How's your New Year Resolutions going?

Hi all,

I don't know if there was a thread on New Year Resolutions this winter or not, if there was please do point me in the right direction.

As I browse the forum this afternoon, hard at work on my latest, greatest improvement scheme and its first full day of the final methodology in place, I received a text from a mate which got me wondering. My various improvement scheme's phases could well be counted as New Year Resolutions, given they were decided upon in the first 2 weeks of January 2020, which in turn naturally led me to review progress.

I'm incredibly proud of progress so far, and I've achieved some of my resolutions way ahead of the original target. The last two phases of the Improvement Scheme, well I've launched the revised methodology today, and so far it's mixed results. To be fair, cutting right back on my caffeine intake (long overdue) was never going to be easy, but cutting right back on sugary stuff, holy frioles, that is really challenging. Trying to do so while improving the diet, and eating times in general, is making it even harder. Still, the financial gains at the end of it will be worth it!

Now I've set an ambitious target date of end February 2020 to complete these two phases, it's all systems go. It won't be long before I add the next part of the Improvement Scheme I suspect, although to be fair there's not much else that can be improved!

For reference, the other improvements already finished are: appetite control, improved patience and going tee-total.

So, did anyone else set interesting New Year Resolutions? And if so, how are they going?

I am happy to report that I have kept every resolution I made for this new year

So far so good. Maintaining 14 stone and 6 pounds. Target is 13 stone something by summer.

Techniquest said:

Hi all,

I don't know if there was a thread on New Year Resolutions this winter or not, if there was please do point me in the right direction.

As I browse the forum this afternoon, hard at work on my latest, greatest improvement scheme and its first full day of the final methodology in place, I received a text from a mate which got me wondering. My various improvement scheme's phases could well be counted as New Year Resolutions, given they were decided upon in the first 2 weeks of January 2020, which in turn naturally led me to review progress.

I'm incredibly proud of progress so far, and I've achieved some of my resolutions way ahead of the original target. The last two phases of the Improvement Scheme, well I've launched the revised methodology today, and so far it's mixed results. To be fair, cutting right back on my caffeine intake (long overdue) was never going to be easy, but cutting right back on sugary stuff, holy frioles, that is really challenging. Trying to do so while improving the diet, and eating times in general, is making it even harder. Still, the financial gains at the end of it will be worth it!

Now I've set an ambitious target date of end February 2020 to complete these two phases, it's all systems go. It won't be long before I add the next part of the Improvement Scheme I suspect, although to be fair there's not much else that can be improved!

For reference, the other improvements already finished are: appetite control, improved patience and going tee-total.

So, did anyone else set interesting New Year Resolutions? And if so, how are they going?

Click to expand...

That sounds...complicated!

My main one was to lose a few pounds, but I had only intended to make a serious effort once the daylight hours began to increase, allowing me to go walking in the evenings. I had a pleasant surprise the other day when I stood on the scales and found I'd lost nearly a stone.

The only effort required was being too skint to drink beer as often as usual, and cutting out things like crisps when buying my shopping. 13st 11 now - target is 12.

I've never really been one for having resolutions, but my goal last year to lose weight worked and now it's a question of trying to maintain it. That said, this year I set myself one goal whilst in a not very good place, which was simply to survive. Needless to say I've managed so far.

I only ever make one new year resolution a year and that is not to make any new year resolutions.

Mag_seven said:

I only ever make one new year resolution a year and that is not to make any new year resolutions.

Click to expand...

So you fail it every year...

If I’ve set none does that mean I’m doing well

gnolife said:

So you fail it every year...

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He got you with that one Mag_seven.

gnolife said:

So you fail it every year...

Click to expand...

Cowley said:

He got you with that one Mag_seven.

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The lol icon after my statement was supposed to indicate sarcasm.

Mag_seven said:

The lol icon after my statement was supposed to indicate sarcasm.

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Oops.

telstarbox said:

That sounds...complicated!

Click to expand...

