests have not invite, rsvp
• Achieved

Felt that my current pace is draining my body.

Maybe waking up early in the morning is just not my style.

Today's Small Wins:

• Finally did my funds transfer to the long-term interest savings account
• Review my guest list to get ready to send reminders and more RSVP

Today's Small Losses:

• Indulged in a heavy lunch, which isn't good for my health
• Woke up and Slept late
• Didn't meditate
• Didn't read

Day #169 - Carpe Diem

Seize today.
Seize everyday.

Goals of the Day:

• Book tours for NZ trip
• Achieved (for 1 tour)
• Exercise
• Not Achieved (Raining)
• Meditate for 10min
• Not Achieved (too engrossed in itinerary planning)
• Keep to schedule
• Not Achieved

Wanted to focus on quickly planning out the details of my itinerary out, and kinda led me to ignore everything else.

Today's Small Wins:

• Spent time on NZ planning
• Focused at work

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up slightly later
• Slept quite late
• Didn't meditate
• Didn't achieve much of my goals for today

Day #168 - Full Day Focus!

Plan for a full day of focus today!

Goals of the Day:

• Draft out changes from the online suggestions for NZ trip
• Nearly done, around 80%
• Shop for things needed for the trip
• Achieved
• Have a good discussion with Dearest for my birthday celebration
• Achieved
• Diary update with Dearest
• Not achieved
• Settle the problem with my Dell monitor 
• Achieved

Had quite a tiring day, mainly focused on my NZ trip.

The shopping really drained me a lot.

Today's Small Wins:

• NZ trip re-planning from suggestions
• Got good equipment for my NZ trip
• Had quality time with Dearest and planning for my birthday
• Going to get a Dell monitor replacement because I spent the effort to send in all the required things

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't do weekly planning
• Didn't manage to do diary update
• Didn't wake up / sleep early
• Didn't meditate

Day #167 - A Silver Lining~

Managed to get a Silver for my IPPT!
Although I would have a shot at Gold if my running wasn't so bad (13:08min).
But full scores for push-ups, and nearly-full scores for sit-ups.
An achievement that I could contend with for now.
I shall aim for Gold before the year ends!

Goals of the Day:

• Spent quality time with Dearest
• Achieved
• Settle Wedding stuff with Dearest (Wedding photo album, Wedding Car Rental, Actual Day Schedule)
• Achieved for AD Schedule
• Post itinerary on tripadvisor and hwz to get opinion
• Achieved

Good day =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Gotten Silver for IPPT
• Had a good day with Dearest
• Got a better score at VR zombie game
• Good progress on Wedding planning
• Posted itinerary online to get reviews
• Meditated for 10min
• Managed to wake up early to be on time for IPPT
• Slept early

Today's Small Losses

• Nil

Day #166 - A Continuous Grind

I recalled my days of MMORPG gaming, where everyday, if possible, I will be grinding away, working hard at my quests, and killing mobs after mobs. All these for that illusive sense of pride in getting to higher levels and cooler weapons or skills.

Let's grind my own RPG now; my life.

Goals of the Day:

• Go through 2nd round of review of trip itinerary and post online for opinions
• Not Achieved
• Enjoy the evening of company's Dnd
• Achieved
• Plan for the weekend
• No Achieved

There was quite a bit of work to clear before going for Dnd. 

I initially thought there might be some time for me to do my personal work. 

Guess not~

But this year DnD was very entertaining!

Today's Small Wins:

• Had a good time at DnD
• Managed to DIY a good design for DnD attire
• Focused at work

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up / Slept Late
• Didn't meditate
• Didn't manage to go through itinerary or plan for weekend

Day #165 - A Better Person

And that is what I will be today; a better person than I was yesterday.

Goals of the Day:

• Focused at work
• Achieved
• Attend Data Science course after work (it's free!)
• Achieved
• NZ trip planning - to decide on the Ice Glacier tours
• Achieved, will just go for the full day hike!

The course didn't really teach any technical skills, but introduce me to some of the terms used in machine learning. Helps me understand a bit better for my work. 

