I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions. I do, however, find this time of year a great time for making changes. Because I work for an institute of higher education (GO DAWGS!), I enjoy the privilege of an extended paid holiday every December/January. During this time, I can be blissfully lazy, and while lounging around in bed at 2pm, I usually realize that there are many things I SHOULD be doing at this time. I make the obligatory list, and post it on my desk, where I will hopefully look at it everyday when I sit at said desk for my personal time with God. This year, however, I'm going a step further. I'm making that list public. Here is my To-Do list for 2010:
1. Cut back on television viewing. I've cut back some, but I know I can do more.
2. Drink 8 glasses of water EVERY day, more if it's an exercise day.
3. Walk 4 times a week (this will include one short hike on the weekend), swim 4 times a week when the weather in conducive to getting into the pool.
4. Keep on top of laundry.
5. Finish reading the Bible (I'm currently in Judges.....have been there awhile).
6. Diligently work at improving photography skills...this means TAKE PICTURES!
7. Stick to a balanced budget.
8. Start up with guitar lessons again, and stick with them this time.
9. Sign up to complete the scuba lessons
10. Train for Athens Eco-Adventure race, so that this time next year, I can sign up.
To go along with #10, my best friend Jason is doing the Warrior Dash this year (May). I'll be going to cheer him on, and if it looks like it's as much fun as I'm imaging it to be, I'll be training to compete in that in 2011, as well.
Tomorrow is my last day of Winter Break. Then it's back to work. January is such a busy time in my office. My boss goes to the majority of his professional conferences in January/February, so I'm constantly setting up travel arrangements. It's the start of a new semester, so we have students leaving, students starting, and all the details associated with the process. I'm responsible for scheduling my boss's meetings for the year, so I have to finalize all of those. Inventory for the department is due January 31 (my department is spread out all over the state of Georgia, so it's a HUGE project). And all faculty evaluations have to be completed between January and February (40+ faculty at three campuses). AND January is a short month, in terms of actual working days. In the four working weeks of January, only one of them is not shortened by a holiday or furlough day.
To add to that chaos, I'm taking classes again this term. I'm taking an advanced Photoshop/graphic design class, and in order to get the classes finished before my annual Florida trip (first week of March every year), I'm taking class 2 nights a week. So, Tuesday and Thursday, I'll work from 8-5, grab a quick bite of supper, and go to class from 6-9. By the time I get home, I'll have time to grab a shower and fall into bed. Thank goodness class ends in February, and my next class(es) won't start until summer term.
