Red Green Repeat Adventures of a Spec Driven Junkie

New Years resolutions a continuous process

tl;dr: new year’s resolutions focusing on the process instead of the result.

New Years realization

I hated making New Years resolutions, but only recently I realized I was doing them wrong. Yes, I was making new year resolutions wrong! Well, not the wrong kind like: “I will be less healthy this year.” or “I will ruin myself and everyone around me.” but not making resolutions which I can make progress on and because of that, make resolutions which I fail at. A lose-lose situation.

I didn’t know, but I have been making resolutions the wrong way. I chose resolutions like everyone else did. “I want to lose weight.” “I want to stop smoking.” “I want to exercise more.” “I want a new job.” These are very common resolutions. The main idea of these resolutions are that they focus on results, which are fine, as long as the resolution have a clear way to achieve them.

For my resolutions this year, I am focusing on process instead of a result. So, instead of the usual “My resolution is to lose weight”, it would be: “My resolution is to run twice a week for 30min”. Why? I want to be in more control of achieving my resolution, and I can control the process of the resolution, not always the result. I can control when I run and how frequent. Can I control my weight? Well, if I did, I would not have to make it a resolution! :-)

Getting lost in process

When I chose a resolution which has many different ways to achieve it, I always get lost in the process. “Do I diet?” Which diet is best?” “Do I exercise?” “Which gym to join?” There are just too many ways to go forth in the goal, and doing all of them isn’t necessarily viable.

When I am going through the year and look at myself: have I accomplished the resolution I set out? Most of the time, I feel, no, I haven’t. Unless I’m doing the resolution at that very moment I am thinking of it, I am not achieving my resolution.

At the same time, when I achieve my resolution, then what? Should I mark that resolution done the first moment I do it? Or after I have done it a few times? is that for so many days or months? Results are important, but unless my resolution is a one-step resolution (i.e. buy a new jacket), I have a hard time achieving them.

These ideas are definitely new to me. I was inspired by Jon Sommez’s work about taking action and focusing on a process one can control instead the result of the action. By focusing on the process, one has a higher chance of achieving them. I don’t like to fail, especially for resolutions which I pick. Hence, this light bulb lit up inside of me.

A continuous process

My resolutions this year are focused on a process instead of a result. I want to be able to achieve my resolution in small steps which adds to a big change. So, I can be working towards my goal every moment. “Did I work towards my resolution today, this week, this month? If not, what can I do now?”

In a way, chosing resolutions which focus on the process allows for longer term changes and integrations into my life, which is exactly what I want this year.

This year’s resolutions

  • Resolution 1: I will publish an article twice a month until July 1, 2016, after which, I will publish an article every week. Some parts within that process: spend 30min a day working an article: brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc.

  • Resolution 2: I will go through Algorithms: Design and Analysis by Tim Roughgarden by completing weekly assignments on the week. I have already started the course Jan 16. To help with this process: watch videos whenever I can (i.e. on the subway) and read The Algorithm Design Manual as supplimental material. I currently have started the class on my own time on Jan 16, so my first assignment is due on Jan 23… and weekly from there.

  • Resolution 3: I will do the 100 burpee workout twice a week. To help in this process, I will follow the work out regimen to a T… but schedule the workouts in the morning and have 2-3 days in between workouts, and let myself have off days if I’m sick (i.e. because I’m pushing myself too hard.)

I will keep fewer resolutions on my list. I can have many process oriented resolutions, but I only want to have a few so my life is not completely overwhelmed at the beginning of the year and I’m trapped in these processes. Having a few new processes at a time keeps me flexible and I can adapt as conditions change and I learn new things.

So, those are my resolutions and somethings I have learned about making them. I hope to achieve these resolutions throughout the year and add to them!

Happy New Year!