January Habits

No Soda/ Monster/ Excessively Caffeinated Drink                              31/31

Wake Up Before 10:30                                                                             31/31

Pleasure Read                                                                                           26/31

Blog                                                                                                          26/31

Journal                                                                                                       26/31

Gym/ Go for a Walk                                                                                  20/31

Query Story of Hope                                                                               27/31

These are the habits I cultivated in for January 2024. Set the year off strong. Well in some ways I did it. I can’t believe I haven’t had Monster in over a month. That thing was like suctioned cupped to my lipa. I figure I just couldn’t get rid of Monster. I had to ban all energy drinks plus those “triple shot” Starbucks they sell at gas stations. Plus soda is bad when you are trying to lose weight. I never drank much soda until I gave up alcohol but now I’m aware of it’s evils.

I don’t know if this was a medication thing but I used to go to bed pretty early and stay in bed until noon. No more. Now I attend exercise classes which start at 9 am sharp. So my body now has a rhythm to wake me up. 

Last year (2023) I didn’t read many books but whenever I saw my brother’s girlfriend she had a stack of books she was in the middle of and managed to read an impressive number of  them. This year, I vow, will be different. I’ve already read four but I only give myself bits and pieces of reading time because of all the writing I do. The most time I get for reading is after I get up to pee at 4 in the morning. I just click on my desk lamp until I feel tired again.

I love my blog. It’s my baby and it’s a year old. But still hardly anyone comments or shares or likes my posts. So if you are reading this, please comment. It will make my day. Maybe even my week. I would also love to get new subscribers too so if you know anyone who would be interested hand them my business card.

I’ve been journaling for years but my goals now are to fill up every three months. My cousin and her friends share journals, as in they pack theres around. I don’t think there is anyway I would trust a friend with my precious jorunals. Second, of all the content of my diary- well, if you thought my blog was very open, it is nothing to my journals. In my journals I have no shame.

Gym. Even though I miss Shadow and Bosco (the two stone dogs along the trail my dad and I walk on) .but at the gym I get serious exercise. I still am at odds with the elliptical but me, the bike and the treadmill are sympathetic. And I love the free massage chairs. Plus I’m hoping a girl my age shows up to one of the Zumba class.

Query Story of Hope: UGH! Some writers lament the worst part of being a writer is writing. Then, I ask nicely, why are you writing? Go do something else. But querying. I don’t mind magazines so much. It’s like a treasure hunt. But querying this story- my best story- feels more personal. The rejections seem more intense.

I’m including some new habit trackers for the month of February

No fried food. I think this might have to be a Lenten promise but I don’t foresee giving up fried foods permanently. It’s not just fries, its chicken, onions, calamari. It’s the whole reason for going out to eat in the first place. I think I could do without it for one Lent. But don’t expect it to be easy.

Make my bed. Actually this is really boring, not sure why I put this on the list

Study grammar. I love writing more than anything and lately I’ve been doing all these interviews. But usually they are laden with grammar mistakes which is embarrassing. I guess I never learned grammar in school or wasn’t paying attention. So I have a punctuation book and I’m going to work myself through it.

I will check in a about a month and let you know my progress.