The environment at Spacemob, the venue of the course, was also quite vibrant.

My working history are all quite conventional; govt or govt-related.

So seeing the start-up scene is quite novel, and refreshing =)

Would I be like that in future? or Could I be like that in future? 

I wonder.

Today's Small Wins:

• Full trip itinerary for NZ out!
• But probably want to tweak it further to allow more buffer in case the glacier tour get cancelled due to bad weather
• Attended an intro course

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't work hard at my habits (sleep, wake, meditate)
• Ate junk food for dinner

Day #164 - Got distracted

Wanted to sleep early last night, but got distracted and indulged in reading a new manga.

Goals of the Day:

• Stay task-focused and be efficient at work
• Achieved
• NZ trip planning
• Not Achieved
• Reading for 15 minutes (building this habit of daily reading)
• Not Achieved

Again, got distracted. haha..

But the good thing is, I kinda finished the manga.

A good story really pulls you into a frenzy of wanting to know, "What's next??"

Today's Small Wins:

• Focused at work

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't do personal work
• Didn't read
• Slept late
• Didn't meditate

Day #163 - Not Born To Pay Bills and Die

I was borned to live a life.
Looking forward to my trip~

Goals of the Day:

• NZ trip planning until Day 8 (Have quite some insights while planning during commute for the past few working days)
• Achieved until Day 7
• Exercise (since I skipped it yesterday)
• Achieved
• Meditate and Sleep early
• Achieved
• Reading for at least 15 minutes
• Achieved

Managed to push myself to attain most of the goals I have set out.

Jia you, me.

Today's Small Wins:

• Achieved most of the goals
• Exercised (3 x 1:40m, 3 x 1:50m, 50 sit-ups)
• Read for 15 minutes (on The 5 Choices)
• Meditated for 10 min
• Quality leisure time (looking at a new manga)

Today's Small Losses:

• Spent too much time on leisure
• Woke up slightly late
• Slept late

Day #162 - The Cause, and The Effect

Have a taste of Adversity,
Drink a cup of Humility.

Goals of the Day:

• Be focused at work
• Achieved
• NZ trip planning until Day 7
• Not Achieved
• Meditate and sleep early
• Meditated, but slept late

Had something to rush at work.

So stayed back until 9.30pm to finish off the work.

By the time I reached home, it was too late to do anything else but rest.

Today's Small Wins:

• Efficient at work, took initiative to do report formatting
• Did NZ trip planning, but not until Day 7
• Meditated for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't spend enough time on NZ trip planning
• Didn't sleep early
• Didn't exercise

Day #161 - Making Today Fruitful

I strive to do this today; to make my Sunday well spent.

Goals of the Day:

• Have a fruitful wedding prep discussion with Dearest
• Achieved
• Devote at least 1 hour to NZ trip planning
• Achieved
• Plan for next week's schedule
• Not Achieved

It was rather late when I got home.

I figured it would be better to rest instead of pushing myself over my fatigue level to stay up to do planning.

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with Dearest
• Spent time on wedding preparations with Dearest
• NZ trip planning
• Meditation for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up/Slept late
• Didn't plan for the coming week

Day #160 - Feeling Rather Refreshed

What is the place that I feel the most alive?
Hmm... at the moment, I could think of the mountains, the sea, and the breeze that engulfs my body.

Goals of the Day:

• Work on NZ trip until Day 7
• Not Achieved
• Meditate
• Not Achieved

Didn't manage to achieve my goals for the day -_-"

But it's okay.

Was quite a nice day anyway.

Today's Small Wins:

• Worked on NZ trip
• Quality time with friends

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't continue on my habits (waking/sleeping on time, meditate)
• Only got Incentive for my IPPT

Day #159 - Last 10 days in this month

The month passes quickly.
And I realized I didn't really do anything for my personal growth or learning.
Time is really a precious entity.

