Friday, August 31, 2018

Day #472 - Taking Vacations


I think I have decided to pay my buddy a visit, and have a solo trip for the 2nd leg.

Goals of the Day:
  • Decide period of leave for the London trip
    • Not Achieved
  • Have a good celebration with Dearest on our 7th anniversary of knowing each other =)
    • Achieved
  • Plan out 1 day of the itinerary for Poland (buying tickets/booking tours, transport options)
    • Not Achieved
By the time we got home, I was quite tired out~ 

Today's Small Wins:
  • Had a good celebration with Dearest over mookata =)
Today's Small Losses:
  • Not very focused at work (probably because of the low motivation and lack of sleep)
  • Didn't decide the actual period of leave 
  • Didn't plan the Poland itinerary
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Being able to meet Dearest for the 1st time 7 years ago
  • Dearest patience when I was playing badminton

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Day #471 - Mind On Tasks


Today, I shall face my tasks straight on.

Goals of the Day:
  • Daily Q2 Planning
    • Achieved
  • Work on a budget appsheet for Dearest and me
    • Achieved
  • Practise good habits
    • Not Achieved
Had a long chat with Dearest during dinner over something that was troubling her.
I think we had a good discussion to gain clarity on the matter =)

Today's Small Wins:
  • Planned the day
  • Cooked something simple for dinner
  • Worked out a prototype app using appsheet for inputting the daily joint expenses
Today's Small Losses:
  • Not motivated at work today -> low efficiency
  • Didn't meditate 
  • Didn't sleep on time
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest wanting to make the right decision
  • The fish I cooked today turned out quite okay
  • The prototype app worked!

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Day #470 - Moving Forward


I have to move forward.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Beef up details of the itinerary
    • Not Achieved
There was a last minute change of plan to go to Dearest's parents' house to help out with some renovation details.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Able to help Dearest's parents on renovation planning
  • Gave a good suggestion to borrow the car from Dearest's bro for running around the few places
Today's Small Losses:
  • Slept slightly late
  • Didn't meditate
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Being able to help Dearest's family
  • Dearest's appreciation of my help

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Day #469 - Planning


Daily planning is an essential part of lifetime goals.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Effective (Doing the right things) and Efficient (Doing things right) at work
    • Achieved
  • Household chores
    • Achieved
  • Spend at least 1 hour on the trip itinerary 
    • Achieved
Getting slightly cranky at work.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Did daily planning
  • Did household chores as planned
  • Put in the effort to beef up the itinerary details
  • Meditated for 10 min
Today's Small Losses:
  • Slept slightly late
  • Had to resolve some issues
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • A marriage with Dearest

Monday, August 27, 2018

Day #468 - Getting Over Mistakes


Getting over mistakes, by correcting them.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Q2 Weekly Planning
    • Achieved
  • Practise good habits (meditate, sleep on time)
    • Not Achieved
  • Book return flights
    • Not Achieved (decided to request change of 1-way to round-trip to see if this's possible)
  • Plan out dates for London trip
    • Achieved
Made a mistake of putting my phone in bed last night.
Dearest didn't have a restful night because I received some midnight messages and my phone vibrated.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Did Q2 Daily Planning
  • Did Q2 Weekly Planning
  • Got the dates restriction for London trip in Oct
  • Managed to get the heat stain off the wooden dining table (using baking soda + toothpaste)
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't manage to finish reading the journal paper for tml's work meeting
  • Didn't meditate and sleep on time
  • Cause Dearest to lose sleep
  • Accidentally left a heat stain mark on the wooden dining table
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest emotional regulation
  • Time to do some cooking

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Day #467 - Mind Over Matter

It's mind over matter.

