I’ll start today with a quick welcome to the blog proper to all my regular Facebook readers. As you are no doubt completely (un)aware, in mid-November Facebook removed the auto-import option for their Notes feature. As such, if you intend to continue reading, you’ll have to follow a link from Facebook over here to Blogger (as it would seem you already did – good for you!) as I post each new blog, or, if you’re feeling in a really commitment-y mood, you can just click on that little “Follow” button over to the right and then you will forever be notified of my ramblings.
Now that that is out of the way, we’ll move on to something equally as interesting – a progress check. As an avid reader, you doubtless remember the list of four goals/routines that I intended to start back in August. Since it’s almost the end of the year and I’ve had nearly five months to implement these new habits, I figured it was only fair that I come clean with my current progress.
A primer for the uninitiated and hyperlink-averse: having recently moved into a new house, in August I decided that it was an ideal time to begin establishing new, healthier, more beneficial routines. The four specific areas I wanted to focus on were eating healthier, being more active, reading regularly, and writing (specifically here) more frequently. Now, all these weeks later, I think I can safely say that I’ve accomplished one and a half of these four.
Let’s start with the most obvious one, the one you’ve no doubt already figured out for yourself. I’ve failed pretty miserably at writing more often. On the surface, the numbers look not bad; after all, I’ve made 12 posts since I wrote my goals, which is more than the total posts for several previous years. Looking a little closer, however, you can see that it doesn’t quite work. Sure I came out strong with three more that first month, and then a whopping seven in September, but all the September posts occurred in a single week and were all devoted to the same 
subject, so they’re a bit of a cheat. My last post before this one was in mid-October, two months ago. Clearly the frequency hasn’t really increased. I could make all sorts of excuses for this, but the fact of the matter is that it’s just a combination of not having/making time. I actually have a whole list of topics that I’d like to bore you with my thoughts on, but I know that they’re all likely to be lengthy, so carving out a chunk of time for each has been difficult. I had said that one of the ways I intended to increase my output was to fill in the gaps between posts with smaller, faster entries. This is still something that I would like to do, and I already have some ideas for quick, recurring formats that I could do. I’m a little hesitant to commit to a hard and fast schedule, but that may be what it takes for me to keep up with this. Come mid-January, hopefully you’ll start seeing something along those lines pop up. First, however, I’ll have to get my annual Best Of list for this year’s films up, since it’s always my most popular entry of the year.
subject, so they’re a bit of a cheat. My last post before this one was in mid-October, two months ago. Clearly the frequency hasn’t really increased. I could make all sorts of excuses for this, but the fact of the matter is that it’s just a combination of not having/making time. I actually have a whole list of topics that I’d like to bore you with my thoughts on, but I know that they’re all likely to be lengthy, so carving out a chunk of time for each has been difficult. I had said that one of the ways I intended to increase my output was to fill in the gaps between posts with smaller, faster entries. This is still something that I would like to do, and I already have some ideas for quick, recurring formats that I could do. I’m a little hesitant to commit to a hard and fast schedule, but that may be what it takes for me to keep up with this. Come mid-January, hopefully you’ll start seeing something along those lines pop up. First, however, I’ll have to get my annual Best Of list for this year’s films up, since it’s always my most popular entry of the year.
I failed even more completely on the next goal: becoming more active. I made zero progress here, and in fact may have even moved backwards. I didn’t join a gym. I haven’t 
gotten out more to walk or play any sports. About the closest I came was on my 10 business trip/vacation to Florida where a combination of 14 days in theme parks and very little food resulted in increased stamina and an unintentional 10 lb. weight loss. Clearly this is an area that requires more attention, but one for which I don’t have a good game plan. Since winter is now upon us, I’ll hopefully get out snowboarding, which can be good exercise, especially when you’re as bad at it as I am, but that will still likely be infrequent. I’m probably going to have to bite the bullet and join a gym. And then force myself to actually go.
gotten out more to walk or play any sports. About the closest I came was on my 10 business trip/vacation to Florida where a combination of 14 days in theme parks and very little food resulted in increased stamina and an unintentional 10 lb. weight loss. Clearly this is an area that requires more attention, but one for which I don’t have a good game plan. Since winter is now upon us, I’ll hopefully get out snowboarding, which can be good exercise, especially when you’re as bad at it as I am, but that will still likely be infrequent. I’m probably going to have to bite the bullet and join a gym. And then force myself to actually go.
The goal I have arbitrarily given myself half a point for is the healthy eating. It’s not that my diet is really particularly 
healthy, it has improved somewhat in recent months, mostly by cutting down on junk food and the addition of more vegetables. Right now my biggest challenge is the meat portion of each meal. What I need is some good recipes for preparing meat dishes that are suitable for one without too many leftovers. As it is, the meat tends to be pre-prepared frozen food simply because it’s easy, requires little preparation, and I don’t have to eat leftovers for the next four days. It’s also probably not the healthiest option, so that’s where I’m focusing at the moment, so if you’ve got suggestions, pass them on.
healthy, it has improved somewhat in recent months, mostly by cutting down on junk food and the addition of more vegetables. Right now my biggest challenge is the meat portion of each meal. What I need is some good recipes for preparing meat dishes that are suitable for one without too many leftovers. As it is, the meat tends to be pre-prepared frozen food simply because it’s easy, requires little preparation, and I don’t have to eat leftovers for the next four days. It’s also probably not the healthiest option, so that’s where I’m focusing at the moment, so if you’ve got suggestions, pass them on.
The final goal was the only one I’ve actually been successful at. I have been reading almost every night, which has been great. Not only does it help to stave off my insomnia, it’s also just something I really enjoy doing. Since August I’ve managed to read:
 |  |  |
| Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived by Paul S Kemp | Star Wars: Fate Of The Jedi: Conviction by Aaron Allston | Star Wars: Fate Of The Jedi: Ascension by Christie Golden |
 |  |  |
| Star Wars: Choices of One by Timothy Zahn | Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens |
Yeah, it was a lot of trivial books, but I was behind on the Star Wars novels, which I’ve read since I was in grade 4. Besides, they can’t all be classics. The daily reading is something I definitely intend to keep up with.
And so now you’re all caught up. My progress has been slow and miniscule, but at least it’s something. Hopefully it will increase going forward. Or maybe I’ll get distracted by something else and forget all about it.
Oh look, a pile of videogames…
Sleep well,
DTE
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