New Year's "Resolutions"

 I never usually make these. I can never stick to them. However, I now realise why. I'm never realistic about them. And, I usually don't give them a great deal of thought either and make them somewhere in a drink-filled haze on New Year's Eve, which is completely insane.

Therefore, this year, I have waited. I have actually given them some thought. I have planned them properly. And they will begin from Monday, so I can say I have prepared and won't feel like I have failed at the first hurdle (unlike so many people - myself included - who usually make their resolutions on New Year's Eve and then break them on 1st/2nd January!)

And an important difference this year is that these are not resolutions, but S.M.A.R.T.  goals.  The key letter being R. Realistic.

1) Manage my time better. 

This is a huge one (that's what she said!) I'm nearly always on my computer, but never really doing anything productive. I'm a Twitter-addict. I'm a blog-browser.  I'm a Facebook frequenter. (although the latter isn't as much as it used to be). I'm a Tumblr-er! But I also need my computer for work. Whenever I should be working I'm so very easily distracted. BUT if I'm given a timetable to run to where I have to be doing something for a certain period of time, I'm very good at following. I was always good like that at school, but as soon as I was given a bit of free reign at university, that's when it all went to pot!

So, I've made a very thorough schedule and I'm GOING to stick to it. And to make sure I do, I'm using Nanny for Google Chrome to stop me going on certain sites until I've done everything else I'm supposed to do. It's a pretty good extension! I said to S that I wanted to be able to NOT get on Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr etc... until maybe a certain time of day. At first he laughed at me - I don't think he thinks I can do it. But if I can get everything I want to do done by lunchtime, then I can do everything else in the afternoon.

2) Make some more time for me OUTSIDE the house.

I'm pretty lazy. I'm not going to say I don't get "me" time during the week because that's a lie, but I need to make time for myself which doesn't involve the TV or the computer or that "me" time which actually means stealing 20 minutes hidden away reading a book whilst sitting on the toilet (and you can all laugh or say 'Eeew! TMI' but I know you do that too! If you have kids anyway!) I also don't get much fresh air. Not that what I have chosen to do constitutes fresh air, but it will get me out of the house for a couple of hours anyway!

So, I treated myself to a Cineworld Unlimited card. Unlimited cinema viewing for £14.99 (about $24ish) a month which, at the price of cinema tickets these days, will pay for itself after two visits. I have pledged to go every Friday if I can, more if I get chance. There are a lot of films I want to see this year, so I'm looking forward to making good use of it :) And people can join me as and when they wish of course!

3) Try (note: try!) to get to bed by 11pm

I'm not unrealistic. There's no point me saying "Yes, I'm going to be in bed by 9pm every night" because that would NEVER happen. I'm a night owl by nature (and I'm sure by genetics) so to be in bed before midnight is a huge achievement for me. So I've gone for 11pm. Even if it's just "in bed", not necessarily asleep!!

They're the only three.  I have a few post-Christmas pounds to lose to get back to my goal weight, but that's not a resolution, that's a necessity. Same goes for smoking really, but I'm not going to put pressure on myself for that either. I know I need to do it, but the time will come.

What are yours?

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