I crawled out of bed at 4PM to discover the balcony was dry! After finishing up my morning activities I used the last bit of sunlight to sit outside and sand the two remaining shelves.
I'm going to ask my roommate if I can paint the shelves indoors... I was advised that the paint wouldn't dry correctly in temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It being January, the temperature outside rarely peaks above 50.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Morning of Fail
I'm awake, but plans aren't exactly going as I had hoped.
Last night my drafty window kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. Despite my being tired, I rolled out of bed at quarter 'til 8. I walked into my living room and peered out onto the porch to see what the weather was like, only to find that the porch was still wet from a few days before when it had rained!
I can't sand or paint that wood in a wet workspace for obvious reasons, so it looks like I'm going to have to hold off on the shelves for now.
It's a bit disappointing, especially since I can't even begin to consider working on the shelves until the porch is dry and there is at least one sunny day in the mix. According to AccuWeather, it's going to be raining for 3 out of the next 5 days. I'm going to have to wait until the porch dries before I can even consider checking the forecast again!
Well, I can't say I'm too terribly disappointed right now considering I'll be able to go back to sleep and get some much-needed rest! Maybe a good sleep will lead to some good point-earning ideas later on today.
Last night my drafty window kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. Despite my being tired, I rolled out of bed at quarter 'til 8. I walked into my living room and peered out onto the porch to see what the weather was like, only to find that the porch was still wet from a few days before when it had rained!
I can't sand or paint that wood in a wet workspace for obvious reasons, so it looks like I'm going to have to hold off on the shelves for now.
It's a bit disappointing, especially since I can't even begin to consider working on the shelves until the porch is dry and there is at least one sunny day in the mix. According to AccuWeather, it's going to be raining for 3 out of the next 5 days. I'm going to have to wait until the porch dries before I can even consider checking the forecast again!
Well, I can't say I'm too terribly disappointed right now considering I'll be able to go back to sleep and get some much-needed rest! Maybe a good sleep will lead to some good point-earning ideas later on today.
Two Steps Forward!
I completely forgot to mention! While cleaning my office, I found some money! Goes to prove that even the most mundane tasks have their rewards. This will go towards my laptop fund, putting me at 1% of my goal amount.
Measly, I know- but at least it's something.
Measly, I know- but at least it's something.
Day 3 & Light at the End of the Tunnel!
I've been busting my butt since about 10:30PM cleaning my room/office! For once, I have a lot to show for the hours I've spent... I can see my floor! Haha, well I could before, just not this well. It's 2:30AM now and I'm about 90% done with the cleaning aspect of my room. All I have left to do is:
I figured I'd wake up when the sun rises (supposedly 7:25AM) to take my medications, sand the remaining two small shelves, eat breakfast (since I have to wait a half hour after taking my medications), then immediately start painting thereafter.
I think now that I've put all this effort into getting my room ready to work in, I'll go ahead and give myself 8 points. I was planning on 10 for cleaning AND completing the shelves, but I think I can split it up into two different things because of the amount of work involved. So 8 points right now for having cleaned and making room to work in my office, and an additional 5 points once I complete the shelves (for the sake of increasing productivity by organizing my office).
So I guess I'll see you bright and early at around 7:30AM... less than 5 hours from now, sheesh!
- Pick up the remaining things on my floor.
- Put everything to go on my new shelves in a box.
- Vacuum
- Dust
- Sand remaining shelves
- Paint the shelves
- Put shelves on wall & load them up!
I figured I'd wake up when the sun rises (supposedly 7:25AM) to take my medications, sand the remaining two small shelves, eat breakfast (since I have to wait a half hour after taking my medications), then immediately start painting thereafter.
I think now that I've put all this effort into getting my room ready to work in, I'll go ahead and give myself 8 points. I was planning on 10 for cleaning AND completing the shelves, but I think I can split it up into two different things because of the amount of work involved. So 8 points right now for having cleaned and making room to work in my office, and an additional 5 points once I complete the shelves (for the sake of increasing productivity by organizing my office).
So I guess I'll see you bright and early at around 7:30AM... less than 5 hours from now, sheesh!
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Initial Hurdle
It's 9PM on January 2nd and I still haven't accumulated any points! That isn't to say I haven't done any work... but I haven't exactly finished what I'm in the process of doing.