Oh it is and it isn't. I mean, it makes sense to me but yeah

I'm currently testing my resolve today with not only continuing the caffeine reduction but also cutting out all snacking on anything sugar-y for the day. That was quite tempting earlier, to dunk some biccies into my decaff coffee, especially with the packet within easy reach. I resisted!

Techniquest said:

Oh it is and it isn't. I mean, it makes sense to me but yeah

I'm currently testing my resolve today with not only continuing the caffeine reduction but also cutting out all snacking on anything sugar-y for the day. That was quite tempting earlier, to dunk some biccies into my decaff coffee, especially with the packet within easy reach. I resisted!

Click to expand...

I don’t usually do the New Year resolutions thing Tech. But I do set goals for the year. I think I achieved most of my goals for last year and I’ve got a few for this year that hopefully I’ll achieve with a bit of work.
I tend to always have a long term plan of where I want to be in 5/10 years time, that makes it easier taking the right steps towards it when they come up.
Anyway good luck mate.

Techniquest said:

Oh it is and it isn't. I mean, it makes sense to me but yeah

Click to expand...

But not for everyone else! Your opening post was actually quite difficult to follow, you have written it in few sentences

I've read journal articles that are a lot easier to understand!

Mine have failed terribly.

Mine are great: I didn't make any

I was going to cut down on my language whilst driving but some woman cut in front of me at a roundabout few days into Jan, didn't last long

I resolved to stop eating turkey and mince pies, so far so good.

Mine are going really well... I deliberately didn't make any! (I see I am not alone...)

A very common theme, clearly, was not making any resolutions!

Having taken data from yesterday's severe cut-down on caffeine, which resulted in a couple of hours sleeping in the afternoon, I finally defined the target for an average day's coffee intake. Took until a walk back from the station today to get there to get that decision made, but still it is now finally defined as 3 at the most per day. Based on each cup having about 2 teaspoons of coffee in it, if the amount goes down to 1 (bearing in mind only a few weeks ago it was 3 teaspoons per cup) then the limit goes to 5, depending on the day. An afternoon off with much physical activity ahead, outside in cold weather, would dictate more caffeine was required than an afternoon off at home watching TV or similar activity.

So far, so good with that. I've also kept off the sugar, managed all day yesterday without anything sweet (chocolate, biscuits, doughnuts, that kind of thing) which is a miracle. Was plenty of savoury stuff involved mind That was with most of the day spent at home too, so if I can do that at home then surely I can do that out and about.

Didn't manage a completely sweet-free day today yet, I succumbed to a strawberry Starburst at work this morning. Only one though, so I'd say the progress since Friday has been incredible. Obviously I'm not declaring victory for mind over matter yet, far too soon to do that, but it's close. I can smell victory in the air...Like I say, this is just about learning self-control with caffeine and sweet stuff, and it's been hard going, but I sense the sounding of The Airhorns Of Victory soon...

My next step is already set as getting my teeth all fixed up. That's going to cost a fortune...Getting back to a more active lifestyle is on the cards too, I'm spending way too much time sitting around this year. Something to get started on today...

@Cowley I like the idea of a 5 or 10 year plan, but to be honest I planned 2020 and 2021's World Frenzy trips and so far, apart from the recent one to LA and Kraków, none of it's getting done according to the plan. Iceland was meant to be done in 2021, after New Zealand and the Grand Canyon which were on the cards to be done in 2020. However, life has a funny way of changing the greatest plans, and I've currently got a focus on getting all my finances sorted and other much bigger things.

As I type this I'm looking at a jar formerly occupied by 200g of instant coffee, now occupied by loose coins whenever I actually have some left from rare cash purchases, which is not very full yet. However, it has got a defined use set for it, and I'm aiming to hurry up my clearing of debts as much as possible to achieve this new goal.

My point is that my plans change on such a regular basis that a 5 year plan would be re-written at least 12 times a year! So I guess that will be 2021's New Year Resolution, make a plan and stick to it!

I dont make them. If the biggest motivating factor to start something is because its January 1st, then I clearly dont want it badly enough. If its something I am motivated for then I would already be doing it irrespective of the date.