Psoriasis, Investing, Blogging and thoughts for 2011

I really don’t like to come up with this post but I guess it might be easier this year.

Work have been hectic in a way I think most people would think its not, but for me it is enough.

This year have been a year where I muddle through and at the end of the year I really don’t know if I have achieve anything work wise.

I realize one thing is that I really can’t concentrate that well.

Psoriasis and Wellness

One main reason is that my psoriasis have gotten to the point where it is starting to interfere with my work and off work

1. I don’t think clearly enough. It seems like intense concentration is a problem. I can’t monitor more than certain number of things and always gets pointed out by my Boss. Not good.
2. At night it gets so itchy ( I am nearly 70% covered) that I really cannot do much. This has led to lower number of analysis and posts. Have to apologize to any loyal readers around.
3. Medical cost to cure it has escalated with not much visible results. Financially this has become a drain.

Psoriasis is a problem not many people understand. In my 15 years with this problem, I have never met another person who has it. Sometimes I seriously wonder why I am so unlucky to get this.

Money and Investing

I didn’t make much big positions and my portfolio is for all to see.

Un-realized Gain is 10% overall at this point for my Dividend portfolio.

Income Distribution made up 7% of Dividend portfolio.

I am pretty disappointed with many moves made but this year I do finally realize how I should be investing. When you approach 6 years in the market its time to focus on what works and leave out those that doesn’t.

My goals for 2011

I think at this point it becomes clear that my primary focus will be on health and wellness. If I don’t get this problem under control, the quality of life not to mention career wise it will not be good for me.

Switch to a plant based and whole foods diet

I will switch to a plant based and whole foods diet as much as possible. I truly believe a lot of the problems humans have is due to what we put into our body.

I just had lunch with my colleagues and the more I see what we eat the more I believe problems like Diabetes, Eczema, High blood pressure, High cholesterol can be brought to control if we choose to eat wisely.

The difficulty is really in Singapore, there is no healthy food sold during lunch time!

Learn to prepare healthy lunch meals

Many would see it as drastic but I think only those food prepared at home are really low in salt, MSG, sugar.

I used to know how to cook well and lost that over the years. I should probably learn to pick it up.

Become a better lead

This year, I made enough mistake to be disappointed with myself. These mistakes are not rookie mistakes but should not have been made because that is expected of me.

I hope for this year I can really learn to track things and learn what is important from those things that are not important. That way I can be better at my job.

Add SGD24,000 to investment war chest

To some it is a big amount. To others this doesn’t constitute much. Hell, a Keppel or a Sembcorp Marine employee can probably hit this target with their bonus.

But that is the little amount I can save from my puny salary.

SGD10,000 per annum dividend income

This is a drastic increase from what I achieve this year but I feel it is achievable since I have 60% of the investable amount in cash.

But make no mistake, I will be flexible here. As long as I smell that a large decline is coming this dividend portfolio will be pared down. The thing I learn from 2007 is that you can stop your portfolio from a serious rot. Preserving capital both monetary and psychological is important.

Create one web or mobile application

Software engineering, user experience design and following the latest technological trends is my main hobby currently. Many might not know that I do blog about mobile productivity, user experience and technology in general at www.productiveorganizer.com

I am about to put out my first app on the Android market with 3 more friends. Hopefully I can create another this year.

If you guys have a great idea and would like to share you can email me at [email protected]

Conclusion

That’s it from me this year. I would like to thank my family for helping me through this difficult year but also great friends and colleagues with a special mention to LBN, Van, Jan, Wen Wen,Kim, ZY, Willy, A1 & 2, Wing, JR, YY, Ah Yeow, Ah Wei, Tonton, TM and KL for helping me in little and big ways.

Thank you my fellow bloggers Musicwhiz, Momo, La Papillion, AK71 for making this a great community and not to mention to you the readers. Without your critiques and inputs it will not have been such a great journey.

All the best for 2011. Good Health for all.