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energizerbunniesThis is a community for people who want to do things. Call it resolutions, call it motivation, call it self-help... whatever! We're here because we want to support each other in accomplishing what we want to accomplish. Motivated somewhat by this article and somewhat just by the desire to improve ourselves.
Membership is open, and so is the format. But for the sake of having somewhere to get started:
- Post or comment with the goals you have for yourself. Not things like "become rich and famous!" but things like "get a job" or "learn to cook" or "get in shape". Specific is better!
- Maybe set some time frames for yourself, or short term goals. What you accomplish this week is essential to your larger goals.
- Tell people what helps you to stay motivated and let them offer support!
- If you're struggling or frustrated, ask for help.
I'll try to remember to give posts every so often for people to state their goals. Feel free to make your own that are all about you!
Lock your posts if you want. We're all friends here, and nobody wants your business out there, but it is the internet.
This is more or less a work in progress so let's just tinker and do whatever works. It's all in the name of results!
Membership is open, and so is the format. But for the sake of having somewhere to get started:
- Post or comment with the goals you have for yourself. Not things like "become rich and famous!" but things like "get a job" or "learn to cook" or "get in shape". Specific is better!
- Maybe set some time frames for yourself, or short term goals. What you accomplish this week is essential to your larger goals.
- Tell people what helps you to stay motivated and let them offer support!
- If you're struggling or frustrated, ask for help.
I'll try to remember to give posts every so often for people to state their goals. Feel free to make your own that are all about you!
Lock your posts if you want. We're all friends here, and nobody wants your business out there, but it is the internet.
This is more or less a work in progress so let's just tinker and do whatever works. It's all in the name of results!
no subject
Date: 2012-12-17 11:06 pm (UTC)Off the top of my head, I'd like to get healthy and get pregnant. The latter is not something I have a great deal of control over, so I'm going to focus on what I can control.
Generally, I'd like to:
1. Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days per week
2. Eat at least three different vegetables each day
3. spend a minimum of one hour per day cleaning or working on my house
4. read one book per month for pleasure
This week, I'd like to:
1. Finish my holiday shopping
2. Send out holiday cards
3. Wrap at least 10 gifts
4. Clean out the fridge
5. Get quarter round for the renovated sunroom
That's a good start! I'll go from here. /o/
no subject
Date: 2012-12-18 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-18 05:54 pm (UTC)/cheers with Sandy!
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Date: 2012-12-19 02:00 am (UTC)And good luck! Knowing you, all of this will get done, and then some.
Apologizing in advance for talk of cute boy, but it is necessary to get myself geared up.
Date: 2012-12-18 04:58 pm (UTC)In general, I'd like to become a more responsible person. I...the article was particularly relevant for me because it asked, if you like a person, what do you bring to the table? You like them, but what do you offer to make them like you? And that was something I had to seriously think about when my brain started to whine about why the guy I like probably doesn't like me. And I was like...
...well, as far as he's concerned, I prioritize fun over work, I am completely ungrateful to my professor who PAYS HALF OF MY TUITION because I don't really do lab work for her (and I boast about how I can get away with that), I don't pull my weight in group projects and joke about how I suck instead of trying, and I was irresponsible enough to get into a situation which led to him having to sacrifice his enjoyment to take care of me. Really, self? You really had to ask WHY? The answer is right there!
So, I decided, if I wanted to earn the chance to be with him, I had to expect of myself what I expect of him. I like him because he's a hard-worker and you can see it in what he produces, I like him because he's a good friend and you can see it in how he treats others, I like him even because he stays healthy and you can see it in his activities. These are some of the things I...well, demand of him.
Almost every single moment of your life, you demand something of someone. For example, by going to the store, you demand that people have stocked the shelves and cleaned the aisles and are ready to help you at the cash register. By sitting in this room with my computer, I demand that whoever is in charge of it ensures that my electricity and heat are running, that my internet connection is working, etc. Even though I am not physically interacting with anyone at the moment, I am making demands. So how the hell is it fair that I expect to get by without giving back what people expect of me?
So anyway, that's my reasons. Now for the lists:
Somewhat long-term:
- Increase my stamina for my dance team by developing an exercise plan that I will put into action starting during the holidays. It will include practicing the actual dance as well as running and sit-ups and things like that.
