After turning 45, I have tried, almost every year to plan
the direction of the year ahead. But often, not long after the new year begins,
usually around February or March, unexpected things start happening that
disrupt original plans. To keep life stable, I have no choice but to sacrifice
what I planned and focus on what is urgent. And just like that, the plans get
shelved. Before I realize it, another 365 days have passed.
Last year came with its fair share of messes. My emotions
fluctuated a lot. But within that chaos, I also learned some lessons that were
genuinely useful to me. I kept what suited me and began building habits that I
believe can help me grow steadily.
Some might say that without goals, there is no direction,
and action becomes aimless. And if there is no action, everything we expect, is
just dreams. I don’t disagree. But I have come to realize that having dreams
alone is not enough. And, no doubt. Action matters—but habitual action
matters even more.
To me, habits are a source of momentum and a kind of
automatic system. They don’t force me to do things I don’t believe in, at the
wrong time or in the wrong setting. Instead, they allow me to complete what
needs to be done, at a rhythm that feels right.
For example, at work, I often need to retrieve files from my
computer, process documents, submit reports, or remind others of certain
matters at specific times. Over time, I learned to anticipate when it would be
best to handle these routine tasks—such as organizing everything right after
completing the last job of the month. I later realized that what helped me
survive periods of chaos was not planning itself, but the small actions that
had already become habits.
These habits allow me to almost “automatically” complete
what must be done each month—accurately and on time. Every step leaves a trace,
a form of evidence. Even if something goes wrong, I can track it back instead
of reacting in panic.
Gradually, I applied the same approach to daily life,
financial planning, and community activities. After learning how to use Google
Calendar, I became more intentional about planning my days. In the past, I used
notebooks for this too. But when plans constantly failed to keep up with
changes, motivation faded. Eventually, I questioned the meaning of planning at
all and gave up.
Later, I understood something important: unexpected events
happen every single day.
Take New Year’s Day as an example. I had planned to watch
the movie A Step Into the Past with my family. Less than half an hour
after the movie started, I received a work message and had to rush back home to
deal with it on my computer. By the time I finished and returned to the cinema,
the movie was already over. In that moment, I felt like an on-call
doctor—always on standby. Similar situations happened countless times last
year.
It's just work, not much to complain about. When these things
didn’t go as it planned, the only option is to adjust the plan quickly—and this
is when Google Calendar truly helps. It allows instant changes and timely
reminders. Slowly, I learned how to keep moving forward within constant change.
Little by little, my life began to feel flexible rather than out of control.
Beyond stabilizing my work and life, taking care of my
mother, and handling daily household matters, I am also deliberately
cultivating habits that create value—writing, public speaking, serving in
meeting roles, and participating in group activities. I believe that once
habits are formed, momentum naturally follows. This makes value creation feel
lighter and more genuine than forcing myself to chase specific goals.
More importantly, I have started to enjoy the process. When
tasks are completed one by one, there is a quiet sense of satisfaction. Even
without an audience, I know this much: I am making progress.
If you often find your life interrupted by unexpected
events, perhaps it’s not that you lack discipline. Maybe you are simply living
a life that requires a flexible system.
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