Chantero's Blog

🙂 Start Here!

Created: 29 July 2023, Saturday | Updated: 20 April 2024, Saturday

Hello, I am Chantero. This is my personal website. Here I will write about things that interest me and about other random stuff. Please read the Terms of Use.

Tag: introduction

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📖 3 Books - Mindset, Atomic Habits, The 5 Second Rule

Created: 22 April 2025, Tuesday | Updated: 12 July 2025, Saturday

These 3 books have inspired me to take small steps to improve myself:

1️⃣ 📕 Mindset (by Carol Dweck)

🥜 Adopt a "growth mindset" - Our abilities and traits are not fixed. We can change and improve through effort, learning, and persistence.

• What are the opportunities for learning and growth?


• Form a plan - When, where, and how will I embark on my plan?


• When you encounter a setback, form a new plan - When, where, and how will I act on my new plan?


• How do I maintain and continue to grow?

2️⃣ 📗 Atomic Habits (by James Clear)

🥜 Focus on building "habits" or "systems". Small changes can compound over time and produce significant and lasting results.

• Set systems, not goals:
  
  Fix the input, and the output will fix itself. If you set goals or fix the results only, the results may be temporary. But, if you set a good system, you will achieve your goal with lasting results.
  
  Example: You want a clean room (goal), after you clean your messy room, the room will be clean for a while (achieve goal). If you still keep your messy habits, then the room will get messy again soon (temporary results). BUT, if you change your messy habits (have a system to be cleaner - eg. I will put the stuff back to the drawer immediately after use...), then the goal (clean room) will naturally flow from the good system! (lasting results)


• Persist through the "plateau of latent potential":
  
  You may not see results in the beginning, but persist and continue. After you break through the critical threshold, you will see success!
  
  Example: You knock a stone 100 times and nothing happens, but on the 101st time, the stone breaks. You may not see results for the first 100 knocks, but it is actually doing something... be patient.


• Focus on who you want to become:
  
  The most effective way to change your habit is to have an identity change - Decide who you want to be, and prove it to yourself with small wins. Every action you take is a a vote towards being the person you want to be. As the votes build up, so does your new identity.


• 1st Law: Make a Habit "Obvious":
  
  (1) Be clear - Example: I will do [behaviour] at [time] in [place].
  
  (2) Habit Stacking - Pair a new habit on top of something you already do. Example: After I get out of bed, I will do ten pushups.
  
  (3) Design your environment for success - Make cues for good habits obvious; make cues for bad habits invisible. Example: if you want to practice guitar more, put the guitar in the middle of the room. If you play too much video games, unplug the console and put it in the cupboard after use.


• 2nd Law: Make a Habit "Attractive":
  
  (1) Temptation Bundling - Pair a habit you "want to build" with something you "like or need to do". Example: Only watch your favourite TV show when you are indoor cycling.
  
  (2) Join a culture where your desired culture is the normal behavour, and you already have something in common with the group - we tend to imitate habits of (i) people who are close to us, (ii) the many, (iii) the powerful.
  
  (3) Break bad habits by making it un-attractive - Highlight the benefits of avoiding a bad habit (basically psycho yourself / mindset change) to make the bad habit un-attractive.


• 3rd Law: Make it "Easy":
  
  

  Use the "2 minutes rule" to build habits. Make your habits easy to start. Start with a "gateway" [easy] habit that you can do within 2 minutes, then slowly build it up.

  
  
  (1) Take action (practice, not just plan) - The key is to just start doing with repetition (not perfection). If you focus trying to find the best way to do something, it "feels" like you are doing something, but you didn't actually take any "action" ( = no results). Planning is good, but you also have to do!
  
  Example: This professor divided the photography class into 2 groups: (a) "Quantity Group" is graded by "quantity" of photos produced, (b) "Quality Group" is graded by the "quality" of photos (only 1 best photo will be graded). In the end, the "Quantity Group" produced the better photos, because in the process of creating 100's of photos, they honed their skills. Don't just plan, practice!
  
