new year's day ... in July
After reading (and listening to!) Atomic Habits, I was inspired to actually change some of my habits—drinking more water, eating more protein, actually reading books on my TBR list rather than buying new ones, and so on. For the first half of the year, I used a Clear Journal from Baron Fig to keep track of my days, inspired by that book. I managed to fill up the journal after six months, so I bought another one and started it today. Thus, today feels like a brand-new year, complete with new pens and stationery. Part of starting a new year is to look back on what happened last year and where I want to go now. So this is my half-year review.
And what a strange first half of 2020 it was. I started with dreams of lifting weights, kicking butt at work, and writing more. What actually happened?
Until COVID-19 hit, I was actually doing pretty well with going to the gym. I made it my habit to just check in three or four times a week. That was all. An easier habit to establish than “I will work out for an hour every day.” Checking in is easy, and I was taking the advice of optimizing for the starting line, not the finish line. Don’t worry about the results, just worry about beginning the good habit.
Of course, because I was actually inside the gym, I might as well work out, but there was something about the psychological benefit of a low bar to cross. I worked out often until the gym closed.
After the gym closed, my bar was low: I simply had to go outside every day and walk to our mailbox at the end of the road, which had two purposes. Maybe three. It meant I wasn’t a hermit staying inside all day. I felt my body move in the sunlight and fresh air. Oh, and I got the mail.
Now the gym is open and has been for a few weeks. I wanted to let it settle in before I returned. I went back today, and it felt weird to exercise with a mask, so I may need to reevaluate this practice. But I did like lifting weights again. So, no matter what happens for the next six months, patience with external situations and kindness to myself for doing the best I can are the keys.
At work, similarly, I was doing longer hours at the beginning of the year, trying to arrive earlier and make sure I hit a certain amount of productive time. Transitioning to home has been okay, once I got the hang of it. The only issue was ensuring I had a defined separation between work and home, since boundaries were otherwise obliterated, and this would stress me the hell out. I ended up getting a work-only cell phone number, which helped draw lines, as well as setting up pretty strict work and non-work times. I have a desk and a laptop I use just for work, which also keeps work time just that. A Marie Kondo thing I read about was spraying mint before I work. I like that because with the scent comes a transition. So, while there have been good days and difficult ones, generally I’m doing okay, and I’m pleased with how each little bit of time work adds up.
Speaking of little bits adding up…
On writing, I wanted to write 10,000 words a week, which by half-year would be 260,000 words. I made it to more than 270,000, on a variety of projects, including publishing a blog twice a week most weeks. I’m very proud of that. Like everything else, there have been easy writing days and ones where each letter typed is a struggle. But I’m doing it. I’m pleased that I no longer feel the stress of inaction. No more wishing I would write, since I do so. Daily. This makes me very satisfied and happy.
So, as I look forward, I want to finish some projects and get them out to where readers can enjoy them. (Honestly, part of doing this blog more often is to get the thrill of pushing publish. Sending my thoughts into the ether where they can be judged always scares me.)
Overall, while this year has been one of public health and profound change in social justice, on my tiny little micro-level, I’m still dreaming of my goals and getting there one check in, one hour, one word at a time.
What about you?
