Day #532 - Plan Ahead

It's important to plan ahead, whether is it in my office work, non-office work, and other aspects of life.
And it's more fulfilling to do so than just living it through.

Goals of the Day:

• Plan out the Project F till the update
• Achieved
• Finish up the financial administration for Sept, and then make amendments to current PFM sheet
• Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Cooked a good and simple dinner
• Finished up the financial administration for Sept
• Thought up another strategy to separate between household chores and personal work (household chores in the morning, personal work after dinner)

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Slept slightly later than desired

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Having dinner and chit-chatting with Dearest
• Being able to go home on time after work
• Being safe from travels (a regional plane just crashed)

Day #531 - Keeping Things Simple

It is pertinent to keep my life simple.
It means navigating through the complexities and establishing straightforward goals.

Goals of the Day:

• Catch up with work matters 
• Achieved
• Work on long-term plans
• Not Achieved
• Chart out the different aspects of Career Approach (2) in OneNote
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Did financial administration
• Made Dearest laughed a bit with comedy on Netflix

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up late
• Didn't meditate
• Didn't work on long-term plans at work
• Didn't chart out the different aspects of Career Approach (2)

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Being in a blissful marriage with Dearest =)
• Had a good time laughing at Adam Sandler's Netflix special with Dearest
• A comfortable bed to sleep in

Day #519 - Give It A Try

There are many reasons (or excuses) to say No.
But I think, I just want to listen to that little voice, that says Yes.

Goals of the Day

• Have a nice evening with Dearest before I fly off tomorrow
• Achieved
• Have a good presentation by preparing myself sufficiently through rehearsing
• Achieved
• Finish packing for flight
• Achieved

Body don't feel entirely well.

But being beside Dearest, and her taking care of me, made it all better.

Today's Small Wins:

• Good presentation
• Quality time with Dearest
• Packed finish my bag and settled all administration

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't spend enough time with Dearest
• Didn't sleep on time

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest reminding me about bringing all kinds of stuff for my well-being
• Dearest enduring the slightly warmer temperature in the bedroom so I could sleep better
• Good feedback from the Chairman of the presentation

Day #518 - Wish for, or Work for

It's a reminder to myself that I have to put in the work for things that I wish for.

Goals of the Day:

• Have a good dinner with my parents
• Achieved
• Be focused and productive at work (use pomodoro technique)
• Achieved
• Prepare for London trip (print documents / pack stuff)
• Somewhat Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Instructed the team on the direction of the project for the time while I'm away
• Quality time with my mum and sis with Dearest
• Quality time with a colleague over tea break and talk about work and non-work stuff
• Meditated for 10 min with Dearest

Today's Small Losses:

• Haven't pack finish all of my things for London
• Slept slightly late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A good dinner with my mum, sis and Dearest (even if there was some tension between mum and sis on her wedding)
• Mum's chrysanthemum tea
• Dearest washing the dishes after dinner

Day #517 - Chase One First

I just need to choose.

Goals of the Day:

• [Office] List out all the things to be done before I fly
• Not Achieved
• Pack my bags
• Somewhat Achieved
• Meditate
• Not Achieved

Was having a headache the whole day.

Might be the exhaustion from the Spartan race that was still affecting my body.

But at least I packed my bag somewhat by putting all the stuff I can think of on the dining table.

Today's Small Wins:

• Guided my younger colleagues on some excel functions
• Packed a bit of my bag
• Managed to help John find his contact lens
• Managed to change currency
• Slept on time

Today's Small Losses:'

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't manage to plan forward for work

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Being able to find John find his contact lens after going to 2 shops in the shopping mall

Day #516 - Tired

I hope I'm just genuinely feeling tired.

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with Mum
• Quality time with Dearest with cooking and gaming (overcooked 2!)
• Leisure time to myself
• Household chores

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Slept slightly late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest doing most of the household chores today, including the cooking, and the sparkingly clean toilets
• Kiwis that mum bought back from overseas, and the 2 shirts she gave me and Dearest

Day #515 - Mind over Matter

Spartan Super Day~!

Goals of the Day:

• Complete Spartan Super with walking (so as not to injure my knee further)
• Achieved
• Rest sufficiently for tomorrow's morning breakfast with mum
• Achieved

Rain, mud, sand.

