How to use up 2016 and become better. (A goal setting post)

From bitter experience, I know that New Year’s Resolutions are destined to fail. A year is an unfathomably long time, and there is no possible way I can plan that far. However, this year is different in that a lot of it is already planned for me. I will be living in Derbyshire, and doing Dialectical Behavioural Therapy twice a week. Which is probably going to be exhausting and take up a lot of my power. It also means that I want to look after myself a bit better. I can’t very well fix my brain if I’m tired, sick, or hungover.

I last made a set of goals in September. Of those goals, all I’ve managed to do is the dentist one. I got 4 fillings but think I need to go back because the most recent filling hurts. The pain has actually kept me awake a couple of nights. Oh, I also got a bike, because Daddy bought it for me. I rode some, but I admit that my lack of fitness and lack of road confidence have led to me not doing as much as I ought to. Also it has rained for the last 6 weeks so I refuse to go outside.

Journal writing has been up and down. I was doing well until December, I think. I did submit something, and got published! Now to submit something else… I also managed to take a massive backwards step by starting smoking again. Maybe that’s why I now have a hacking chest cough.

So, here are some new goals for the first bit of 2016:

Get Fit

• Bike more places. Maybe do a cycling course so I don’t die in traffic.
• Train up for half marathon in July, 3-5 days/week.
• 5k & 10k runs. Like the Parkrun.
• Find a yoga class or similar.
• Eat in a sustainable way with actual nutrients and not just cheese.
• Quit smoking, again.
• Drink once or twice a week, at most.

Writing

• Complete editing and design cover for poetry pamphlet, by April.
• Polish and submit poems and short stories I already have.
• Write more stuff.
• Keep blogging.
• Get some work experience/do some journalism/something something professional writer.
• Do NaPoWriMo in April.
• Daily freewriting.
• Journalling

Social/Activism

• Get in touch with local groups and see what I can do.

Mental Health

• Do the therapy and homework (without constant sarcasm).
• Fill in mood diary sheet every day.
• Go to hypnotherapy that the amazing Si is giving me for free!

Other Stuff

• Tidy my room. It’s getting serious in here.
• Paint some stuff.
• Learn to crochet.
• Plan some actual holidays and adventures to do during the breaks.

 

OK. That’s a ridiculous amount of goals. I’ll check back in 3 months and see what’s happening. Positive thinking says I will have made great progress in that time. Experience says “HAHAHAHAHAA!!! Get to fuck will you?!”