New Year's Resolutions Check In
Jan. 5th, 2024 01:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithWe made it through the first work week of January. This is enough to get an early glimpse of progress with New Year's resolutions. It's also malleable enough to make changes.
How are your resolutions going?
Are you struggling with year-long goals? Consider adding some one-day resolutions to boost your sense of accomplishment. You can also break yearly goals into smaller subgoals, like monthly or weekly ones.
This year I just added some seasonal resolutions. Try making a set of 4-8 where each goal will only be active for about three months.
Do you feel more crushed by obligations than inspired by opportunities? Add some fun New Year's resolutions so you don't burn out. Bored with the same old resolutions? Try something unique!
How are you doing with tracking your progress? If you need a visual representation, check out these bullet journal pages.
Are you still going strong? Reward yourself!
My Goals
Here are my goals for 2024.
Completed (6)
* Hang 2024 calendars. [MET 1/1/24]
* Change the community calendar link in![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
allbingo to the new 2024 Community Calendar. [MET 1/1/24]
* Move poetry printouts. [MET 1/3/24]
* Sell at least one poem of 10 or fewer lines, eligible for the Dwarf Stars Award. MET 1/2/24 "The Spell Is Qast" (that is not a typo) ]
* Sort through bingo cards and remove those from 2022. [MET 1/1/24]
* Add a "Planting Ahead" tracking page for seeds and plants I want to buy. [MET 1/1/24]
Begun (x) (most of these cannot be finished quickly)
* Actually look at this list of goals, at least twice a month, before the end of the year in hopes of meeting more of them and not trying to cram in December. [1/1/24, 1/3/24, 1/5/23, ]
* Fill in desk calendar with repeating posts and other memoranda by the end of January. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Write at least 400 poems. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Create more supporting materials for poetic series as necessary, such as character cast lists or scientific notes. [Begun 1/1/23 working on Quixotic Ideas]
* Supervise updates of the Polychrome Heroics material and other series. [Begun 1/1/23 working on Quixotic Ideas]
* Participate in at least six bingo fests. [Begun 1/1/24: Public Domain Day Bingo 1/1/24, ]
* Participate in thesnowflake_challenge. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Continue posting inreddit_refugees to help newcomers to Dreamwidth. [Begun 1/1/24: "Snowflake Challenge" 1/1/24, "Rose and Bay Awards" 1/1/24 ]
* Continue posting inbirdfeeding. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Run the Rose & Bay Awards for 2023. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Keep up with writing records better, updating at least monthly. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Keep track of my crowdfunding activity as the year goes on. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Keep track of things I would like to receive as gifts. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Do more archiving of web links to combat linkrot. I primarily use the Wayback Machine and Archive.fo, but there are other options. [Begun 1/1/24]
How are your resolutions going?
Are you struggling with year-long goals? Consider adding some one-day resolutions to boost your sense of accomplishment. You can also break yearly goals into smaller subgoals, like monthly or weekly ones.
This year I just added some seasonal resolutions. Try making a set of 4-8 where each goal will only be active for about three months.
Do you feel more crushed by obligations than inspired by opportunities? Add some fun New Year's resolutions so you don't burn out. Bored with the same old resolutions? Try something unique!
How are you doing with tracking your progress? If you need a visual representation, check out these bullet journal pages.
Are you still going strong? Reward yourself!
My Goals
Here are my goals for 2024.
