Life of Simplicity: My 2008-2009 Resolutions, Part 2/4
Don't worry, I haven't fallen off the Internet addiction wagon. I decided at the beginning of last month to move this week's Internet day to Thursday, because Labor Day weekend is a big festival weekend in my hometown.
Second Priority Resolutions
Health
EXERCISE
Situation last fall:
--I dance regularly on days when I'm writing.
--I don't exercise on other days.
Problem:
--When I don't exercise, I get less done during the day.
--When I don't exercise, I have insomnia.
--I need to set a good example for my apprentice.
--One word: health.
Goal:
--On writing days, 45-90 minutes of dancing. (I'm not being heroic here; that just happens to be how my writing schedule works out. My Muse really likes endorphins.)
--On non-writing days, 45 minutes of dancing, gardening, or walking.
What I actually achieved:
--Not much. I'm still not getting adequate exercise on days when I don't write.
--Failed to meet exercise goal.
My goal for the coming year (the same as last year):
--On writing days, 45-90 minutes of dancing.
--On non-writing days, 45 minutes of dancing, gardening, or walking.
FOOD
Situation last fall:
--A fairly good lacto-vegetarian diet, heavy in whole grains and vegetables, but it could be improved.
--I need to keep my diet low-fat, because I can't cut back on the number of meals I eat each day. (That's determined by my eyes, which require periodic moisture from food.)
Problem:
--Too much milk, cheese, peanut butter, jam, juice, and desserts.
--Not enough vegetables and fruit and beans.
--Another area where I should set a good example for my apprentice.
Goal:
--Find a way to have at least one serving at each meal of the following food groups: grains, vegetables, and fruits.
--Eat at least two servings of beans a day.
--Be more sparing with nuts and with dairy products (though be sure to get my minimum daily calcium requirement).
--Cut back drastically on sugar/sucrose intake, except where it's paired naturally with fiber.
What I actually achieved:
--I replaced juice with fruit (except for orange juice) and cut back on jam, peanut butter, desserts, milk, and cheese (though I'm still getting my daily calcium requirement).
--Except during snacks, I've been eating at least one serving at each meal of the following food groups: grains, vegetables, and fruits.
--I'm beginning to eat beans regularly.
--I still slip back into old habits occasionally.
--Food goal met.
My goal for the coming year:
--Eat at least one serving at each meal of the following food groups: grains, vegetables, and fruits.
--Eat at least two servings of beans a day.
--Minimize the use of milk, cheese, peanut butter, jam, juice, and desserts.
--Make sure I meet my daily calcium requirements.
EYES
Situation last fall:
--I wear a wet blindfold when I'm dancing, which helps rest my eyes.
--But I overuse my eyes, especially when I'm on the Internet.
--I'm not doing the standard dry-eye care regularly (humidifiers everywhere in the winter, a moist wash-cloth over my eyelids daily, Omega-3s).
--I should go on Retsasin (the dry-eye drug).
--I need to be checked by the ophthamologist.
--I need new glasses.
Problem:
--Retsasin costs a bundle.
--So do the appointment with the ophthamologist and the new glasses.
--Calling for an ophthamologist appointment requires me to use the phone. I have a phone phobia.
Goal:
--Stay off the Internet.
--Do the standard dry-eye care.
--Go on Retsasin.
--Go to the ophthamologist.
--Get new glasses.
What I actually achieved:
--I went to the opthamologist.
--I looked into new glasses but am having problems finding the right ones.
--I got a Retsasin prescription, but after looking at its medical pros and cons, I decided to try alternative methods of caring for my eyes.
--I began eating roasted flaxseed daily (Omega-3s are good for my eyes).
--I'm not going on the Internet as much any more.
--I used humidifiers everywhere in the winter.
--I'm still not putting a moist wash-cloth over my eyelids daily, as I should.
--I'm still overusing my eyes.
--Eyes goal partially met.
My goal for the coming year:
--Explore glasses solutions.
--Eat roasted flaxseed daily.
--Put a moist wash-cloth over my eyelids daily.
--Don't overuse my eyes.
--Check whether my opthamologist will take the eye insurance I'm eligible for.
--If he will, have my eyes checked again next summer.
DOCTORS
Situation last fall:
--I haven't been to a general practitioner for ages.
--I'm overdue for the dentist.
--Ditto for Doug.
Problem:
--Calling for appointments requires me to use the phone. I have a phone phobia.
--We have dental insurance, but how will we pay for the doctor?
--Doug and I could face serious medical problems if we don't get ourselves checked regularly.
Goal:
--Go to the dentist with Doug.
--Figure out a way to pay for the GP.
What I actually achieved:
--I found a free clinic that Doug and I are eligible for.
--But I haven't made an appointment yet.
--And I haven't made a dental appointment yet.
