Awesome
I have successfully avoided blogging for an entire month. You know that little ticker down on the right of my blog's homepage that says "Old Posts Lie Here" (for those that still visit the site vs getting the feed on buzz or reader)? There's nothing for January. Lull executed perfectly.
This post is a New Year's Resolution follow-up, a month and a half after picking what I would work on. First off, a summary of what I set out to do:
- Avoid sweets throughout January
- Keep my intake of sweets low throughout the following months, too
- Read more Arabic
- More effectively managing my personal finances; become more financially literate
Secondly, here were some tips for helping me keep these resolutions:
- (From Chris F) I read somewhere that the trick to New Year's Resolutions is to focus on accomplishing (or making progress on) said tasks by the end of the year instead of expecting to implement an instant change. Having a timeline like that vs. trying to be perfect right out of the gates January 1st. seems to be more effective. Definitely seems to make large goals seem somewhat less insurmountable, at least on the surface. Good luck on the sweets though - that seems to be my perpetual NYR
- (Paraphrased from Amanda D) Do have some sweets/cheats in moderation. To deprive yourself completely would only build up the desire for the dessert, which would defeat the whole purpose even if you can keep up the behavior for the time being.
So, based on this advice, I didn't change my behavior at all and told myself "I'll get to it in February." NOT!
1 and 2. I actually started from a day or so before January 1 watching my desserts. I often get to the end of dinner and want ice cream or something to sweeten my palette before brushing my teeth and going to bed. But I held off for the most part, changing that habit. I can maintain this throughout the year because it represents a change in routine, not just a couple lucky instances. SUCCESS.
On the other hand, I did have sweets during January. I took two major holidays from my resolution - one for a birthday party at work and the other to feel sorry for myself after failing the foreign service oral assessment. OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE
3. Did not happen. I was so focused for the first half of the month on improving my interview skills that I didn't look at Arabic once. I want to do better this month. OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE
4. This is a tough one. It takes good habits, restraint, sometimes doing without, all this difficult stuff - without very much near- or medium-term satisfaction. Instead of getting satisfaction, saving (and spending wisely) is really a practice of faith in the future. At twenty-seven, I ought to start looking at my life longer-term. But its so much more fun (right?) to look at 2011 and think "I can spend everything I have this year because next year will be another chance to save up - and that's when I'll really buckle down and be an adult (i.e. save)." Count this new year's resolution as an OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE
Next post is likely to be a story from the weekend - likely about my grandpa.
2 comments:
probably the single easiest way to save is either automatically (if you have a roth option with your 401k or 457 plan you should do it no questions asked), or even just a regular salary deferral. Not sure how matching works where you are, but even if we ignore that huge benefit, and you only make a modest contribution each year, the benefits are pretty undeniable (and if they have a roth option for you, take it! and if they dont, only contribute upto the match, and then do a roth IRA (individual account) at somewhere that won't ping you with excessive fees, and if you can get that funded via payroll deduction that's huge too.
You have my # if you have specific questions, but in some senses your timing isn't so bad (ideal would have been if you somehow had this resolution in 2009, but alas)
1. I went for a similar resolution, but with Soda, through January. I was successful mostly because I usually crave soda after tournaments when my body is completely depleted. Working out, goaltimate, pickup just doesn't bring about the urge like a tournament or track workouts do. It was still tough, but I made it through and broke down on February 4th and had a coke at dinner. It was delicious. Now I am a little more conscious of the drink choices I make at restaurants or grocery store so my deprivation was worth it, a least a little bit. I'm sure you will notice a lack of desire more and more as you choose not to indulge sometimes. That's a win.
4. Boy I wish I could be more financially responsible too. It's tough with no dependents and an attitude of 'well i can afford it, why not?' But things are good now and there aren't any major unexpected expenses I am occuring right now. I know I should be saving. I like how you say its an OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT, a welcome opportunity that I can hopefully embrace this year.
Keep on keeping on buddy.
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