February, you're gone so soon!

I think I wanted to post something two weeks ago, but apparently that didn't happen.  Here I am at the end of another month, looking back on my month's goals...

1. Cut unnecessary spending: done.  My main goal was to finish February having spent less money than I earned, and I succeeded, even though my next paycheck is tomorrow.  Tomorrow!  I'm going to get 3 in March, apparently!  The success was only by 5 dollars, but I wasn't cutting back on my food, and food is my main expense, so I'm still proud of myself.  I'll try to keep it up in March.

2. Keep in touch with friends: done.  Sorta.  My intent was to connect with someone every day and that may have happened?  It's surprising how much I text people.  I definitely feel a bit more in touch with certain people now than I did before, but there are others who I still feel the need to contact again.  Like my cousin... I need to not forget to call him back.

3. Cut internet / time wasting and spend more time with more relaxing breaks.  I forgot about this one, actually, but I have significantly cut my internet time... I'm not sure if that came with prioritizing other kinds of breaks or just with being busier.  I know part of it, however, is that I'm now reading magazines with breakfast instead of being on the computer... and that's The Economist, so it feels productive too.

I'm starting to realize that there's a few different types of goals I could have.  There are the "in general, I want to _______" goals, like spending less than I earn and cutting internet time.  Then you have to-do list type goals, like "I want to knit a scarf", etc.  Finally, there are the daily challenges.  Its probably good to figure out what each goal is when I start rather than get halfway and be like "heyyyyy, I thought I was going to do something every day but I think I'm still in the spirit of it."

March is going to be interesting, since not only does it have Spring Break in it, it also is bound to be less stressful than February was.  I haven't really thought about things I want to do this month, so lets see what comes of this.

1. Stop complaining about generic business or tiredness.  There's a culture around here, it feels like, of competing to be the busiest and the tiredest.  And where does it really leave us?  Now, if I'm legitimately feeling stressed or couldn't sleep, that's one thing.  But if I'm feeling generally pretty good, I don't think I should be complaining.  This is a sort of wishy-washy goal but we'll see what happens.

2. Finally write up the pattern for my crochet narwhal and post it for sale on Ravelry.  It just needs to happen.

3. Catch up on Economist so I'm reading the most current one, not one from 2-3 weeks ago.  (Sooner rather than later, methinks).

4. Now for something fun: I want to do a photo a day challenge.  I guess I don't need to explain that one.  Maybe I'll try to post pictures here, and try to take pictures with stories.

Something inspiring: http://dharmacomics.com/

Edit: 5. Update the design here and on Unintended Nachos.  I can has web design?

Resolutions, month 2

At the start of the new year, I made a resolution I still intend to keep: to start a new 30 day challenge (or more) at the beginning of each month.

To hold myself accountable to that, I'm going to report on how old goals went and what new ones I'm starting right here.  I doubt anyone would remind me of this fact, should I not post at the start of a new month, but ... it'll still help.  And maybe someone will join me and be an accountability partner in a 30 day challenge.

So, my goals from last month:

1. Sweater: knitted!  I know, it doesn't look quite knitted, but I did finish the other sleeve.  I just don't like any of the pictures of myself wearing the completed sweater quite as much as I like this one.

2. Learn HTML/CSS: Still working on it.  School happened.

3. Job research and applications: still going strong.  I've put in 2 applications since the start of January, have one company I plan on applying for at some point, and one company approached me with a position I'm now interviewing for.

4. A post here and on UnintendedNachos each week: Ha.  Ha... ha... yeah, I shouldn't keep setting post rate goals for myself.  It's never going to happen.

.....

February is going to be a really busy month, thanks to clinic (which is awesome, but time consuming).  So I don't want to make any big plans that might just make me too stressed.  A couple plans though:

1. Cut unnecessary spending: thanks to a lack of winter break paychecks and the amazing ski resorts of the Pacific Northwest, I spent a lot more money than I earned in January.  So February is going to be about reversing that.  Stick to buying food and other things I need.

2. Get back in touch: Over the summer I told myself I'd write a letter every day.  As it turns out, that's really difficult, especially because people don't often write back (so it's hard to find people to write to).  In February, I'm going to give myself an easier job in the same spirit: make an effort every day to connect with someone I don't often talk to, especially people who aren't on campus.  Just texting someone is fine.  I'll try to gather a list of people I'd like to talk to more at some point (but no, I won't be sharing that one).

3. More intense relaxation: too often I find myself spending my free time staring at the internet, wishing I could do something "fun".  Ultimately, I feel no less stressed and usually just mad at myself for wasting time.  To change that, I'm starting February with a good idea of things I really love doing and want to do more of, and that I find relaxing.  I'll carve out regular time to do those things and cut internet time, so I'm ultimately more productive and feeling better.  I've been working on this one already, and found that it's easy to stay off Facebook if I know I want to be off Facebook and I log off - giving myself an extra few seconds to think about why I want to log in.  Same goes for the rest of the sites I frequent.  Logging off pretty much cuts my desire to be on.  And the prospect of doing the relaxing things I love - knitting, reading, baking and spending meaningful time with friends - makes it easier to say no to the less relaxing things I don't like so much.

The third is a goal I think many of us could benefit from.  Does anyone want to join me?  Let me know, and we can work together!  Same goes for the other two, actually.

Here's to a fantastic month :)