Another Try
INSERT COIN TO CONTINUE
It's 2012. Not sure how a whole month slipped by already. If time keeps moving this fast, I'll be dead before long.
*clink*
CREDITS: 01
PRESS START TO CONTINUE
3…
2…
1…
*sigh*
*doodely doo*
CHOOSE A CHARACTER
Who do I want to be this year? Last year was not one of my favorites. It went by too quickly. I don't feel like I lived enough. Too much work. Didn't keep up on my hobbies very well. Didn't keep up on my health very well. Didn't do enough memorable things, and the memorable things I did do barely seem like they actually happened. Who knows, maybe this feeling is just a result of my memory having gone to shit these past few years?
I can't actually change who I am, just what I do. Anything I accomplish from this point forward has do be done with my current body, complete with all of my merits and flaws.
I also can't make people like me. I've spent a lot of time in the past worrying about losing touch with old friends, and getting frustrated with people who can't ever seem to find time for me. Well, I'm done with that.
I respect myself too much to beg people for their friendship. I reached out to everybody I wanted to remain in touch with last year. The ones who ignored me can all fuck off.
Becoming a hermit and periodically purging my Facebook Friends list is more interesting to me now. I'm done questioning how others perceive my worth. I'm me and I only care how much I value myself.
*doodely doo*
SELECT A STAGE
This is something I do need to change. I'm sitting in a room full of junk in an apartment that is too small and poorly maintained. I want to get into a house this year. That is #1 on the list of goals for this year. In the meantime, I want to stop living like I'm trying out for the next season of Hoarders and get things in order. Bring a pile of junk to goodwill. Sell another pile of junk on eBay. Vacuum more than once per month.
I don't know how I let things get this way. I need to manage my time better, and devote some time every day to improving my situation. Put myself in a better place.
*doodely doo*
PREPARE FOR BATTLE
I spent January attempting to fight against the former version of myself using a rough guide I wrote up for myself and started implementing in December. I'll list the items and say a little about each.
STAGE 1 - EAT OUT LESS
Original plan: "I will bring my own lunch to work more often. Eating out is capped at a max of once per week. No Exceptions!"
Benefits: Save money, and eat healthier.
Problems: Not sure if the food I prepare myself is less expensive or healthier, but at least I know what's in it.
I quickly realized this will not work. If I eat out for lunch with my co-workers once per week, I would never get to eat out with Deb, so I modified this to allow me to eat one lunch and one dinner out per week. Ideally, I will not use the maximum allowance.
"Hey! Awesome that you're in town, I haven't seen you in years! What? No, I don't want to go to Border Grill with you, I had pizza yesterday."
In the event of friends visiting from out of town, I will allow exceptions to avoid awkwardly rude situations.
STAGE 2 - BUY A HOUSE
Benefits: Money goes to something I own rather than into a constantly increasing rent payment. More space for stuff. A place to potentially raise children.
This is pretty straightforward. We're actually talking to a bank on Tuesday, and would like to be out of this apartment shortly after the lease renews in May.
STAGE 3 - EXERCISE
Benefits: Health
This is tough with it being dark when I get home, and also storming or freezing half of the time. Regardless, I need to stop being soft and get out there. Hiking, snowshoeing, walking, running, climbing, or even sitting at home doing yoga, push ups, etc. I want to do something that could be classified exercise every day.
STAGE 4 - DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE EVERY DAY
The worst thing is when I work all day, come home and sit in front of the TV watching shows or playing video games all evening. Especially when this process is repeated several days in a row.
Ideally, I want to do something I can consider useful every day outside of work. Vacuum. Do the dishes. Write in my journal. Self-teach myself some new programming techniques, or work on a hobby project. Organize stuff so the place looks less like a natural disaster zone.
I've been keeping little pieces of paper in my wallet. Whenever I think of something that needs to be done, I write it down. After dinner, I'm not allowed to play video games until I perform at least one task on my list. This has been working well. I hope to keep it up.
STAGE 5 - LIMIT TIME SPENT PLAYING GAMES
Original Plan: "Use a timer. Exception: Playing games with company. Exception: Playing games that I might review."