- Next semester, start every assignment on the day it is assigned and finish it at least two days before the due date.
- Spend winter break preparing for research and be prepared to start on day one! No more being idle in the lab - you have five projects in mind, get each one planned out during the holidays, read the relevant papers, get the right training, go!
- No more drinking alcohol. You didn't enjoy it - let's be honest, you only did it to "fit in" and maybe have an excuse to touch cute boy because you're drunk. Those are not good reasons to drink, so no more.
- Read more. This has to go along with "don't let cute boy be what you think of 24/7, you are a person with interests, don't lose them, enjoy them". I haven't done the things I actually enjoy this semester so I want to daydream less and remember who I am again.
Short-term:
- Study hard for the two finals I have this week and do my absolutely best on them. That means studying for the next three days.
- Finish my to-do lists for each day without moving items to the next day. It's stuff I need to do to get ready to go home - there's no reason to procrastinate!
- Finish the last batch of holiday cards and send them.
Okay, I think I can do this. Sorry for the tl;dr in the beginning - I just needed to pump myself up!
no subject
Date: 2012-12-18 05:58 pm (UTC)And a lot of what you mentioned is stuff that I need to work on too. I slack at work, I put things off until the next day, I think about RP at work instead of work, and then I wonder why I always freak out a bit whenever I have my weekly meeting with my boss. (Spoilers: it's because you don't actually do much, self.)
But I believe that you will make yourself a better person, and that things with Cute Boy will resolve themselves (with a hopefully happy ending)!
Because, let's be real, Sandy/Cute Boy = OTP.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-18 09:56 pm (UTC)One of the comments on the article was saying things like "don't learn to play the guitar for a girl's sake because that's silly, you shouldn't do things for other people." But someone replied to them with "but if he gets up and does something, even if things don't work out with the girl, he now knows how to play the guitar." So what if the boy is your initial motivation? Only great things can come of doing all the things you want to do. <3
Your goals are great and totally doable. Rooting for you always! <3
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Date: 2012-12-19 01:58 am (UTC)Good luck with all of the school stuff!
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Date: 2012-12-18 05:49 pm (UTC)Ahem, what I meant to say is that I would like to improve myself so that I can be a person that I like and would enjoy spending time with. If I don't like myself, how can I possibly expect other people to like me? People generally don't like other people who degrade themselves all the time and have no self-confidence. I certainly don't.
The "You Hate Yourself Because You Don't Do Anything" was particularly relevant for me, so 2013 is going to be the year that I do Things! With a capital T!
In the long run, I'd like to focus on improving my focus at work (because I have none) as well as improving my overall health by exercising and eating better. But since nothing's going to get done unless I have concrete goals, I am going to attempt the following: There's also some stuff that needs to be tweaked in my RP life to make all this a reality, but that's probably deserving of its own post.
In the meantime, I will list short-term goals for this week(end)!
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Date: 2012-12-18 06:22 pm (UTC)Also, SlicerDicer is an awesome name of whatever it is.
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Date: 2012-12-18 09:59 pm (UTC)I really like your goals, they're absolutely doable and will probably help your mindset a lot. Plus, they're habits that will be easy to keep once formed. Go fight win!
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Date: 2012-12-19 01:55 am (UTC)Also think similar goals helps people motivate each other, since you can give suggestions and ideas and find out what works for you personally!
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Date: 2012-12-18 10:56 pm (UTC)To be honest, I have been running on minimal sleep for about two weeks due to finals and now that they're over, my brain just wants to shut right down. So, forgive me if this is a little incoherent.
This year has been an interesting year. It has not been awesome but the one thing I'm really proud of is teaching myself to stop complaining (for the most part, obviously). Stop complaining about my family, stop complaining about my endometriosis pain, stop complaining about work — it was a little goal I took on for myself and accomplishing it, and then noticing it, did make me feel like a stronger person.
So, you know, why not keep doing that? Why not keep finding things I dislike about myself and fix them? Turns out, it's awesome! :D
My goals, for the year of 2013, because why not establish an arbitrary schedule? It is December!