Completed (6)
* Hang 2024 calendars. [MET 1/1/24]
* Change the community calendar link in
allbingo to the new 2024 Community Calendar. [MET 1/1/24]* Move poetry printouts. [MET 1/3/24]
* Sell at least one poem of 10 or fewer lines, eligible for the Dwarf Stars Award. MET 1/2/24 "The Spell Is Qast" (that is not a typo) ]
* Sort through bingo cards and remove those from 2022. [MET 1/1/24]
* Add a "Planting Ahead" tracking page for seeds and plants I want to buy. [MET 1/1/24]
Begun (x) (most of these cannot be finished quickly)
* Actually look at this list of goals, at least twice a month, before the end of the year in hopes of meeting more of them and not trying to cram in December. [1/1/24, 1/3/24, 1/5/23, ]
* Fill in desk calendar with repeating posts and other memoranda by the end of January. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Write at least 400 poems. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Create more supporting materials for poetic series as necessary, such as character cast lists or scientific notes. [Begun 1/1/23 working on Quixotic Ideas]
* Supervise updates of the Polychrome Heroics material and other series. [Begun 1/1/23 working on Quixotic Ideas]
* Participate in at least six bingo fests. [Begun 1/1/24: Public Domain Day Bingo 1/1/24, ]
* Participate in the
snowflake_challenge. [Begun 1/1/24]* Continue posting in
reddit_refugees to help newcomers to Dreamwidth. [Begun 1/1/24: "Snowflake Challenge" 1/1/24, "Rose and Bay Awards" 1/1/24 ] * Continue posting in
birdfeeding. [Begun 1/1/24]* Run the Rose & Bay Awards for 2023. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Keep up with writing records better, updating at least monthly. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Keep track of my crowdfunding activity as the year goes on. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Keep track of things I would like to receive as gifts. [Begun 1/1/24]
* Do more archiving of web links to combat linkrot. I primarily use the Wayback Machine and Archive.fo, but there are other options. [Begun 1/1/24]
Me Being Old
Date: 2024-01-05 08:31 am (UTC)Re: Me Being Old
Date: 2024-01-05 09:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-05 11:31 am (UTC)Go you!
Date: 2024-01-06 09:26 am (UTC)That's excellent progress.
>> but working the 2024 list got delayed due to a death in the family. <<
Alas!
I have a Grief Questionnaire and Dealing with Grief tips.
>> Still keeping track of items that are carry-overs,<<
Good idea.
>> but I haven't started on anything new as of yet.<<
Put the big rocks in first. Acknowledge that you will be dealing with some amount of mourning and practical tasks related to the recent loss. Think about what you will need to accomplish those. Then ask if you will have time or energy left for anything else. If so, you can add more goals. It's also good to add some for fun or self-care rather than chores.
As much as possible, break things into smaller and more manageable tasks. You'll notice that I have an entry for "clean out more of Mom's clothes" and it's been a while since she passed.
Re: Go you!
Date: 2024-01-06 12:37 pm (UTC)Beyond that, I know that the practical tasks that follow a loss are time consuming, and there's always way more than you think there would be. I'll just take things day by day for now, and eventually I'll get back on track.
Re: Go you!
Date: 2024-01-06 08:16 pm (UTC)Good plan.
>> The carry-overs are are already on the list because they are the "big rocks", and I need to make sure I don't falter in keeping track of those things.<<
Yeah, I know how that goes.
>> Beyond that, I know that the practical tasks that follow a loss are time consuming, and there's always way more than you think there would be. <<
Because a lot of them, once complete, spawn others as next steps. Once a bag is filled, it needs to be taken somewhere; once a space is emptied, it usually needs to be cleaned, and so on. Paperwork breeds like mice.
>> I'll just take things day by day for now, and eventually I'll get back on track. <<
I wish you luck with it. Feel free to post here about your progress if it helps. It doesn't have to be a formal resolution list.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-05 02:52 pm (UTC)- I've already made 7 Story and 1 Cooking Adventure posts for Writing Season! This is my best start yet!
- We had a lovely Yule celebration on 12/21/23
- I've read 2 pagan/metaphysical source books: The House Witch and Yule: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Winter Solstice.
- I'm currently reading the next source book Imbolc: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Brigid's Day.
- Imbolc plans for a Stuff Swap are underway.
Wow!
Date: 2024-01-06 10:21 am (UTC)Re: Wow!
Date: 2024-01-06 03:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-05 05:58 pm (UTC)Since resolutions in the usual sense are future oriented, they become rather flexible when one is a Time Lord.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-05 07:16 pm (UTC)They do that when one is a Phoenix as well. I feel like the older I get, the more fluid time becomes.
-T~
Well ...
Date: 2024-01-06 10:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-05 07:04 pm (UTC)But so far, I've taken my close out of the drier in the same week they went in the washer (I'm working up to the same day, but not there yet), and I'll get to folding them here shortly.