--Failed to meet doctors goal.
My goal for the coming year:
--Go to the clinic with Doug.
--Go to the dentist with Doug this fall and next spring.
EXERCISE
Situation last fall:
--I dance regularly on days when I'm writing.
--I don't exercise on other days.
Problem:
--When I don't exercise, I get less done during the day.
--When I don't exercise, I have insomnia.
--I need to set a good example for my apprentice.
--One word: health.
Goal:
--On writing days, 45-90 minutes of dancing. (I'm not being heroic here; that just happens to be how my writing schedule works out. My Muse really likes endorphins.)
--On non-writing days, 45 minutes of dancing, gardening, or walking.
What I actually achieved:
--Not much. I'm still not getting adequate exercise on days when I don't write.
--Failed to meet exercise goal.
My goal for the coming year (the same as last year):
--On writing days, 45-90 minutes of dancing.
--On non-writing days, 45 minutes of dancing, gardening, or walking.
FOOD
Situation last fall:
--A fairly good lacto-vegetarian diet, heavy in whole grains and vegetables, but it could be improved.
--I need to keep my diet low-fat, because I can't cut back on the number of meals I eat each day. (That's determined by my eyes, which require periodic moisture from food.)
Problem:
--Too much milk, cheese, peanut butter, jam, juice, and desserts.
--Not enough vegetables and fruit and beans.
--Another area where I should set a good example for my apprentice.
Goal:
--Find a way to have at least one serving at each meal of the following food groups: grains, vegetables, and fruits.
--Eat at least two servings of beans a day.
--Be more sparing with nuts and with dairy products (though be sure to get my minimum daily calcium requirement).
--Cut back drastically on sugar/sucrose intake, except where it's paired naturally with fiber.
What I actually achieved:
--I replaced juice with fruit (except for orange juice) and cut back on jam, peanut butter, desserts, milk, and cheese (though I'm still getting my daily calcium requirement).
--Except during snacks, I've been eating at least one serving at each meal of the following food groups: grains, vegetables, and fruits.
--I'm beginning to eat beans regularly.
--I still slip back into old habits occasionally.
--Food goal met.
My goal for the coming year:
--Eat at least one serving at each meal of the following food groups: grains, vegetables, and fruits.
--Eat at least two servings of beans a day.
--Minimize the use of milk, cheese, peanut butter, jam, juice, and desserts.
--Make sure I meet my daily calcium requirements.
EYES
Situation last fall:
--I wear a wet blindfold when I'm dancing, which helps rest my eyes.
--But I overuse my eyes, especially when I'm on the Internet.
--I'm not doing the standard dry-eye care regularly (humidifiers everywhere in the winter, a moist wash-cloth over my eyelids daily, Omega-3s).
--I should go on Retsasin (the dry-eye drug).
--I need to be checked by the ophthamologist.
--I need new glasses.
Problem:
--Retsasin costs a bundle.
--So do the appointment with the ophthamologist and the new glasses.
--Calling for an ophthamologist appointment requires me to use the phone. I have a phone phobia.
Goal:
--Stay off the Internet.
--Do the standard dry-eye care.
--Go on Retsasin.
--Go to the ophthamologist.
--Get new glasses.
What I actually achieved:
--I went to the opthamologist.
--I looked into new glasses but am having problems finding the right ones.
--I got a Retsasin prescription, but after looking at its medical pros and cons, I decided to try alternative methods of caring for my eyes.
--I began eating roasted flaxseed daily (Omega-3s are good for my eyes).
--I'm not going on the Internet as much any more.
--I used humidifiers everywhere in the winter.
--I'm still not putting a moist wash-cloth over my eyelids daily, as I should.
--I'm still overusing my eyes.
--Eyes goal partially met.
My goal for the coming year:
--Explore glasses solutions.
--Eat roasted flaxseed daily.
--Put a moist wash-cloth over my eyelids daily.
--Don't overuse my eyes.
--Check whether my opthamologist will take the eye insurance I'm eligible for.
--If he will, have my eyes checked again next summer.
DOCTORS
Situation last fall:
--I haven't been to a general practitioner for ages.
--I'm overdue for the dentist.
--Ditto for Doug.
Problem:
--Calling for appointments requires me to use the phone. I have a phone phobia.
--We have dental insurance, but how will we pay for the doctor?
--Doug and I could face serious medical problems if we don't get ourselves checked regularly.
Goal:
--Go to the dentist with Doug.
--Figure out a way to pay for the GP.
What I actually achieved:
--I found a free clinic that Doug and I are eligible for.
--But I haven't made an appointment yet.
--And I haven't made a dental appointment yet.
--Failed to meet doctors goal.
My goal for the coming year:
--Go to the clinic with Doug.
--Go to the dentist with Doug this fall and next spring.
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