My weekly updates: 04 Feb - 10 Feb

Main quests this week: Return to Malaysia

Side quests this week: Review the Ultimate Investor Playbook (UIP) Reports, Update my personal website and craft blog posts, Finish reading 'Someday Is Today' by Matthew Dicks and write a book review, Learn Japanese by completing Episode 1 of Horimiya.

Sunday - 4 Feb

Spent the day working part-time in F&B. The physical aspect was tiring, but mentally it was undemanding, requiring little brainpower.

🌟Rating of productiveness: -/5🌟
Difficult to rate the day in terms of productivity, as it wasn't a deliberate effort.

🌟Rating of happiness: 3.5/5 🌟
Today marks the conclusion of my part-time employment at 1-Atico in the F&B sector, with no plans to resume until August. Despite the inherent fatigue associated with the role, the experience has proven valuable. It has afforded me insights into the collaborative efforts of hotel and event staff in orchestrating weddings, offering a glimpse into the intricacies of teamwork. Additionally, this stint has equipped me with fundamental skills for catering to guests in a wedding environment, along with practical strategies for maintaining efficiency while minimizing stress and fatigue. Although the initial motivation was financial gain, I am now grateful for the decision made six months ago, as this experience has significantly broadened my perspectives beyond the confines of academic pursuits.

Monday - 5 Feb

The day commenced with my reading session, dedicating time to 'Someday Is Today' by Matthew Dicks until 9:30 am. Subsequently, I engaged in weekly planning activities and initiated content creation for this website. By noon, I completed a blog detailing my experiences at the Discovery Day (Link: https://www.ooijianhui.com/discovery-day-smu/). Following a brief break, during which I indulged in the ongoing anime "The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash" and some content from the Oversimplified series, I delved into a learning session focused on Photoshop. My exploration of this graphic design tool commenced with tutorials from PiXimperfect's YouTube channel. An unintended 40-minute nap ensued, after which I briefly played Genshin before embarking on my accounting studies at 5 pm.

Returning to Tony Bell's YouTube channel, I commenced a 10-hour video covering the basics of Financial Accounting. After dedicating 2 hours to study, I took a break for personal care activities, including showering and having dinner. Subsequently, I packed my luggage in preparation for my return to Malaysia scheduled for Thursday. Later in the evening, I watched Adam Khoo's February portfolio and market analysis, followed by organizing my portfolio and watchlist. The day concluded with a continuation of my reading journey through 'Someday Is Today' by Matthew Dicks.

🌟Rating of productiveness: 4.7/5🌟
I diligently adhered to my entire schedule for the day, with the exception of dedicating time to learning Japanese. I am thoroughly satisfied with my level of productivity, and I attribute this success to the insights gained from Matthew Dicks's book.

🌟Rating of happiness: 3.5/5🌟
While content with my level of productivity, the emotional response is not one of happiness but rather a prevailing sense of neutrality. The understanding that I am diligently working towards my goals brings a sense of purpose; however, engaging in activities such as studying Photoshop skills or financial accounting does not necessarily elicit a dopamine release.

Tuesday - 6 Feb

I woke up at 8 am today and plan to repeat this routine tomorrow, experimenting with Matthew Dick's strong advice on maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. For breakfast, I enjoyed a cup of oatmeal while downloading numerous PowerPoint templates from Slidesgo; their aesthetic appeal is my favorite. Before diving into my day, I managed to read a couple of pages from 'Someday Is Today.' The next task on my agenda was crafting a video script to consolidate my internship experiences, intended for submission to my high school.

Post-lunch, I dedicated some time to writing a blog listing my favorite YouTube channels and then treated myself to an Oversimplified video. By 5 pm, my attention shifted to financial matters, where I strategized my stock investments for optimal allocation. Following this, a bit of Genshin Impact gameplay ensued, and I segued into Japanese language learning after dinner. Although the schedule faced minor disruptions, all was well.

As the day winded down, I delved into two deep dive stock analyses: Broadcom Inc (AVGO) and Medpace (MEDP). After thorough consideration, I concluded that MEDP holds potential for investment. To wrap up the day, I spent some time with 'Someday Is Today' before heading to bed at 12 am.

🌟Rating of productiveness: 4.5/5🌟
I had a slightly less productive day today, mainly due to getting distracted by downloading Slidesgo PowerPoint templates after getting the Premium for a month. Despite that, I made an effort to stick to my schedule, taking reasonable breaks throughout the day to play Genshin and watch history videos on Oversimplified. Once again, the day flew by, but I'm cherishing every minute of my time.

🌟Rating of happiness: 3.7/5🌟
I felt a bit happier today after diving into the latest Genshin updates. The voice acting and storytelling really pulled me in, making the gaming experience quite captivating. What added to my happiness was realizing I could now manage my gameplay better. In the past, I was hooked on the game and felt this intense urge to finish all the content in one marathon session. Despite the mental fatigue from spending the entire day in front of the computer, the sense of accomplishment I gained motivates me to stick to this packed schedule.

Wednesday - 7 Feb

Today, I woke up at 7:30 am without the need for an alarm. I kicked off the morning with a hearty bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, while playing some Genshin Impact on my phone, and editing work on Photoshop on my laptop. I successfully translated and edited an important document using Photoshop, and I also fine-tuned my blog on 'Piano #1'. During these tasks, I enjoyed listening to the magnificent works of great pianists. Later, I made progress in my Japanese learning journey and explored some cardistry techniques. Occasionally, I took breaks to watch Oversimplified videos on WWII and The War of the Bucket. The day wrapped up with a celebration for my friend's birthday and a visit to the last day of Light to Night at the National Gallery area.

