New Year's resolutions

[sabotabby]

New Year's resolutions are stupid, and no one ever manages to fulfill any of them, but I actually have a few this time around.

1. Say "no." Or stall.

The vast majority of my stress comes from being a people-pleaser and feeling the need to agree to things I shouldn't do just to avoid conflict. I need to cut that shit out.

2. Do actual politics.

In my mad scramble to be perfect at everything, I've really let my activism slide. Blogging and "creating change in the classroom" do not count. I'm going to make an effort to actually attend meetings and demos. Fight the man!

3. Go to yoga every week.

I hate any sort of physical activity that isn't hiking or swimming, but admittedly, yoga does help, and I'm not able to just neglect my health anymore.

4. Make my blog more accessible.

I mentioned this earlier, and it's by far the most pragmatic resolution I've ever made. Transcripts if possible, otherwise decent descriptions, of any video I post, alt-tags for every image.

5. Finish the bloody documentary.

I totally dropped the ball on it because of school and because I don't know what I'm doing. But it needs to get done of the angst of letting people down will eat me alive.

6. Finish the comic.

At least the script-writing part. I can't do anything about the art other than cheerlead from the sidelines. It's 1/3 done, which tends to be the point at which I abandon writing projects, but at least I know more or less where it's going this time.

Anyway, New Year's is depressing as all hell, but there is an exciting party tonight and I am off to make cheesecake pops.

This post is public so you can all hold me to it.

Comments

[sphinctourist.livejournal.com]

Of all those listed, I hope #1 is where you see the most progress this year. A less stressed Sabotabby [even if only a little bit] would be a beautiful thing. Take back your own power!!!

Also, how would *we* hold you to it? Do we demand monthly progress reports/updates? Does the merit system apply here? I'm totally up for sending you cookies to celebrate any/all successes :D

[outcastspice.livejournal.com]

re saying no (great goal), you could consider making it a rule that you never confirm or decline a plan upon the first request. instead, you have to go home and check your calendar, thus giving yourself time to decide on your own if it's a good idea.

[monster-grrrl.livejournal.com]

I fully support you in your quest for no. I struggle with that one as well, but much less than I used to.

Also I require more information re: cheesecake pops.

[krinndnz.livejournal.com]

Good luck with all of that! Those sound like sensible improvements in achievable form, especially the latter ones.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Those are some good resolutions! Especially on saying no!

[culpster.livejournal.com]

Resolutions are like praying. "God does answer your questions - whatever happens, that's your answer!"

But the mind is a strange thing. In 1994 I made a NYR to be vegetarian, and it stuck. This year I am very serious about the no-tobacco thing even though I've flirted with it for AGES and never put any real effort into it.

Anyway resolution #1 is always the biggie. These all sound right on!

[akisawana.livejournal.com]

Have you seen The Importance of Being Earnest? You need a friend like Bunbury. "I'm sorry, I'd love to drop everything and fix your problems arising from your poor planning, but I promised my friend Bunbury that I would watch Marathon Man with him." A complete lie, yes, but if a person doesn't care enough about you to respect your boundaries, then do they deserve the truth?

[pofflewomp.livejournal.com]

I use Bunburying, under different names, though, of course, as Bunbury is a bit too well known.

[torontoteacher.livejournal.com]

I think all of us are struggling with #1. I know it was part of how I ended up being so sick this year.

I read this. And I found it both interesting and helpful. YMMV, http://zenhabits.net/kill-busywork/

(You don't really get to kill busywork. But you don't have to say "no" nearly so much as you might think.)

[monster-grrrl.livejournal.com]

re: #4 - I just found this: http://disabledfeminists.com/2010/12/31/for-your-tool-box-how-to-get-youtube-captions-to-make-a-transcript/

[ironed_orchid]

Those sound like good things for you to do.

Especially the first.

[pofflewomp.livejournal.com]

I achieved my resolution last year! It was to go away on holiday at least 12 times, visiting different areas of Britain. I ended up going to Wales quite a few times, to Devon and Cornwall, Scotland, visited the mid-North for the first time (twice) and to the South coast quite a few times.

And as a result have realized that I do actually live in one of the best places in the country.

I also keep wanting to go to yoga, but keep not managing it. Yoga cures almost all day-to-day ills. It is amazing. It's the getting to it that's hard, even when it's just round the corner.

[frandroid.livejournal.com]

1. Say "no." Or stall.

Oh do I have a good reference for this. On this page, Kill Busywork: The One Skill to Focus On What Matters, there is one section which I have cherished ever since, which is How to say No when you can’t say No and the one that follows it. It's a pure gem.

2. Do actual politics.

You may have to bring your mom to protests if you want to do this and still spend a whole day per week with her... :)