Working towards resolutions

I'm a little late with thinking about resolutions (or making plans, setting themes, as I prefer to think of it), but I'm not really into saying things like "Oh, I'll exercise more" and then get frustrated because it doesn't happen. Instead, I prefer to think about priorities, about what would really have a positive influence. About a year ago I dyed my hair blonde (or bleached it to death, whichever way you want to look at it) as a sort of sign to myself to be braver, bolder, to reduce fear, and it worked. I think this year should continue in a similar vein.

Then, there's a difference between things that will happen anyway and resolutions. For the past few years, I *could* have written "Go freelance", whereas this year I KNOW it will happen, because I'm on a schedule. Huh.

Anyway, here are some things I'm currently thinking about. I still need to work out more details and make decent plans, but this should be a good start:

• Regular Writing: In the past few weeks, I've been pretty good with this (except for the Christmas holidays...). Ever since I started my new notebook at the beginning of November, I tried (and mostly managed) to write something every day, even if it was just a few lines. It's also helped me think some things through, track the progress I made during those weeks, helped me think, motivated me, kept me on track etc. And while I want to keep writing in my notebook, I'd also like to extend this a little bit. Write a little more each day, for example using 100words or 750words. Write more blog posts than just my monthly book list (e.g. 1 blog post per week, maybe). Finally end the strange writer's block I currently have with letter writing (sorry Carolyne!). And take some of these resolutions to heart.
• Health: Yeah, of course this needs to be on the list. Now, there are several things I'd like to do. Do the Quit Sugar thing again. Eat a largely vegetarian diet. Quit cheap chocolate for good (very dark chocolate and very, very good chocolate for special occasions might be allowed). Work out (running, yoga, gym). Finally return to my ideal weight. Stop doing stupid things like mixing different alcoholic beverages one evening and then regretting it two hours later. Stop drinking almost regular coffee (something I never did until some time in 2012).
• Freelance Success: As mentioned, I'm on schedule to go freelance this spring, and I'm both excited and terrified. I think I need some goals in this area to keep me sane. So, for example, from the time I start to the end of the year, I want to have an average income of at least 600€ per month, which right now seems big and almost unmanageable, but is really very little considering what I should be making to be able to survive. I also want to keep to some regular working hours, e.g. start with 10-16 for a start (which seems manageable), then extend those hours once I'm used to them. And I want to do some sort of further training - depending on what happens with my London plans, either that or some sort of course on Technical English.
• Travel: This year, I want to visit at least one city I've never been to (plans are being made for visiting Amsterdam; I'll also be at a conference in Dortmund) and take one holiday that is at least two weeks long (something which hasn't happened for the past 3 years, ugh).
• Reading: As I think I managed quite nicely with my reading last year - detailled analysis of my 2012 reading not yet done -  I think I should continue with this idea. So, one book per week at least, ie 52 books. Manga only count if I haven't read them before (so rereading One Piece again won't be worth any points, however much it might be worth otherwise).
• Language Training: Relearn English grammar rules (not because I doubt my language skills, but because I would sometimes like to be able to explain why I'm doing what I'm doing), improve my Italian or finally really start learning Japanese? I'm still undecided. All at once might be a bit much. I suppose I'll make a plan once I know where this year will actually take me (Leoben? London?).
• Simplifying: For some weeks this late autumn, I managed to keep to two things: Write something every day and throw something away every day. All that paper clutter that accumulates, you know? However, I'm not sure how to quantify simplifying. Should it be some goal like "Organise uni stuff" or "Throw out all magazines which stay unread longer than 1 month" or "Clear out 50 books from my MTBR" or...something like that? Or should I just generally live in the spirit of simplification?
• Adventure: Watch something like the Leonid shower at least once. Go to a funpark. Attend Gamescom. Go canyoning. Do the adventure tour at Lurgrotte (ie cave exploration). Try paragliding. Try some really bright hair colours (blue, green and violet are all planned for).

This is already a lot. I'm not sure whether I'll come up with yet more (cook from at least 50 recipes I haven't used yet! Read all of Shakespeare's plays! Knit 12 sweaters in 12 months (...)!) or whether that isn't absolutely enough for one year. Guess we'll see.

Finally, here is a neat little article on how to keep your resolutions.