Onwards 2020

With my goals in sight, I would like to focus on some key aspects. 

Health & Fitness

Health is definitely at the top priority. Without being in the pink of health, forget about wealth, travel and beer.

Getting sufficient sleep and ensuring a strong immunity is the core to keeping healthy.

Staying healthy also means eating right and being active. Reduce the unhealthy indulgences, more runs to build on the stamina and practice yoga to tone and train on the flexibility.

This year, I hope to take on the challenge to do Camino de Santiago. To ensure that I will be in my most optimal fitness level, I need to start conditioning my body starting from now!

Oh, and I haven’t had a full body checkup since 2017. It is about time to do a thorough check to make sure everything is in order and look out for warning signs. I hope my liver is still in good working condition! 

Wealth

I have realised the importance of money since going through tough times last year.

Since I am no longer confined to a fixed salary each month, the sky is the limit. It means I have the liberty of taking on more or less depending on my capacity. That said, I also have my monthly income target to meet. Knowing that I have autonomy is a source of motivation to keep me going!

As long as people trust and present me with opportunities and are within my capability, I would be ready to take them on.

​Travel​

The biggest perk of being a freelancer is the freedom, the freedom to travel as and when I want. It is not necessary to stick to 15 days of annual leaves per year, trying to maximise my holidays with all the public holidays and weekends.

I have also skipped many SOPs of a corporate world before booking for a holiday. I can do it all within half an hour, from seeding that idea in my conscious brain to taking the first step to realising my plan.

To kickstart my 2020 travels, I went on a 2-week holiday to South Africa with some colleagues-turned-friends. It was one with a travel style very different from my usual and an enriching experience! I will update more about that in another post!

In March, I will be going solo to explore a new country. I am ready to feel the intensity and sober historical sites, taste the street food and drink some cheap beers. Oh, and perhaps make some friends too!

Then I had no more concrete plans for the rest of the year. That said, doing Santiago de Camino is something that has been on my mind for some years now. It is on my bucket list; a journey I have always dreamed of but never dared plan.

With my newfound freedom, I finally have the chance to start planning for one! In a dilemma, to decide which route should I look into as they each have their beauties and difficulty levels. Besides, I have other considerations such as my body condition, fear (of being out in nature), and my stature (which plays to my disadvantage).

But just the thought of walking Santiago de Camino excites me! I have not felt this intense desire and excitement since South America. When I am doing the actual Camino, chances are, cursing and swearing at my own decision will be extremely high. I know, I'm a wuss. Guess I will have to look further into the planning. Ultimately, whether I embark on this journey or not, it is very much dependent on other variables.

We shall see!

Update: With the latest development on the coronavirus in Singapore, I am monitoring the situation closely. Plans may be aborted until the next opportunity arises.

Finding a balance

Being a freelancer has its perks and can be a curse. Because of the nature of the industry and there can be many unexpected changes, I find it a challenge to strike a balance between work and my personal life.

First and foremost, I do prioritise work above social appointments. Often, when scheduling to meet friends, I would have a disclaimer that should there be a job assignment that comes in, I would reschedule/ postpone my social life.

That is because I am grateful for every job opportunities that come knocking. It means a lot to me that people remember me and are willing to give me that opportunity.

Sometimes I feel that I live life on the edge as assignments can come in as quickly as days or even hours in advance. Never a mundane moment!

The truth is, I know I will always struggle to juggle. It is about how to mitigate these situations. There is no perfect scenario.

All in all, I will do my best to operate at my maximum capacity and rest days will be blocked in advance for the vacations I am going on.

Despite the lingering fear of coronavirus, I am still hopeful and positive for the year. Take this chance to slow down and read, write as well as to learn new things!

Well, 11 more months to go! May we emerge from the year triumph with accomplishments.