So here’s the thing…new year’s resolutions don’t usually work. They’re generally nebulous, often unrealistic, and most of us make way too many of them for our own good. Despite this, I think change is good, and we should all want to be better people. Why shouldn’t we set goals to motivate ourselves? To avoid the usual disappointment/guilt/frustration that comes with resolutions, though, I’m going for something a little more fine-tuned this year: habits. Why? Habits are specific and long-lasting lifestyle changes that provide more long-term benefit than one-time resolutions. Losing 15 more pounds is a resolution I could make, and it would be good one. Even if I accomplished it, however, what’s that giving me long-term? Not that much really. What if instead I said, “I am going exercise 15 minutes, 3 days a week, after lunch?” That would be a habit. And would be something that would allow me accomplish my goal, and then would carry me beyond that goal to an overall healthier life. So without further ado, here are my 6 habits I’d like to develop in 2010:
1. Weekly Scripture memorization. It’s time I started taking hiding God’s word in my heart more seriously, I think. I’ll be doing one to two verses per week (trying to keep everything attainable and manageable) from the Navigators’ Topical Memory System. My plan is to review my verses daily by placing them on my computer screen, bathroom mirror, etc.
2. Regular work on my aural Skills. Ear training has always been a frustration to me. No doubt, I’m better at it than I used to be, but my skills aren’t at the level that I’d really like them to be at, and as a musician I know there’s only one path to perfection: practice. I’ve got to commit to making this practice part of my life routine. I’ll be using MusicTheory.net, my own collections of CD ear-training courses, and other computer-based tools. I’ll be spending at least 15 minutes on this 5 days per week, trying to get it done right after breakfast—making it one the very first things I do each each day.
3. Once weekly journaling. Journaling is important to me, but I rarely make time for it. I’ve never regretted it when I have carved out the space in my schedule, though, and I really want to preserve the new memories I’ll be creating with my wife and son once the little guy is born. Besides, it takes a surprisingly little amount of time once you liberate yourself from having to write complete sentences. I’ll be doing this each Friday…either in the morning or in the evening.
4. Run 3 times per week. Although I used to hate it, running really is the perfect exercise for me: I can do it anywhere, alone or with Amber, indoors or outdoors, with a minimal amount of equipment or preparation—I even enjoy it now! I’ve really let my running/jogging habit slide, though, and it’s time to take it up a notch. I don’t care what days, but I will be running for at least 15 minutes three times a week in 2010. Of course, I want to do it even more than that, but once again, I’m trying to keep thing relatively easy to accomplish, so I don’t just give up when the going gets really tough right at the beginning.
5. Get up at 6:30 a.m. each day. I’ve been working on becoming an early riser, and even though I think I do pretty good (I’m up before 8 practically every morning now…) I’m far from where I want to be. It begins tomorrow, even though I’ll be up ‘till midnight tonight to usher in the new year.
6. Get rid of one physical possession per week.. This is going to be difficult, but at this point I’m pretty committed to a much more minimal life when it comes to physical possessions. Briefly, here’s why: I don’t want to take care of bunch of stuff I don’t use, I’d rather not have to move a bunch of stuff that I don’t use when the time comes, and I want make sure I’m using what I own…I don’t want to be wasting stuff that other people could be using. So. Here’s what I’m thinking…One item per week, until I only own items that I use at least once per week, with the following exceptions: Seasonal clothes (winter coat, etc), seasonal items (the Christmas tree, lights), library items (books, dvds, music), art (sculptures from Africa, etc). I’ll blog about it so you guys can tell me if I’m being stupid or chickening out. I suspect it’ll force me to start using stuff I really want to keep (like my recording rig!!).
And that’s that. 6 New Habits for 2010. Are you developing new habits to inaugurate the new decade?
Photo Courtesy http://www.flickr.com/photos/stage88/ / CC BY 2.0
