A New Year, a New Me?

It may be a bit cliché to start a new blog on New Year's Day with a title like "A New Year, a New Me," but I suppose I have always been just a bit cliché.

I keep an unspoken list in my head of the things that I should or would like to be doing that I am either avoiding or simply not making time for (I am sure I am not the only one). The list seems to get longer and longer with each passing year but in 2008 I am determined to cut that list down to a much more manageable group of "to dos." This inaugural post will eliminate at least one of the "to dos" on my list in that I have always felt that I should be capturing my daily thoughts and affirmations in a journal of some sort. I realize that a blog is a rather public means of doing so, but the idea of having others read and respond to my writing doesn't really bother me, in fact it excites me a bit.

I have turned a portion of my unspoken list into several resolutions for the New Year. My master plan is to track my progress (or lack there of) in keeping to/achieving these resolutions in this blog, while also sharing other random tidbits about my life and my thoughts about the world at large.

The small stuff:
1. Watch three hours of television or less each week - This is important to me on a number of different levels. Most importantly, keeping to this resolution will prevent me from sinking so much valuable time into meaningless entertainment. I would strive to eliminate TV completely but with the L-Word season beginning this weekend that seems a bit far fetched (I am not yet ready to overcome my addiction to lesbian pop culture). I also know that there are many documentaries and other specials that I will want/need to watch so I need to keep a cushion of time available for these. I am hopeful that eliminating the numerous hours I spend in front of the TV each week will free up the time that I need in order to achieve some of my more time intensive resolutions.

2. Take the dog on a walk each morning - This one is for me and for the dog and is something that I set my alarm for almost every morning but embarrassingly have not once done. I am most worried about failing at this one because I have never been (and likely never will be) a morning person and because it is freaking freezing right now! Alas, I am determined to make it happen this year.

3. Stop drinking soda - I successfully cut out regular soda a few years ago and I am now ready to eliminate the diet as well. It is one of my most unhealthy habits and it is time that I let go. Caffeine will still be a regular part of my day (I refuse to eliminate coffee) but the carcinogenic-filled diet soda will be gone for good this year.

4. Keep to a regular workout schedule - This is something that I am actually fairly good at when I set my mind to it so hopefully putting it in writing will be the motivation I need to put my mind to it. I want to go to the gym at least three times a week; for now I am going to designate those days as Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but my work schedule is fairly chaotic so I will be flexible with the days as long as I find at least three each week.

5. Eat Healthier - No list of my New Year's resolutions would be complete without this one. My constant struggle with food continues into 2008... along with a regular workout schedule I also hope to improve my diet with the ultimate goal of loosing weight (duh). I would like to drop 30 pounds in 2008 and will track my progress here. I will not do my first weigh in until next Tuesday because I am frankly petrified to get on the scale today after two weeks of Holiday eating... I need a week back in the normal world before taking the plunge, stay tuned.

The big stuff:
1. Start my first novel – This has always been dream of mine and after stumbling upon the story line of a lifetime over the holidays I am ready to start writing, or least start researching. There are a few books that I would like to read and re-read over the next couple months to get a better grasp on the style I plan to use to deliver my story. I have to finish my last B-school application before starting this project, but since it is due on January 11th, I will get started in short order. More on this later...

2. Go back to school - This one is already in motion and I really have no doubt that it will happen at this point. I have applied to four MBA programs already (Haas, Anderson, Marshall and Yale School of Management) and have one final application in the works (Kellogg). I have been accepted to Marshall already and have interviewed with both Anderson and Kellogg in the last week. I will interview at Yale next week and have my fingers very firmly crossed that I will hear from Hass soon (my first choice). It will be a monumental change for me and I can hardly wait! I will hear back from all of the schools (except Kellogg) by the end of this month and hope that I will have a fairly good idea of where I will be in the fall of this year.

3. Make 2008 about Me - This one is a bit selfish but I have decided that I am totally okay with that. With a great deal of change coming my way this year I think I have a unbelievable opportunity to find myself in a way I have never have before. This is by far the biggest resolution on my plate for the year and although it is a bit ambiguous at the moment I am sure that I find ways to apply this resolution every day in 2008 and can't wait to share the results!