mistressofmuses (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mistressofmuses) wrote2021-01-03 08:37 pm
mistressofmuses) wrote2021-01-03 08:37 pm
Entry tags:
Habit tracking for the start of 2021
I settled on some habit tracking that I'm going to do at least for a little while. Trying to keep it low-pressure on myself so that I don't burn out on it in a week.
I know the new year is arbitrary, and I do feel kinda silly using it as a signpost, but... meh. The things I'm tracking aren't "resolutions", or even goals, necessarily. More, I hope they'll help me be mindful of how I spend my time. Most of them are oriented toward creative things or hobbies.
1 - work. On days I work, obviously that's the bulk of my time.
2 - household maintenance. Things like cleaning, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, etc. Since I work full time, Alex is usually the one who takes care of household things. Even so, I should try to pull my own weight, and not totally just ignore it.
3 - physical activity. I'm going to be lenient on myself with this one, and count basically anything that gets me outside or moving. But I very much need to get into better shape, and really do almost nothing physical. I should find some kind of physical activity I can stand doing. Besides clubbing, which is a no-go with covid, and hiking, which takes time and better weather.
4 - wrote 500/1000+ words. I'd like to try and write about 500 words per day, close to every day, and 1000+ words would be better. Almost all of my writing last year came from crunching on externally-provided deadlines. (Prompt challenges, events, NaNo.) Ideally, I'd like to have a reasonably achievable wordcount goal that lets me keep up some momentum without relying on deadlines. It's my intent that this be *creative* writing; journal entries don't count, though I may make exceptions.
5 - meta work on creative writing. A bulky title, but this is for when I'm working on editing, outlining, research, etc. It's vital to writing, but doesn't always generate new words, and I don't want to feel guilty about that.
6 - personal writing. Journaling. Probably mostly here.
7 - other creative things. Non-writing artsy things. Drawing, coloring, textiles, anything like that. Alex keeps reminding me that NaMoPaiMo (National Model (horse) Painting Month) is in February, which I'll probably do again.
8 - reading. My TBR pile is ridiculous. I read very few books last year, and I'd really like to read 20 or so this year. I'll probably also be lenient with myself for this one, and count any deliberate reading I do (fiction, nonfiction, e-books, research, fanfic), as long as I do it deliberately. (I.e. not scrolling mindlessly through tumblr.)
9 - video games. This is also a hobby of mine, but one I frequently just kind of shrug off as something I don't have time for.
10 - social interaction. Someday, maybe this will mean seeing people in person again. For now, I'll count any kind of non-passive interaction. Commenting on journal entries, commenting on facebook posts, reblogging but also adding my own thoughts, discord, etc. Just something more than a like or a passive read through. This may be the one aside from writing that is the closest to a genuine goal; I want to interact with people in a way that means I'm offering something back.
I know the new year is arbitrary, and I do feel kinda silly using it as a signpost, but... meh. The things I'm tracking aren't "resolutions", or even goals, necessarily. More, I hope they'll help me be mindful of how I spend my time. Most of them are oriented toward creative things or hobbies.
1 - work. On days I work, obviously that's the bulk of my time.
2 - household maintenance. Things like cleaning, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, etc. Since I work full time, Alex is usually the one who takes care of household things. Even so, I should try to pull my own weight, and not totally just ignore it.
3 - physical activity. I'm going to be lenient on myself with this one, and count basically anything that gets me outside or moving. But I very much need to get into better shape, and really do almost nothing physical. I should find some kind of physical activity I can stand doing. Besides clubbing, which is a no-go with covid, and hiking, which takes time and better weather.
4 - wrote 500/1000+ words. I'd like to try and write about 500 words per day, close to every day, and 1000+ words would be better. Almost all of my writing last year came from crunching on externally-provided deadlines. (Prompt challenges, events, NaNo.) Ideally, I'd like to have a reasonably achievable wordcount goal that lets me keep up some momentum without relying on deadlines. It's my intent that this be *creative* writing; journal entries don't count, though I may make exceptions.
5 - meta work on creative writing. A bulky title, but this is for when I'm working on editing, outlining, research, etc. It's vital to writing, but doesn't always generate new words, and I don't want to feel guilty about that.
6 - personal writing. Journaling. Probably mostly here.
7 - other creative things. Non-writing artsy things. Drawing, coloring, textiles, anything like that. Alex keeps reminding me that NaMoPaiMo (National Model (horse) Painting Month) is in February, which I'll probably do again.
8 - reading. My TBR pile is ridiculous. I read very few books last year, and I'd really like to read 20 or so this year. I'll probably also be lenient with myself for this one, and count any deliberate reading I do (fiction, nonfiction, e-books, research, fanfic), as long as I do it deliberately. (I.e. not scrolling mindlessly through tumblr.)
9 - video games. This is also a hobby of mine, but one I frequently just kind of shrug off as something I don't have time for.
10 - social interaction. Someday, maybe this will mean seeing people in person again. For now, I'll count any kind of non-passive interaction. Commenting on journal entries, commenting on facebook posts, reblogging but also adding my own thoughts, discord, etc. Just something more than a like or a passive read through. This may be the one aside from writing that is the closest to a genuine goal; I want to interact with people in a way that means I'm offering something back.
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I finally did regain my enjoyment, but 2020 really threw me off. It's just been such an anxious year, I've had a hard time focusing on things long enough to really get far in a book. (It's also a little hard being in such a small apartment; there's nowhere to sit except the bed, and if the TV is on, it's hard for me to focus on a book.)
I hope you can find things that you enjoy reading again. Dealing with the burnout from academic programs is... really kind of a tragedy. Because it's so unfair that it happens to so many people.
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I am glad you feel the excitement coming! It'll be worth it when you get there, but don't push yourself before you're ready. It should be purely for the fun of it!