Monthly review: October 2025

Nov 5, 2025| monthly, review

2025-10-31-07 October 2025 -- monthly review

Text from sketch

October 2025 2025-10-31-07

Inktober
Halloween costume
taking it easy
Minecraft w/ Titas
apple delivery
gymnastics class
Minecraft club, griefers
scramble for leaderboard
Curriculum night
KidSpark
bike errands
COVID vaccines
Thanksgiving, family chat
jukebox
started corp. taxes
Sketch Your Mind conf
anxiety spike, but okay
catching up with homework
Zoo Boo
blush
s'mores
drizzly day, doing our own things
consultation
library walk
campfire day
B-'s birthday party
Just chillin'
griefed
coding, yay!
ophthalmologist
Halloween

October was tougher than usual, which really underscored how important health is. It was a lot to deal with, so we shuffled our priorities and lowered expectations. Things seem to have mostly settled down to a manageable new normal.

Fortunately, I was still able to focus on my client's time-sensitive event even when things were a little haywire. I'm glad I could solve their last-minute problem and work on some of their requests. Things are settling down now, but I'm probably not going to get much consulting done this month since I'm getting ready for EmacsConf in November. This is a pretty normal pattern now, so I know that putting off some requests for a while will be fine.

On the plus side, it was a good push to make a few changes. I started an exercise habit (13 days out of 31, 42%) following beginner workout videos on YouTube. I also made an effort to get out for a walk more often (20/31 days, 65%) to help with anxiety. I explored more of my thoughts and worries with journal entries, drawings, and the occasional blog post.

While I was pulling back and focusing on my hierarchy of needs, I wanted to make sure A+ also had resources for handling her big feelings. I set up Messenger Kids and Stars App on an old Android phone so that A+ could connect with her aunts and sisters without needing to go through me. We also subscribed to Minecraft Realms again so that they could play together. It's really nice overhearing them chat. It's important for A+ to have trusted people she can talk to, especially when she's grumpy with me.

We experimented with 1-on-1 gymnastics classes for A+. She's been asking about taking gymnastics for a while. I figured 1-on-1 can reduce the COVID risks. She can slow down the pace to be manageable even with a mask. Besides, she likes being able to talk with the teacher. She enjoys the classes. It's nice seeing her work hard and learn to tune into her body.

Piano-wise, I've been working on "In the Hall of the Mountain King." I can occasionally play the Simply Piano pre-advanced-level arrangement at full tempo with almost all the notes. My fingers still seize up from time to time, and I still forget to breathe. I'll get the hang of things someday.

I've been working on learning French. A+ is taking it in school, and languages are easier to learn if you can use it with people you like. I want to be able to use it with W- and A+. I also want to be able to take advantage of all the reading material around me.

A+'s current focus is KPop Demon Hunters. We've watched it several times, and we often sing the songs from the movie. Fortunately, she still had her heart set on dressing up as Elphaba for Halloween, so I didn't need to scramble a last-minute Rumi costume. I carved a pumpkin to look like Derpy the Tiger from KPop Demon Hunters. A+ proudly handed out candy and erasers to the early trick-or-treaters. When it got a bit darker, we put away the candy and I took her for a walk up and down the street. Then she handed out more candy. When she got cold and tired, I took over giving out candy. We ended up giving away almost 1,200 pieces.

So it was a pretty busy month.

Next month:

I'm experimenting with having a French tutor. I'd like to be able to speak and understand French, so a tutor can help with that. I've also been working on drawing and writing journal entries in French, and recording pronunciations.
We're experimenting with art classes for A+. One of her friends is taking it too. That way, she can have fun with art outside a school environment. Maybe that'll help sneak in some creative expression, fine motor skills, and frustration tolerance while she's having fun.
I want to continue backing off and letting A+ handle her schoolwork more independently. We'll be getting the first report card soon, so that'll give her some feedback on how things are going.
It's the last month before EmacsConf, so I need to get things ready. Looks like everyone's busy, so if it ends up being more of a casual hangout, that's totally okay too.
It's getting colder and A+'s friends are starting to move to more indoor playdates, so I think it'll be a little more challenging to spend time with them and to get the 2-3 hours that the ophthalmologist keeps emphasizing. Ah well.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category	Previous month %	This month %	Diff %	h/wk	Diff h/wk
Personal	11.6	14.2	2.6	24.7	4.4
Sleep	32.1	33.2	1.1	57.6	1.9
Unpaid work	5.1	5.9	0.9	10.3	1.5
A+	29.2	30.1	0.9	52.2	1.4
Discretionary - Play	1.4	2.0	0.7	3.5	1.1
Discretionary - Family	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.6	0.3
Business	3.7	1.8	-1.9	3.2	-3.2
Discretionary - Productive	16.7	12.3	-4.4	21.4	-7.4

Exercise habit, yay!
Some untracked time just defaulting to the Personal - Routines category.
I spent less time consulting now that we've gotten past the scheduled event.
I slept an average of 8.2 hours a night, which is good. I know my brain has a hard time when I'm low on sleep, so I prioritize it when things are dicey.
I spent less time drawing, writing, and tinkering with Emacs, but maybe I'll get back to more of those things as life settles down.

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You can e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com.