Ideally, I want to enjoy my video games, but I don't want them to destroy my productivity. I find that setting a timer or not playing games until I perform an adequate number of useful tasks around the apartment works. I'd like to continue doing that.
Expanding on this, I have effectively banned myself from playing any kind of MMORPG. (Games like World of Warcraft) Those games are too slowly paced to ever be satisfying, but they do have the ability to addict me which results in days vanishing from my life. Never again. I now realize the genre is nothing but an elaborate Skinner Box, and I refuse to be their rat. (More on this in an upcoming entry.)
If I started reviewing video games for some blog or website, I would consider playing those games to be a productive activity, and not subject to this restriction. However, I recently passed on an opportunity to do just that, so maybe this is no longer relevant.
BONUS STAGE - LIMIT VIDEO GAME PURCHASES TO ONE PER MONTH
This might be tricky, but I really want to make it work. The benefits of doing this are that I will spend less money, possibly spend less time playing games, and get to spend more time with each game. The limitation will also force me to be more selective about the games I buy. I think it will be a good experiment, and I intend to stick with it.
I would also like to write about the game I choose each month and why I chose it.
Exception: Gifts received do not count.
Exception: Used or Downloadable games costing $5 or less do not count.
Exception: Games purchased or received for the purposes of reviewing or writing strategy guides do not count.
STAGE 6 - READ MORE OFTEN
I don't recall finishing any books in 2011, but I certainly started a lot of them. I'd like to read at least 4 nights per week. I think it's good for my brain, and I can't get all of my entertainment from pixels.
STAGE 7 - WRITE MORE OFTEN
As foreshadowed above, I'd like to write more in 2012. Maybe it will just be me writing for the crickets in this journal, or maybe I'll dedicate the time and energy to become a freelance writer for some video gaming site. Maybe I'll start a new blog on one subject or another. I have a lot of ideas.
I just feel like this is something that will be good for my brain.
STAGE 8 - SPEND LESS MONEY
Many previous topics already touch on this, but I want to save more of my earnings to be put towards that house I want. That means I can't walk into Barnes and Noble and leave with 5 books I'll never have time to read, or order 3 video games I'll never have time to play. I need to budget better, and get more enjoyment from the things I already have.
This is about saving money, but it is also about appreciating what I have and being less materialistic. I've been really bad with money the past few years. Just buying too much stuff. I want to stop.
STAGE 9 - GET RID OF JUNK
Essentially, I have a bunch of things waiting for Goodwill or eBay. They've been sitting here for months, if not years. I need to get off my butt and do it. I have a bunch of clothes that are too worn out to wear. I need to get rid of them. I have piles of old useless papers. I need to sort through everything and eliminate the trash.
STAGE 10 - DON'T WATCH TV SHOWS I DO NOT LIKE
This seems obvious, but I've often gotten sucked into stupid TV shows for several hours, and I always feel like I wasted part of my life when that happens. I usually have about 2-4 shows that I watch at any given time. I need to watch those and nothing else. I don't have problems with this on my own, but Deb likes to turn the TV on at random times. I'm not proud to admit that I often get angry with her for doing that.
I need to find a way to block out random shit TV in these situations.
TRUE LAST BOSS - WORK LESS
I need to work less this year. I need to spend more time living my life and less time building a comfortable life for my employers. I think 2011 felt so lackluster because I spent most of it working or tired.
This is hard. People are counting on me. I don't want to disappoint anybody, but I must learn to say NO before this year is over. I also need to bring home money to get the bills paid.
However, if I am successful with curbing my spending, perhaps I can work less AND have more money available. Maybe I can convince Deb to work less too, then I'll have somebody to spend that extra time with.
It's my life and I want it now!
EPILOGUE
That's what I want to do in 2012. A lot of these goals touch on similar subjects, and this could have probably been simplified down to one word:
Balance.
I figure I needed a version of this for the Too Long; Didn't Read crowd.
Sorry if the writing is a bit sloppy. I wanted to get this done and crossed off my list.
GAME OVER
If this goes well, I'll probably make a sequel.
