Resolution time:
Well, it’s a new year and you know what that means. It’s time for resolutions. I’m not sure where the tradition of new years resolutions first started, but the new year seems like as good a reason as any to motivate one’s self to do something productive. So I figured I’d jump on the bandwagon. Without further ado, I present my new years resolutions for 2008.
1) Better implement a GTD strategy for managing my life:
I have a pretty organized (some would say OCD) personality, but I can still get lost underneath all the things I’m forced to manage in my life. When I first heard Merlin Mann talk about David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, I knew the GTD system was something I could totally get into. Over time, I’m been implementing various forms of it here and there (mostly at work), but I haven’t really attempted to organize my life and fully implement the system. I think it’s finally time to start moving forward with it.
2) Create a budget and manage my spending:
I think managing your spending is one of the most difficult things we have to deal with on a day to day basis. We don’t think much of buying that four dollar cup of coffee before we head into the office, and why should we? It’s only four dollars, right? What we often don’t think about is that if we do that every day before work the purchase can add up to be around eighty dollars a month. I have some pretty large purchases coming up on the horizon, so I want to sit down and budget out all my spending. I want to balance out all the things I need against what I want and what I’m currently spending money on. This way I can afford the things I really want and need.
3) Pick up photography:
Part of the reason I want to create the above mention budget is because I’d really like to get into Photography. I’ve borrowed my bosses camera quite a few times and I love walking around snapping photos. I still have a lot to learn though and I can’t really do that without my own camera. So, sometime in mid February I plan on buying my first Digital SLR (if I’ve manage to save enough by then). Once the little beast is in my possession, I want to go out a couple times a week, driving around the city snapping photos.
4) Get out of the house more:
Ok, this one’s pretty self-explanatory. I just need to get out of the house more. I’m sitting in front of my computer for eight hours a day, six days a week, just for work alone. Then when I’m home, by the time I pack everything up at the office and get it home, I’m too tired to do anything but watch movies or play some video games. I just need to get my ass out of the house. Hopefully, if I am able to come through on my third resolution, it will help me get out more.
5) Set aside time for reading other’s blogs:
This one is less about me, I guess, and more about my friends (both online and off). I have a lot of friends stretched across a bunch of different social networks. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t really had a chance to go reading through everyone’s posts. I usually fall so behind that I often just click on the latest few posts and ignore the rest. Part of me feels really bad about this though. On some level I feel like I shouldn’t even post anything if I’m not going to be reading everyone else’s stuff. That’s why I’m going to be making a bigger effort to find time to read everyone’s blogs.
posted by Christopher Schnese
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I hope you get the camera and I’m looking forward to seeing your photographic output. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Good luck!
nice. I like the photography idea, so good luck with that one. I think photography is awesome, and thought of picking that up myself. this is a beautiful area for it.
Photography? Go for it!
Our lists sound really similar! I was a photo student in fine arts college and have been slacking — I picked up a new camera last year and recently found a good softbox — I had better start using it!
I haven’t heard of the GTD method — sounds interesting.
I can really appreciate your resolutions, very thoughtful. Though I have thought about my resolutions for a few weeks now you have inspired me to put them to paper. I know you will do a good job with the budget stuff because I know how much you want that camera. Good luck,I too can’t wait to see your photos once you get your new camera. And as you mentioned the camera will be the motivator to get you OUTSIDE. Do you know the brand and model of the camera you want to get???
I’ll probably go for the Canon Digital Rebel XTi, but I’d really like to spring for the 30D if I can make it work. We’ll see how the finances turn out in February…