My to do list

How do you manage your time? Time is one of our resources in our lives. A very important resource. Other resources would be health, wealth, talents, thoughts, network, relationship etc.

I am going to talk about time here. Time is life itself. To be living means to have time.

A big different between a successful person and unsuccessful one is on how they manage their time. There is a difference between these two.

Successful ones ussually manage their time well, because they value their time, their every second. They know how to use it in a worthwhile way. An important person ussually has a to-do list. It is actually a list of tasks to do. They schedule everything and make sure their priorities are carried out and no task is missed.

Why do we need to do the scheduling? Each one of us has tasks to do everyday, personally and professionally. Our time is limited. When we put them written we tend to do it well because we make time, put our attention and energy there. We keep our focus. We won’t miss it. The schedule will remind us to any task needs to be completed.

How do you make your daily schedule? Do you make it on a digital device? on your smartphone or laptop? This device is really smart, and it will remind you on timely basis with no fail if you are on screen most of the time. But for those who consider themselves need to reduce their screen time, it might not be the best way. The screen will pull your attention. It might become a distraction of your focus instead.

And I realized I am on this second category. I prefer to make my to-do list on my book. I write them down. I bought a very nice book for this. Its pages are blank, no lines and also no dates printed, so I can freely write anything, draw anything too. Ussually I write the list only for that particular day. I put some on a little sticky colored paper if the schedule is still a few days ahead or not yet fixed. Then I stick it on the following blank page.

Every time I put a sign to a completed task written, it gives me a feeling of an accomplishment. A very good feeling. This feeling gives me a direct impact on my life.

I said to a friend that this book was my self-reward for the new year. Probably you also do not need a fancy self-reward, but something that practically change your life though in a small amount.

A Gift Exchange

When you go to someone’s event or your friend’s like a wedding, birthday party or any other event probably they give you a gift or souvenir. This souvenir is a token for you.

Many people are so creative with interesting ideas for souvenir and gift. I remembered long time ago a friend who had her wedding party gave a souvenir for each guest a little fruit plant. I think it was a brilliant idea. It gave people idea to plant a tree. It encouraged people to take care of the environment.

But most of the time, people do not really care when they give souvenirs for their programs. Many many times I brought home a mug or a glass, a folding cloth bag, folding fan, lunch box and many more.

When you get these souvenirs what do you do then with those stuff? Do you use it? Do you keep it and collect it? Do you give it to someone else? Do you donate it? Or do you throw it away?

A gift exhange

Rarely I got a souvenir that I really need it. To be honest I would be happy if I get a souvenir or a gift something I really need. It doesn’t have to be fancy. I do not care whether it is just a simple stuff or something very cheap.

I remembered a few years ago we had a gift exchange in the office. Each one had to write a gift she wanted to have and also write their names in a little folding paper. Those who got that little folding paper should prepare the gift as written inside. I wrote a little knife for cutting fruit. My colleague happily gave me that gift. I was so thankful to her. Another time I wrote to have a gift of pen refill. I also remembered a colleague wrote to have a gift for her a baby turtle. It sounds unussual, anti-mainstream. Luckily I didn’t get her request. 😊

The gifts from each one for our gift exchange recently.

I hate collecting souvenirs. They just clutter my space.

Joy Of Missing Out

December this year looks different from December last year in 2021 and definitely different from one in 2020. At least what I see in my office. Some colleagues have started to prepare their family vacation during Christmas holiday and New Year. Some even had their early year end vacation last week. I think it is a good idea, because hotels are fully booked for new year and prices have gone very high.

December last year I went to Bali for a short escape with a friend. Though we were still shadowed by the Omicron variant but we decided to go to Bali. We went early December last years anticipating the crowd during Christmas and new year. Bali just started opening for tourist last year. Many hotels were not ready for receiving guests. I remembered we booked a very nice hotel, 4 star one in Ubud with a very good price, later we knew that not all the rooms were open for guests. Not fully booked last year. Today, no need to ask. I think most of the hotels are fully booked including ones in the city. Since staycation has become a choice nowadays for those who don’t want to travel.

December in 2020 was a completely different story. Noone was talking about having a holiday. Most of the hotels were closed. Many restrictions were applied everywhere. My colleagues and bosses got covid after a kick-off meeting. Some even needed hospitalization. Sadly a colleague left us forever only a few days after the new year. Covid was very scary in those days. It was still unknown.

Seeing the scenes, what people around me are trying to enjoy the holiday and also feeling the vibes make me feel so good inside. The moment is back!

Today was the last working day before Christmas in my office. Some colleagues even have taken their leaves starting today. In my room, there were only 3 of us, holiday vibe was felt. A colleague told me that she is going to take her kids to Komodo island. They plan to stay there for a week. Just listening to her, I was feeling excited.

I myself will not go anywhere. I am very far from ‘fomo’, while everybody is away, I would prefer to spend time with myself at home. I can do it for days and I enjoy it. Being in solitude is also a luxury. In fact I am more ‘jomo’, joy of missing out.

Happy new year 2022!

It is 1st January 2022 here. First morning in the new year. In the other corner of the world is still new year eve. You might be still enjoying your new year eve with your loved ones there. Happy new year, everyone!!

How did you spend your new year eve? With whom did you spend it? Most people make new year eve with their family or friends, their loved ones. A friend was telling me that she planned to be on a road trip for a few days with her family, her mom, her dad, her uncles and aunties and nieces. It is a family trip. It sounds really fun. Another friend was telling me that she planned to visit her friend and spend the new year ever with her friends there. Another friend was telling me that he got an invitation for a new year celebration from somebody. He and his wife planned to go to celebrate new year eve there. The vibe is of happiness. Most people spend their new year eve with family and friends. Happiness is shared.

A perfect place to work on my new year resolution.

He asked me back ‘what about you? What is your plan?’ To be honest with him my plan was to be with myself. It was also a plan.  Let me just find a place, a cozy place that is not crowded with people and let me just work on my new year resolution. Let me just spend some times with myself. I always consider myself to be the most important person and most loved one. I needed to complete my new year resolution. I had made its outlines, I needed to make it more detailed. I found this place, a coffee shop for me to work on my new year resolution. this place is really cozy, quiet. It is a perfect place. People were not interested to go to such place in new year eve. Across this place is a big shopping mall. People were more attracted to go there.

Sitting in this coffee shop and working with my new resolution, I could feel a very good vibe. I know what I like very clearly. I never feel missing out. I dare to be different from most people and I feel comfortable. I know this

Finish strong!

Today is the last day of 2020. How are you going to finish this year? For the last one year we have been haunted by covid so much and it is still haunting our days ahead. It doesn’t have a deadline. 2020 has become a difficult year for many of us. There has been a big change in how we live today from the way we lived last year. This situation has made us to make some adjustment. Each one of us has developed the power to adjust ourselves to the situations. This is the power of the soul. With this power you can accept the situation easily, you also develop patience. It is a strength, an inner strength.

Finish strong 2020!

This virus is infecting the body, the lung and the respiratory system. It is not infecting the spirit, unless you allow it. You can remain strong mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Keep your spirit very strong and finish 2020 strong.

Happy new year, everyone!