Life Log: January 2024

I miss the newsletter, but can’t commit to it. When I stumbled on my coworker Melanie’s monthly “Learning Log” I thought — maybe that’s a good way to bring it back in a low-pressure way. So — trying out ICYMI, “Life Log” edition.

This month I’ve really taken to heart the saying: “Consistently good is infinitely better than inconsistently perfect.” This mindset, in tandem with applying the 12 Week Year framework, has been really energizing; It feels like progress to actively reject perfectionism with methodical consistency prioritized in thoughtful ways.

If, for some reason, you have read any of my “year in review” posts, you may have gleaned that I struggle with goals with long (or open-ended) time horizons; Losing track of hobbies I want to invest in, personal goals I want to nurture and grow, etc. I am very prone to allowing these things to be sidelined by the stresses and demands of life that inevitably pop up. So while this all may sound very extra, if I can truly find a way to be consistently good, rather than inconsistently perfect — I want to know what I can achieve in that world.

📚 Reads

Read:

• The 12 Week Year. (See book reflection).

Reading:

• How Not to Die (by Dr. Michael Greger). Ended up starting to read this after watching the Netflix series ”You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment”, which featured the author.
• The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking (by Oliver Berkeman). Me AF. A different book by this author was recommended by a friend (Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals). That’s on the list for next month, but this one caught my eye, I couldn’t not.

✍🏼 Writes

• The first days of the rest of my life (by Chris “Fool” McCraw). What can I say. What a wonderful colleague he has been, and what a wonderful human. I’m sad to not work with him anymore, but I’m so delighted for him moving toward his next chapter. This was a beautiful reflection to read. I look forward to following the bike trip adventure, and I’ve added The Pathless Path to my TBR pile.
• What engineering managers need to know for 2024 (by Scott Carey). What it says on the box.

🎧 Listens

• What Alcohol Does To Your Body, Brain & Health (“Huberman Lab” podcast). A periodic re-listen, perfect for Dry January.
• ‘The great dechurching’: Why so many Americans are leaving their churches (“On Point” podcast). An interesting listen. While I’m not religious (after growing up in religion), I have thought off and on that I miss having some kind of spiritual home or community. At the same time, I personally have zero desire (or accompanying belief) to rejoin any of my previous or other religious institutions.

📺 Watches

• Break Point. Such a good watch, even if you’re not a tennis fan. (But I’m biased). A fascinating look into that world and that life.
• YuYu Hakusho. Rewatching a childhood favorite. Last year Netflix did a live action adaptation. I watched it knowing I couldn’t expect too much from it (it’s too beloved to be totally satisfied by an adaptation, particularly a five episode one). And that was indeed the case, but… it was fun. But hence — the need for a rewatch of the real thing.

🌵 Personal

• I wrote a bit about my first year(ish) as an engineering manager.
• I am still immensely enjoying playing tennis consistently. I’m currently still playing a clinic once a week, but next month I’ll be starting a seasonal league, and I’m stoked to start playing more — particularly match play. It’ll be doubles, and I’m excited to meet some new tennis friends. Toward the end of the month I played my first match in… 15 years? I lost, but it felt amazing. I’m excited to start playing more than once a week.
• January reset! Every year I look forward to this after the holidays — no alcohol (dry January) and no dining out. I don’t really call this a “challenge” anymore, because it’s just something I do every year now.