Author: Rachit

  • Building A Connected Smart Home

    Smart Home has always been the news for the last few years. I have recently got into it and I’d like to share my findings.

    The ecosystem is maturing and there are various ways to get started. It can be as simple as a smart bulb to selecting a hub and using it as a platform to control other devices.

    There are so many devices and ways to connect things it can be quite overwhelming. I chose to start small with a few devices. I wanted to create my own personal self-monitoring home security system.

    There are various technologies that these devices use to connect, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Thread among others. I feel WiFi should be used for devices that are powered by being plugged in and to opt for the devices with both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz radios where possible.
    For battery-powered devices or simpler connected devices such as a switch or sensor, Bluetooth can be a hit or miss due to its short-range and I feel in this regard opt for Thread devices where possible.

    In my research about the Thread network, it is gaining traction and it looks to be the de-facto standard for IoT devices going forward. In using a few thread devices, door sensors and a light bulb, they are fast to respond and reliable.

    I went with the home kit standard from Apple as it has a more privacy focus vs others. I started with the home pod mini as the hub, then the smart bulb with thread support, then added door/window sensors with thread, and a home kit-based smart thermostat, and finally a camera.

    The feeling of opening the app and checking in to see your home is great and building small automation to turn on the light when you open the door is pretty neat. My favourite convenience has to be the smart thermostat and the remote temperature control. Overall I would say having a connected home is a great quality of life improvement.

  • Summer Begins

    The summer of 2021 is here!

    Things are looking up and the world is recovering. I feel it in the pulse of the city. The warm weather evokes positive feelings and people are out and about.

    Looking back at the beginning of the year till now, it has been a vast difference. I am grateful for the all the essential workers and especially the health care workers who are jabbing people at record pace.

    I look forward to supporting my local businesses as well as travelling further than before. I can confidently say the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter than ever.

    My thoughts and prayers are with those that have passed and with those recovering. I will always remember this time in my life and have many stories to share about my experiences.

    I have come to learn to trust myself even more as well as really lean into my inner voice. In the time of confusion and fear, it was gut wrenching. I think this last year has all taught us so much about life.

  • Doing Your Best

    Things don’t go as planned, we never know what may come. Have a good idea of where you want to go is great. Planning the details and expecting everything to work out is not good.

    The biggest lesson I learned was to do everything I can do that is within my control. After I learned that it was liberating. No more thinking about what if etc. Knowing deep down that you did everything you could is amazing because then there are no regrets.

    I remember my first introduction to personal development was when volunteering at a library and finding the book Getting Things Done. That was a big productivity boost. Then over the years of travelling, reading more life-changing books, life experience, and accepting personal responsibility helped me to grow as an individual.

    The next step-up for me was evaluating my life was breaking my life into different areas and striving for balance in them. There comes a sense of inner contentment knowing that you are making tangible progress in these different areas. I am tracking things, making goals, giving it all, and not taking myself so seriously. It is the feeling that I am doing my best and taking it one day at a time. I am enjoying today, grateful for now and the past, as well as feeling optimistic about the future.

  • Small Wins

    Things are looking up now. There is positive momentum with the world recovering. I am thankful for everyone doing their part.

    In our own life, we can build positive momentum as well, it all happens because of small positive actions consistently. I love the expression, “One brick at a time”. It starts with our habits, a small change over a lifetime can have profound effects.

    Just like with investing and compound interest, our habits play a big part in the life we live. Here are some small wins we can practice daily:

    • 5 min daily reflection
    • 5 min daily stretching
    • Sending a message to a friend/family
    • Drinking one more glass of water than usual
    • Going for a quick walk

    From my personal experience, these small habit changes among many others make a big difference and you won’t see the positive benefits right away but over time you will.

  • Automating Your Finances

    As a follow up to my previous personal finance posts: Here & Here. I want to share the next tips I have learned that may benefit you.

    I try to use accounts that have no fees so I can save on costs that. Look for online banks that can be used as your main bank account to save on monthly fees. I still recommend having 1 no-fee account at a big bank to ensure you can visit the branch if required.

    I try to avoid using cash so I can track everything in the statements and use a simple spreadsheet to track the accounts on a monthly basis. I recommend using credit cards that have good notifications via the app or text message to alert if you have any transactions.

    Here is the fun part, set up direct deposits as much as you can for your payroll, gov deposits, insurance deposits etc. Then also set up pre-authorized debits for your fixed costs such as a mortgage, insurance, investments, credit card bills. Where possible pay by credit card and automate there.

    Review the monthly statements carefully and ensure you have a reserve fund setup 1- 3 months worth so there is a buffer in case there is a delay or problem with any deposits.

    I feel automating the investments is the real key here as you are paying yourself first and helping to secure your financial future. Eliminating the worry of paying bills on time is stress relief as well.

  • Taking On Responsibilities

    I have realized that life sometimes works as a game. You are at your level and slowly progress. A clear example of this is in school as you progress through the various grades. There is a set path and criteria to easily track your progress.

    This becomes more abstract as you progress in life, everyone is in their journey and there is no set path or criteria. Ultimately we decide that. However, if you choose not to progress and stay in the same situation you can. There is nothing wrong with this but it presents a unique personal responsibility to realize that until you overcome this unique circumstance in front of you, you can not progress to the next level.

    There is no final level to reach, there is only more personal responsibility to take. When you look back at your life you realize what you are doing today, you could have never thought you could do it previously. I am fascinated by this concept and try to work on building my responsibility and accountability standards in my life.

  • The Process

    We are always growing in different areas of our life. Sometimes if you find you are getting stuck it may be that you have to make room in your life for the new to come in.

    The classic saying about how it’s not about the destination rather than the journey. The pandemic came out of nowhere and there are so many disruptions. These challenges allow us to reflect and to keep building and growing. It’s now more relevant than ever to stay true to ourselves and focus on what we can control.

    The process of our life requires ongoing evolution and refinement just like everything else. There is no static goal. We keep building ourselves.