I've done better about putting things used straight into the dishwasher after use.
This goal is part of 'keep the house up better'
Now if only I could get my ass out of bed before 11:00 AM.
One of Moms misconceptions about executive dysfunction is that you can 'talk' yourself out it by say that I'm the only one who'll do it' there's no one else. I haven't been able to explain to her (in a way she understands) that while the gears turn, it doesn't always 'click' in my brain the way it's supposed to.
But because *she* can talk herself out of it she thinks *I* should be able to as well.
I need to go back through comments, because I know you've given me tips on how to cope; I just...need to find them again.
I wish I had a motivational buddy to get my ass out of bed at like eight for a week or so until my body gets used to it again. That helps...a lot, but most of the ones I have are...just as bad a procrastinating as I am or work.
-T~
Thoughts
Date: 2024-01-05 11:06 pm (UTC)Go you!
>>I've done better about putting things used straight into the dishwasher after use.
This goal is part of 'keep the house up better'
Now if only I could get my ass out of bed before 11:00 AM.<<
Okay, "keep the house up better" is a big messy goal that is A) exhausting and B) really hard to measure.
It is a lot easier to pick one thing to focus on, until that has become a habit, and then pick a new thing. So consider the dishwasher "a thing" and:
* Put dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher.
* When full, turn it on.
* When done, immediately put away clean dishes.
That's three steps, but they're part of one process, and having clean dishes is super useful.
A lot of folks have trouble remembering whether the dishes in the washer are "clean" or "dirty" and there are flip magnets for this purpose. But they're not often textured. To make a tactile version, think back to kindergarten and just glue dry elbow macaroni on one half of a kitchen magnet face. When that end is facing up, the dishes in the dishwasher are dirty; when the smooth end is up, they're clean.
>> But because *she* can talk herself out of it she thinks *I* should be able to as well.<<
One of the hardest things to understand is what other people can't do.
>>I need to go back through comments, because I know you've given me tips on how to cope; I just...need to find them again.<<
For general coping tips, check my How To memories.
>> I wish I had a motivational buddy to get my ass out of bed at like eight for a week or so until my body gets used to it again. That helps...a lot, but most of the ones I have are...just as bad a procrastinating as I am or work.<<
Motivation is hard and a common need. So there are lots of apps for it. You might try browsing those to see if anything suits your needs. Hunt around because they'll have different features. Some are free, others paid. Accessibility features vary too. So think about what feels helpful to you.
https://bernardzitzer.com/list-motivation-apps/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/20-better-ways-to-wake-up-in-the-morning-that-dont-involve-your-phones-default-alarm
https://www.goalswon.com/blog/23-apps-that-will-keep-you-accountable-and-motivated-to-achieve-all-your-personal-goals
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2024-01-08 04:45 pm (UTC)It is a lot easier to pick one thing to focus on, until that has become a habit, and then pick a new thing. So consider the dishwasher "a thing" and:
* Put dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher.
* When full, turn it on.
* When done, immediately put away clean dishes.
That's three steps, but they're part of one process, and having clean dishes is super useful.
A lot of folks have trouble remembering whether the dishes in the washer are "clean" or "dirty" and there are flip magnets for this purpose. But they're not often textured. To make a tactile version, think back to kindergarten and just glue dry elbow macaroni on one half of a kitchen magnet face. When that end is facing up, the dishes in the dishwasher are dirty; when the smooth end is up, they're clean.
I need to buy a magnate for that purpose. I used to have one, but it got lost somewhere.
Also, I do better when I multi task. So laundry/dishes are processes I can switch between.
Put dishes in diswasher run said diswasher when full, go up snatch clothes, place in washer. Dishwasher gets doen about the same time the washe does. Dry dishes, put them away, go to washer, switch clothes do drier, go do something else.
However, I will kee the other in mind in case laundry and dishes get ou8t or sinc, because it's not a bad thought.
Perhaps I should have said an 'alarm clock' buddy. Because my problem is, I can wake up, but I tend to lay in bed longer than I should, and sometimes that means I fall back to sleep, and that's not what I want, either.
I will, however, take a look at the motivational apps. I'd forgotten some of those were out there, so thank you for the reminder.