I’m writing this New Year’s resolutions post three days late and having just spent the morning sleeping in until 11:00 because I was out late last night at a surprise birthday party eating way too much sugar and having lots of fun. Is this a good way to start the new year or a bad one? It looks like a good year in which to make no resolutions whatsoever and instead just go with the flow, have fun, and not worry too much. Yeah, right — like you’ll ever catch me not worrying.
But this does fit with the anti-resolutions attitude I’ve had for the last year or so. At the beginning of 2007 I made a long list of books I’d like to read and things I’d like to accomplish, and that was kind of fun, because planning can be fun, but then I spent too much time worrying about not doing the things I said I would, and I haven’t been all that interested in plans and resolutions since.
That said, I was embarrassed at how few books in translation I read last year, and I wished I’d read more books from my favorite century, the 18th. It would be great if I could read more in those areas. It would also be great if I could spend less time online. I’ll try to keep those things in mind, at least for a little while, but I’m not going to make any requirements for myself. If I do them, I do them, if not, that’s fine.
As far as cycling and triathlon training goes, my main plan (it’s really hard to be anti-resolutions when it comes to training) is to stay healthy and keep from getting injured. The best thing I can do to avoid injury, as far as I can tell at least, is to make sure I build up my level of training gradually instead of rushing into a difficult training schedule (as I am apt to do) and to make sure I keep working on core strength. I foresee a lot of sit-ups in my future. I loathe and despise exercises of all types, but I will do them if it means I can keep from hurting myself. Other than that, I’ll race when I can, have fun with my training as much as I can, and that’s it.
Who knows what will happen in 2009. All I can do, really, is recognize how little control I have over what will happen and try not to let that worry me.
Of Books and Bicycles 
I like you non-resolutions. Feeling guilty about not sticking to plans is no fun and is time wasted when you cold be doing other things. Was the surprise birthday party for you or for someone you know? Sleeping in until 11 sounds decadent and delicious.
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Good on you and your resolutions for 09. I’m sticking to knowing when NOT to say things. So far, so good.
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I like making plans, but I’m awful at keeping them, but I’ve begun not minding too much. Still, I’m going to try and keep things low-key this year. I waste an inordinate time online and sometimes I don’t even know how I do it or what has been occupying me for longer than I like to admit. Of course now that I’ll be back at work I’ll quickly fall behind in things (online especially), so I’m ready for it. Have a great 2009 Dorothy, and I think your party was a great way to start things. It’s good to be happy and relaxed!
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Good luck with your non-resolutions.
I’m not making any regarding reading lists, other than to perhaps be better about reading the books in my two book groups. Yet, I don’t think that I’ll stick with any book that isn’t my choice if it is awful — that makes me feel worse for wasting my time. If I have anything like a reading resolution, it is to read some of the many books in my book stacks.
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I love the planning part! The guilt when I don’t live up to them is becoming less as I get older.
I’m pleased with my goals for this year because they are in small bites, and they are exclusively my own — no challenges so far. So far. 🙂
Good luck on your non-resolutions (and on staying healthy and being able to ride)!
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Hope your 2009 is filled with good things, including lots of good reading!
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You must have so many (silent) resolutions structuring your training program that I’m not surprised if you don’t have any mental energy left over for any others! And if they are only going to make you feel guilty then I absolutely agree resolutions should be instantly ditched. I prefer the notion of guidelines, as I like to feel I’m headed somewhere, but life gets in the way and any progress at all is to be applauded, I feel!
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Basically, I see resolutions as one more thing to make me feel guilty. So, I try to avoid them like the plague. It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on what works best for you, as well. Good luck with the training and the reading in 2009!
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Having just posted about my own goals for 2009, I agree with everyone who said that it gives them something to aspire to, but if they don’t do it, they won’t feel guilty.
I didn’t write any cycling goals down, because I learned the hard way. The only goal there has to be “fun,” or I won’t ride at all.
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Stefanie — the surprise birthday party was for a friend — a cycling, blogging friend, as a matter of fact! I think dealing with planning and resolutions and such is all about figuring out who you are and how you work — without knowing something about yourself, they are worthless!
Unindicted — now that’s a good resolution! I could learn when not to say things myself …
Danielle — it seems that some people mind not keeping to their plans and others don’t — the trick is to figure out which camp you fall into, I suppose! Once the semester begins, I’ll be falling behind myself — it’s inevitable, alas.
Cam — oh, I forgot about reading books from my own stacks — that is a resolution I would have included in my post if I’d remembered it. I hope that’s not a bad sign …
Thanks Jenclair! Plans that are small and manageable sound very good. I’m hoping I feel less and less guilt with each passing year — one benefit of aging!
Ted — thank you and you too!
Litlove — I like the idea of guidelines too. I can’t help but have some guidelines in my head, even if I don’t do resolutions, so it’s best to make them as strong as possible. And yeah, it’s all about rationing out my resolve and my mental energy — a lot of it has to go to training, so I need to be more relaxed elsewhere!
Lisa — I don’t need anything else to make me feel guilty — I’m doing that just fine as it is! I’m imagining we agree exactly on this …
Debby — I’ll make sure to read about your goals! It’s very good to know that having cycling goals won’t work — except for keeping it fun! — that way hopefully you’ll be more likely to ride more. I hope we can ride together some this coming year (when it gets warmer!).
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Sounds very sensible to me. I, not being sensible, have already set myself up with too many 2009 reading challenges, I think, which hasn’t stopped me from setting a few other resolutions, as well. However, I refuse to feel guilty for those that don’t get done.
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Emily — as long as you can successfully refuse to feel guilty, then resolutions are great. If I could avoid guilt, I’d set them too. Must work on that, right?
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