Old year's resolutions

In coming months I will likely talk more about my flirtations with productivity pr0n, or more specifically my implementations of the GTD system. One of the tenets of the system is "the weekly review" whereby, obviously, you review your action items, progress, and whatnot for the week. I believe he even advocates a monthly review and greater. It is an old and great philosophy that I only seem to take up personally in the throws of abject depression. But from an academic standpoint it makes perfect sense to review one's status on a regular basis. Some kind of regular measurement is often necessary to determine if progress is made. I haven't really made any measurements but thanks to my handy pocket Moleskine I have made notes.

It's only after having made notes for the past year that I actually see, to put it inaccurately but succinctly, whether or not the past year was any better than the year before. This is with respect to goals and accomplishments and projects as well as any sense of personal satisfaction. Without the notes I could hardly remember anything I had done (often and particularly the good things) and always had a sense that I had nothing to show for myself for the previous year or 5. I still sort of feel that way now but at least I can now open up my notebook and have literal physical objective evidence that I don't have anything of worth to show for the past year or 5.

I do this now because this may be my last post of the year seeing as how I leave for winter vacation today and because I plan to re-spark my immediate goals upon returning; also because it's the holiday season and it's crunch time, both at work and at home, and I'm running out of time to complete the drafts I have in my Blogger queue. No rush on that though.

So on with it...

PROGRESS -- things that I think I made a few forward steps with

• Social life -- I lived much of the year in perpetual fear that I'd end up living my entire non-work life on my computer playing online role-playing games. Reason is that a good chunk of friends, the three that live closest to me and hence constituted the bulk of my meager social life, moved away. Another doesn't work with me anymore. This is a biennial occurrence. Every two years since moving coasts it seems half my friends move away. I always felt like I should have been one of the ones moving away. Surprisingly, I had a nice upswing in filling the void. I've latched myself onto a new group via refreshing an old connection, been going out more, been out there a bit more. In hindsight, it took me about 2 years to find my scene when I moved to the Bay Area and now not being a student I predicted that it would take twice as long. It's about that time now.
• Travel -- I made a couple of trips this year. Trips that I intended to do last year but my plans got shunted for family reasons. Made it back to the Bay Area for a good friend's wedding and reconnected with a few people. Also made it up to the northwest, Seattle and Oregon, to visit some family and friends I had long promised to see but could never find the time (or vacation days). Made my (quasi-regular) trip out to Europe again. Couldn't see everyone I wanted to due to time and money constraints but I had a BLAST. Had a great travel partner this time for part of my trip; I regrettably almost always have to travel alone. I don't mind it too much though, just means I target my trips on where I have friends. I made it home for Thanksgiving for the first time I can remember in many years as well. I also went river rafting for the first time.
• Organization -- I've been faithful to my Moleskine. I use it as my analog PDA. I shall post my use of it at some point. I'm kind of proud of my current system, took a lot of experimentation, but I'm mostly proud because I've stuck to it all year long.

SOME PROGRESS -- things that haven't truly progressed but have at least had fair activity so I'll give myself the benefit of the doubt and say "hey, at least I did something."

• Hobbies -- I managed to scrawl out a small collection of sketches this year. I've been wanting to get back into it for a long time. It started off horrid, but I gradually fell into comfort with it... for a while. Sadly, I haven't done much in recent months. I also touched my piano a few times. I should at least try and keep fresh the pathetically small repertoire that I know.
• Fitness -- At some point this year I lost about 12 pounds. I have since gained it all back. I had learned of and purchased some exercise information that I am excited about and I put it to use... during the summer that is. Now I'm back to my sloth ways, though not for long. It got started because I entered a 5k run with just about no training. It nearly killed me. I want to gear up for the next one next June. I also researched and implemented a fairly easy diet that I may write about later and was part of my successful weight loss. The diet went out the window after my Europe trip though.
• Reading -- I managed to at least penetrate my large stack of books in my reading queue. I have a nasty habit of buying more books even though I'm part way through some and haven't touched the others. I just can't seem to find a set time to go through them. Then again it's all a tradeoff with other uses of my time. I'm not a fast reader. Since getting an iPod nano, I have taken up listening to audiobooks though. Much more convenient.
  

REGRESS -- shame on me.

• Finance -- This worries me. I had foregone any financial discipline in exchange for having more of a social life and travel. I haven't updated my Quicken since last year. I haven't done any budgeting. I haven't even balanced my checkbook, trusting in the electronic statements instead. I have at least enacted a bit of siphoning away of a token amount for investing and retirement purposes, something that I should have been doing since my first job (oh the horror of what I missed).
• career development-- I've mostly been a cog in a wheel here. I had planned on beefing up on my field a bit more, refreshing my memory on certain topics, and learning the basics at least of some others. I should have been monitoring the latest papers and conference proceeds as well. I at least started getting through some material but I've just been lazy and unmotivated with it. I feel like I'm getting dumber.
• Home projects -- My place still hasn't been purged of much of the needless clutter. I have a lot of ideas and a lot of projects listed in my notebook. A lot of them still have none of the items checked off. The lists of things I had in mind are too innumerable to mention. Thanks to my new system, I don't feel quite as stressed about it though, because at least I have a fairly good idea of what I need to do and the steps I need to take.
  
• Vices -- Well, I made a couple half-hearted attempts at getting one or two under control. I promise to make a full blown attempt soon. ("But Screg! I'm on vacation!")
  

There are few more significant items missing, both good and bad and neutral, but that's the bulk of the items I have written down on the last page of my Moleskine. I mark a +/- on the individual things depending on the progress when I finish the book and copy them in to my next one. A lot of the year has been spiced, both good and bad, with other occurrences as well. Some of my friends know that I've been calling this year "the year of the J..." but I'll not go into that.

Overall, though, I would say that this has been a truly positive year. Among the things that are important to me is the fact that I had the opportunity, sometimes unexpectedly, to reconnect with some old friends, make some new ones, and deepen my connection with some and it has left a lasting positive impression that I hope continues. (cue violin music)

But for now, off to my much needed holiday vacation. Happy holidays to you, my faithful readers, and see you on the other side. (cue last call at the pub music)