Oddly enough my first task for my business resolution is to clean up my room. My bedroom functions as both an office and, well, a bedroom. Unfortunately it's so cluttered with mess right now that I can't even use my desk.
Now, I DO have a very comfy couch in my living room that I'm able to use my laptop on, but I think it would be a great step forward if I were to actually use my office. The biggest downside to the living room is the TV; it distracts me and keeps me from working. If I were to work in my office, there would be fewer distractions and hopefully I'd be a bit more productive!
I've been working all day to get my room cleaned and have made some progress, but I highly doubt it's going to be done tonight. Especially since I have some shelves to paint before I can even clean up around my desk!
Tomorrow I'm definitely waking up early (since it's supposed to be sunny), putting the first coat of paint on my shelves, then laying them out on my balcony to dry. But that means I'm going to have to sand the remaining two shelves tonight!
Oddly enough my first task for my business resolution is to clean up my room. My bedroom functions as both an office and, well, a bedroom. Unfortunately it's so cluttered with mess right now that I can't even use my desk.
Now, I DO have a very comfy couch in my living room that I'm able to use my laptop on, but I think it would be a great step forward if I were to actually use my office. The biggest downside to the living room is the TV; it distracts me and keeps me from working. If I were to work in my office, there would be fewer distractions and hopefully I'd be a bit more productive!
I've been working all day to get my room cleaned and have made some progress, but I highly doubt it's going to be done tonight. Especially since I have some shelves to paint before I can even clean up around my desk!
Tomorrow I'm definitely waking up early (since it's supposed to be sunny), putting the first coat of paint on my shelves, then laying them out on my balcony to dry. But that means I'm going to have to sand the remaining two shelves tonight!
Keeping Track
I've obviously started this blog to try my best to keep my New Year's Resolutions. While my smaller (mini) resolutions are more black and white, my bigger resolutions have no definite beginning and end. In order to keep track of my main resolutions, I've decided to implement a points system.
When it comes to earning money for a laptop, I earn points for every dollar I save (and lose points for every dollar I spend of that saved money). The laptop I'm saving for will cost about $800 with the protection plan I'm looking to get for it, so I'm pretty much aiming for 800 points. Once I reach 800 points and my laptop comes in the mail, I'll have accomplished my resolution!
My resolution to build up my business isn't so clear cut. Since there is really no end to building up my business, I will simply accumulate points by performing certain actions that positively affect my business. For example, if I give out a business card, I earn 1 point. The more impact an action has on my business, the more points it will earn. I will have a goal of how many points I need to earn by the end of the year, and divide it up monthly so I can keep track of which months I've been productive, and which months I've been slacking off. If I end up earning fewer points than I aim for at the end of the year, I'll know I either haven't been working as hard as I should, or that I didn't set a realistic goal for myself. If I reach my goal at the end of the year, I'll just keep on going earning points!
Keep in mind that I haven't really gotten a hang of this points system yet. The first month will really determine my exact point goal for the end of the year. At this moment my points goal for the end of the year is 5,000. That may change once I add up my points at the end of the month!
When it comes to earning money for a laptop, I earn points for every dollar I save (and lose points for every dollar I spend of that saved money). The laptop I'm saving for will cost about $800 with the protection plan I'm looking to get for it, so I'm pretty much aiming for 800 points. Once I reach 800 points and my laptop comes in the mail, I'll have accomplished my resolution!
My resolution to build up my business isn't so clear cut. Since there is really no end to building up my business, I will simply accumulate points by performing certain actions that positively affect my business. For example, if I give out a business card, I earn 1 point. The more impact an action has on my business, the more points it will earn. I will have a goal of how many points I need to earn by the end of the year, and divide it up monthly so I can keep track of which months I've been productive, and which months I've been slacking off. If I end up earning fewer points than I aim for at the end of the year, I'll know I either haven't been working as hard as I should, or that I didn't set a realistic goal for myself. If I reach my goal at the end of the year, I'll just keep on going earning points!
Keep in mind that I haven't really gotten a hang of this points system yet. The first month will really determine my exact point goal for the end of the year. At this moment my points goal for the end of the year is 5,000. That may change once I add up my points at the end of the month!
