Ok a full week into 2021 and an attempted violent coup later (once again, in case I haven’t been clear in other posts, if you support Trump and anyone who’s stood by him, you can see yourself out), I’m ready to outline my intentions for this new, seemingly equally terrible year!
- Start every day by reading. While I didn’t finish every unread book I own for last year’s resolution, I did read a lot more than previously, and liked it. I’ve also been known to doomscroll a bit early in the morning, so since I have my books apps on my phone, I figured this would be a gentler way to wake myself up in the morning. Right now (no judgement) I’m making my way through The Fiery Cross (Outlander book 5, back at it after almost a year’s break)
- Take 2 full days off work a month. Not day job work (though who knows!) specifically, but as you may know from knowing me, I have trouble with stillness. I’ve cultivated so many side hustles and projects and podcasts that much of last year I went months without taking a day off from work of some kind. And I could feel myself burning out more and more until I was basically ash by the time my holiday break came around. No more burning myself to ash this year. I may not be able to take vacations due to a global pandemic, but by god I should be able to take two days off a month to read and play video games before marching back to the grind!
- Cultivate 2 non-monetizable hobbies. A companion to the resolution above, one of the reasons I have such a hard time taking a break is because when I’ve nothing to do but plenty I could be doing, I just do those things. Hobbies are a healthier way to handle this inability to sit still, and I specifically want to get back into things I’m not trying to monetize for my intended career. Right now (particularly once I move) I want to get back into painting and maybe amateur herb gardening. Who knows!
- Save $3k. Against all odds, my savings goal last year went really well (that’ll happen when you work 5 jobs and never take breaks!), and it’s a good thing too, because I’ll be moving, buying a car, and adjusting to a whole new state this year. I don’t expect to save money on top of what I’ll need to take out of my savings to get settled in LA, but I can’t just deplete without attempting to even things out.
- Make progress on my physical health. Every year I have some kind of physical health-related resolution, and nearly every year it’s the first to fall by the wayside, and it’s crushing. This year, I just want to feel like, at the end of the year, I haven’t make worse choices. Part of this will be trying to get more exercise once I have access to a vehicle to transport me away from potentially infectious neighbors, part of it will be better food habits aided by a hopefully less depressing kitchen, part of it will just be genuinely making my health a priority. I’ve only one body and mind and I ought to be doing better by them.
- Finish a new pilot. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten a full new writing sample, and now that I’m moving to LA…
- Submit to (or prep for) 2 writing contests/fellowships per season. Despite my constantly doing work to the contrary, my ultimate career goal is to be a writer. The way I have the most control over my own ambitions is writing contests. Ergo…
- Make at least one room in my new apartment feel permanent. Something that’s been a problem the last 6 years is the lack of permanence every residence has been plagued with. We never intended to stay in New York, certainly not as long as we did, so we never put down roots. Everything I own is cheap and designed to be taken down and shunted to a new terrible apartment as easily as possible, so nowhere’s ever felt like home. I want at least one room in my new apartment in LA (wherever/whenever that ends up happening) to feel put together without the lingering future frustration of moving and tearing it all down/carrying it down stairs.
- Develop a morning routine. Despite my entire ability to do things being dictated by routine, I’m very lazy about actually developing one that’s healthy and productive. Some of it is certainly depression – when I was in Colorado last year even for a little while, my entire self felt better and I was able to fall into routines easier – but some of it is just me resisting for no apparent reason. If I want to be healthier in body, mind, and work/life balance, I need to have a routine that hell nor high water can shake me from.
- Only say yes out of interest or excitement, not out of fear. Nearly every decision I make is based on fear- fear of losing a future opportunity that may come from the current one, fear of losing income, fear of people thinking badly of me. I want to stop making decisions (and saying yes to new jobs/responsibilities) out of fear. No matter how long it takes me to find success in my intended field, I want to enjoy my life before. I don’t want to live my life waiting for when I’ve finally “made it,” when I’ll “finally be happy.” I want to be happy now, even if I’m not professionally fulfilled. I choose happiness, and I trust that I’ll figure it out if one of those other fears comes true.
How about you? What are the intentions you’re setting this fine (terrible) year?
