To Do List

I don't traditionally make New Year's resolutions, but I had an interesting discussion with a friend on the way home from New Year's Eve dinner the other night that got me thinking. Like me she is a big procrastinator, and she has started to try and organise her life a little better by adding some structure. Setting times and days to do certain things, especially when it comes to things like housework and completing her studies.

We discussed the fact that our parents generation seemed better at putting some structure into their lives. Saturday mornings were for housework and laundry, for example. It made me think about how we might have reacted against this sort of structure, fearing rigidity maybe, and swung too far in the opposite direction. In the name of being carefree and spontaneous, we've encouraged an element of chaos and disorganisation.

So, I decided to make a To Do List for 2006. Some of it is about streamlining and organising, some of it is just things I plan to get done.

To Do List 2006

• Clear out things I no longer use or wear, and give them away. If I haven't worn it in 12 months, or used it in a couple of years, it should go don't you think? (Exceptions made for aspirational 'thin end of the wardrobe' clothes.)
  
• Plan times to do housework, gardening and my volunteer duties so that if I have a time crunch these aren't the first things to suffer.
  
• Knuckle down on the studies.
  
• Be more disciplined about my meditation practice.
  
• If I can swing it financially, and get the time off work, attend the November course at Kopan Monastery in Nepal.
  
• Upgrade my camera equipment.
  
• The usual lose weight, blah-blah.
  
• Go out more, ring old friends up more, I kind of developed a bit of a hermit streak in last 6 months of last year.
  
• Keep updating my wardrobe, maybe by buying at least one new thing a month. I got out of the habit of buying clothes this past year, I mean, call myself a homo?
  
• Debt clearance plan. Let's move on shall we?
  
• Upgrade my home computer. I'm well behind the curve on hardware, just just the mention of 'hardware' makes my eyes glaze over.
  
• Likewise ditch dail-up, they have this new 'broadband' thing apparently.
  
• Buy a domain.
  
• Learn that there is a world of html other than italic and bold tags. (BTW, I always use 'strong' tags for bold not because I think it's slick html but because I like the idea of turning the strong on and off, don't you?)

I'm planning on 2006 being a fun year. My new(ish) friend and frequent commentor Bodhi is moving in in a couple of weeks time as my flatmate ('roommate' for you Americans), which should up the social ante and also cut my living expenses quite significantly. We've already got plans for a house warming party for Bodes, so let the fun begin!