It's 2012. Not sure how a whole month slipped by already. If time keeps moving this fast, I'll be dead before long.
*clink*
CREDITS: 01
PRESS START TO CONTINUE
3…
2…
1…
*sigh*
*doodely doo*
CHOOSE A CHARACTER
Who do I want to be this year? Last year was not one of my favorites. It went by too quickly. I don't feel like I lived enough. Too much work. Didn't keep up on my hobbies very well. Didn't keep up on my health very well. Didn't do enough memorable things, and the memorable things I did do barely seem like they actually happened. Who knows, maybe this feeling is just a result of my memory having gone to shit these past few years?
I can't actually change who I am, just what I do. Anything I accomplish from this point forward has do be done with my current body, complete with all of my merits and flaws.
I also can't make people like me. I've spent a lot of time in the past worrying about losing touch with old friends, and getting frustrated with people who can't ever seem to find time for me. Well, I'm done with that.
I respect myself too much to beg people for their friendship. I reached out to everybody I wanted to remain in touch with last year. The ones who ignored me can all fuck off.
Becoming a hermit and periodically purging my Facebook Friends list is more interesting to me now. I'm done questioning how others perceive my worth. I'm me and I only care how much I value myself.
*doodely doo*
SELECT A STAGE
This is something I do need to change. I'm sitting in a room full of junk in an apartment that is too small and poorly maintained. I want to get into a house this year. That is #1 on the list of goals for this year. In the meantime, I want to stop living like I'm trying out for the next season of Hoarders and get things in order. Bring a pile of junk to goodwill. Sell another pile of junk on eBay. Vacuum more than once per month.
I don't know how I let things get this way. I need to manage my time better, and devote some time every day to improving my situation. Put myself in a better place.
*doodely doo*
PREPARE FOR BATTLE
I spent January attempting to fight against the former version of myself using a rough guide I wrote up for myself and started implementing in December. I'll list the items and say a little about each.
STAGE 1 - EAT OUT LESS
Original plan: "I will bring my own lunch to work more often. Eating out is capped at a max of once per week. No Exceptions!"
Benefits: Save money, and eat healthier.
Problems: Not sure if the food I prepare myself is less expensive or healthier, but at least I know what's in it.
I quickly realized this will not work. If I eat out for lunch with my co-workers once per week, I would never get to eat out with Deb, so I modified this to allow me to eat one lunch and one dinner out per week. Ideally, I will not use the maximum allowance.
"Hey! Awesome that you're in town, I haven't seen you in years! What? No, I don't want to go to Border Grill with you, I had pizza yesterday."
In the event of friends visiting from out of town, I will allow exceptions to avoid awkwardly rude situations.
STAGE 2 - BUY A HOUSE
Benefits: Money goes to something I own rather than into a constantly increasing rent payment. More space for stuff. A place to potentially raise children.
This is pretty straightforward. We're actually talking to a bank on Tuesday, and would like to be out of this apartment shortly after the lease renews in May.
STAGE 3 - EXERCISE
Benefits: Health
This is tough with it being dark when I get home, and also storming or freezing half of the time. Regardless, I need to stop being soft and get out there. Hiking, snowshoeing, walking, running, climbing, or even sitting at home doing yoga, push ups, etc. I want to do something that could be classified exercise every day.
STAGE 4 - DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE EVERY DAY
The worst thing is when I work all day, come home and sit in front of the TV watching shows or playing video games all evening. Especially when this process is repeated several days in a row.
Ideally, I want to do something I can consider useful every day outside of work. Vacuum. Do the dishes. Write in my journal. Self-teach myself some new programming techniques, or work on a hobby project. Organize stuff so the place looks less like a natural disaster zone.
I've been keeping little pieces of paper in my wallet. Whenever I think of something that needs to be done, I write it down. After dinner, I'm not allowed to play video games until I perform at least one task on my list. This has been working well. I hope to keep it up.
STAGE 5 - LIMIT TIME SPENT PLAYING GAMES
Original Plan: "Use a timer. Exception: Playing games with company. Exception: Playing games that I might review."
