2024년 10월 6일 일요일 – 서울 생활 123주차

Planning

A well-structured plan has the following characteristics:  

First, the ultimate vision you aim to achieve is presented. Each goal is not independent but established to achieve a single vision.  

Second, the goals for achieving the vision are listed. The goals and the conditions for achieving them should be easy to understand.  

Third, all the tasks required to satisfy each condition are described. In theory, if all tasks are completed, all requirements will be met, and the goal will be achieved.  

Fourth, reasonable estimates of the required resources are provided. In other words, there is an estimate of how much work time is needed to achieve the goals within the given time frame.  

Fifth, the plan outlines milestones, which help with better schedule management.  

Sixth, there is preparation for uncertainty. A few weeks of buffer time are left in case milestones are delayed or changes occur along the way.

I am planning to create such a plan for the company’s OKR achievement in Q4. I enjoy planning, but I don’t think I’m very good at making plans.

Cost of Living

It seems the gap in the cost of living between Seoul and other provinces is much larger than before. Of course, I live in the Gangnam area, but the cost of living here feels up to twice as high compared to regional areas.  

Whether it’s eating the same food or visiting a hair salon, the prices are more than double, so for most things, I either use a franchise with the same prices everywhere or handle it when I go down to a regional area.  

This gap is probably due to the disparity in income and housing prices. With this level of disparity, it seems that it will become increasingly difficult for people in regional areas to move to Seoul, creating a higher barrier and potentially cutting off population movement between the two regions.

For now, even after decentralization, the central government is supporting local finances with subsidies. However, if national tax revenues decrease, local finances might be the first to collapse.

Sleep Test

The process of purchasing a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine in Korea is much faster than in the U.S., but it’s not that simple either. First of all, CPAP machines are prohibited from being purchased through international shipping, so you cannot buy them from the U.S. using a forwarding service. It seems you need to visit a hospital in Korea and undergo a polysomnography (sleep study) before you can purchase one.  

CPAP machines are covered by insurance for rental, and compared to the U.S., it’s almost like getting a free rental. However, there is a minimum usage requirement per month here as well.

After selecting a CPAP machine, another test is performed to find the right pressure for you, but in Korea, this is optional. I don’t remember hearing that this was optional in the U.S. I would prefer to just receive a model that automatically adjusts.