Goals of the Day:
  • Have a good half marathon with my army guys
    • Achieved
  • Book return flight for the trip
    • Not Achieved
  • Plan trip to London
    • Not Achieved
It was a good half-marathon, even though I clocked a slower time than my usual ones.
Because it wasn't the timing that mattered, but the run itself, with the companions.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Half-marathon - Checked!
  • Quality time with Dearest over dinner and movie (Crazy Rich Asians)
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't book return flight
  • Didn't plan for trip to London to visit John
  • Didn't meditate
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • A batch of army dudes to hang out with; friendships that have lasted more than a decade
  • Quality time with Dearest

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Day #466 - Take Charge Of My Day


Taking charge of my day is the only way to get what I truly want for life.

Goals of the Day:

  • Complete my household chores
  • Rest early for tml's half-marathon
  • Spend quality time with my friends

Friday, August 24, 2018

Day #465 - Take It Easy


The idea is to take it.

Goals of The Day:

  • Have a good update meeting at work
    • Achieved
  • Have a good badminton session
    • Achieved
The update went well.
I was feeling more relaxed after that, and had a good chillah session and a few good games of badminton.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Good update session
  • Good badminton games where I performed
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Didn't sleep on time
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest coming to see me play badminton =)
  • Colleagues coming to the chillah session that I organized and having fun

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Day #464 - Work Efficiency and Effectiveness


The things to do right, have to be the right things to do in the first place.

Goals of the Day:
  • Complete the update slides for tml as efficienctly and effectively as possible
    • Achieved
  • Book the accommodation for Krakow and Zakopane
    • Achieved
Stayed back at work to complete the slides.
But I think I was doing the right things, instead of just doing things right.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Accompanied parents to temple at TPY with Dearest to offer our respects to my grandparents
  • Finished the update slides
Today's Small Losses:
  • Slept slightly late and felt some breathing discomfort before sleeping
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest willingness to accompany me and my parents to prayers this morning, even though none of my generation showed up
  • Dearest was accommodating when my dad wanted to pay respect to his maternal grandma and we had to go to another

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Day #463 - A Day of Rest


It's a public holiday today!
A day of rest for me before the week continues for 2 more days.

Goals of the Day:
  • Book accommodation for Krakow
    • Not Achieved (but have selected the airbnb to book)
  • Plan itinerary for Zakopane
    • Achieved
  • Brainstorm other places to visit
    • Achieved (decided to just spend time only in 2 places)
Was a long day of doing research for the trip while Dearest was away helping her mum.
But it was a fruitful day =)

Today's Small Wins:
  • Did trip research for Zakopane
  • Shortlisted and selected the accommodation with Dearest
  • Meditated for 10 min
Today's Small Losses:
  • Slept late
  • Didn't exercise
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Being able to sit down with Dearest to properly go through the brief itnerary and get feedback on the accommodation choices
  • Having time to do trip research

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Day #462 - Mountains and Myself


It's not the mountain I'm trying to overcome; it's myself.

Goals of the Day:
  • [Office] Determine the research direction
    • Achieved
  • [Personal] Plan 4 full days of itinerary at Zakopane
    • Not Achieved
  • Practise good habits (meditate and sleep on time)
    • Not Achieved
Today's Small Wins:
  • Pressed on at work to refine research direction
  • Went to surprise Dearest at the tracks while she was running
  • Quality time with Dearest (dinner chat and gaming)
  • Completed Overcooked with Dearest!
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't practise good habits
  • Didn't do trip research
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Having a gaming partner =p

Monday, August 20, 2018

Day #461 - Rejuvenated


The weekend has allowed me to rest somewhat and feel rejuvenated to face the challenges I have ahead of me this week.

Goals of the Day:
  • [Office] Work out this week's tasks and prioritize them
    • Achieved
  • [Personal] Settle 4 days of itinerary for Zakopane
    • Not Achieved
Although the itinerary is not going as smooth, I was able to get more information to help me plan out the activities.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Was able to voice my opinion over work
  • Did research for around 2 hours
Today's Small Losses:
  • Haven't been meditating lately
  • Slept late
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • The team coming together to form a solution
  • A good dinner interaction with Dearest

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Day #460 - Intense Focus


Let my intense focus takes control.

