Discipline
For 2007, “discipline” is going to be the overriding theme in my life. And no, I don’t mean that kind of discipline, you perv.
I’ve been very disciplined about select things in my life. During college I was extremely disciplined at working out. Going to class, studying, paying attention, not so much.
I’ve been disciplined about monitoring my blood sugar levels and taking the right amount of insulin, but I will let laundry pile up.
I’m not interested in New Year’s resolutions. Those just fall by the wayside eventually and then you get to wait until next year to address whatever problem you had this year. I’m interested in a lifestyle change.
I’m making a list of things that I want to do and I’m going to stick to them. Period. Whatever is going on, whether I want to or not, I’m going to do them. And this isn’t a “To Do” list either. This is a list of ways of living that I want to incorporate into my everyday routine.
Some examples of the things I will be telling myself:
- Put things away when you are done.
- Clean as you go.
- Exercise. Today.
- Do what you say you are going to do. Even if you only said it to yourself.
- Finish what you started.
- Don’t buy something you can do without.
- 2000 calories a day, dude, max. Now put the Twinkie down.
- Communicate with a loved one not living in your house. Phone call, blog post, something. If it’s verbal, tell them you love them.
That last one might be the most important.
I mean all of those in the broadest senses possible. I’m going to put things away when I’m at home, at work, at whatever.
Before I lay down for the night (or day), I better have exercised at some point. Even if it was a simple “drop and give me 20″. Anything is better than nothing.
Too many projects of mine get derailed (anyone seen an F100 lately?). When I say I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it. And I’m going to keep doing it until it is done or it kills me.
As far as purchasing things I don’t need, that’s a huge problem with me. I need to start asking myself if I really need this thing. If I do, maybe I already have something that I can use in it’s stead. If alterations need to be made, so be it.
The 2k calories speaks for itself. I’m a fatass.
Communication with friends and loved ones is key. Too many people out there haven’t heard “I love you” from me in some time. And that needs to change.
Those are my current overriding concerns about the way I handle my business. Now the key to the whole deal is having the discipline to make myself toe those lines. I know I can do it. Now I just have to actually do it.
By the way, I love you guys.
January 5th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
The New Year’s post I wish I’d written. I have a list of sorts that I thought I’d have posted by now. It now needs revision; gotta get rid of that “quit procrastinating” thing I had on there.
Wishing you the best with your lifestyle changes, and I love you, too.
-k-
January 6th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I agree with your thinking. New years resolutions are an old tradition. Plus everyone just says “lose weight” or “drink less” or “stop smoking”. You shouldn’t wait till Jan 1 to do that. If its something you think you need to change you do it. People won’t be saying “oh its ok s/he’s ill. They were waiting for the new year to change”.
I’m not saying that i’m much of the Change Now person, but I’d like to be. My resolutions were more wishful thoughts. I want to help record a song for my band and to finish my first IT course. Generally, I’d like to eat more healthily, exercise more, just to stay in good shape, I’d like to be a bit more organised (I am already pretty organised, I just have moments of messiness I need to clean up). I’d also like to stop wasting so much time. I spend so much time doing nothing when there is something to do. I don’t manage it well. I leave ironing to the last minute.
Anyway, I hope you manage to stick to some of your wishes. I hope I manage to pick up a few good habits too. Hopefully a few more from Lifehacker. I quite enjoyed the Doorganiser and How to wrap a headphone cord. Bring on a smarter, simpler life!
January 6th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
In case I haven’t said it lately, you’re one of the best friends I’ve EVER had in my life.
January 8th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Nice list James. It almost seems like you wrote this specifically for me. Personally I have the most trouble synchronizing #1 and #5
January 9th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Thanks for the encouragement guys. It is generic enough that I’m sure it applies to most people, but I appreciate the fact that they are easier said than done. Which is why most of us fail to keep those up. That’s why I’m going for discipline. I want the discipline to keep doing those things that need to be done.
And Chaun, that means the world to me.