2011 Non-Financial Goals

Last year my main goal was to floss every single day.  It actually isn't hard, but the daily aspect of it made it a challenge.  How did I do?  Well, after a fun night out in a new city (uuuh, Vegas), I just plain forgot to do this.  I flossed the next morning to make up for it.  Other than that, another night while camping in a very cold area, I think I was too tired to get up after I realized I had forgotten, but flossed the next morning again.  There is maybe one other evening that I cheated like that, but definitely no more than 3 times over the course of the entire year.   I'm happy with that, esp. since I always flossed the next morning to make up for it.  There were many times where I almost forgot and was very tired, but made myself do it because I didn't want to break my year-long streak.  362/365 = a very solid A, I think!

I love simple, daily activities that have a lasting impact on your health or happiness or wealth, like flossing.  Small changes that do BIG things: less than 30 seconds of your life a day in exchange for YEARS of your life later.  What other kinds of activities are like that?  I'm looking for answers.

Along the same vein, I've been reading about the 80/20 rule.  Basically, 20 percent of my habits probably contribute to 80% of my problems.  I've identified the main habit that is the MOST hurtful to me:

I stay up too late surfing the internet.  It is hurtful because it causes a domino-effect on my day:
1)  This causes me to feel groggy at work the next day or waste most of the day sleeping.
2)  This makes me feel guilty for sleeping late or being lazy at work.
3)  This makes me work much later at night until I'm so ravenous I have to stop and go home.
4)  Sometimes I eat crap at work because I'm so hungry around 5-6 pm.
5)  Usually by the time I get home, it is too dark to go outside and run, plus I have to eat right away so that takes up another hour even if I get home when it is light outside.  So now I'm fat AND tired.
6)  The cycle continues.

So.  It seems I need to establish some sort of daily habit like flossing which will make me put down my computer at a reasonable hour.  There are other, contributing factors:

I take baths instead showers in the evenings.  This habit is hurtful because it:
1) wastes money and time and water.  I tend to read or zone out in the tub, extending my time in there by up to an hour or more sometimes!
2)  I have a roommate, so I have to be careful when I take my baths so that it doesn't interrupt his schedule or need to use the 1 bathroom we have in our apartment.  This usually means I wait until he goes to bed to take my bath, which means I take it very late.  Then comes the wet hair problem!
3) I can't go to bed before my hair dries, otherwise I get a cold.  (It never fails, I don't know why this is, but it happens every. single. time.)
    3a)  I stay up later, justifying my computer use while my hair dries.
    3b) I can't go to work with wet hair, so I need to shower in the evenings (my hair takes 2-3 hours to dry--it is very very fine and for some reason holds onto moisture very well.  My hairdresser said that is how it is sometimes, my hair isn't damaged or anything, in fact the exact opposite--probably because I NEVER use heat instruments like hair dryers or curling or flat irons on it, ever.)
     3c)  I don't own a hair dryer and refuse to subject my hair and hearing to unnecessary damage.

To be held accountable, I will do the following in 2011:

1)  I will take showers instead of baths in the evenings, unless I need to soak sore muscles (eg, after a looong hike or other strenuous activity) by 9 pm. (June update: started off well, back to old habits)
2)  Shut off my computer by 11 pm, midnight on weekends. (yes, this is early for me).  No ifs, ands, or buts.  I HAVE to get everything done by 11.  No excuses.  Whew.  This one will be HARD. (June update: started off well, back to old habits)
3) Turn off my light by midnight, 1 am on weekends. (June update: started off well, back to old habits)

I have started some good habits in 2010, though, aside from the flossing, that I will continue to do:
4)  Eat breakfast.  I have started eating breakfast.  It probably isn't the healthiest breakfast in the world, but it is something. (June update: 100% It is now a habit.)
5)  Moisturize. I have started using night cream in the evenings, and under-eye cream occasionally.  I am in my 30's after all, and am starting to see wrinkles, although everyone tells me I look like I am 18. I use an SPF-containing lotion in the AM after washing my face, and a night cream in the PM after washing my face.  I also use a facial exfoliator in the shower every day.
6)  Daily, hour-long exercise.  I do some sort of activity for an hour a day--walking, running, whatever.

I also want to start dressing better, more age-appropriately, and looking the part of the professional I am--but first I need to identify what exactly my style is and work around that.  To that end, I want to start a sort of 'Style book' for myself--where I cut out or otherwise save the looks and styles I like, whether it be for architecture, clothing, or interior design.  I know when something looks 'right' on me, or when I love something, but I don't know what defines my style, or if there are themes or layers in my taste.  I'd like to get to know myself better in that regard.

Other non-financial goals...kind of a to-do list for 2011:

1)  Finish my will, etc.  I got this halfway done this year. (June 2011: everything is drafted. Just need a notary's signature and to transfer everything into my revokable trust when I go home this August.)

2)  Update my passwords list; make copy for mom and dad's fireproof safety vault. (June 2011: doing well--need to give the updates to Mom and Dad)

3)  Back up computer when I go home and at Christmas.

4)  Make recipe book (or Word doc, really) of meals.  Include:  turkey meatloaf (yum!), lemon pasta chicken (double yum!), BBQ chicken (sauce recipe), crockpot chili recipe, stir-fry with noodles recipe, etc.

5)  Learn 3 new good recipes for my rotation.

6)  Get dental checkup and cleaning. DONE

7)  Get eye appointment checkup and contacts? (June update: got contacts)

8)  Look into LASIK and whether I am eligible. price compare? (June update: started the process, need to look into prices, maybe when I go home in August)

9)  File US taxes in April. DONE

10)  Make 2 new friends (phone number and making plans after initial or several encounters.) (June update: this was done with at least 6 new people, although many of them moved away soon after. Does that count?)

11)  Go out on 1 date. (June update: done.)

12)  Suggest 6 game nights, either at my place or elsewhere. March 25, May something, June 3, July 9, Aug. 13,

13)  Finish visiting all Auckland volcanoes.

14)  Make and finalize itinerary for Mom and sister's visit to NZ/Oz. (June update: done, just need flights to/from NZ for them, and to book Green Island trip when the time is closer--better discounts that way! Oct update: flights booked, all except Green Island trip booked)

15)  Make and finalize itinerary for Oz in Feb. DONE

16)  Make and finalize itinerary for possibly Fiji in Jan. N/A

17)  Attend zumba class once a week.

18)  Attend dance classes once a week (stretch/hip-hop/etc.).

19)  Try a gluten-free diet for one week.

20)  Check out audio tape of german from the library.

21)  Finish my 1.5 L bottle of water a day.

22)  Write in gratitude journal once a day.

23)  Take career-enhancing class or workshop.

24)  Get back to my 15 minute method.

25)  Read 1 enriching/learning book a month.

26)  Devote 1 hour a day to working out.

27)  Cleanse face in AM and PM and apply night moisturizing cream or sunscreen as appropriate.

28) See a nutritionist.  October 2011

29)  Dermatologist mole mapping.

30)  Hire a personal trainer.

31)  Finalize plans for trip home in summer 2011 (US summer).  See friends in Northeast; see friends in Hawaii. (June update: done. No trip to Hawaii, but a trip to NYC is in the books.)

As discussed above,

32)  Floss daily.

33)  Shut off computer by 11 pm.

34)  Take showers instead of baths unless I need to soak muscles.

35)  Eat breakfast.

36)  Make a 'look book' for myself. 

37) Dress up once per week.
38) Organize music.

Any other tips?