A Late Start
It's already the 2nd, and I haven't even written about my resolutions! But slow and steady wins the race... right? I sure hope so, or else I'm going to have to track down that proverbial jackrabbit... and eat his children for dinner. Just kidding!
On to the resolutions! You'll see in the sidebar I've already listed a few. I have my bigger resolutions and my mini resolutions. My bigger resolutions are the ones I'm really keeping track of, and my smaller ones are just general goals I may have that I can't really monitor.
Buy A New Laptop
This one's huge. I currently own a '98 IBM ThinkPad. Don't get me wrong, it may be old as hell, but it's the most reliable computer I've ever had. At the same time... yes, I know- it is ancient. ~600mHz with ~128mb RAM is pathetic, especially since my business requires me to run Adobe programs. I've had huge problems with running Illustrator, and it will randomly shut down while I'm working since my computer is too slow to handle it. At this point I don't feel comfortable with taking on any more clients until I can have a system than can handle the workload. At this point though, I need to make more money to get a new laptop, but I need a new laptop to make more money! What a dilemma.
Build Up My Business!
A very vague resolution, I know. But I can't even begin to express how important of a resolution it is. The economy is so bad right now that all my usual employers in other industries are really cutting back. I will now have to rely on my web design/development business as my sole source of income.
And here's a quick rundown of my mini resolutions. I may add more as the year progresses... because you can never limit yourself when it comes to your goals!
On to the resolutions! You'll see in the sidebar I've already listed a few. I have my bigger resolutions and my mini resolutions. My bigger resolutions are the ones I'm really keeping track of, and my smaller ones are just general goals I may have that I can't really monitor.
Buy A New Laptop
This one's huge. I currently own a '98 IBM ThinkPad. Don't get me wrong, it may be old as hell, but it's the most reliable computer I've ever had. At the same time... yes, I know- it is ancient. ~600mHz with ~128mb RAM is pathetic, especially since my business requires me to run Adobe programs. I've had huge problems with running Illustrator, and it will randomly shut down while I'm working since my computer is too slow to handle it. At this point I don't feel comfortable with taking on any more clients until I can have a system than can handle the workload. At this point though, I need to make more money to get a new laptop, but I need a new laptop to make more money! What a dilemma.
Build Up My Business!
A very vague resolution, I know. But I can't even begin to express how important of a resolution it is. The economy is so bad right now that all my usual employers in other industries are really cutting back. I will now have to rely on my web design/development business as my sole source of income.
And here's a quick rundown of my mini resolutions. I may add more as the year progresses... because you can never limit yourself when it comes to your goals!
- Keep Up With This Blog!
I really think this one is self-explanitory! - Obtain One Web-Related Certification
I don't really know if certifications are the way to go, so I figured a trial run of one certification (ie: W3C's XHTML/HTML/CSS Certification) would give me a good idea of how it would impact my future opportunities of employment, as well as earning potential. Not to mention obtaining that certification would get me accustomed to studying for future certifications. Being self-taught, studying for a certification would also fill in the gaps; anything I may have skimmed over from initially learning something will be covered! - Start a Savings Account
I REALLY need to start saving some money. I spend what I earn, and that's a really bad habit. Hopefully with giving my business a good kick-start I'll have more money to play around with and consider saving.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Why I've Started This Blog
There's a simple reason why I've started this blog. Take the following into consideration:
When it comes to New Year's resolutions being kept
I'm not too keen on becoming just another statistic. I have some major goals I've set for myself this year, and I think through monitoring my progress, as well as receiving support from others, I'll be able to beat the odds and keep my New Year's Resolutions!
So join me in keeping my resolutions for this year (and hopefully many years to come)!
(Statistics Provided by: Research: Statistics on new year's resolutions)
When it comes to New Year's resolutions being kept
- 75% are maintained after the first week
- 71% only make it past two weeks
- 64% are still kept after one month
- And after 6 months, only 46% of New Year's resolutions are still standing the test of time.
I'm not too keen on becoming just another statistic. I have some major goals I've set for myself this year, and I think through monitoring my progress, as well as receiving support from others, I'll be able to beat the odds and keep my New Year's Resolutions!
So join me in keeping my resolutions for this year (and hopefully many years to come)!
(Statistics Provided by: Research: Statistics on new year's resolutions)
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