Mihai Hlodec

January 2026

Wheretf did first month of 2026 go?

Trying something new this year. Logging what I do every day, to see where my time, months and years went. Why? For no reason - as an exercise. It won't do any harm, right?

To log stuff I use my own app, meanwhile.live. Stupid simple, buggy, but works like a charm. Oh, sorry - is not an app, is a website, didn't have time to bundle it into an app.

So, coming back to you, January 2026. Where did you go?

Started the month strong, like all people in all januaries since the invention of calendars. A lot of goals, hustle and bustle. A month of building momentum - yeah, sure.. I worked on a new product, got my first paying customers on the one I started last year, and tried to stay consistent with the habits I set out for 2026.

None of that mattered. On Jan 30th, I lost my grandfather. Yes, he was old but he left a big empty space in our family. Hope his well up there, and forever thankful for everything he tought me. His favourite saying was "While you rest, go and do that and that". And no, it was not a joke. It would happen during breaks, after my brother and I would work for 4 hours straight chopping wood or cutting grass. Best childhood I had. Miss him and those times altogether.

Back - list of stuff I did in January 2026 and want to remember in 10 years when my kids will take up all my time:

  • First revenue from w.......r.io — Two customers paid for the product this month. The first one on January 7th, the second bought a $29 plan on January 30th.

  • Released r......photos — Built the initial setup in a weekend. Thank you Claude, my friend. Scraped data from all major Romanian cities with the help of a free Google API subscription.

  • Somewhat consistent on habits — Kept up daily journaling. 2 hours daily dedicated to side projects. ZERO (0) Netflix throughout the month.

  • Health in check — back at the gym, plus home workouts and pilates when my wife forces me to accompany her. Went through a full round of medical checkups (dentist, ophthalmologist, pneumology, etc). All clear for now.

  • Reading — Haruki Murakami (Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage) and Elon Musk's biography (by Walter Isaacson).

  • Started the year in Maramures — New Years eve, family time, snowy drives, car broke, planning the year ahead.

    By the Numbers

    • 2 books read
    • 1 new product launched
    • 2 paying customers (first time in my whole life)
    • 15 gym/workout sessions
    • 0 Netflix hours
    • 4 social gatherings
    • 3 day cold
    • 140+ daily habit check-ins

    Thank you January 2026. You've been a first in many ways, and exactly like the other Januaries in so many other ways.