  (2) You form a habit by "repetition" - Engage in "active practice" instead of "passive learning". The more you "repeat" an activity, the more your "brain changes" (create neuron pathways) to be more efficient at that activity. It is the "frequency" that makes a difference.
  
  Example: When you start learning a musical instrument, it is very difficult. After you practice (repetition), the difficulty reduces. Practice more, the action becomes "automatic". Eventually, it may become so easy you can do it without thinking!

(3) Reduce friction - Create environment where doing the (thing you want to do) is as easy as possible - make good habit take the path of least resistance! - Example: Many businesses use automation and technology to remove friection / make it easier to do stuff.

3️⃣ 📘 5 Second Rule (by Mel Robbins)

🥜 Count down 5...4...3...2...1, and... JUST DO IT!

• On health, exercise & everything else:
  
  Just do it! You don't have to "feel like it", just do it!


• How to be productive:
  
  Have a morning routine. Focus on yourself first (preferably at home, since once you go to work, you will have lots of distractions). Decide on your 3 musts, and then just do it!


• How to stop worrying:
  
  When you catch yourself worrying, ask "What am I grateful for?" and "What do I want to remember?" It puts you in a positive mindset.


• How to beat anxiety / fear - Part 1:
  
  Re-frame the "negative feeling" into a "positive feeling" (such as "excitement").
  
  Example, if you are anxious because you have to do public speaking, re-frame your "anxiety" to be like "I am feeling this way because I am excited".


• How to beat anxiety / fear - Part 2:
  
  Use "anchor thoughts" to re-direct your negative thoughts into something positive. You can come up with your "anchor thought" beforehand.
  
  Example, if you are scared of flying, you can imagine how you are on a beach enjoying your holiday - Since you can imagine yourself on the beach, it means your flight went well.


• Practice everyday courage:
  
  Nothing comes naturally until you practice it! Do what your instinct tells you to do. Practice everyday courage, and build your confidence. As you do so, you will learn that you can count on yourself, trust your own abilities, honor your desires, and take control of your life! Confidence is not a personality trait, it is a skill!


• Find your passion:
  
  When you have an instinct to act, you must physically move and act on it... or else, your brain will find some way to stop you.
  
  (1) Explore your passion (what does your heart really want?)
  
  (2) Take simple steps to explore the subject (read up on it, take a course, write a plan, etc.)
  
  (3) Have courage to commit (decide that you are ready to commit... you will never "feel" ready...). Even if you are ready, it might not feel good in the beginning, but have faith and belief in yourself, and have courage, and do the work!


• Relationships:
  
  Leave nothing important unsaid. To improve a relationship, just "say it". Intimacy takes courage. There is no right time to have the conversation, ask the hard questions, say I love you, etc. There is only now. When your heart speaks, say it! Sometimes, there is no next time.

Tag: books, growth, productivity, habits, systems

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🍮 Recipe - Caramel Egg Custard

Created: 20 April 2024, Saturday

Make the caramel

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of sugar
2. 1/4 cup of water

Directions:

1. Heat the sugar and water in a small pot
2. In medium heat, stir and melt sugar to dissolve the sugar
3. Once syrup boils, reduce to low heat and let it simmer
4. Once it starts to turn golden brown, turn off the heat, as the caramel could burn quickly
5. If the sugar turns into crystals, you can add more water and just start over

Make the custard

Ingredients:

1. 4 cups of milk
2. 1/2 cup of sugar
3. 6 eggs
4. some vanilla essence

Directions:

1. Mix the milk and sugar over low heat - to warm milk and to melt sugar
2. Mix eggs and vanilla into the milk
3. Strain the egg mixture 2 times - to have smooth texture

Put it all together

Things to have:

1. Individual ramekins or baking tray(s) - to put your custard
2. Extra larger size baking tray - put some hot water

Directions:

1. Pour the caramel into the ramekin / baking tray
2. Swirl caramel around until it covers the bottom of the tray
3. Pour in the egg mixture
4. Put the custard-tray into the hot-water-tray
5. Put it in a pre-heated oven (180°C)
6. Bake until the custard sets (around 30-45 minutes)
7. You can eat it hot or cold

Tag: recipe, egg-custard

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🍨 Recipe - Homemade Yogurt

Created: 20 April 2024, Saturday

Ingredients:

