New Year's Resolutions

proggy

My new year's resolution is to cover my bedroom wall in velcro.

And I'm planning on sticking to it.

richardhomer

cruxiform said:
I'm with you there Richard. I split with my wife of 26 years last year and one of the hardest things (apart from her being with somebody else) is the loneliness of living on my own. My life is work, return to flat, go back to work, return to flat, repeat.  I have my son who stays with me regularly but my life is very lonely. The problem is I did most things with the ex and when we split our social circles ceased to exist. I occasionally see close friends but when I return to my living space the depressive cycle begins again. For me, I'd like to meet somebody else but I think it's more important to start socialising again such as joining a group or take up a new hobby so I can meet people again. Then  hopefully I might meet somebody else to share my life with. I'm very much a recluse at the moment.

I've been single as a result of having custody of our son from 5 years old - he's 14 now - so getting out and about was almost impossible for years. I gained a lot of weight and lost all self confidence. 

I've lost four stone and got a lot fitter - but my confidence ebbs and flows. And I've suddenly become 52 - not quite sure how that happened....

I suppose the reality of finding a new relationship is that further rejection is a likely part of the process - and my capacity for that is very limited. But I need to galvanise myself and develop a thicker skin - otherwise being on my own will become a self-fulfilling prophecy....

I wish you luck with it - it's lousy being single.

strtdv

Lose about 7 lbs (I've lost 56lbs since April so should be achievable), further improve fitness, do a 100 mile+ sportive, seal the brickwork on the chimney, put in the back lawn. 

Also aim to put in about 4000 miles on the bike, although 3000 might be more realistic.

octatonic

The things I will be doing in the next 12 months:

To run more than I did in the previous year (which is currently at 1005km, ideally I'd like to get to 1200 for the year).
Do more cycling.
Do a solo motorcycle tour of Eastern Europe and a group tour of either the US or Iceland.
Build some guitars.
Gig semi-regularly as a drummer.

ThePrettyDamned

In order of difficulty:

Lose weight (easy, I'm good at that) 

Get regular work as a photographer (medium difficulty - I am currently temp full time photographer but would like my own business to be successful) 

Get access to shooting the world's biggest rock bands in the world's most prestigious venues as a photographer (hard. I've never done a concert, but I'm doing some theatre and small local gigs soon so you never know). 

Improve my sexy time skills (impossible. I'm damn good already) 

(or you can't polish a turd). 

TTony

I've really committed to my New Year Resolution already.

House move = lifestyle change.  

New house needs a complete overhaul, some of which we'll attempt ourselves.  Garden is 5 acres, so that'll take some work, but I'm already enjoying the new wildlife (ducks on the ponds, muntjacs & foxes running around).  Plenty of scope for GiY veg & fruits - though that might be next next year.  Overall, lots more activity and lots more healthy with the target of turning the weight clock back 25 years.  I'm already down c 3/4 stone, which is halfway there.  

Then I'l try to re-grow the hair.  (Or perhaps not!).

Music room is already approved - I just need to design it & build it.  I want to start recording properly.  Big guitar clear out to start in the NY (I'm intending to sell at least half of them) and then I'll spend more time playing fewer guitars.

Neighbour next door but one to the south (about a mile away) makes acoustic guitars as a hobby.  Well, there's a thing.  Neighbour to the north (ditto) is a cabinet maker who also runs cabinet making courses.  So I'm planning on being quite neighbourly too.

d8m

scrumhalf said:

And you can't polish a turd.

But you can roll it in glitter!

In 2017 I want to:

1. Read more.
2. Learn more.
3. Enjoy it as much as possible.

octatonic

TTony said:

Then I'l try to re-grow the hair.  (Or perhaps not!).

I'm actually doing this, but... well... I can.

Bridgehouse

Gig again. It's been 4 years now - and that was after a solid run of about 15 years. 

It was an acrimonious end and I thought I wouldn't miss it, but I bloody do.

Oh, I might actually have to be good enough to gig too. Which might be a lot more of a challenge.

monquixote

In the last month I've become bandless for the first time in about 15 years, I've moved office and by all accounts I'll be changing job role in the near future which is going to ensure the next year will be different to the last.