Goals of the Day:

• Plan out the details from the brief itinerary
• Achieved (still on D3 though)
• Clarify doubts using tripadvisor/edmw
• Nothing to clarify yet
• Rest early for tml's IPPT
• Going to sleep now

Friday has been rather peaceful, which is good.

Today's Small Wins:

• Focused at work
• Did research for NZ trip
• Meditated for 10 minutes
• Resting early

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up late

Day #158 - Focusing on Intentions

I will practice this today.

Goals of the Day:

• Come out with a report draft
• Achieved
• Brief plan for NZ trip for Day 3 to 6
• Achieved for entire trip
• Rest early
• Somewhat

It's been a somewhat emotional day.

But I'm glad it's over =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Drafted out most of my report
• Managed to come out with a brief plan for the entire NZ trip

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't wake up on time
• Didn't sleep on time

Day # 157 - Persistence, not Luck

So I will have to just keep going on in whatever I do.

It's an important day today for me and Dearest.
Hope everything goes well =)

And although it's a public holiday, I would be going back to work for a while.

Goals of the Day:

• Have a good meet-up between my parents and Dearest's parents
• Achieved
• NZ Trip Planning
• Achieved
• Be focused in office work
• Achieved

Thankfully the meet-up went well.

Today's Small Wins:

• Had a good meet-up session between the parents
• Did some focused work back in office
• Did some serious planning for NZ trip

Today's Small Losses:

• Small pockets of time lost to distractions (i.e. Facebook and Youtube)
• Didn't meditate

Day #156 - Throat taking its time to recover

'Listening' to my body's symptoms, and adjusting my lifestyle to them.

Goals of the Day:

• Work report draft (at least 50%)
• Not achieved
• Quality time with friends
• Achieved
• Complete NZ trip Day 2 planning
• Almost there

I think I'm being too detailed in my planning at this point of time.

Should try to be more brief at this stage.

Anyway, didn't had a good sleep last night.

The whole of today was struggling to keep myself in focus.

And report writing is definitely not an easy task for me.

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with psych guys
• Persevered in writing my work report

Today's Small Losses:

• Not in focus, hard to pull myself away from distractions
• Didn't meditate
• Slept late
• Didn't progress well in my NZ trip planning

Day #155 - Efficient, or Effective?

Am I being efficient, or effective?
Some says that efficiency is doing things right, while effectiveness is doing the right things.
So am I doing the wrong things rightly? or doing the right things wrongly?
I have to question myself on a daily basis.

Goals of the Day:

• Focused, Efficient, and Effective
• Achieved around 80%
• Complete Day 2 and 3 of NZ trip
• Not achieved
• Follow the schedule closely
• Almost

Had quite a productive day, aside from not doing any part of my NZ trip. haha..

Dearest told me to prioritize my NZ trip planning because it is a rare opportunity, and that I should make the best out of it.

She would take charge of our wedding and renovation stuff for this period. =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Productive and focused at work
• Did housework
• Meditated for 10 min
• Exercised for 30 min
• Woke up on time

Today's Small Losses

• Sleeping a bit later
• Didn't do NZ planning

Day #154 - Wake Up, and Go to Bed

It's gonna be a busy month ahead.
And I strive to do this every single day.

Goals of the Day:

• NZ trip Day 2
• Only managed to plan till evening time
• Settle mattress selection for new house
• Done!

Personal time sort of cut short because I played cooperative games with the guys, which was fun!

Time not wasted I guess. haha..

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with friends (on gaming)
• Settled mattress for new house with Dearest!
• Crafted a rough idea of the wedding video with Dearest
• Quality time with Dearest
• Meditated for 10min
• Sleeping on time

Today's Small Losses:

• Slow progress on NZ trip
• Woke up late

Day #153 - WeekEnd or Weak End?

Weekends have been mostly unproductive for me.
Giving myself a kick this morning to do something about it.

Goals of the Day:

• Finish NZ trip Day 2 before going out
• Didn't finish Day 2, but make some good changes to Day 1 and first half of Day 2
• Have quality time with Dearest
• Achieved
• Look into selection of wedding photo albums
• Achieved
• Settle the Solemnization timing at wedding venue
• Achived

Good day so far =)

Achieved most of what I set out to do.

