Various & Sundry are cleaning up their act

[lagilman]

I'm not fond of the "New Year's Resolutions" thing, but I'm trying to bring 2013 in with some new - or at least improved - habits.

1. Showering in the morning. This seems like such a little thing, but for the first thirty years of my life, I took a shower every morning. It was part of how I woke up - the application of hot water externally, to go with the internal, caffeinated intake. And then, slowly, as I freelanced, and sometimes didn't have to leave the house all day, the shower got shoved down on the list of priorities (especially when I was on a deadline). And there was nothing wrong with if I took my shower in the afternoon rather than the morning...

but I could feel that I wasn't always as sharp as I used to be, in the morning. Plus, hanging around in my sweats gave me a "whatever" mood, even when I was under deadline. And that wasn't good, when you consider that my prime writing hours are 8am-1pm.

Also, it limited me. If I knew I'd have to take my shower before I went out, then I had to factor that time in to my plans, which mean spur of the moment, wasn't. That was... irking me.

2. Read more. I read a lot - but I wasn't reading as many books as I wanted to - and it sure didn't seem like Mount TBR was getting any smaller! So I'm embracing Twitter's "Friday Read" with a passion and determination. And doing it publicly, to keep me honest.

This week's Friday Read is: Julie Czerneda's A TURN OF LIGHT (continuing) and Fred Vargas' AN UNCERTAIN PLACE. One fantasy, one mystery. Also: both by non-USAn authors, just as a datapoint.


3. File. Every damn week. This decision brought to you by the end-of-month filing I was doing last year and...no. Small bites = less of a stomachache. Or that's the plan, anyway.

4-5. TBD.

Anyone else out there taking advantage of the new year to Do Something Better?

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the filing. It's much less oppressive in small chunks. Ditto, for me, a regular housework regime, in bits. Now that we have this place at a reasonable starting point, which has come about solely because of a move of all the books to one room, it's easier to get a grip on it.

I'm on the Clarke jury this year so more reading...has got to be done.

Otherwise our main NY resolve was Operation Pulse: using up all the old beans etc in the cupboard. It's not massive but it's got to be done.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

I too want to scale Mount TBR. I'm also striving to clean up my physical and mental health; I got news last year that really frustrated me and I basically took it out on my body and mind. Above all, I want to find the positive in every day, no matter how small. I'm slowly training myself to not be such a horrendous pessimist.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I totally understand the showering thing. It's the ritual more than anything else.

My goals this year are not to obliterate myself. :/

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

It depends where you live, too. This house is so cold that getting dressed immediately is a necessity and that means showing first....

[lagilman]

That's a damned fine goal.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I'm fascinated how some people thrive on morning showers and others -- like me -- shudder at the thought but crave an evening shower or bath as part of our bedtime ritual. I find the warm water relaxing rather than invigorating, but I suppose that could be because it's been a habit for so many decades, it's become inextricably linked with "time to sleep now," just like brushing my teeth and taking out my contact lenses.

[riley-merrick.livejournal.com]

Me too! I'm a night-time bather -- something about a nice hot soak makes me ready for bed.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

All of my Japanese students a year or so ago were intrigued by the idea of a morning shower - they do so at night, apparently.

[lagilman]

I take a shower at night is a) if I've been physically busy (hiking, gardening, etc), it's over 85 degrees out and I feel gross, or I'm sick.

I have to admit, I don't quite grok "bath" unless it's a hot tub, and even then after about ten minutes I'm restless....