Goals of the Day:
  • Have a good interaction with Mum 
    • Achieved
  • Trip research
    • Achieved
Planned the trip for the Krakow's part.
Next up, Zakopane (and the Tatra Mountains).

Today's Small Wins:
  • Quality time with parents
  • Quality time with Dearest (slight cooking and movie, The Help)
  • Finished the Krakow's part
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Slept slightly later
  • Didn't plan for the next week
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Together-moments at my parents' place
  • Dearest's forgiveness after I accidentally made a dent in the wall because of the iron
  • The gradual recovery of my throat

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Day #459 - The End of Labour Is To Gain Leisure


Today's Small Wins:

  • Bought a small gift for grand ma's birthday under the suggestion of Dearest =)
  • Quality interaction for Dearest with the rest of the cousins
  • Had leisure time on gaming
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't do Q2 planning today
  • Didn't do trip research
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest having a good interaction session with the cousins over gaming
  • Being able to bring a smile to my grandma through the gift

Friday, August 17, 2018

Day #458 - Learn, Live, Hope


I would need to take charge more of my life.

Goals of the Day:
  • Fill up 3 more days of the itinerary for the trip
  • Book accommodation for the the current itinerary 

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Day #457 - A Difficult Situation


A difficult situation at work.

Today's Small Wins:

  • Managed to get something up before project update meeting
Today's Small Losses:
  • No progress on the research approach at work
  • No progress on the trip research
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Being able to comfort and support Dearest
  • Being able to help Dearest's family

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Day #456 - Back To Earning Income


Back to work after 2 days of MC, but not totally recovered.
Got quite a bit of work to do, and I wasn't feeling too ill, so back to work I went.

Goals of the Day:
  • [Work] - Digest the current literature and come up with a different research approaches
    • Not Achieved
  • [Personal] - Identify other places to go in Poland (or other countries)
    • Not Achieved
Body still feeling weak. -_-"

Today's Small Wins:
  • Sat myself down to look through the variables at work
Today's Small Losses:
  • No progress on trip research
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Supportive colleagues

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Day #455 - If Not Now, Then When?


Good reminder to myself.

If not now, the when? If not me, then who? 

Goals of the Day:
  • Do household chores (do laundry and iron clothes)
    • Achieved
  • Complete trip research for Krakow and start on Switzerland
    • Not Achieved
Possible change of plans for the trip as I didn't know if Dearest would enjoy the numerous mountains as much in Switzerland.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Worked at trip research for the whole day
  • Meditated for 12min
  • Slept on time
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't finish the trip research
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Time to do research

Monday, August 13, 2018

Day #454 - Resting on Sick Day


Felt better in the morning, but took up Dearest's suggestion to take Medical Leave to rest enough for my body to recover fully.

Today's Small Wins:

  • Rest my body for the most part of the day
  • Did trip research on Poland
  • Did simple household chores
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Slept slightly late because was doing research
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest taking care of my every need
  • Doctor giving me 2 days MC to have sufficient rest

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Day #453 - Be Not Sick Too Late Nor Well Too Soon


Felt terrible after coming home from the morning with my parents.
Had to rest for a while before I felt well enough to be up and doing work.

Goals of the Day:
  • Quality time with parents
    • Achieved
  • Finish off the trip planning for krakow's part of the trip
    • Not Achieved
  • Complete the financial account for July
    • Not Achieved
Today's Small Wins:
  • Quality time both with mum and dad, although separately
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't manage to do anything for the rest of the evening because I was feeling too weak
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Being able to spend quality with Dad (because sometimes I'm unsure how I could do that)
  • Dearest taking good care of me when I was feeling sick

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Day #452 - Spending Time Wisely


It's the weekend again!
Time to spend time wisely.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Household chores
    • Achieved
  • Settled administrative/financial tasks (return popsical, get a new bank token, change PINS for 3 credit cards, buy facial wash, transfer money to mum, settle financial accounting for July, settle prayings for 7th month, send Lex list of renovation vendors)
    • Achieved (except for financial accounting)
  • Trip research for Krakow
    • Not Achieved
Managed to complete most of the tasks that I set out to do, especially the administrative stuff.
Gave myself some leisure time of playing Maplestory on mobile. haha..