And... my brain glazed over. THAT'S ALL, FOLKS. ♥
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Date: 2012-12-18 11:01 pm (UTC)I'm seconding the "less complaining" thing. I still do, but I feel like at least the things I complain about are at least things I don't dwell on. It's amazing how negative thoughts drag things down. Also, I've totally noticed that about you! (I actually wondered if things with the endo. might be calming down, heh.)
I stamp my approval on all your goals. And I should add flossing to mine actually. XD Also, I don't think wanting to engage in some Persona time is frivolous and I'm glad you listed it! Taking time for ourselves is important.
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Date: 2012-12-18 11:06 pm (UTC)Thanks, Lena. ♥ I will take your stamp of approval with pride!
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Date: 2012-12-18 11:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-19 01:53 am (UTC)Totally approve of the recreational goal. Even if it's frivolous, those sorts of goals give you time to yourself and are important, too!
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Date: 2012-12-19 02:24 am (UTC)And this is a wonderful set of goals! ESPECIALLY GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. And P3/P4. And making friends. I believe that you can accomplish all of these things!
sorry for my tl;dr. Goals are important to me.
Date: 2012-12-19 01:50 am (UTC)I'd like to just gush for a second about how much I love this comm idea. Long term and short term goals are what I've been doing on my own for the past couple of years. I didn't always stick to everything, possibly because I was on my own, now that I consider it. So this is really awesome for me to see a group effort.
Long term 2013 goals:
1. Better financial management.
2. This might sound awful, at first, but stop giving money out to every person begging. I don't always know what that money is going to. It'd be better to donate money to a charity, or a shelter. If possible, get the people some food instead of handing them cash. Most of them look like they could use a meal. Or directions to a soup kitchen.
3. I've been good at reading on regular basis, but I'd like to get back into writing out my original ideas on a regular basis. They're just falling to the wayside. I blame work currently (which is easy to do when you're stuck doing repetitive production for ten hours a day), but if I take the time to write out the basic ideas during my breaks, I can put it together when I get home, without losing my idea!
4. Silly one, I know, but I'd like to get back into coloring icons. My style kept improving before, and people even use some of the ones I made in the past. Besides, it was something I enjoyed and it's always good to have some sort of creative hobby.
5. Another more recreation personal one, but finish another video game. ANY game. I know it's nothing big, but having so many unfinished games lying around feels like an example of how my mother is. She starts crafts, then never finishes them. Starts getting into something like Mary Kay, then doesn't follow through. I don't want to be like that! So even if it's just a video game, I want to finish it instead of just play around. I want to start there, then upgrade to finishing other side projects I've had going on for a while. But starting with video games, also, because slashing and shooting things after work has definitely helped my stress levels in this place. Ultimately, I want this small thing to develop into me following through with more things I start. Yes, sometimes it's just not possible and things happen, but I could finish more things than I do now.
6. Log into this account, at least once a week. Even if I don't update, there are still reasons I should log in. Like my friends list, and now this comm.
7. Under no circumstances will I add to this list until I finish 20 things. Period. End of story. Finish things, not add more.
8. Also, exercise 30 minutes 5-3 days a week. Even if I have to split that into 15 minutes in the morning and 15 in the evening. Whatever it takes. I already do some stretches and leg lifts first thing in the morning and long walks/jogging on the weekends, so adding on shouldn't hurt.
9. When work reaches busy season, better time management. Yes, 11-12 hour days are rough, but they shouldn't completely wipe out my free time and social life. Which leads into the next one.
10. Get a primary care physician to help with the energy level issues, the dizzy spells and the insomnia.
11. Figure out what motivates me, because I'm really not sure.
12. Again with the financial management so I can save up money again to buy an airline ticket to see my family in the upcoming year.
13. Get my voice to where I can sing Diva's song.
14. Get back into singing more often, period. I'm rusty.
15. Finally learn NOTES and SCALES, too.
Short term goals:
1. Get my family's Christmas package sent out before the end of the week.
2. Get the other three packages sent out before the end of the month.
3. Finish Tales of Vesperia before the end of the year. Even if it's not a perfect game; that's what replays are for!
4. Clean out all of the mail. My box on the wall is looking tacky.
5. Get a replacement lamp if the one currently not working isn't salvageable.
6. Replace the broken blender.
7. Get a 2013 calendar to replace the 2012 one.
If this is okay....