Ideally, I want to enjoy my video games, but I don't want them to destroy my productivity. I find that setting a timer or not playing games until I perform an adequate number of useful tasks around the apartment works. I'd like to continue doing that.
Expanding on this, I have effectively banned myself from playing any kind of MMORPG. (Games like World of Warcraft) Those games are too slowly paced to ever be satisfying, but they do have the ability to addict me which results in days vanishing from my life. Never again. I now realize the genre is nothing but an elaborate Skinner Box, and I refuse to be their rat. (More on this in an upcoming entry.)
If I started reviewing video games for some blog or website, I would consider playing those games to be a productive activity, and not subject to this restriction. However, I recently passed on an opportunity to do just that, so maybe this is no longer relevant.
BONUS STAGE - LIMIT VIDEO GAME PURCHASES TO ONE PER MONTH
This might be tricky, but I really want to make it work. The benefits of doing this are that I will spend less money, possibly spend less time playing games, and get to spend more time with each game. The limitation will also force me to be more selective about the games I buy. I think it will be a good experiment, and I intend to stick with it.
I would also like to write about the game I choose each month and why I chose it.
Exception: Gifts received do not count.
Exception: Used or Downloadable games costing $5 or less do not count.
Exception: Games purchased or received for the purposes of reviewing or writing strategy guides do not count.
STAGE 6 - READ MORE OFTEN
I don't recall finishing any books in 2011, but I certainly started a lot of them. I'd like to read at least 4 nights per week. I think it's good for my brain, and I can't get all of my entertainment from pixels.
STAGE 7 - WRITE MORE OFTEN
As foreshadowed above, I'd like to write more in 2012. Maybe it will just be me writing for the crickets in this journal, or maybe I'll dedicate the time and energy to become a freelance writer for some video gaming site. Maybe I'll start a new blog on one subject or another. I have a lot of ideas.
I just feel like this is something that will be good for my brain.
STAGE 8 - SPEND LESS MONEY
Many previous topics already touch on this, but I want to save more of my earnings to be put towards that house I want. That means I can't walk into Barnes and Noble and leave with 5 books I'll never have time to read, or order 3 video games I'll never have time to play. I need to budget better, and get more enjoyment from the things I already have.
This is about saving money, but it is also about appreciating what I have and being less materialistic. I've been really bad with money the past few years. Just buying too much stuff. I want to stop.
STAGE 9 - GET RID OF JUNK
Essentially, I have a bunch of things waiting for Goodwill or eBay. They've been sitting here for months, if not years. I need to get off my butt and do it. I have a bunch of clothes that are too worn out to wear. I need to get rid of them. I have piles of old useless papers. I need to sort through everything and eliminate the trash.
STAGE 10 - DON'T WATCH TV SHOWS I DO NOT LIKE
This seems obvious, but I've often gotten sucked into stupid TV shows for several hours, and I always feel like I wasted part of my life when that happens. I usually have about 2-4 shows that I watch at any given time. I need to watch those and nothing else. I don't have problems with this on my own, but Deb likes to turn the TV on at random times. I'm not proud to admit that I often get angry with her for doing that.
I need to find a way to block out random shit TV in these situations.
TRUE LAST BOSS - WORK LESS
I need to work less this year. I need to spend more time living my life and less time building a comfortable life for my employers. I think 2011 felt so lackluster because I spent most of it working or tired.
This is hard. People are counting on me. I don't want to disappoint anybody, but I must learn to say NO before this year is over. I also need to bring home money to get the bills paid.
However, if I am successful with curbing my spending, perhaps I can work less AND have more money available. Maybe I can convince Deb to work less too, then I'll have somebody to spend that extra time with.
It's my life and I want it now!
EPILOGUE
That's what I want to do in 2012. A lot of these goals touch on similar subjects, and this could have probably been simplified down to one word:
Balance.
I figure I needed a version of this for the Too Long; Didn't Read crowd.
Sorry if the writing is a bit sloppy. I wanted to get this done and crossed off my list.
GAME OVER
If this goes well, I'll probably make a sequel.