A New Year (2022)

Welcome to the start of a new year. Actually the year starts tomorrow, but today is the planning day. I want to start this year differently than I have in the past. Usually I make no resolutions, or I make resolutions to myself that I then break within a few weeks, maybe a month. But not this year. There are a few clear things about this year that I want to be memorable, and a lot of it revolves around this blog.

Let me start at the beginning of the thought story. I suffer from both depression and ADHD, neither of which have been diagnosed as an adult and therefore neither of which are being treated in anyway, other than sheer force of will. This leads to a number of problems on a regular basis: low energy, lack of focus, failed commitments, and probably a few other things that I do not really thing of. Some of these issues reflect poorly on my work ethic and personal health habits. So this year I want to change that by making myself accountable to the small portion of the internet world who will bother to read my blog. And it all starts with some of my very favourite things, lists.

I have four lists that I will be maintaining on a daily basis on my blog. A daily habit list, a weekly habit list, a month habit list and a “do it once” list. The habit lists are exactly how they sound, things to do daily, weekly or monthly. The “do it once” list is what most men call the “honeydo” list, or the list of projects that have been promised but not yet completed, and once they are done, do not have to be done again.

Here are my lists, and they likely will change throughout the year as I find more things or different things to focus on.

Daily To-Do List

• Brush teeth (twice)
• Floss
• Clean the litter box (twice)
• Feed the cat (twice)
• Shower
• Exercise (45 minutes)
• Walk (30 minutes)
• Make and eat breakfast
• Make and eat lunch
• Update spending spreadsheet
• Dance (10 minutes)
• Read 1 chapter of the Bible
• Read 10+ pages of a book
• Tidy tables
• Make the bed
• Time track all work time
• No desserts or sugary snacks
• Dishes (twice)
• Write a blog post
• Take an interesting photo
• Write 100+ words
• French practice (15+ minutes)
• Scan 10 documents or photos

Weekly To-Do List

• Trim beard
• Sweep floors
• Laundry
• Wash floors
• Clean bathrooms
• Play 2 board games
• Charge watch
• Review any extra work and send invoices
• Review spending spreadsheet
• Sketch (20 minutes)
• Blender practice (1 hour)
• Work online training (3 hours)
• Call the girls
• Tidy all rooms

Monthly To-Do List

• Pay bills
• Transfer money to savings
• Transfer money to stocks
• Dust all surfaces (twice)
• Change calendars

Do It Once List

• Storage room floor
• Install doors in basement
• Replace door handles
• Replace bathroom faucet
• Install decor shelves
• Replace damage ceiling tiles
• Finish walls around electrical panel room
• New desk for Liz
• Install bike hanger in garage
• Order replacement parts for treadmill
• Complete network installation for basement wireless

There is a lot of things in those lists. Some will be easier to complete than others, and the daily list is slightly overwhelming, but I am committing to trying my hardest, and also to being lenient on myself when the day is just too busy to do everything. Life gets in the way and between work, sleep, and four nights of regular commitments trying to do it all may be impossible, but forming the habits is worth it, so I will try. My first interesting picture will be taking tomorrow. Those will be the topic photo for each post, even if it has nothing to do with the post. The month to do list will be posted on the last day of each month, the weekly status on the Sunday and the do it once will be posted each time something is checked off or added. I will provide one or more paragraphs each day to talk about successes, failures and anything particularly interesting from the day, if there is anything.

For now, I am signing off on this last day of the year 2021.

Alex.