Rewind: May 2023

May was a pretty good month to recalibrate and reset right before the end of the first half of 2023. It really is wild how fast time flies when you’re an adult and I’m just glad to be able to start this rebalancing of myself that I’ve definitely needed.

Loving

Re-connecting with loved ones even when we’re apart. With COVID-19 kind of behind us, there’s lots of socials again in person but I am consciously trying to stay connected through video with those I can’t see as easily. My mom’s birthday fell on a Sunday this year and it was nice to get everyone on a call. Because my dad was inspired by my sister’s virtual baby shower games, he made a really cute quiz for my mom’s 62nd birthday.

I’m working on making sure that I schedule more regular cadences of video calls with friends not in Singapore. With Chetna leaving the group in the near future, my girl gang is just down to me and Ami left in Singapore and all the more staying in touch will be crucial. There’s voice notes and chat groups but nothing beats a call.

Working On

Sticking to a budget has always been not my favourite task. Though I’ve always said that I live within my means, it’s still something I need especially when trying to balance it with a fulfilling social life. Still, being intentional about socialising can make a world of difference.

I’ve always said yes to every invitation and was ashamed to say that I’m on a budget. So I’ve tried to be vulnerable this month and tell friends that I’m open to a potluck dinner at home or do something more affordable instead of going fancy all the time.

And of course, because my friends are lovely, they’ve been incredibly supportive. I’m glad that I have a good support system that’s open about my goals and lets me feel safe enough to open up about my financial goals. It’s very encouraging

Feeling

A little less anxious about everything. In May, I tried my best to get to the root of my anxiety and a lot of was due to instability of everything — residency, job (tied together) and just all the things that were out of my control. So this month, with lots of effort, I made a list of the things that made me feel better that were in my control (my routines, my finances, my input at work, my living situation, my things, my relationships).

And then I made steps to do so I could do to prepare for any eventuality. And though that sounds pretty doomsday-ish, it really helped me feel like there are some things I can control — like my spending and how I schedule my time. And though it’s still a work in progress. Having a pretty good workout routine has really helped me this month and I hope I can build on this for the months to come.