1. Milk powder
2. Water (around 4-5 cups? up to you)
3. 1 small plain yogurt (from the shop)

Directions:

1. Mix milk powder and water (I prefer a thicker yogurt, so I add a bit more milk powder)
2. Heat the milk until it just starts to boil, and turn off the heat
3. Wait until the milk cools down a bit (warm to the touch), then mix in the yogurt
4. Divide the milk-yougurt into glass containers (that has lid) - sieve the mixture when pouring in to remove lumps
5. Place the closed containers in a warm oven, and cover them with a warm cloth
6. normally, I will turn on the oven (and put the cloth inside) for a little while, then switch the oven off once I am ready to place the yougrt into the oven
7. Leave it for around 8 hours, and put in the fridge when it is done (I usually make yogurt at night, and leave it overnight)

Tag: recipe, yogurt

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💚 First Aid

Created: 12 July 2025, Saturday | Updated: 19 July 2025, Saturday

Joined a first aider course at a local St John Ambulance outfit recently. Did it for fun. Even managed to score myself a fancy little "CPR training 100% Achiever" pin!

I am by no means anywhere near knowledgeable on this topic, but just wanted to put a few notes here for my own memory:

⛑️ DRS ABCD

When in an emergency situation: ⭐⭐⭐ DRS ABCD ⭐⭐⭐
How I remember this acronym: "Doctors' ABCD"

Step	Description
Danger	Check your surroundings for danger to ensure both you and the person are safe If the person is in a dangerous place, you may need to move them first
Response	Can the person respond? (see also AVPU) If no response, gently shake their shoulders and ask: "Can you hear me?"
Shout (or Send)	If unresponsive, shout for help. Point to people, and say: "You, call 999 [ambulance] and get back to me" "You, find an AED and get back to me" People may assume someone else will act – so pointing at people and giving them a specific task to do helps Own note: Do most people even know what an AED is? Anyway, there may be AEDs in malls or public spaces
Airway	Check if the airway is blocked Tilt the head back, and tilt the chin up slightly Look in the mouth for any obstructions
Breathing	Is the person breathing? Check chest movements or feel under their nose (10 seconds max) If breathing, place them in the recovery position while waiting for help
CPR	If not breathing, lay the person on their back. Shirt may be removed for easier access to chest (if the person is a woman, consider privacy also, like get people to cover up the area, etc.). How to do CPR (for adults): Person is on their back You are on the side, knees on the floor Place one hand over the other, both hands palm down, fingers of the top hand interlocked with the bottom Hand placement: center of chest, between nipples Keep arms straight, use body weight to compress Press down XXX cm, at tempo of Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" Mouth-to-mouth is not really necessary (especially on strangers) Allow full chest recoil after each compression If the person is breathing but unconscious, do NOT need to do do CPR.
Defibrillator	AED = Automated External Defibrillator Prefer not to stop CPR, can get someone else set up the AED Steps: Expose chest – remove shirt / bra / accessories Shave chest if too hairy (AED box usually has a razor) Attach pads as per AED instructions Turn AED on and follow prompts When instructed, back away during shock Continue CPR when told If AED ask you to do mouth-to-mouth (and you don't wanna do it) just keep doing the compressions If the person starts breathing again, stop CPR and place them in recovery position

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🍚 RICE

For strains and sprains (like an ankle sprain): 🍙 RICE 🍙
How I remember this acronym: Strains/sprains are common, common like Asians eating "rice" 😅)

Step	Description
Rest	Stop the activity. Don’t put weight on the injury. Rest
Ice	Apply ice as soon as possible to reduce pain/swelling. Don’t apply ice directly, and don't apply ice for too long (might cause tissue damage)
Compression	Wrap the injured area snugly, but not too tight to cut off circulation
Elevation	Raise the injured body part, preferably above the heart level

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⚠️ AVPU

To check a person’s level of consciousness: ⏰ AVPU ⏰

Level	Description
Alert	The person is fully alert and responsive
Verbal	The person responds to your voice (e.g. grunts, noises)
Pain	The person responds to pain (e.g. pinching their nail)
Unresponsive	The person gives no response at all

