Let's go over last year's resolutions and see how I did.
Last year I resolved to:
- Make 55 blog posts between this one and my satellite blogs
In 2020 I had the goal to update 40 times, which I did with a total post count of 53.
Last year I had the goal of updating at least 50 times, which I achieved with 54 total posts. However, some of them were to my other blogs and my main one hit a record low with only 34 updates.
For 2022 I resolved to update 55 times, which I succeeded at with 63 updates, 35 being on this one. So I surpassed my total updates goal and improved activity on this one specifically, albeit by a single post. Of my other blogs, my recipe blog had by far the most activity with 26 updates. Otherwise I only updated my review blog twice, and didn't update my images blog even once. This means I failed a couple of my resolutions but I'll get to that later.
Going forward, I think it's reasonable to keep my total blog activity to a minimum of 55, with 35 of them being on this one.
Recipes I posted in 2022: yellow coconut curry, spinach artichoke dip, chili, beef stew, coleslaw, soda bread, Irish stew, chicken enchiladas, black bean burgers, lasagna, orange cranberry scones, roasted Brussels sprouts, apple cinnamon waffles, tzatziki, souvlaki, cornbread, jerk chicken, pulled pork, butter chicken, crispy basa, butternut squash soup, stuffed peppers, Oreo peanut butter tarts, lentil soup, shepherd's pie, and sweet potato fries
Obviously my diabetes diagnosis rendered a bunch of those recipes irrelevant. No soda bread, lasagna, scones, or waffles for me now. I think getting my diagnosis actually motivated me to make a bunch of posts though, as I was trying to find ways to make my diet work (some of the newer recipes have diabetic friendly workarounds, like the shepherd's pie used mashed rutabaga instead of potato)
- Walk 30 km average, weekly
In 2021 the goal was 25 km and I averaged 33.3. Last year's goal was 30 and I averaged 36.4. This year I think it's reasonable to go for an average of 35 or higher.
- Start twice-weekly body weight workout routine
Results become more disappointing for the resolutions going forward. I don't think I can properly say I made working out a habit, but I have been doing it more often. After my diabetic diagnosis I increased my effort but I'd like to form it into more of a schedule.
- Have one meat-free day per week
We were keeping track of this for awhile, but eventually it just became something we "tried to do" instead of making sure we dedicated a specific day to it. Still had a lot of tofu stirfry, three bean chili, and lentil soup.
- Read six non-work related books and post reviews to my blog for each
I only managed three. I finished my sixth book of 2021 in early 2022, so you could either say I met my 2021 goal, or you could add it to my 2022 list and I come a bit closer with four books completed. Any way you cut it, I failed this goal by a wide margin.
As far as reviewing the books I read, I just haven't been able to get into the mood. There was a time in my life when I was completely addicted to reading and I was obsessed with giving thorough reviews. It was like I didn't know how I felt about something until I externalized it. For whatever reason, I can't even make myself do it for the most part now, haha.
- Update my dream journal and be less reliant on the snooze button
The idea behind this was that I forgot my dreams when I hit the snooze button. I'd have a vivid dream, hit the snooze, doze off and forget it. I fell off of the journaling but I still got a collection of dreams and maybe I should post some of them sometime.
- Do seven paintings
I only did three paintings and none of them were good enough that I felt confident posting them. I'll show them here though
The first one is supposed to me my granddad. It's based on a photo of him during his second wedding. I did it to cope while I was in grief about his dementia. It's a decent painting of a person, but it doesn't capture his essence. He looks way too gaunt, and in the photo he appears genuinely happy while in the version I made his smile doesn't reach his eyes
The polar bear I did this year but the elephant was back in 2020. I'm just showing them as a set because the polar bear only looks okay while next to the elephant. Monochrome and cold environment vs colourful and hot environment.
The sunflower was based on one that we grew this year. The painting doesn't even look complete, but I felt discouraged.
This concludes the results of my resolutions from last year.
I succeeded at my blogging and walking goals but that's it. I think my diabetes diagnosis really distracted me from goals surrounding interests. In fact, I'm going to make the bulk of my resolutions for this coming year around health. I used to think it was kind of boring that everyone made fitness-related goals at the new year, but I get it now. It's a cliche that gyms are packed in January and empty by February, but let's try nonetheless.
Unfortunately, I'm dropping my reading, painting, and dream journaling resolutions. I don't think they're reasonable at the moment considering my health focus and my lack of success reflects this.
Let's add a few new resolutions as well, not just adjustments of previous ones. I'd like to resolve to integrate a 12-hour daily fast into my life before year's end. One of the most effective ways of fighting diabetes is through intermittent fasting. I've done 12 hour fasts for bloodwork and it isn't so bad. Times when you're asleep count, so if you generally dedicate 8 hours to sleep, you're only resisting food for four hours. Basically you just don't eat a bedtime snack. This is a pretty low bar fast, but I think it's reasonable for now.
I would like to make an additional resolution to decrease my time on screens. So, the computer, phone, TV etc. Hopefully if I can do this, I'll get back into painting and reading even if they aren't part of my resolutions.
So for 2023, I resolve to:
- Update my blogs 55 times, between this one and my satellite blogs
- Have at least 35 of my updates be on my main blog
- Walk an average of at least 35 km weekly
- Do three strength workouts per week
- Dedicate one meatless day per week
- Do 12 hour fasts daily
- Find time to dedicate to not being on screens
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