Today's Small Wins:

• Managed to reach the race venue early to not feel rushed
• Completed Spartan Super without much injuries and pain
• Had some leisure time to myself

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't feel like I have the energy to do household chores after the race
• Didn't meditate

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A friendly racer who chatted with me along the way
• Dearest's massage for my tired body before we slept

Day #514 - Priority -> Me

Even though I knew it would be a nice gesture to go to the airport to see my mum when she's back, but I rejected this idea to give myself more time and space this weekend.

Goals of the Day:

• Rest well and prepare for the Spartan race tml morn
• Achieved
• Enjoy the badminton session
• Achieved
• [Office] Be prepared for the experiment
• Achieved

Priority for self is more important than for others.

Even closed ones.

But this approach of managing life shouldn't be used on a single event.

Instead, it should be viewed holistically with the other things you have been doing.

Today's Small Wins:

• Experiment went okay
• Rested early and prepared my bag for tomorrow's race
• Enjoyed my badminton session and small dinner chat

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Missed out a point of preparation for the experiment
• Interview with the participant after the experiment was a bit haphazard

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A body which I feel is ready for tomorrow
• The safe return of mum

Day #513 - Solving the Crossroad Dilemma

There are no signs or indications like in the real world.
But then again, in the real uncharted world, there isn't any either.

Goals of the Day:

• Quality time with Dearest's family
• Achieved
• Take time to think about crossroads
• Not Achieved

Following where the heart goes first.

And then the rest will follow.

I guess.

Today's Small Wins:

• Managed to help out with some cables for Dearest's family
• Meditated for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up late
• Gave some thoughts to what I want to strive for, but didn't sit myself down to do so

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Delicious food that Dearest's mum and brother bought for dinner
• Overseas snacks from Dearest's mum
• Mum seemed to be having fun at NZ

Day #512 - Habit of Winning. Or Losing.

If I feel that I'm losing everyday, it becomes a habit, and a mentality.
And therefore, I strive to win.

Today's Small Wins:

• Being constructive during meetings
• Being able to have a constructive discussion after I keep forgetting to off switches

Today's Small Losses:

• Woke up late today

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A friendly doctor
• Being still alive after all the military stuff I have gone through (RIP to the recent 

Day #511 - Good Life

My thoughts.
My life.

Goals of the Day:

• [Office] Rework data analysis for Project O
• Achieved
• [Office] Update slides for Project F
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Managed to get a clean and tidy data workflow for O
• Cooked up a good and simple dinner for me
• Quality time with Dearest =)

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't finish the slides for O and F
• Slept late
• Didn't meditate

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Smooth session ;)
• Chit chats during dinner with Dearest

Day #510 - Excellence Is Never An Accident

I strive towards excellence in all aspects of my life.

Goals of the Day:

• [Office] Devote focus to my work
• Achieved
• Decide on the actual hikes at Lake District
• Achieved
• Meditate
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Good focus at work
• Household chore done
• Decided on the potential hikes for Lake District
• Good dinner + Book shopping with Dearest
• Got my new badminton bag!

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Slept slightly late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Fun and laughter with Dearest at Kinokuniya
• The slightly bigger work space

Day #509 - Husband to Wife

As she supports me through my life, I'm gonna support her through hers too.

Goals of the Day:

• Exercise
• Achieved
• Household chores
• Achieved
• Trip Planning
• Achieved
• Relook at what I want to do in the short term
• Not Achieved
• Financial planning with Dearest
• Achieved
• Quality time with Dearest
• Achieved

Lots of wins today!

Today's Small Wins:

• Did arm strength training for 20 minutes
• Finished the household chores that I have set out to do
• Managed to get a comprehensive list of hikes that I can do at Lake District
• Review the joint expenditure with Dearest and decided on a monthly budget for the various categories
• Updated the AppSheet mobile app that Dearest and I were using to reflect the budget left for the month
• Cooked up a very nice dinner with Dearest
• Nice evening with Dearest over dinner and tv (Sherlock Holmes!)

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't review short-term goals
• Slept slightly later than planned

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A nice dinner
• Dearest being active in reviewing and managing our finance together with me
• Left knee seems to be a bit better everyday

Day #508 - Unclear Goals

Recently I have been feeling that I'm chasing one rabbit after another.
If it's not work, it's planning for a trip.
If it's not planning for a trip, it's planning for an event.
It's like a neverending "I-got-something-else-to-do" syndrome.
Things have got to change.
I need to change.

