New Year has arrived. Unconsciously arrived at this chapter in life. Time is a one-way street—once certain things are missed, they’re gone forever~
Interesting Tools
iCloud+ Global Pricing Comparison
https://icloud.owo.nz/
Compare iCloud+ pricing across different countries. Currently using the Turkey region, but prices have kept climbing over the last two years. Will check if switching to Russia 🇷🇺 makes sense when I get a chance.
NOTION Face
https://faces.notion.com/
Notion’s official avatar creator page.
WhenThey.Work
https://whenthey.work/
Super handy tool for remote work—check working hours across different countries.
21st.dev
https://21st.dev/
Free landing page components and index page templates with plenty of options~~
Remote Jobs
https://remoteok.com/
A board for finding remote work opportunities, with pretty solid listings~
AI Usage
Sharing how I use AI:
Previously I only used the ChatGPT app because its models and data were up to date.
Recently a bunch of new models dropped and I wanted to give them a spin, so I’m using:
Chatbox + AIHubMix
Lately in China so many people are hyping DeepSeek for clout with tutorials everywhere. There’s really no need to run these models locally unless you just want to understand the underlying mechanics.
If you do want to run models locally, check out https://lmstudio.ai
Learning
Mindfulness
Notes from a book I read—there are many ways to meditate:
Meditation is about filtering out society’s noise to listen to your own inner voice.
Meditation only works when done for the sake of meditation itself.
Hiking -> Walking meditation.
Journaling -> Writing meditation.
Taking a shower -> Accidental meditation.
Sitting quietly -> Direct meditation.
Notes
Found these in my notes, no idea where they originated, but copying down a few lines I liked:
- Break away from the average person’s thinking habits; don’t just go with the flow, even if those around you misunderstand, isolate, or mock you.
- Detach from average habits and social circles.
- Avoid unnecessary consumption and debt.
- Learn to think deeply in solitude with zero distractions. Focus solely on your own learning and growth. (Leverage mentors and benefactors).
- Learn to build reserves, don’t compare yourself to others, only buy essentials.
- Avoid a purely speculative mindset; ‘24 is not the time for reckless entrepreneurship.
The 5 Principles
- The Holistic Principle: Big-picture view. Don’t learn just for the sake of learning—integrate new ideas with your past knowledge to synthesize understanding.
- The Focus Principle: Learning should have clear priorities and specific goals.
- The Challenge Principle: Goals should be challenging and appropriately demanding—don’t just skim the surface.
- The Feasibility Principle: Grounded in reality—don’t set goals way outside your current capabilities.
- The Adaptability Principle: Goals must be flexible and reasonably adjustable. Learning a skill isn’t just for one single objective, but to add another versatile tool to your belt.
Life
Annual Summary
https://biyongyao.com/article/2024-bye.html
To Succeed, Change Must Start from Within
Dug this up from Notion while writing my annual summary—no clue which book it’s from.
Realized I read books quite haphazardly: barely take any structured notes, just save sentences I like.
Hand me a book and I might not even remember if I’ve already read it~
Not sure if this reading method is actually effective…
The items below seem simple on paper, but am I genuinely practicing them in daily life?
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Help others generously within your capacity
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Be reasonable and understanding; don’t make senseless fusses
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Practice empathy; see problems from the other person’s perspective
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Restrain impulses; avoid saying deeply hurtful words
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Before speaking, take 3 seconds to organize your thoughts in your head
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Elevate emotional intelligence; learn the art of interpersonal relations
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Be prompt when saying yes; be decisive when saying no
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Don’t borrow money lightly; don’t lend money lightly
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Don’t constantly vent your personal grievances to others
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Upgrade your circle; spend more time around inspiring people
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Never casually dismiss someone else’s efforts and dreams
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Always remember: respect is mutual
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Pay attention to personal grooming and attire—stay clean and neat
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Don’t casually interrupt other people’s conversations
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It’s fine to follow drama online, but don’t be a neighborhood gossip in real life
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Generously acknowledge other people’s brilliance
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Smile more—smiling brings confidence and good vibes
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Constantly remind yourself: head high, chest out, no slouching
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Read widely to expand your horizons and perspective
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Avoid blurting out words that shouldn’t be said
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Stay grounded and discreet; avoid overexposing yourself
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Keep your appearance neat, clean, and energized
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Dress clean, simple, and tasteful; work on personal style
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Practice Mandarin pronunciation
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Never be stingy with compliments—appreciate others openly
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Stop sighing—say goodbye to negative energy and complaints