Rolf’s Updates – My Priorities in Life – Health, Finance, Family, Friends & Hobbies – 2020 3Q

Click here for what does H2F3 (Health, Hobbies, Family, Finance and Friends) means. 

Refer here for my last H2F3 update in 2020Q2.

The Covid situation has become quite boring and dreadful over time. It is almost half a year of working from home now. In October, we are back in office in two shifts and I think it is great meeting up with colleagues again. While I have many video calls with colleagues and clients overseas in my work, the “feeling” is nowhere compared to the physical setting foot to other countries, the face-to-face meetings, and the after-work meals together.  That said, kids have no problem adapting to the new normal, unlike adults. My kids are always happy, despite the hassle of wearing masks in schools. 

HEALTH

Thank God. All my family members are healthy and safe during this time. My health has not been tip top with a few occasional sickness, but it is still decent with no major illness. 

My workout rate dropped compared to last quarter. I exercise on alternate days for my “older” body to recover rather than six day weekly workout in the last quarter. While abs and core muscles become stronger due to workout, fats began to accumulate due to the lack of discipline in food, eating away chips and supper while watching Netflix. Will need to do better. My weight is maintained at 78 Kg.

Spiritually, “doors” continue to open for friends to come my house to share His greatness together. An ex-colleague got converted in the process. 

FAMILY

We definitely had more family outings after circuit breaker! The kids are always filled with laughter during family outings. My wife and me also went for more date nights in cosy restaurants. 

Prive restaurant at Keppel Bay. Good food and good view. 

A lot of time is also spent on my kids on table tennis be it, professional or self-coaching. I believe that Table Tennis is a game that truly engage our brain, bringing out creativity and focus, speed and reflexes! It also has comparatively lesser injury and it is a game for life even during old age. I met so many friends in this sports! Occasionally, my kids and friends’ kids will also have friendly spar, while the adults have their chit chat. 

FINANCIAL

My company’s short term future is secured with fresh funds injection. But retrenchment is imminent with ongoing restructuring. The culprit is neither Covid-19, nor the downturn in businesses in the past years. Instead, it is due to poor project management of several big projects incurring losses in the magnitude of hundreds of millions. 

Fortunately for me (or unfortunate maybe), my job is guaranteed, and most likely my fellow Singaporeans’ colleagues as well. In fact, I received a commendation letter from our CEO with small incentive attach to it. I was flattered, in times of crisis like this. 

But a new boss and changes in job role is unavoidable.  It will be my tenth direct report in the last five years, excluding the dotted line report! The work environment is unhealthy, rife with office politics and uncertainty. Anyway, I just have to continue to survive…. Survival is something I did well during the last oil crisis, when the my entire office’s colleagues got laid off except me, the lone survivor back then.  

My wife started her new job for two months now. With my advices, she resigned from her last job just before sixty percent mandatory pay cut took effect. The new employment turn out to be extremely well, with higher salary, more exciting job scope, better boss, better colleagues and lesser workhours.  

Read: 

My Wife’s Company Ask Her to Take 50% Paycut – What is My Advice?

My Wife Found a Better Job in Less than 2 Months – With My Advices! (Part 1). Her ex-Company Asked Her to Take 50% Paycut!

In the past few months, I continued to increase the purchase of shares in my overall portfolio regularly. 

Currently, my overall portfolio as follows. 

• Shares – 54%
• Cash + Bond – 22%
• Precious metals – 24%

My shares portfolio as follows. 

Expenses – Read: Rolf’s Household Expenses to Household Income

FRIENDS

Unlike in the last quarter, I hosted many house family dinners with friends over the weekends. I also went over to my friend’s place, or just simply meet many friends over coffee or meals. It is really nostalgic to catch up with my secondary, university friends as well as ex-colleagues.  During working days, I also arranged many lunch or coffee meetings with business associates to make working from home less boring. While work is not as happy (as explained earlier), meeting with people makes me happy! 

HOBBIES

Working out keeps me feeling young and refreshed. I love it! It can be weights training, HIIT or swimming. I have not been playing table tennis with friends as much as I wanted. Nevertheless, I still have my family table tennis session weekly. 

I had been watching too many Korean Netflix series. Mostly Thrillers or comedies. It helps me to relax and keep me intrigued, without me thinking too much about any unhappy things. Some to name lately, Whisper, Defendant, Stranger, Money Flower, Mr. Sunshine, Good Manager, Dr Prisoner, Remember etc. My all-time favourite Korean TV series are “Signal”, “Voice”, “Tunnel”, “You are all surrounded”, “Vagabond”. 

Writing/Blogging is also something I love doing and it improves my mental state of mind. Writing crystallize my thoughts and help me to think through problems better. It also improves my communication in work or when I talk to friends. In fact, there are so many benefits of writing. One relevant and distinct benefit, as research show, is that it helps in dealing with anxiety and depression better, especially during this Covid pandemic. 

CONCLUSION

Health – Decent, not fantastic. No increase in weight but fats accumulating through supper. Need to cut it down.   

Family – Great and very close relationship! 

Financial – Investment Portfolio is doing well. Careers are at least guaranteed in the short run. Wife’s new career looks promising. Mine requires more breakthrough in a very difficult environment! 

Friends – Very good. Hosted many good and old friends’ families at my home during weekend. Regular meetup with my personal friends outside on weekdays. 

Hobbies – Regular workout and writing. Netflix series also help me to relax!