Late Start

After a train delay, I realized I’d be arriving at work nearly an hour behind schedule. I agreed to make up that time at the end of the day, which meant getting home much later than usual. Honestly, I didn’t mind the staggered start. As much as I enjoy the company of my coworkers, I sometimes feel distracted by everything happening around me. Being painfully self-aware has its benefits—I know I focus better in the evening anyway.

Maybe if I ever work in IT, I could negotiate a later start. As long as the work gets done, right? Trains in Japan are rarely late so when it happens, it really stands out. Things usually operate so smoothly.

Logception

I’ve started using to-do lists again. This time, I’m keeping it simple—just using Google’s built-in My Tasks feature. No fancy third-party systems. Just type and check. The old mantra applies: Keep it simple, stupid.

Having a task list helps me stay grounded throughout the day. It’s easy to overestimate what we can do in 24 hours and underestimate what we can do in a year. Some tasks are essential; others are just nice to get done. I’m not yet setting priorities or deadlines, but even starting the habit feels like a win.

Eventually, I’d like to reintroduce something more structured, like Asana, into my personal life. I’ve used it before, and honestly, I need something like that. With my hand in so many buckets, juggling multiple projects, it helps to keep things visible. If I ever move into a project management role, this kind of discipline would be essential anyway.

Time Off Requests

One of the reasons I wanted to start organizing my Calendar onto my Google calendar is so that I Another reason I’ve started cleaning up my calendar is to organize my life outside of work too. I’ve got a few events I’d love to attend, but unless I write them down and plan ahead, they either sneak up on me—or I forget them entirely.

I remember back when I lived with my cousin, I’d peek at his calendar sometimes. It was filled with small but meaningful entries scattered across the weeks:

  • Friend’s Birthday
  • Drift Event
  • Friend Visiting

It amazed me. People can actually plan their lives that far ahead. Like playing chess—thinking several moves in advance. I, on the other hand, have mostly been in reactive mode. Just trying to make it through the day. But maybe this whole “calendar” thing is how people get their lives together.

Maybe this is how it starts.

Organizing Tour Binder

Earlier this year, I made a tour binder—basically a glorified clear file folder. It’s still a work-in-progress design-wise, but it helps me stay organized. Before a tour, I can slide in things like train tickets, museum entry passes, and information packets. During the tour, I collect receipts, pamphlets, and anything else worth keeping.

It brings a bit of order to what is normally a chaotic life. And these days, even small efficiencies matter.

Slack Study

I’ll be honest—Slack is still a bit of a mystery to me. I use it occasionally, but I’ve never really tapped into its full potential. So, I started doing some self-study: reading guides, watching tutorials, trying to streamline communication.

I’m hoping it’ll help reduce the flood of emails and keep conversations easier to track. I’ve realized that part of my role isn’t just doing work, but learning how to work better.

Social Media Storyboard

On a more creative note, I’ve started working on a storyboard for promoting food tours around Tokyo. We’ve got a rough itinerary, but no real content plan yet. It’s my first time stepping up to lead something like this.

Sometimes I feel like I know what I’m doing. Other times, not so much. But I remind myself that impostor syndrome is common. Especially when you actually do have the skills—you just doubt them.

Right now, the plan is to present some rough sketches and storyboards to the CEO for feedback. It’s equal parts exciting and terrifying, but that’s usually how growth feels.

Not Everything Gets Done

There’s a list of ideas I’ve been sitting on for my tours:

  • Printouts like “Foods to Eat in Japan”
  • “Must-Do Activities” handouts
  • PowerPoints for deeper dives into Japanese history
  • Even ending group tours with a cheesy Kahoot quiz at dinner—with a prize, of course.

It’s a little silly, sure. But I don’t mind being a bit corny if it makes people smile.

Still, the fact remains—not everything gets done.

What matters is taking the step everyday to show up. To keep trying, and find ways—bit by bit—to bring order to the chaos. Whether that’s through a better Slack setup, a to-do list, or just finally putting something on the calendar.

Progress, not perfection.

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