It's the career hazard of everyone who does marketing-related work - because we work at least 1-2 months ahead of schedule, we usually end up celebrating every major festivity twice. (I'll save the talk for another time. You know, about the times where Chinese New Year songs start playing before Christmas is over, and other funny observations about festivities in Singapore.) And here I am, thinking about November before September is halfway through.
Anyway, November is a pretty unremarkable month for most people in Singapore, except for when Deepavali or Hari Raya Puasa/Haji happen to land in that month. But it's a special time for me for other reasons. It is Nanowrimo month, so I usually have something to work on.
Last year though, I got inspired by the whole Movember campaign, and thought it'd be a good time to change things up (again). But seeing that I can't grow a beard, I clearly had to tweak something. So I had a personal NOvember project.
What's NOvember?
In the name of self-improvement, I opted to avoid three things for the entire month of November 2017.
- No social posts.
- No coffee/caffeine.
- No usage of the word "just".
Why no social posts?
I'm sure I'm not the only person guilty of this - saying "Oh, you didn't see it on my IG?" when friends missed out on something fun. Who am I anyway? It's not like I'm Rihanna or someone awesome/interesting like that. So, I thought I shouldn't expect people to always notice what's going on for me. Especially when we've all got responsibilities and other things to do.
I also thought it would be nice to make my friends feel special again, by sharing more on a personal, one-on-one basis.
Why no caffeine?
Oh, this one was the most painful of the three. Because I typically need 1 or 2 cups of Kopi C Kosong or Flat White every day to function.
I got inspired working with a really competent lady from HSBC’s marketing team. While having meetings with her, I discovered she was caffeine-free, due to her breastfeeding. She really kept it all together, despite the intense work load and her personal commitments. So I grew to like and respect her.
Having considered the possibility of being a mother one day, I asked myself this: Could I really go without coffee and tea if I had to?
Why no "just"?
I'm not always very assertive, and I noticed I had been using the word "just" a tad too often. It's a permission word, and I thought I shouldn't be using it if permission wasn't overtly/subtly required for a situation.
How did it all go?
It wasn't easy, but I made it through the month. Updating my friends one by one meant I gained the chance to refresh my mind regarding their interests and new passions. So, that bit was great.
Going without coffee meant I was a zombie for about a week, but my body adjusted to it by the second week. After that, it was a matter of discipline and sleeping at the time that is necessary for a responsible working person. Oh, and I didn't cop out with Coke or energy drinks. I did resume the coffee habit after the month though, because I enjoy the beverage.
As for the the word "just", because I liked how in changed the way I wrote, I thought I might as well make this one a permanent change. Nowadays, it's a word I use very judiciously.
What about this year?
Because I found it helpful to shake things up, I think I'll do NOvember again this year. Tentatively, I'm thinking:
- No shopping
- No red meats
- No clutter
The first one is quite straightforward. I'm not allowed to buy anything that isn't food or transport related. At least, except for the 5 days I'm spending in Hong Kong, and even then, I'll be mindful about how I spend. I'll be uninstalling Taobao and Aliexpress for a bit. (Yes, I am even giving the Aliexpress 11/11 event a miss.) Oh, and if anyone spots me walking out of Daiso or a stationery shop with so much as one item, I immediately owe you a coffee.
As for the second one, that's me going back to a pescatarian diet, which I actually enjoy. The last one is the result of me being deeply envious of people who have an empty desk, and me wanting to make space for a new desktop.
Saying no is great sometimes. Do you have anything that you would like to say no to this November?
