Workout
Miles run: 220
Strength: 8 sessions
Yoga: 7 session
My workout schedule has been as follows:
Mon: 30-45 min yoga
Tue: run + strength
Wed: run workout (hill repeats) + 10 min stretch
Thurs: run + strength
Fri: 30-45 min yoga
Sat: easy run
Sun: long run
It’s quite time intensive but I love it.
Books: 6
Second brain (3/5): recommended by Sarah. It has useful tips, especially regarding grouping tasks/projects into categories. I still use a simple notes and paper planner to keep tracks, as the other elements of the book like reviewing, synthesizing, feel more like “work” than “fun”.
Happier hour (4/5): I really enjoyed this book. It validates a lot of ideas I have in term of prioritizing things that matters and let the others drop. We only have 24 hrs., if we want to do all the things we want, we will feel too overwhelmed to start. But if we narrow them into the essentials, then 24 hrs is enough. I like the idea of starting the day to do something “luxurious” like reading, exercise, instead of tackling to-do list. It also helps me to be efficient when I work because I can go back to do other things that bring me joy. Finally, she suggests time tracking with an addition of rating the time spent in term of satisfaction. This exercise helps us to identify what activities bring us more joy. I don’t need to do it to know the answer: time spent with my family, with good friends, working out and reading bring me immense joy.
You could make this place beautiful (3/5): this is a quick read after Lisa’s recommendation. It’s beautiful and sad at the same time. Her writing style is very poetic. It is a vivid record of her divorce and finding peace.
Maame (3/5): recommended by Sarah too. An easy read and close look of family drama, the experience of being black at work and when dating. I have black friends and colleagues, but it was only until recently that I realized how much discrimination they had to live through life. One of my colleagues is black, has a Ph.D. in marine biology, got the highest reward from Nature Science in Germany. Yet, throughout his Ph.D., he could not find a rental place to live. Every application was denied. It blowd my mind to imagine what that experience can impact a person.
The shell seeker (3/5). I started this book last year but it took me forever to finish it. It’s a slow burn. A story about war time love, family, and friendship at old age.
Never Enough- when achievement culture becomes toxic and what to do about it. (5/5). This book opened my mind about the pressure, stress, and the grind my girls will face in a few years. I know that I’ve been tough on them, relative to my peers, especially given that their current school environment is all positive, fun, encouraging, nothing academic. I know my role will have to shift as their environment shifts. I have to double down our family values even when the external world tells us otherwise. This book spoke to my heart in so many ways. I shall re-read it every year.
Movies/TV
Shanghai blossom: 30 episodes. The best chinese TV series I’ve watched in a long time.
Oppenheimer (5/5). Excellent acting. My bet it will win many Oscars.
Favorite podcasts:
10% Happier with Esther Perel on friendship. This month I spent a lot of time thinking about what friendship means to me, who are my people, as my friend in Jakarta is leaving. I really enjoyed this episodes to put all my thoughts together on friendship, and ways to stay connected.
Tim Ferriss episode with Andy Galpin. I learn many tips to improve sleep, performance, and overall well being. Inspired by this episode, I’m on day 15.
Hidden Brain Finding Focus. Just listen to it, it will help to understand why we have harder time to stay still, read slowly, and be present.
BLP with Kae. I love listening to these two ladies. In addition to simply enjoy listening to them, I learned quite a lot about digital organization. I will do the daily recording digitally in February because it doesn’t seem to take too much time and it’s great to know that I can always go back and see what I did in a particular day.
New recipes
Maple Almond Banana muffin. Girls like it, I find it a bit too sweet.
Air fryer chicken breast: a new favorite way to make quick chicken.
Fun
Outing with the girls to buy gift for Sofia’s teacher
Golf with our leaving friend K
Farewell dinner party for K
Overall, a great month to start the year.
What was highlight of your month? Have you tried any new recipe? Any good movie/TV?
Our New Journey 
The only one of the books you listed that I have read is the Maggie Smith one, which I enjoyed. I may have to add a couple of the other ones to my list!! When you say that the girls education is “nothing academic” what does that mean? Is the schooling different in Jakarta? I would have thought it would be more strict, or at least more than American, as I always felt that many other countries were ahead of us educationally when I was in HS.
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It’s an American international school. So it’s not very academic until
Middle school.
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Oh, boy. Highlights of January. That’s tough. I read a lot of great non-fiction. We had so much snow and it was fun to play in it with the dog and it was beautiful while it lasted. I had some minor successes at work. I mean, the biggest accomplishment is that I made it through, you know? January is so hard.
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Well done on moving your body!! I love the Hidden Brain podcast, so interesting!
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aww thanks for including BLP! That was a fun one to do, Kae was awesome and I love her digital organizing techniques! Simple yet effective.
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I also listened to that BLP podcast- I’ve heard Sarah before but it was fun to hear Kae’s voice! I’m going to check out the Tim Ferriss one you mentioned.
Your workout schedule does sound time intensive, but I like how balanced it is. Easy runs, long runs, speedwork, strength, and yoga… you’re definitely doing it all!
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I love your workout routine, it sounds very well rounded. I’m also curious about your school comment, that there is nothing academic there.
The only book on your list that I’ve heard of is the Maggie Smith one. I’m waiting to get it from the library. They all sound really interesting though.
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Oh, I made buckwheat granola before. So good, so crunchy.
You’ve got a great workout routine going – and 220 miles in January. Way to go!
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Wow you had an amazing month of exercise! When is your next marathon? Your mileage is so similar to SHU. Are you working with the same coach?
January was a very busy month for me at work so that stands out when I look back at the month. But a highlight was going out for dinner with another mom in my neighborhood that I met through my blog and seeing my college friends towards the end of the month.
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