September Is Self-Improvement Month

[Nola]

So, last night I didn't sleep very well, but I still have to run 'Day 2' of my experiment today, and thus, I figured writing something fun would do a better job of keeping me awake then reading a boring article on 'the science of writing scientifically'.

Anyways, on the radio I heard that September is Self-Improvement Month, and so I thought it would be neat to think of something we wanted to improve about ourselves!

I'll go first, naturally. However, before I jump to a list of things, I wanted to ask if anyone had any tips to making these things last? When I make New Years's Resolutions, they are really vague and I forget them almost as soon as I make them. And, if I do remember, I'm like, 'Nah, tomorrow.' But, when I make Lenten Resolutions, I do them easily enough (they are usually things like 'Don't eat this' and 'Run everyday') until Easter then I'm like 'Yes! Finished with that!'

My questions (which you can include along with your self-improvement item if you wish) are: How do you guys approach something like this? Does your method work?

Okay, here's mine:

1. I would like to be less prideful. I am very often either really, really humble or prideful, though the latter is never spoken aloud. Hmm, maybe a better way to say this; I'd like to become more balanced in this area.

2. I would like to learn how to be more open to confrontations, instead of being passive aggressive. I know, in theory, that confrontations are not always bad, but I can't seem to make my mind believe that.

3. By the end of this month, I want to be able to tell (out loud!) an arbitrary person the basis for my experiment and why it is important.

That is probably too many already for me to keep!

[OhDearBlessYou]

I'm sure you can do all of this! I'm beating my passive aggressiveness fault little by little, and it's not easy, but definitely possible and way healthier to treat conflict out in the open. I'm with you in this!

These are my objectives:

1. By the end of this month, I want to practice my singing more.

2. I want to walk more, get at least a little fit. And hopefully escalate from there!

3. I want to have saved enough for my plane ticket next year. Or at least half, if possible.

4. I will be teaching for the next two months, hopefully I will be more patient!

[bloom]

This is a really good thread, Nola!

I think my main goal is to take better care of myself consistently. I could try to re-vamp my entire diet and everything, but I need to smart small for success... like remembering to eat at least once a day. So here are my goals:

1. Eat. Ideally something nutrient-dense, but it doesn't matter what, as long as I'm putting something into my body. Sometimes I'm like "Huh, the last thing I ate was some crackers the day before yesterday," and I really need to stop that. It might be a good idea for me to set alarms for this.

2. Keep my environment comfortable. After a friend helped me a bit I feel like it's at a level where I can manage it, and I just need to maintain it now. I feel so much better when everything looks nice, but it's really hard to keep it up with my disabilities. I need to be aware of that and pace myself but also keep up with it, because it's important.

3. Be more aware of what my limits are. Don't allow myself to stagnate because I'm afraid something will be too much for me, but admit it when something is and step back. Nobody who matters is going to judge me for this.

As for this:

My questions (which you can include along with your self-improvement item if you wish) are: How do you guys approach something like this? Does your method work?

I have noooo idea. I'm just hoping for the best. Luckily I just started therapy so I will have someone in-person to hold me accountable for these things once a week, so I think that will help.

[TheCakeIsAlive]

My self-improvement is going in tiny baby-steps and I frequently enough fall back into bad habits, so I'm not sure I am the best to be giving advice on how to make changes stick, but I find it easiest to start new habits around a time when my routine is being disturbed (such as moving places, coming back after a long holiday, starting a new job etc). It doesn't feel as much like effort when you only have to fit it into a new routine, rather than uproot your old one intentionally.

Okay, my list:

1. Get my academic stuff together and graduate, darnit.

2. Spend less time browsing and playing online games. (Timewaster #1)

3. Keep on track with the weight loss / getting in shape.