New Year’s Resolutions.
Seems like an odd topic for mid-July to some, but the reality is when we make resolutions, we make them for the entire year. July happens to be 6 months down, 6 months to go in the year.
Consider the following:
Infographic Source: betterment.com
I would like to claim that my own determination prompted this post, but that would be a lie.
The Changing of the Planners
Much like the changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace, I recently switched planners.
My daily planner (you know that written out thing that keeps track of the entirety of my life and I’d be lost without) ended in June. For my replacement planner, I decided to graduate from academic planners (after all, I’m not in school anymore) and use a January-December planner (blasphemy!)
Since I have become incredibly anal about tracking my word counts and such, I decided to undertake the tedious process of transferring all my word count summaries from one planner to the next.
(Read: I was procrastinating actually writing.)
Also, in my now defunct planner, I found a list of all my resolutions.
The Other Resolutions
In addition to The Writing Resolution (TWR), I also pledged that I would:
1. Read 24+ books
2. Run a consistent 9 minute mile (obviously I am not running inclined…)
3. Re-hash my cello skills
Who knew? I am a semi-balanced individual.
On Reading
I admit it: the amount of reading I have done since embarking on TWR leaves something to be desired is abysmal.
To write, you must read. This a Truth with a capital T. (A Truth that I will address on Tuesday.) [Edit 7/16: Here's that post.]
Also embarrassing, I remembered my running and cello resolutions, but when I saw “read 24 books” written on January’s calendar, my inner monologue said: “oh sh*t.”
At least I have some vacation coming up to catch up on some reading.
The problem with reading, for me, is that I have a bingeing problem. This might be the case for creating a more methodical habit as I have (somehow) managed with my writing.
That being said, I lack self-control when I start reading and I’m not sure I’m interested in having any. I mean, who doesn’t like to get lost in a book? (I hear there are people, but they are strange people who I do not understand.)
At any rate, I am thoroughly reminded.
My upcoming reading list:
How I Write
Raggedy Man
The Bartender’s Tale
In Other News
Yeah, I wrote a first draft in 14 days. I’m officially over the 50K marker for Camp NaNoWriMo and now I’m loosely editing Project Inheritance. No big deal.
Went for a run on Friday. It was the first in a month. My running mantra amidst huffing and puffing? “More cardio, less bourbon.”
At least my writing assistant doubles as a good running buddy.
Have you forgotten your New Year’s Resolution(s)? How are your year-long goals coming along?
Filed under: Books, NaNoWriMo, personal, The Writing Resolution, writing Tagged: achieving goals, Camp NaNoWriMo, goal setting, goals, July goals, nanowrimo, new years resolution, reading, reading list, resolutions, writing