What I accomplished in 2012:
1. Joined a soccer team, and stuck with them until the end of the season. Also learned I really enjoyed playing and working with a team, but the schedule meshed badly with my work schedule resulting in less sleep.
2. Learned to say no.
3. Stopped letting people walk all over me and take advantage just because they could.
4. Cleaned off my laptop and reformatted it.
5. Got the cats a cat-tree instead of just a box to lay on and claw at.
6. Got the second lamp, beanbags for the living room, and an actual mattress.
7. Managed to form a cleaning schedule and have stuck with it, rather than just doing it all on the weekends.
8. Saw a dentist to finally remove my remaining wisdom teeth.
9. Saw an allergist to help build up my immunity for next fall.
10. Dropped five pounds, and have kept it off (I'd like to point out, lost that weight without sacrificing what I WANT to eat, too. Which means this is a lifestyle diet I can stick with, rather than something I'll move away from once I feel comfortable with how I look).
11. Baked and cooked many of the recipes I have bookmarked, and found quite a few I enjoy, even if I have to alter the recipe a bit.
12. Received the bonus for high productivity and low errors every month thus far at work (which means I've maintained speed and not made mistakes in the process).
13. Was nominated at work for Employee of the Month repeatedly for my extra efforts, and even won it once.
14. Learned my RP game limit. This is important! Learning limits is something I need to do instead of taking on more than I can handle. This prevents burnout and disappointing others in the long-run, and I don't honestly know all of my limits.
15. Got back into RP as a cheap outlet for creative ideas, entertainment, and interacting with others at the same time. (It started late 2011, but most of the applications and all were done this year.)
I eat tl;dr every day for breakfast, so this is amazing.
Date: 2012-12-19 02:47 am (UTC)First - good luck with financial management! That's also something I need to work on as well, but I haven't yet figured out a plan for how I want to go about it, and I'm the type of person who gets nothing done unless she has a concrete plan with numbers and steps. If you do find something that works for you though, you should totally share! I'd be interested in hearing what works for you and what doesn't.
Second - do you have any sort of place you keep your ideas online, like a writing comm or something? I adore hearing about other people's writing and story ideas, and I know it helps me personally if there are people who are aware of my ideas and can nudge me into acting on them every now and then. Obviously this is not to say that you have to do any such thing, but if you ever do start up any sort of writing journal, you should let me know! I'd love to hear about your ideas.
Third - Your goals re: singing reminded me that I'd like to get back into singing too. How do you usually practice your singing? Do you have sheet music you sing from, or do you just sing with songs until you can sing them in a way that's acceptable to you?
...Actually, I could go on forever, but I'll stop there, though not before saying that it's absolutely awesome that you achieved so many things in 2012. There's a lot of things on that list that are relevant to me and that I haven't learned yet, so you are on a roll.
Good luck with all your goals! \o/
Good!
Date: 2012-12-19 03:12 am (UTC)First one - yeah. I can't really do it without a plan, either. I've already done a lot of the math, though it varies because of my job. We get a lot of unexpected overtime, so I end up with more money than I calculated for, sometimes. And while spending a little on myself as a reward is good, I've been going overboard this past year. So, to start with, I'll just be eliminating some of the extra spending and limiting myself to one-two "rewards" a month. Maybe more if it's a really good month, or something.
Second - sadly, not any longer. I used to have a writing journal way back when, and then I fell out of the habit. If I start rolling along again, though, I might just do that, set up a new journal. Along with another icon journal, assuming, again, I get back into making icons like I want to. Another thing I want to do is get into weekly writing prompts for something short, perhaps. I find stuff like that helps me and gets things going.
Third - never learned how to read sheet music, so I go by ear. Sing until I find the sound and tone match to my acceptance. I could use a lot of improvement, though. And DO want to learn the notes/scales how to read sheet music.
And thank you! Over time it gets easier and easier to tackle things. And some of those were small achievements, maybe, but I think most of them overall, the big and the small, improved my life.