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with Dearest
• Settled quite a bit of wedding stuff with Dearest
• Did good research for NZ trip

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't wake up early
• Didn't sleep early

Day #152 - Work Hard In Silence

Some colleagues are taking part in a company challenge next week.
I would think that taking part in it would be generally helpful for one's career in the company.
But I chose not to take part in it.
Mainly because of my current work load, which I think adding anything on top of what I already have could only compromise on my quality of work.
So I shall work at what I need to do, in silence.

Goals of the Day:

1. Being productive at work
• Somewhat
2. Draft out Chinese Wedding Customary Items for tml
• Achieved
3. Plan for Day 2 of NZ 
• Not done

Had to bring mum to see doc at night because her fever couldn't go down.

So didn't have much time to do other things.
But a good news came today.
The BTO is ready for key collection~!
WooHoo~!

Today's Small Wins:

• Care for family
• Wedding preparations
• BTO is ready for key collection!

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't plan NZ trip

Day #151 - Pushing myself, bit by bit

Because if I don't, no one else can do it for me.

Goals of the Day:

1. Send out all the RSVP
• Somewhat done
2. Draft out something for deliverable report
• 50%
3. Day 2 planning of NZ trip
• Undone

During my career facilitation today at work, I expressed my interest in learning R to complement my current work. It's gonna be a tough journey. But I will do it.

Today's Small Wins:

• Meditated for 10 minutes
• Rested really early
• Did my wedding RSVP
• Helped my mum with a small task in the early morning

Today's Small Losses:

• Have to sacrifice time to rest for my body

Day #150 - Rejuvenation

To change, is a must.
But for now, I rejuvenate.

Goals of the Day:

1. Read at least 2 articles at work
• Achieved
2. Meditate
• Achieved
3. Complete Day 2 of NZ Trip
• Not done

Throat seems to be getting a bit better.

But the cough is really irritating me.

Today's Small Wins:

• Focused at work
• Meditated for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Was late for a meeting because I didn't update my G calendar
• Slept a bit late
• Woke up late
• Didn't do research
• Didn't do wedding stuff

Day #149 - Just Endure Through

Sick. But just endure through.

Goals of the Day:

1. Rest early for the night
• Didn't manage to rest early
2. Take care of diet for throat to recover
• Achieved
3. Be focused at work
• Achieved

Did 3 hours of OT at work because I felt that work was piling up.

But it was a good 3-hour period of silence for focus.

Today's Small Wins:

• Meditated for 10 min
• Focused at work

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't sleep early
• Did office OT
• Missed out on a programming course that I signed up for this evening (I forgot about it, but anyway, I wasn't in a good state of health to go also)

Day #148 - Got more medicine

I subscribed to these causes; especially the 2nd one.

Goals of the Day:

1. Get plenty of rest to recover for the rest of the work week
• Achieved
2. Attempt to finalize campervan rental
• Booked!
3. Itinerary building until Day 3
• Done till Day 1

Today's Small Wins:

• Booked my campervan for the NZ trip!
• Did research on itinerary

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't plan itinerary until Day 3
• Didn't mediate

Day #147 - Sore Throat back again

Think I talked too much last evening while attending a wedding.

Hope. There will always be.

Goals of the Day:

1. Plan out wedding schedule
• Somewhat
2. Quality time with Dearest
• Achieved
3. Early night sleep
• Going to

Throat still sore at the end of the day.

Today's Small Wins:

• Finally published the trip's video!
• Quality time with Dearest
• Worked on wedding stuff with Dearest

Today's Small Losses:

• Slept late
• Didn't meditate

Day #146 - Slow and Steady

It's a simple reminder.
To go slow, and steady.
And we will reach there.

Goals of the Day:

1. Start building up my itinerary
• Achieved
2. Explore customization on Google forms for Wedding RSVP
• Not achieved
3. Finish video editing for Australia trip 
• Done!