Resolutions are:
Getting my house in some semblance of order. It's been like a building site since we had an extension a year ago and I need to sort it.
I started running this year and it's had a huge impact so I'd like to still be doing it this time next year.

DrJazzTap

New job which is a must. More exercise. Basically the 2016 goals. Rinse and repeat 

Heartfeltdawn

1. Get out of the chef trade
2. Pass my accounting exams
3. Down from 12.5 stone to 11 stone in the next couple of months
4. Actually bring together all the recorded demos I have on my computer into something coherent. 
5. Seriously question the "relationship" word. Complex one, this one. 
6. Clear the debts. It will be done in a few months. 
7. Figure out how to move to London in 2018. 

Teetonetal

Four things for me to try and do this year:

1 - make more of my time with the kids... I seem to always end up drifting to the phone. I need to stop that.
2 - Get back to pre-2015 levels of mountain biking. 
3 - Stop buying guitar gear (he says after paying for a Spaceman Orion and Origin Slide Rig)
4 - Setup a proper guitar teaching website - I love teaching, need to do more of it and the cash is good.

Only goal 1 needs to be achieved.

mellowsun

Sort out my work life balance.

In my 20s I was skint but happier and healthier. Used to run, rock climb, gig and built a couple of acoustic guitars from scratch from a book.

But for the past 15 years I've barely played guitar apart from the occasional Fretboard riff entry, and just work all the time.

Need to fix that.

RedRabbit

After start 2016 with good intentions and actually doing quite well, I've stopped exercising and my weight has crept up to the highest it's been since I left uni.  I need to do something about it so I guess my main goals are to eat a healthier diet, start running again and seriously cut down on the booze.

The band needs kicking into shape as well.  We've had a few gigs this year but it's just been a case of taking what falls into our laps.  We need to get some demos recording and start actively looking for more places to play.

eSully

1. Get down to about 12 stone, been hovering a stone or two overweight for years now. I'll have to cut down my cheese intake.
2. Register for a few 10Km's and Half Marathons to keep my motivation levels up. I did the Cardiff Half Marathon and a couple of 10km's this year gone. I've always done regular 5k runs but having a proper race to train for improves your focus so much.
3. Play an open mic. I'm keeping this simple and acheiveable. Doesn't sound like much to most of you but it's been about 11 years since I played live in any way (with the exception of some instrumental guitar at a friends wedding). I actually know a few musicians that would be up for putting a band together with me but with a young family and the lack of sleep that comes with it I've put off committing to anything.

I think that's about it. Planning on doing dry january as well. Might resurrect last years thread on that

TimmyO

This is an interesting read!


1. Predictable but - lose weight - I'm 3-4 stone overweight now and it is taking its toll

2. Get fit - not the same as the above as there are lots of fat, fit people - Couch To 5k initially I think

3. The big one - become self-employed/get my business off the ground - I was made suddenly unemployed Aug/Sep last year. I decided to try and get my own thing off the ground. The only work I've had since was a couple of months freelance out in Singapore (for a previous employer), but I want to do consultancy and turn it in to a business rather than just contract/freelance as a one man operation. At 45 it's a new direction but one I am committed to trying to make it work. Luckily Mrs yo is also behind it, as I've earned precisely nowt for the last few months! Eek. 

kin

I was going to take a picture of the reading on my bathroom scales to remind myself of the weight I need to lose, but unfortunately I can't actually see the scales let alone the numbers while stood on them...


So, there's that to sort out AGAIN FFS!

eSully

TimmyO said:

This is an interesting read!


2. Get fit - not the same as the above as there are lots of fat, fit people - Couch To 5k initially I think

Best of luck with the other two. Just to mention most running clubs do a couch to 5k and it makes it so much easier to stay motivated when doing it with a group. My wife couldn't run 10 feet in September. Joined a local running clubs C25K and now does weekly park run! 

BigBearKris

1. Sort my money out (every time I save some I end up spending even more :-( )
 2. No more takeaways! At least for 3months.