New Years Resolutions

I’ve given a fair amount of thought to my New Year's resolutions, spoken to friends whose opinion I value, and even run them through an AI to check their viability;

·        Create a Daily Creative Ritual (20 minutes minimum)

Not a marathon, not a vow of literary chastity — just a daily tap on the door of the muse. Writing, freewriting, outlining, tinkering with worldbuilding, reading a craft article; any of it counts. This builds my identity as a writer in a way that survives chaos, client emergencies, and low-energy days. It becomes the pulse of my long game.

·        Complete and Publish 12 Finished Pieces

Short stories, articles, horror essays, tech explainers, TTRPG supplements — whatever my creative synapses are sparking that season. A monthly rhythm is perfect for me: it gives breathing room while ensuring momentum. Twelve tangible “I made this” milestones across the year will feel like planting banners on new moons.

·        Improve Your Freelance Workflow with One Small System

My tech work is good — what drains you is the unpredictability. This resolution is about making the job carry me slightly, instead of me carrying all of it. Choose one thing to systematise:

•           An intake checklist

•           Standard troubleshooting scripts

•           A pricing sheet

•           A weekly posting schedule for your tech blog

•           A templated customer follow-up message.

·        Read 24 Books

A 2-book-a-month Fuel Injection A blend of:

•           fiction (my genre choices sharpen your author instincts)

•           craft books (I love learning this stuff, and it shows)

•           one wildcard per quarter (non-fiction, philosophy, science, whatever stirs the sediment at the bottom of the soul-jar)

I’ve already discovered how reading stabilises my writing energy. This makes it a deliberate tide.

·        Choose Some Health Habits and Make Them Sacred

Not “fix everything.” That leads to rebellion.

•           stretch every morning

•           take an evening walk

•           hydrate like a medieval monk preparing for a long sermon - learn to love water!

•           commit to sleep hygiene three nights a week

•           tech-free Sundays my body has been waving small flags lately. This is me waving back.

·        Finish one long-form project to a stable draft.

Work on The Echo Man, produce a stable draft.

·        Learn to code in Java.

Dedicate an hour a day to studying and work through all available resources at hand to learn how to program in Java and build up and strengthen my portfolio of tech knowledge.

·        Save approximately £2000 to put back into the business. (Minimum)

£2000 is approximately £40 per week (this is in addition to paying off my share of the cruise)

·        Cold quit all web surfing habits that hurt my soul

Trump is an awful person; he was an awful person yesterday, and he will be one tomorrow. Constantly picking at the scab that is the YouTube political news bubble will not change that. The web is a cesspit in places; avoid those places and go to the spas instead.

·        Spend more quality time with Mum and Luke

Spend at least two more hours a day on family time.