Finally finish my video for the recent trip! Woohoo~!

Started my itinerary, but is very far from being done.

Today's Small Wins:

• Started on itinerary
• Finished video editing for trip
• Spent time playing game with friends

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't explore Google forms
• Didn't meditate
• Slept late

Day #145 - Multiple Projects at One Go

It's a plan. My Plan.

And right now, "My Plan" has a lot of projects. haha...
Wedding, Renovation, NZ Trip, Office Work, Personal Work...
And Dearest is feeling a bit stressed on the wedding/reno stuff.
She has been taking on a lot to allow me more time for my personal things.
So right now, I should step up and contribute more.

Goals of the Day:

1. Finish 3 office work tasks that I have planned
• Somewhat
2. Navigate through theknot and furnish it with more details
• Achieved
3. Send 5 more requests for campervan quotations
• Didn't send in 5 more requests as the rest are not highly recommended

Had quite a productive day today =)

Office work was still rather overwhelming.

It always feel like that when I have to write report, which I don't like.

Back home, I setup a prototype on theknot to let Dearest see how the RSVP page would look like.

I told her about the limitations of the RSVP questions too.

She later told me that she might prefer Google form... let's see how. haha..

More or less settled on the campervan to rent. 

Woohoo~!

Today's Small Wins:

• Setup prototype on theknot.com
• Near to finalizing my choice for campervan
• Had an interesting idea for a social fashion app that I shared with Dearest
• Meditate for 10 min (after finishing this)

Today's Small Losses:

• Still sick
• Woke up slightly late
• Slept slightly late 

Day #144 - Still Slightly Sick

I don't get a lot of agreement on what I want to do.
And rarely do I question myself, if I was wrong.

Goals of the Day:

• Be focused at work
• Achieved
• Work on NZ trip - Narrow down which campervan to rent
• Did a bit 
• Try littleknot for wedding rsvp
• Did a bit

Still sick. 

Unmotivated to do much.

Today's Small Wins:

• Rest early

Today's Small Losses:

• Loss of time

Day #143 - Recovering at Home

We all have fears, don't we?

Goals of the Day:

1. Rest well to recover
• Achieved
2. Campervans comparison
• Achieved
3. Financial Accounting
• Achieved

Did some work throughout the whole day of resting.

Today's Small Wins:

• Rested
• Worked on my NZ trip
• Did my financial accounting for the month of Sep
• Draft out a template for the wedding RSVP

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Spent some time gaming

Day #142 - Facing My Inertia

Goals of the Day:

1. Productive at work
• Not achieved 
2. Keep to planned schedule
1. Not achieved
3. Finish comparison of campervans tonight
1. Not achieved

Throat felt itchy when I reached home.
Probably got sick again.
Had to lay in bed after dinner, so didn't do anything.

Today's Small Wins:

• Slept early

Today's Small Losses:

• Loss of time due to being sick

Day #141 - Dreams and Dedication Are A Powerful Combination

Goals of the Day:

1. Plan the schedule for the week ahead
• Done
2. Compare prices for campervans for NZ trip
• Undone 
3. Diary update
• Finished 20 Sep, left 28 Sep and 1 Oct

Slowly, but steadily, I will build my mental strength and determination.

Today's Small Wins:

• Meditated for 10 min
• Spent time to do diary updates
• Woke up early

Today's Small Losses:

• Some time wasted on social media and watching videos
• Slept late

Day #140 - Start of another month

It's the start of another month, and the start of the 4th Qtr of the year.

Goals of the Day:

1. Quality time with Dearest
• Done
2. Plan for the week ahead
1. Undone
3. Settle the wedding ring design and order 
• Done
4. Mooncakes for Dearest's family
• Done

I think I got too indulged in relaxing already.

Lots of things to do - wedding, renovation, NZ trip planning, blog, app learning

Today's Small Wins:

• Wedding ring design is settled!
• Quality time with Dearest

Today's Small Losses:

• Spent time on gaming instead of work
• Slept late and woke up late
• Didn't do housework