Goals of the Day:

• Book the train tickets and the car rental
• Achieved
• Review accommodation
• Achieved
• Plan for tomorrow
• Achieved
• Meditate
• Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with friends
• Managed to book the train tickets and car rental after much effort; the train operator's website don't accept foreign credit cards, so I have to find alternative sites
• Meditate for 10 min
• Made plans for tomorrow

Today's Small Losses:

• Mahjong =(
• Wasted time going down to Sentosa for the lucky draw

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• It's always fun and laughter with this bunch of guys
• Colleagues that I could sit with during social events

Day #507 - Jack or Master

I think I'm trying to want to do too many things.
I need to sit down and think through; what is it that I want to do a million times.

Goals of the Day:

• Send Mum off at the airport
• Achieved
• Trip planning - Decide on train (to and fro), car rental, and accommodation
• Achieved

It's nice to see mum flying off to enjoy life =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Finally managed to shift my cubicle
• Sent my mum off to NZ; I think it made her happy =)

Today's Small Losses:

• Not very motivated at work 
• Didn't meditate

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Was able to get off work and reach the airport in time to spend some time with my mum before she entered the gate
• A bigger space for work

Day #506 - Secret Destination in Life

Maybe holiday is like a shorter version of what life is.
There are gonna be secret destinations that we are not aware of.
Perhaps the main difference people would feel differently about the two, is that one is chosen, one is not.
Life forced upon us circumstances that we can't choose.
Or, can we?

Goals of the Day:

• Draft out the details of the transport for the trip
• Not Achieved
• Plan out the weekend schedule
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Managed to conduct mini-Excel quick lessons for my colleagues
• Did household chores
• Did some trip planning, but not substantial
• Cooked a nice dinner for myself

Today's Small Losses:

• Got glued to the TV after dinner for a while; felt tired to move
• Didn't meditate again; need to really commit myself to doing this and drag myself away from the monitor before I sleep
• Didn't do much planning for trip or weekend
• Overate for dinner

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Having enough funds to feel somewhat secure
• A close friend who decided to go hiking with me

Day #505 - Greatness Come From Autonomy

If there's someone to ask permission from, that usually means there's someone who can control my work.

Goals of the Day:

• Book accommodation for trip
• Achieved
• Itinerary Planning
• Achieved
• Practise good habits
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Booked an accommodation for the trip! (but might be a temporary one, until I find a better option)
• Finished the book, "The Art of Living A Good Life"
• Quality time with Dearest =)
• Cooked up a quick dinner for Dearest and I

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Left knee still hurt; injury from Tues training

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A good internal update meeting
• Being able to sell away the unused ticket for this saturday

Day #504 - Average? Nope. Awesome.

No matter where I am.

Goals of the Day:

• [Office] Focus and overcome
• Achieved
• Daily Q2 Planning
• Achieved
• Trip Planning
• Achieved
• Practise good habits (Meditate + Sleep by 11pm)
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Managed to prepare the slides sufficiently for tml's morning update meeting
• Did mental Q2 planning of what I want to do for the day
• Managed to spend around 15 minutes on trip planning to decide on the place of accommodation
• Did interval training after work ( 6 x 400m)

Today's Small Losses:

• Overworked myself physically; knees injured
• Didn't meditate
• Didn't sleep on time
• Did OT

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A good teabreak with colleague
• Being able to be at home when the delivery for the borosilicate jug came

Day #503 - Mounting Pressure; Graceful Display

Often times we are put under pressure across various situations.
For me now, it's work and the upcoming trip to London.
And also constantly at the back of my head, my career pursuits.
Whichever it is, I would want to face it gracefully.

Goals of the Day:

• Enquire about the great difference in expectations of the refunds from the airline (I would lose $2K if I didn't push for an answer)
• Achieved
• Arrange a successful meetup with Carousell buyer on my jackets
• Achieved
• Do household chores
• Achieved
• Do Q2 planning for the day 
• Not Achieved
• Do Q2 planning for the week
• Not Achieved

It's always good to check whether refunds have been done.

Because in this case, if I didn't, I would have lost more than $2K without knowing.

Today's Small Wins:

• Did household chores
• Settled financial administration for Sept
• Slept on time
• Exercised in the morning (2km, sit-ups, push-ups)

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Didn't do daily and weekly planning
• Didn't plan my time properly to receive the Amazon parcel
• Loss of time from meeting buyer but the transaction didn't go through because it didn't fit

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Managed to meet my Carousell buyer, but the jacket didn't fit
• Free food during the refreshment after the opening brief by CEO on the company's annual innovation challenge
• Good project team discussion