Today's Small Wins:
  • Completed most of the administrative tasks
  • Quality time with Dearest's family
  • Did the 1st 7th lunar month prayings together with Dearest
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't managed to complete the financial accounting for July
  • Didn't do trip research for Krakow
  • Didn't meditate
  • Slept late
  • Spent the evening playing Maplestory instead of doing productive work
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • A good dinner filled with interaction with Dearest's family
  • My mum's patience in instructing me what to do for 7th lunar month prayings


Friday, August 10, 2018

Day #451 - The Struggle


The struggle is real today.
As I wondered, is it a transition period to a senior position, or is it a case of a misfit.

Goals of the Day:

  • Finish off two work tasks (100 data rows of codings, and getting the results for user's tasking)
  • Have a good badminton session
  • Plan for the weekend with Dearest
Today's Small Wins:
  • Finished the two work tasks that I have set out to do
  • Good badminton session (although the start was still feeling a bit down)
  • Meditated for 10 min
  • Discussed the weekend plan with Dearest
  • Prioritized rest by coming home early after dinner with badminton folks (instead of chatting)
Today's Small Losses:
  • Unable to formulate a research approach
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • A badminton mate who made sure that if I need someone to talk to, he is available =)
  • Dearest for talking and comforting me about my struggle
  • Playful moments with Dearest right before we sleep

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Day #450 - First National Day In My New House


It's the first national day spent in my new house today =)
Seeing the planes fly by for the past few months, and today is finally their performance.

Goals of the Day:

  • Organize a good gathering session for Dearest's friends
    • Achieved
  • Quality time with Dearest
    • Achieved
Today's Small Wins:
  • Had lots of fun interacting with Dearest's friends and making sure they constantly have snacks to munch on
  • Managed to host a colleague and his fiancee to tour our house
  • Quality time with Dearest
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't manage to exercise much this morning (only ran 0.8km before having a stomachache)
  • Didn't meditate
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest's friends being willing to travel all way to our house to spend time with us
  • The popsical machine was quite entertaining for the group

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Day #449 - Prioritizing Important Tasks


Although I'm performing off-site for work, I think I have been neglecting the work back at office.
And if I don't take control of it soon, I think the direction of work will go off the track.

Goals of the Day:
  • Take control of the work at desk
    • Not Achieved
  • Quality time with family
    • Achieved
Went back together with Dearest to my parents' house to have dinner with my mum =)

Today's Small Wins:
  • Quality time with mum
  • Good chat with boss
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Slept late
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Honest chat with boss
  • Good interaction between Dearest and Mum
  • Smooth process of renting the Popsical

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Day #448 - Making Today Count


It's a decision everyday.

Goals of the Day:
  • Follow planned schedule (Q2 planning, personal work, meditate)
    • Not Achieved
  • Start on a new book
    • Achieved
My new graphic card came today!
Spent the evening doing household chores and fixing up my new card =p

Today's Small Wins:
  • Successfully got the results out of the dataset under an hour at work
  • Managed to fix up my graphic card smoothly
  • Didn't sleep that late
  • Resumed reading on another half-read book
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Didn't do personal work
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Being a trusted colleague
  • Fast and sort of smooth delivery of my expensive graphic card

Monday, August 6, 2018

Day #447 - Discipline of Desire


Plan diligently,
Execute with discipline.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Read for at least 30 min
    • Achieved
  • Housework (Iron for 30 min)
    • Not Achieved
  • Work on financial matters (port one bank's calculator from Gsheets to Excel)
    • Achieved
  • Meditate for 10 min
    • Achieved
Received news of someone leaving the team.
Felt a bit sad, but could also felt that something was amiss for sometime.