Thank you, once again!
no subject
Date: 2012-12-19 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-20 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-19 07:28 pm (UTC)Managing time is rough with a busy job and crazy hours, especially with the things you want to to for health and recreation thrown in, but you have exactly the right attitude. Doing something is better than nothing, even if it's just a few jotted ideas during a break or a ten minute walk. Plans only work out if they fit into your life, etc. XD
Selfishly, I would love to hear you sing Diva's song and also enjoy hearing about your original ideas. If you're in the mood to share anytime, definitely do!
And being the health nut I am I can't not encourage you to get that doctor appointment. Sounds like a peek at your bloodwork might be in order?
I love the things you've accomplished this year. It's a long and impressive list! Now I'm thinking it would be good to have the rest of us do the same between now and the end of the year.
Good luck and thanks for joining up! <3
no subject
Date: 2012-12-20 01:47 am (UTC)And yes. I learned that with soccer. I loved it, but it didn't quite work with the job. Sadly.
Well, we'll see if I can even get anywhere. I'll probably switch out things through the week. Most likely.
Ah, probably. The doctor kinda wanted to see me sooner, and I'd love to go, but I work while they're open, and there's nothing free on the calendar until next year. SO. Well. Still, appointment is made.
Yes! Making a list of what you've done, and looking back with that in mind, rather than what was not accomplished, definitely makes a difference. It helps me feel geared up, too, thinking I can accomplish just as much, or more, this year.
Thank you! But thanks for making this comm in the first place. Brilliant idea.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-19 09:23 pm (UTC)Broad goals:
- I want to write more.
- I want to be better with my money.
- I want to be a better worker.
- I want to stop ignoring my inbox.
- I want to play video games instead of just own them.
- I want to lose weight and be more fit.
- Specific corollary to the above: I want to get down to 150 lbs for my sister's wedding in May. That's going to be less than a pound a week... probably.
Immediate goals:
- Finish Li's holidayfics, hopefully in time for Christmas, even more hopefully in time for the end of the year! Currently I am about 80% done with the first one, and have made a start on the second one.
- Keep my budgeted money for January in envelopes. I'm thinking about using an envelope system to keep me from overspending. If it all goes on a credit card, I promptly forget about it, but I feel like if I have to pay with cash from my wallet, I won't be able to so easily go "I'll just buy this cute shirt!" for what turns out to be the third time this month, etc.
- Less sitting down behind the desk at work. I need to prove to my boss that I can be up and about and active and getting work done that doesn't involve the internet.
- Clear out my inbox by this weekend. That means all the tags, all the journal comments, all the fic comments, all the little things I'm keeping in there as reminders to myself. I let these things sit in there for weeks and weeks before doing them.
- Make progress on a video game, any video game. Right now I'm thinking probably Kingdom Hearts re:Coded. If re:Coded, I would like to finish it by the end of the year.
- Keep track of my eating habits, on a weekly?/biweekly? journal post that I will go back and edit instead of spamming everyone every day, but will still be able to be accountable if a single week contains "Got lunch from the cafeteria, gave up on counting calories" "Got Chinese food, gave up on counting calories" "Ate entire bag of pretzels while sitting in my chair, gave up on counting calories" "Got lazy, gave up on counting calories".
- Elliptical, fifteen minutes, three times a week. This is an extremely modest goal, I just don't... do it. I just want to get my metabolism up a little bit, enough to help with the other health goals.
- Actually get on a scale, you coward. I've been so anxious after Thanksgiving and Hanukkah and all the holiday eating that I haven't even checked. I had lost a good amount of weight and went down a pant size, but I fear I've undone most of my good work already. See: the above two goals.
...Is that it?? I don't remember anything else.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-20 01:59 am (UTC)The less sitting behind the desk thing? Will also help with the weight loss. Makes a huge difference. That's what everyone from the front office at my place tells me, at least.
Keeping track of eating habits sounds awesome. Even if you do write out/type, as you put, "gave up on counting calories," actually looking at all together does put it into perspective.
Any goal is a goal! No matter how modest. Besides, you have to start somewhere, and starting off too strong can cause burnout.
Good luck with everything!