Now or Never: What Would You Choose?

How your next day goes is decided the night before. I read this sometime in 2024. I put it into action last December and started planning my day the previous night. It helps not to live on the autopilot of external stimuli. But we all know that it’s not that simple.

Since I was a kid, I've made timetables. When I couldn’t fathom the all-pervasive takedown of time, my mum made my timetable. I come from a very disciplined family, and it's a running joke that my parents even breathe on time.

Anything in extremity can only lead to anarchy. That’s exactly how my relationship with time is. If I don’t do things at the preordained time, it’s a no-go. I've studied the domino effect missing one time can have on my schedule. If I don’t make it to the gym at 8, I will miss it altogether.

What I detest about this all-or-nothing attitude is that I can't hack it with personal commitments—the ones I make to myself. Back in November, I took a personality quiz that said I was an obliger, which shocked many, including me. Until I realized how true it is. At work, and the university, I’m known for doing things way in advance, always on the ball. But the book I declared I am writing in my last article—I first mentioned it to my ex's best friend back in 2005! And here I am in 2025, slowly gathering my words and thoughts, unpacking memories of guilt trips that were and those that never happened.

Recently, I shot a YouTube video about meeting creatives in Hong Kong. It was a fascinating glimpse into their relationship with time. One artist, Lindsey, spoke about how spending time on creative practice regularly is her antidote to feeling alive. She almost feels physically sick if she isn’t creating. Another creative, Katie, wished for more lifetimes to explore various creative expressions. Graphics and illustration artist Erin Hung emphasized the importance of setting healthy boundaries with time, especially when working in the creative industry, where numbers can stifle creativity if not managed carefully.

A very close friend and creative, Kavl, introduced me to the term ‘productive procrastinator.’ She said if she's doom scrolling, she might as well search and watch something she's curious about. But the reality check came when I interviewed celebrity comedian Vivek Mahbubani. He said, "Get a little cancer if you want to be successful!" It was his light-hearted way of expressing how his cancer diagnosis was a straight dance-off with the 'now or never' conundrum. What was once ‘I'll do standup comedy before I die’ became ‘This is my moment or never,’ leading him to say 'yes' to every gig and opportunity, which has made him the success he is today.

You would love this video and meeting all these people and hearing from them. Would love to know who inspired you the most!

At the end of the day, all we have for sure is this moment. If this is all you have, what is the thing you must do? Let me know in the comments! Remember, we have each other, every Monday, rooting for the best versions of ourselves!