Mid-Year Check 2023

It’s already September (ambilis) and I am revisiting my 2023 Game Plan today. June pa lang naiisip ko na ‘tong gawin pero may work ako so wala talaga ko masyadong time magmuni-muni. Basta yung past few months I am always preoccupied with something at nag-procrastinate ako to do my mid-year review. I feel like ngayon, ito na yung tamang moment.

Let’s start with the theme

Ang theme ko this year ay:

‘Sink into the present’

From time to time nagpa-pop up ‘to sa utak ko pero hindi ko alam na ito pala yung theme ko. Kaya sa tingin ko tumatak na talaga sakin ‘tong phrase na ‘to. Minsan lang talaga when I am dealing with big and strong emotions, mahirap.

The past few days, I am having emotional distress at tina-try ko syang balewalain. Pero kaninang umaga, ramdam kong pabigat sya ng pabigat, kaya ginawa ko yung nabasa ko dati na steps on how to process these big feelings and how to self-soothe.

In a way, it’s sinking into the present because I am facing and dealing with these emotions right this moment. At kahit hindi naman nawala yung ikanaka-bother ko kasi it’s outside of my control, I felt lighter and eventually better. Kung hindi ko siguro ‘to ginawa lalong hindi ko natapos ‘tong mid-year check.

Personal Goals

Meron akong limang personal goals:

1. Visit PH ☹️

Unfortunately, it’s not happening this year. But it’s going to happen early next year! I’ve already booked my tickets.

2. Go to parks and read 😊

Isang beses ko lang nagawa but still, I did it! Plano ko sana ngayon pumunta sa park or sa library para magbasa, kaso umuulan. Depende mamaya kung anong weather.

Bumalik ako sa reading mode ko kasi may kelangan akong tapusin na book. I’m buddy reading Jane Eyre with AJ at naka 59% na sya, ako 45% pa lang, kaya kelangan kong humabol. Magandang motivation rin talaga ang pressure para bumalik sa momentum.

3. Continue learning French 😊

I was really doing a great job in accomplishing this goal. I was working while still taking daily French classes. Pero nung natapos na yung Lingoda ko (around April ata), hindi ko na ma-keep up yung momentum. Minsan makikinig ako ng French podcasts pero super rare. This is a reminder to continue kahit solo na lang ako at kahit challenging.

But I was so happy nung na-practice ko yung French ko nung pumunta kaming Vancouver. Kaya ko pa rin palang mag-hold ng small conversation in French. I need more of this.

4. Don’t trust my negative feelings 😊

I am happy to report that I’m doing better at this. Parang mas chill na ko ngayon. Less na yung negative assumptions. Ang tagal kong in-associate yung word na pessimistic sa pagkatao ko, and by reading all these books and just having the genuine desire to be more positive, I do feel that I have a more positive outlook in life. Hindi sya completely mawawala but I’m so proud that I’m having a bit more positive thoughts than negative ones.

5. Curb my expectations 😊

I was able to apply this to a handful of people so this was also a success.

Did I truly love my body?

Ito naman yung mga goals ko about health and wellness:

6. Meditate regularly 😊

Yung first half of the year siguro nagawa ko ‘to. Kaso na-disrupt yung consistency nung nagka-work ako. Babalik na ko ulit ngayon. I will try.

7. Truly love my body 😊

So did I truly love my body? Yes! I didn’t deprive myself of indulgent foods but:

• I am more mindful of my eating
• I eat more veggies
• I am still doing my fasts
• I buy organic if I can
• I do yoga almost everyday
• I go outside more to do an hour or more of walking
• I consume less sugar (whattt??)

Sabi ko nga sa 2023 Game Plan ko:

I am worth the effort and work and time.

8. Be consistent with my cycle tracking 😊

Same with meditation, I was actively doing this for half a year. Pero ngayon kasi parang hindi ko na sya kelangan. I feel like na-master ko na yung cycle ko. I still track yung dates kung kelan ako magkakaron so I can time my fasts, pero hindi na sobrang detailed na nilalagay ko pa yung mood, energy level, and physical symptoms ko.

9. Manage my energy well 😊

I said that I will try to avoid the energy suckers and here are my improvements:

• I can now say bye first during phone calls
• I stopped tolerating my ex-friend’s lies and drama
• I was able to strengthen my ability to pause and stop my overthinking

I feel like what I was originally pertaining here is to set boundaries. This podcast episode helped.

Cha-ching

All things related to money:

10. Get a job 😊

I did get a job. It was mostly easy and mostly fun as well. Tapos na yung contract ko dun and right now, I am again actively seeking for jobs that are kind of similar in terms of intensity. Basta ang hinahanap ko ay yung work na makakapakinig pa rin ako ng music at podcasts.

11. Invest $25k ☹️

Yung reason kung bakit ganito kalaki this year ay dahil we’re preparing to buy a home next year. Wala pa kami dito sa amount na ‘to pero sana ma-achieve before the year ends.

12. No new gadgets this year ☹️

Bumili ako ng printer for my journaling hehe. Tsaka gusto kong kumuha ng iPhone 15 Pro this year hahaha. Hindi naman ako sobrang atat pero we’ll see kung mabubudol ako next week.

13. Don’t get a postpaid plan 😊

I’m still doing good with having only prepaid. Since switching to prepaid, nakatipid siguro ako ng $500+

So out of these 13 goals, as of this moment, tatlo lang yung hindi na-achieve. My success rate is 77% Yay! Great job me! At feeling ko before the year ends, yung 77% magiging 85%.

Reminders

• Continue loving my body. Good job ako sa eating healthier but I want to be more physically active.
• Try to meditate, read, and learn French more frequently.
• Kung merong strong negative emotions, try to deal with it immediately if I can. Remember the steps.
• Continue with setting proper boundaries.

Pahabol Goals

1. Finish 2 books per month

Nag-slow down ako sa pagbabasa simula nung natapos na yung work ko. I want to read 1 fiction and 1 non-fiction each month hanggang matapos ang 2023.

2. Do a one-time 36-hour fast this year

The longest I did was 28 hours. Madaming hindi makakaintindi kung bakit ko ‘to ginagawa but you could read this book first before thinking I’m going too far. Here’s also a useful table showing the benefits of longer fasts.

Aside from ketosis, gusto ko yung benefits of autophagy—getting rid of old and damaged cells. Kung ma-achieve ko yung longer fasts (36+ hours), I will only do it once a year as suggested.

3. Wake up earlier

Dahil hindi na ko evening shift, I can wake up earlier and go back to my slow and peaceful morning routine. My goal is 5 AM pero okay lang kung 6 AM.