The DJ who's not a DeeJay

1.  Be debt-free. (1/2 point)

 -  Well almost.  I had 3 credit cards (one for company and two personal).  At the last quarter of the year, I was able to nearly zero-out one card and intends to terminate that one.  

2.  Built 5 new websites. (1/2 point)

Well I wasn't able to build 5.  I was able to buy some domains with the intention of pursuing this.  Originally, this resolution meant to be sites of my own.  But since I was able to create some websites for a couple of clients and friends, I'm counting them here.

3.  Exercise more. (1/4th point)

I wasn't able to exercise as much as I wanted.  I bought a couple of dance workout videos but it was more of lack of space in the house which hindered me from actually working out regularly and was confined to a cramped up room where I accidentally hit or kicked my bed, wall and electric fan in the process of exercising.  Got me more bruises than exercise.  So my exercise routines came in the form of using the stairs wherever I go and occasional brisk walking inside a mall.  I also love that device you wear to calculate the number of steps you actually take.  I never knew I could take 3,000 steps inside a mall and not feel like I was exercising. Compared to my 2007 exercise regiment (which was close to non-existent), this is an improvement.  

4.  Get more sleep.  (1/4th point)

I'm usually still up around midnight and 1-2am is the average time I go to sleep.  Waking up around 6-7am gives me only 5-6 hours of sleep.  So how did I actually get more sleep ?  I was able to take (or more like my body decided it for me) naps during the late afternoons.  So around 5-7pm, my body would be looking for rest.   If I rebooted my computer during this time, I would instantly fall asleep before the computer could restart.   I guess what I need to do is find a way to bunch up all my sleeping times into one long one.  The late afternoon naps are dangerous when I'm not at home.  I have to keep myself awake then.  

5.  Be less cranky and confrontational with parents. (1 point)

Ok, there are still a few here and there, but it was kept at a pure minimum and I'd say it was effortless.   If you just accept things you can't change nor control at face value, then it relieves tension and pressure.   There are many correct ways of doing things.  I will not debate whether it is the most efficient and straightforward way if it would cause high blood or stress.  Just accept it.  Case in point:  My dad will always ask me how to use the VCD and DVD player no matter how many times I've taught it to him.  (Akala nyo serious emotional family matter noh ! Nope, just the petty things).

6.  Learn new technologies and use them.  (1 point)

I'm a web developer and consultant.  But my skills are kinda outdated.  So I took it upon myself to learn newer web technologies.  This year, I resurrected my Ebay hobby and got to try out new tips and methods in selling.  I took up a web client to force me to enhance my skills in Content Management Systems.  And I also got to learn more about Google and its vast services, thanks to Aileen.

7.  Answer e-mails promptly.  (fail)

This is one thing that is gonna be carried over to my 2009 New Years Resolution.   I have a bad habit of selectively answering newly received e-mails and then stop after answering a few.  So as long as there is new e-mail, I will never get to those e-mails older than them.  I guess it's also because I know that not all e-mails require a simple reply.  Some involve  additional time needed before answering it (like submitting a document that you have to create or submitting statistics that you have to compute first before you could send them).   I want a clean inbox now !

8.  Process new files immediately. (1/2 point)

I have a repository directory with all new files with subdirectories containing the date.  If this directory gets long, I panic and start processing them.  But if there aren't many subdirectories, I tend to let them pile up until I panic.  So  I'm giving this 1/2 point cause I only process new files immediately when there have been new files coming in on a daily basis.

9.   Make long term plans.  (1 point)

This is one resolution I was constantly doing and thinking of for the entire 2008.  So if I could give an additional half point for this, I would.  And since I own this list, I won't mind if I will.   

Updated score: (1 & 1/2 points)

10.  Visit this list once a month to check if being followed.  (fail)

I realized I had a New Years Resolution around mid June after I celebrated my birthday.  So I wasn't able to revisit my list for the first half of the year.  Then I checked the list again before Christmas since remaining days for 2008 were numbered.

I'm going to recycle some of those partially fulfilled resolutions in my 2009 New Years Resolution list and add new ones.   Hope I get a better score next year !

Happy 2009 to all !