Firstly, I hope youse had a good exmas. Judging by the blogs, it looked marvellous. Even if it wasn't hunky dory, congrats, you survived. Also, George Michael and Carrie....bloody hell...
I had considered 2016 a bit of a fail, and recent blog post have been a bit on the bleh woe is me side.
Today, I did the #2016topnine whatsy on Instagram.
I had a couple of comments on this pic above. One was saying that it was a very accomplished year. The other said it was the best top nine they'd seen.
Those kind comments really snapped back things into perspective for me. This top 9 shows a few good things that have come out of the year.
I got my PhD printed up and the degree conferred (left 3 squares)
I tried my best at my sport and this got recognised (right middle)
I spent some time in some very great tropical places (Bali, Thailand (top middle), Bali again (top right)
I take pleasure in the small cool things (bottom right)
I have made friends with my thick (powerful) thighs (bottom middle)
And I continue to be delightfully inappropriate and disgraceful on a regular basis (middle).
I have not squeezed a baby out, nor do I have one in the oven. That has been farking hard. Motherhood is, in some ways, revered and getting pregnant is an accomplishment. A feeling of failure and some dread about the processes has been present for much of the latter part of the year. However, there have been wins. I am a bigger (weight wise about the same size, but you know what I mean) person compared with this time last year.
I had been looking on 2017 as a bit problematic. For various reasons (job application, impending IVF) it's been a bit hard to plan things, hence I found it hard to look forward to things. This led to a need to take the grind one day at a time. Still, I do well with some goals, and the end of the year is a good time to consider them. In setting these goals, I have taken some inspiration from this article.
Aims for 2017 and beyond. They are "SMART" goals mostly.
Work:
- The novelty of working in 3 different workplaces is wearing off, and the work details are also getting tiring. I have been successful in shedding some roles that have not worked for me, and in their place I have temporary roles. I have asked for some changes in my current positions but things have not fallen into place. What I would like is to consolidate my work into 1-2 different places. To do this, I may need to be more assertive with certain people, as, in retrospect, I have missed out on things for not being this way.
- Research wise, I need to finish what I started. I have one or two more PhD proceeds papers to get published. I need to grit my teeth and finish this research project I started, even though it is not going well at the moment. I have a few other side projects that I am collaborating on. Now is probably not the time to take on anything "big", research wise.
- aim to start IVF between March and May, at a time when I have relatively less going on. Commit to doing that first cycle and seeing where I am after that.
- Overseas travel is a huge thing for me, but for various reasons it's hard to plan grand adventures. I think that now is a good time to explore Australia, as I have been neglectful of this. To go on weekend trips with friends and my partner. I have never been to Wilson's Prom, or Broome, or the Barossa.
- I have a local conference in mind.
- It's been hard this year, particularly in the latter part. I need to keep things light and polite with them. Regular but superficial contact. Keep the boundaries firm. Step back when it gets too much.
- My partner has been working hard and I have been disinclined to bother him with things, and as a result I have withdrawn into myself a bit. We both need to talk with each other more. This is sound advice for most couples but it is true for us.
- Depending on where I am with IVF, I would like to master the following
- Box jump, 20"
- Pull up, unsupported (even just one)
- Rope climb (I actually managed to shimmy up a rope about 10 cm today, woooohoo)
- Double-unders (maybe 5 in a row)
- >100kg deadlift, 45kg clean and jerk, back squat loaded with body weight on barbell (either by increasing lift weight or decreasing body weight, or a combination)
- 5km run in under 33 minutes (that's fast for me, my best ever time was 31:30
- Continuing to exercise at least 3-4 times per week - if I get pregnant I can still train but the goals will need to go on hold! It is gold for my mental health.
- don't do the flopping on the couch in the evening with the bottle of wine thing, or at least minimise this.
- Eat vegetables with lunch and dinner.
- Eat small amounts of healthy food regularly to avoid getting hangry and wanting sugary snacks. Hanger is a big problem for me, and it makes me ill tempered.
Anyway I think that will do for now.
Do you have any goals you want to share?
