Take it one day at a time

Pula, Croatia

We all like to take it one day at a time. I do. We live in the present and every day is one more day. But in addition to one day, I also tend to have some additional units of time I usually consider. This blog post is just that!

1. Week 

Each day can be different. Monday to Sunday. But weeks tend to have this rhythm. Often all the Fridays feel the same, and all the Sundays feel the same. That is why week is my favorite unit of time!

2. Year. 

I want each of my year to be better than the previous. There are a few ways we can measure the year though!

2.1. Calendar year.

Yes, new year, new diary, new resolutions. I love how we start each year with that energy and optimism. Every year has a winter, spring, summer, autumn, and winter again! It is a circle. I love it.

2.2 Academic year.

This is going to start in the August. New academic year, new students, new faces. Also, coming back from the summer, ready for new adventures and the cold winters.  

2.3 Age.

Counting from the birthday. Age++. This feels special too. Getting older. Yes, we get older each day. But when the age is incremented by one, it feels special.

3. Month 

This does not feel that special. But, it is important in adult life. Bills, rent, salary, and other money stuff usually revolves in a monthly cycle (even though currently I am paid bi-weekly).

 4. Decade 

4.1. Literal decades.

From 1980s (I was just 2 in 1989, so it does not really count), 1990s (this is the first decade I should count. I have memories starting from 1992), 2000s, 2010s (this is my most favorite decade so far), and 2020s (hopefully this decade will overtake my 2010s. It is ongoing, after all. Started as a bad decade, but recovered quickly).

4.2. Age. 

0s, 10s, 20s, 30s, .... I am in my 30s and will be in my 40s next year! Decades of age feel special for a reason.

4.3. Decades counting from 5 y/o.

Although I was born in 1987, I have memories only from 1992. So I tend to calculate the decades  of age as 1992-, 2002-, 2012-, 2022-, and 2032-.

5. Half Periods 

This is dynamic. Any event, whether a semester, a year, a vacation, or a project visit, can be split into two. By tracking the half-period, you know which half you are in. If you have completed the first half, you know you have one more half to go. Just like a merge sort, splitting into halves help you plan the time surprisingly more efficiently. It also makes you appreciate the time better as this is more of a relative unit than a fixed one like everything else above.

6. "Seasons"

I look at my life as if it is a telenovela. In that sense, I see it as several seasons, with several episodes in them. Season 1: The young days (1987 - 2012), Season 2: Grad Student Life (2012 - 2019), Season 3: Postdoc/COVID-19 Period (2020 - 2023), Season 4: Faculty life (2023 - ). In that sense, I am in Season 4 since 2023 August and enjoying it! Bring that main character energy!