Reflection On This Year’s Resolutions
December 31, 2008 | Filed under Life
Half WIN, half FAIL. Refer to this.
Get more sleep
FAIL. While some nights I was able to “catch up” on sleep by getting about ten hours, most nights I was surviving on about six hours sleep so that I could get everything done, while still maintaining some semblance of a social life. All in all, my sleep over the course of the year (actual sleep at night, and naps during the day, etc.) ended up averaging out to about seven hours sleep a night…or 366 fewer hours than my aim.
See friends once a week
FAIL. While I managed to do this during university term time without a problem, for the other twenty-six weeks of the year, I seriously struggled due to a combination of work, babysitting, parent-business-managing, and obligations and responsibilities like that. I’d estimate that there were about thirteen weeks where I went without seeing a friend for a coffee, shopping date, or likewise. You could argue that these weeks were cancelled out by the fact that some other weeks, I’d had several friend dates (e.g. up to three or four), but as that’s not the way the resolution was worded, this is still counted as a FAIL.
Do more cleaning.
FAIL/WIN. I actually did less cleaning than usual this year, averaging only about two hours a week on the family laundry. I did however, have increased responsibilities at home managing my parents cleaning and ironing schedule, as well as spent upwards of five hours every week just picking up and dropping off ironing to their clients. So, while I had less chores to do, I had more responsibilities that actually took up more time, money, and effort, than regular chores.
Save more, spend less
WIN. I shopped a lot less this year (I estimate about $2000AUD on personal non-essential shopping and expnditures – clothes, accessories, toiletries, dining out, extreme sports, etc.), and had a higher income as well which aided my saving.
The one thing that really hurt my budget was when petrol prices peaked at 160 cents a litre in Melbourne, as almost a third of my weekly budget went on petrol to tank up my car. The trips I took as well (to New Zealand and what I’ve spent on England so far, as well as more local trips to Sydney and the Great Ocean Road) really hit my bank account hard, as I’ll have spent about $6000AUD on holidays this year. But, how can you really put a price on the experiences you have and the sights you see? The experience was worth the expenditure.
On the whole, my bank account is about $6000AUD up on this time last year, so it’s still a WIN, despite the amount I spent.
Spend less on eBay
WIN. I purchased mainly cheap movie passes, discounted concert tickets, shopping vouchers and gift cards, and a select few clothing items on eBay this year. The cost of these purchases were offset by the fact that I ended up selling about $1500AUD net worth of merchandise in the last three months, which is about triple the amount I spent. This ratio can only improve as I’m now bidding on one auction to every five items that I sell. As I rarely win the auctions I bid on (I’m reluctant to pay as much as other people), I’ll probably end up spending $1AUD to every $10AUD I earn.
Change my alcohol intake
WIN. I rarely drink these days, due to the fact that I now live far enough from the city to require me to drive home, rather than taking a taxi as I used to. I’m having a glass of wine with dinner, and not much more than that.
Do a good deed each day
FAIL. Sure, there were days when I did things like holding up traffic by letting cars go ahead of me when they turn out of a side street (hey that’s a good deed right?), as well as giving lost tourists directions, but for the most part, I didn’t have the chance to do a good deed. I was either stuck in a shop at work all day, babysitting all day, or had other obligations to take care of. You can’t really help an old lady cross the road when you’re not out and about during the day.
Write for magazines
FAIL/WIN. While I’ve actually yet to submit any pieces to a magazine, I’ve written a lot of appropriate pieces on this blog which, if edited and tidied up, could do quite well for publication. I’m currently in the process of editing a few of my money and saving articles so that it’s fit for publication in the “money” section of girly magazines like Cosmopolitan…but about ten tiers down the magazine ladder.
Next year, I might even give my hand to writing a few gushy chick-lit-esque pieces (though I fail at serious fiction, I excel at fluffy romance pieces, as anyone who’s read my fanfic will attest) that might be fit for publication in weekly women’s tabloid magazines like Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Day. I think they award about $200 per story…
Apply for post-graduate study in politics/management
FAIL/WIN. While I fulfilled the first half of the aim by applying for post-graduate study, it was a fail as I chose not to apply for a graduate diploma in politics. I also didn’t apply for fourth-year Honours, although I had been encouraged to. Instead, I applied for a few different Masters programs, all in the Arts faculty. I still don’t know whether I made the right decision (or even if I’ll get accepted), but if not, I always have the option of going back and applying for Honours or a graduate diploma.
Graduate with a Distinction
WIN. Surprising, considering that I didn’t really put much effort into my university work this year, but I managed to come away with a Distinction average. I just have to apply to graduate and have an actual ceremony…
6 Responses to Reflection On This Year’s Resolutions
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I still thinks that a lot of WIN :D and letting cars go ahead of me and giving directions is a good deed to me. I always stop for people at uni who look like they need directions. Half the time they do, the other half they solicit me for 15+ min about “finding the Lord” haha, I can’t help not stopping for people.
That’s definitely much better than most I would think. I don’t really even remember the resolutions I made (I think I only made one anyway). Trying and following up is a WIN for you Amanda!
marilyn on December 31, 2008 #
I think you did really well, even if you missed some resolutions. The ones you accomplished are huge on their own :)
I wish you more success in the new year! :D
Kaylee on December 31, 2008 #
Yay for lots of win. You made a lot of resolutions last year so you should feel accomplished! Happy New Year!
Caity on January 1, 2009 #
Daaang, that’s a lot of resolutions!
I think all-in-all you did really well, and a lot of those were out of your control, or you decided to go a different direction from what you had originally planned. So you definitely kept in the spirit of your resolutions, even if you didn’t meet them all 100% exactly how you had planned.
Rebee on January 1, 2009 #
Awesome! That’s a lot of win!
Noellium on January 1, 2009 #
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