Today's Small Wins:
  • Read finished the book, "Outbreak"
  • Meditated
  • Leisure time with colleagues (playing Avalon)
  • Took time to talk to Dearest during this sensitive period for her
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't do main taks (housework, work on financial matters)
  • Slept late
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Some down time today at work
  • Being able to reach home in time for the delivery of the knife holder to be done

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Day #446 - I Don't Know Where I'm Going


But I'm on my way.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Q2 Weekly Planning for next week
    • Achieved
  • At least 2 hours of travel planning
    • Achieved (1.5hour though)
  • Housework (30 min of iron, 30 min of tidying up)
    • Achieved
  • Quality time with Dearest's friends
    • Achieved
Started the early morning with hiking with Dearest's friends at Macritchie Reservior.
A good monthly activity so far =)

Today's Small Wins:
  • Quality time with Dearest's friends
  • Progress in research on one of the important tours at Poland
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Didn't do any personal work
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Able to have fun interaction with Dearest's friends
  • Eating chocolate ice cream without feeling too heaty

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Day #445 - Organized Mess


Whatever the mess,
Whenever the mess,
However the mess.
The Stillness remains.

Goals of the Day:
  • Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Quality time with parents
    • Achieved
  • Finish the financial accounting for July
    • Not Achieved - decided it's better to do this mid-month because some bank statements have not come in yet
  • Travel research (at least 30 min) on Krakow
    • Achieved
Today's Small Wins:
  • Planned for the day
  • Quality time with parents, and saw my grandma for a bit
  • Did some financial accounting
  • Did some research on travel
  • Shifted my computer desk to have a window view
  • Did housework
  • Put in the effort to get a free luggage
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Haven't do planning for tml's morning activity yet
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Having a free luggage
  • Being able to chat with my cousin for a bit
  • My mum's cooking (I ate yong tau fu today~!)


Friday, August 3, 2018

Day #444 - Baby Steps to Success


All the small steps I have taken are all quite varied and add values to different aspects of my life.
It's not a success yet, but I'm betting that all these would add up to an eventual victory.

Goals of the Day:
  • Do Q2 Daily Planning
    • Achieved
  • Do Q2 Weekend planning
    • Achieved
  • Exercise
    • Not Achieved
Today's Small Wins:
  • Managed to do all the office tasks I have set out to do
  • Meditated for 10 minutes
  • Did financial administration for July
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't exercise
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Careful and comprehensive instructions from a colleague
  • Having an approachable big boss

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Day #443 - Focusing On One Thing


So the only logical thing to do is to just focus on chasing one rabbit.

Goals of The Day:
  • [Office] Finish off the outstanding work tasks in the morning when I get to office
    • Achieved
  • [Office] Prepare a set of variables and list out those that others can help get it easier
    • Achieved
  • Take notes of the talk after work today on retirement
    • Not Achieved
Had to be offsite in the afternoon due to an ah-hoc meeting.
After I ended work, I was closer to home than to the retirement talk at one-north.
So I decided to just go home for the evening. haha..

Today's Small Wins:
  • Did efficient work in the morning
  • Quality time with Dearest playing video games
Today's Small Losses:
  • Didn't meditate
  • Too much leisure time
  • Slept late
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • New game controllers worked!
  • Gaming time with Dearest

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Day #442 - Solving Problems


There's a difference between just pointing out a problem, and solving a problem.
I usually choose the latter.

Today's Small Wins:

  • Managed to successfully installed my new SSD and switched OS
  • Rented the KTV system (popsical) for the upcoming gathering for Dearest's relatives
  • Bought flight tickets for the first leg of the trip!
Today's Small Losses:
  • Sleep slightly late
  • Have undone work back in office
  • Didn't manage to do any personal work today (and for quite some time already)
Things I'm Grateful for Today:
  • Dearest's patience and understanding in considering my request
  • Leisure moments with colleagues
  • Diligent teammates