Multitasking is a Myth

Good things should be shared.

I recently signed up for a MOOC on time management on Coursera. The reason behind it was obvious. Although it was a 4 week course (which honestly, could have been completed in 1 day), it took me 3 months to complete it!

Anyway, the long short is that most of the tips were common sense and if I'd been more critical of how I used my time, I would have been more productive. However, there was a video link in the additional reference which I found interesting and beneficial. It was a lecture by Mike Sanders on Multitasking - how our brain works and why multitasking isn't productive at the end of the day.

First Two Weeks

So fast! I'm two weeks old at the new place. As usual, when entering a new environment many weird and embarrassing things have occurred.

Why I Wanted to Leave

Awhile back when I was serving my notice period, I had lapses of confidence in my decision. Was I making a mistake? Was I being over-sensitive about my situation? It really wasn't that bad after all, right?

Resonating Quote

Many people share quotes on social media. Some of them are motivational, some sarcastic while others are "Huh???" but sometimes, in the midst of all the over-sentimental mumbo jumbo there comes one that resonates with you. A sentimental quote for me might be total bullshit for others. But the fact of the matter is that it resonates with me.

Today's was:

Never get too attached to anyone unless they also feel the same towards you, because one sided expectations can mentally destroy you.

Oh, the 'mental agony' I've gone through of thinking too much. Just waiting for an email reply or a chat message but I don't think there'll ever be any. Flipping this page.

The End of a Chapter

Finally, the day has come and gone. Yesterday was my last day. It was like a time bomb and I had full intention of completing my outstanding work but the nature of our typical work day and volume of tasks just didn't allow it. So, reluctantly I had to handover the remaining unfinished business to my colleagues to follow up on.

Can't believe I managed to clear my desk and I can actually see the surface of my desk again!

Frailty of Life

Today began my final week of saying goodbyes. I had been caught in a downpour and an expensive BRT ride with a heavy parcel. A number of extraordinary occurrences happened today but the least expected was the tragic passing of my colleague's mother.

When I came back from my lunch appointment, all I'd heard was that my colleague had received the bad news during lunch and broke into tears. She took the rest of the day off. My other colleagues filled me in that her mother was involved in a horrific traffic accident.

How does one comfort a friend when such a sudden violent death occurs to a loved one? There are no words that could alleviate the pain of mortal separation. And sometimes, even our well-meant words could offend.

I pray that the Lord will be her comforter and pillar of strength in her time of grieving and that she would be able to bounce back to her spunky self.

Jumping to conclusions

I'm always right!

I must be right.

I should be right.

Am I right?

Sometimes we get so caught up in predicting people's responses (and many times we are spot on) that we jump to conclusions at the sight or hint of the first word(s) in a reply. I must admit that I had committed this crime over the weekend.

Hot Hot Days and My Head is Uneven!

During the week, most of my time is spent in office with freezing air conditioning although my room should be warmer due to the windowed wall. And when I return home, it's already night time. So I don't really experience the hotness of the day until I am out on the weekends.

Yesterday was particularly hot. I was out on the road for most of the day and it was so hot that I got myself a slight headache (which is a rare thing for me). My headache sneaked up like a snake in the dark and coiled around my temple with slight throbbing every now and then, all through the afternoon till night.

It was so hot that I had to lie on the marble floor in my aunty's house, rolling around. While rolling around, I discovered that my skull is shaped really unevenly. The curves of the right side of my head is pretty uniform, but my left side had this ridge of bone jutting out (at least from my estimate of rolling my head from right to left and vice versa on the even floor. It was a weird feeling, discovering this.

What had happened to me during my formative years? When my bone material were solidifying and taking its shape. Was it because I had lie on one side too much or I got dropped on my head or someone had massaged my skull unevenly? All these ideas are funny. But thankfully, my hair hides this imperfection! ;)

Part 1: Our trip to the Land of the Rising Sun (post late by a year and some)

Around March last year, the three of us set out to finally visit our dear friend in Tokyo. It took us three years to make the trip and C was already in her final year of PhD studies. Nevertheless, we found some time in between the busyness of us three to agree on a date and just book those darn flight tickets!

So off we went with some level of planning and budgeting. Our itinerary was to spend a few days in Tokyo and then head to Kawaguchiko, back to Tokyo, shinkansen our way to Kyoto, day trip to Osaka and back to Tokyo for the remaining days. Being Asian, we wanted to cover as much as possible (ideally) but reality always pulls us back to earth and enjoy things as it comes rather than chasing a humanly impossible schedule.

The deed is done

After the decision was made, it was time for action to be taken. I always believe that talk is cheap, but action speaks volumes. I had been complaining to every one that would listen, for the past year (yes, it is June again!) and hadn't done anything much but reject other opportunities. Even if this would turn out to be the wrong choice, I think I owe it to myself to do something about my problem (ooh, the bad P-word!).