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😪 Recovery Position

If the person is unconscious, but still breathing (and has not other life-threatening conditions), put them in the 🛌 Recovery Position 🛌

Step	Description
Step 1	The person is lying on their back, and you are at their side
Step 2	For their arm closest to your body: Put their arm like 90 degrees flat on the floor (bicep horizontal, and forearm vertical, kinda like they are putting up their hand up to ask the teacher a question, but this is flat on the floor)
Step 3	For their knee away from your body (i.e. on the other side of their body): Lift up the knee, foot on the floor (kinda like an upright triangle)
Step 4	For their hand that is away from your body: Clasp your fingers with their fingers (like a "couples" grip), and move that (couple grip hand) to the person's cheek that is near you
Step 5	Gently push down their knee (the one that you just lifted up) towards you... this will lay them on the side in the "recovery position"

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🗣️ Choking (for Adults)

If someone is choking (eg. food stuck in throat):

Step	Description
Step 0 Consent	Tell the person you are trained in first aid Ask: "Are you okay with me helping you?"
Step 1 Check if they can cough	Ask if person can cough If they can cough, try to get them to cough forcefully, sometimes this can dislodge the object
Step 2 Back Blows (5x)	Cup your hand (if flat hand... painful!) Get person to stand slightly bent/tilted forward/face down Hit the person's back (between the shoulder blades), angle your hit slightly upwards — 5 times If the object doesn't come out, to the Heimlich Maneuver / abdominal thrust
Step 3 Heimlich Maneuver / Abdominal Thrust (5x)	Go to the back of the person, wrap your arms around their body Make a fist with one hand — thumb wrapped in the fist / fingers over thumb. Place the other hand over base of fist (to support). Position the fist above the belly button, slightly below the sternum (a bit below the underboob area). Thrust decently hard, angled upwards — 5 times (If done properly, should come out — maybe even 1 or 2 times is enough.) If still doesn't come out, alternate between the Back Hits (5x) and Abdominal Thrusts (5x)
Practical Advice	When you are at the back of the person, put one of your legs out, as a support for the body in front of you This is just in case if the person passes out, you can use your leg to support yourself, and to support the person and guide them down to the floor gently For pregnant ladies, you can't do the abdominal thrusts... so do like chest thrusts (like where you do CPR like that?)
If they pass out / stop breathing	Call 999 (ambulance) ...or can get someone to call as soon as possible before this... if you think what you do is not really working If stop breathing, can do CPR

Tag: health, first-aid, emergency

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💇‍♀️ Hair Washing Technique

Created: 24 May 2025, Saturday

Earlier this month, I finally made a trip to the salon to cut my hair.

"Oh my, your hair is starting to thin..." said the close-to-retirement-aged hairdresser as he gently combed my wispy fringe, "if you do not do anything about it, you will likely be bald in twenty years, give or take".

Yes, of course I sensed an upsale coming up. But I was more concerned about my impending baldness - "Please tell me how to stop this from happening".

So, he gave me some common sense solutions (which I will not repeat here), and then he taught me how to wash my hair:

👨‍🦳💬 : When you wash your hair, "massage" the scalp 💆‍♀️ don’t "scratch" it!

... And yes, I did end up buying that tiny tiny RM150 bottle of shampoo in the end 💸😭.

Tag: hair, haircut, shampoo

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🌱 Ajinomoto For Plants?

Created: 20 October 2024, Sunday | Updated: 23 April 2025, Wednesday

So apparently, the popular flavour enhancer "Ajinomoto" (aka MSG aka monosodium glutamate) can be put into your plants to make it bear more fruits and leaves.

Around 1 teaspoon for a medium sized potted plant will do the trick - supposedly. Mom is testing this on her lime trees. Will see if it works.

Update 23 April 2025: When they said add "1 teaspoon" to the plant, they forgot to mention how many times a day/week/month - So, mom may (or may not) have over MSG-ed the plant resulting in some white-ish specks on the leaves, but... no fruits.

Tag: plants, garden, msg, ajinomoto, monosodium glutamate

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