🌟Rating of productiveness: 3.8/5🌟
I had a pretty productive morning and afternoon, sticking to my scheduled tasks with slight deviations from the timeline. The night was dedicated to an unforgettable outing with my friends, marking our last get-together before I head back to Malaysia. We shared a lot of laughter, and it is a worthwhile experience.

🌟Rating of happiness: 5/5🌟
Today marks the best and happiest day of this week, and once again, Happy 19th Birthday to my friend Debraath! I'm all set to edit the video we spontaneously shot and turn it into something special. This Year 5 friend group is one that I'll never forget, and I wish to maintain the bonds in the times ahead. Love you all.

Thursday - 8 Feb

Waking up at 7:30 am, I kicked off my day with Genshin and a hearty bowl of oatmeal. I dedicated 30 minutes to reading before diving into the world of Financial Accounting with Tony Bell in the morning. During lunch, I tuned into 老高's latest video on fortune analysis based on one's birthday. Following that, I crafted and shared my workout plan as a blog post (Link: https://www.ooijianhui.com/my-workout-plan-feb-2024/). I then took some time to organize my luggage before my return to Malaysia, ensuring I didn't leave anything behind in Singapore.

Then, I was stuck on a 7-hour bus journey to Malaysia, encountering the usual traffic snarl at the immigration area. During the bus ride, I listened to the audiobook The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, having already finished reading Someday is Today by Matthew Dicks. While I dozed off after 3 hours, I made sure to jot down some key insights for a later book review blog.

🌟Rating of productiveness: 3.6/5🌟
I wasn't very productive in terms of getting work done, except for when I was studying Financial Accounting (FA). My evening was entirely spent on a bus ride. Although I managed to steal some time by listening to an audiobook, I could have been more productive throughout the day.

🌟Rating of happiness: 3/5🌟
The idea of heading back to Malaysia was exciting, but the 7-hour bus journey with a cramped seat and the irritating light piercing through the window was soul-crushing. Nevertheless, I did manage to have a decent morning sticking to my schedule, and acquiring new knowledge always brings about a sense of satisfaction.

Friday - 9 Feb

Waking up at 7:45 am hurts my brain, especially with a disrupted sleep schedule the night before. Despite this, I managed to convince myself, channeling the wisdom of Matthew Dicks. Even though I can't control the time I go to sleep, at least I should control the time I wake up. After that, I tidied up my website before my dad took me out for breakfast. We engaged in a lengthy discussion about my experiences over the past few years and my recent knowledge of productivity, stocks, and wealth management. We returned home around 12 pm and later went out to pay a New Year call to my relatives. After some lunch there, my family and I went to address some bank issues, but we didn't manage to get my glasses changed afterward. Upon returning home, we cleaned up the house and I took a shower. I then delved into learning some Photoshop skills, particularly focusing on the usage of layers, and had some fun with editing. Later, we went to our relatives' house again for the reunion dinner, and I practiced some cardistry after the meal. My family and I stayed up until 12 am as a practice to welcome the first day of Chinese New Year.🍊🍊🐉

🌟Rating of productiveness: 3/5🌟
I started the day off with a burst of productivity, even managing to dive into some books while waiting at the bank. However, the hustle and bustle of navigating through KL's traffic consumed a significant amount of time – just getting the engine started and finding a parking spot became major hurdles. The dry and scorching weather didn't make things any easier, making it challenging to stay focused on my reading. Additionally, I seemed to be constantly either heading home or gearing up to go out. It was undeniably a tough day to maintain high levels of productivity.

🌟Rating of happiness: 4.4/5🌟
Today, I was with all my family members, and it's been a while since I last saw my dad and sister. So, yes, I felt quite happy about the reunion. I had some quality time and a good chat with my dad in the morning, and we enjoyed hearty meals with prawns and soup, which I rarely have in normal times. Overall, I'm feeling grateful and happy about today.

Saturday - 10 Feb

I started my day at 7:45 am, and I funded my stocks account. Following that, I caught up on the latest anime episodes and tuned into my favorite Chinese gaming channel. The afternoon was dedicated to listening of the audiobook 'The Psychology of Money,' with note-taking for a future book review blog. The latter part of the day was spent on a shopping spree for clothes and desserts with my family. For dinner, we gathered with a bustling crowd of relatives, marking the first reunion in years. It was a rare sight to have so many family members in one place. We wrapped up the day with some movies and hit the hay at midnight.

🌟Rating of productiveness: 2.5/5🌟
Productivity took a backseat today. In the morning, I leaned more towards entertainment, and the afternoon saw us hitting the shops. The evening was claimed by a reunion dinner, leaving little time entirely to myself. But hey, it's Chinese New Year, so it's all fair and square! 🧧

🌟Rating of happiness: 4/5🌟
Another day with my family, so overall it was a happy ocassion, and I enjoyed shopping and watching movies with my family. The reunion dinner was a delightful gathering as well, despite not knowing the names of half of my relatives, oops.

Top wins

1. Returned to Malaysia.
2. Established a more consistent sleep schedule.
3. Started studying accountancy.
4. Accomplished 2 out of 3 set goals from last week.

Challenges

1. Distracted by the Chinese New Year period.
2. Didn't study as much Japanese.
3. Ate too much most of the time.

Top 3 outcomes for the upcoming week

'If the week ahead is going to be a great week, what would be the top 3 things I'd accomplish?'

1. Write and publish book reviews for "Someday Is Today" by Matthew Dicks and 'The Psychology of Money' by Morgan Housel.
2. Achieve progress in Japanese language study by completing Episode 1 of Horimiya.
3. Dedicate at least 10 hours to the study of accountancy.

Stay tuned for next week updates