ATAR Notes: Forum

General Discussion => Accountability and Motivation => Topic started by: The Cat In The Hat on November 28, 2020, 09:00:03 pm

Title: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on November 28, 2020, 09:00:03 pm
I figured that since I have all this summer time it would be smart to actually set goals and try and accomplish them. Mostly to do with furthering my hobbies/skills, some of which might be useful. Anyway.

So I figured I'd split it up into categories: writing (for the novels I'm trying to produce), piano (so that I don't kill my poor family's sensitive music-ears), learning (for that unit in first semester nursing, anatomy, I've been advised to prelearn as much as I can), uni (for everything else connected with uni), work (because I'm trying to find work), drawing (because I like drawing but never find the time or skills), sewing (you don't want to know how many half finished projects I have) and other (for anything else that I can't think of now). And thus I decided it was smart to have goals for the summer at the start. And then I plan to set weekly goals and try and accomplish them. (I'll start next week, I hope.)

My goals for the summer:
Writing
Piano
Learning
Uni
Work
Drawing
Sewing
Other

...I look back at my list and I'm feeling oh dear... never going to get this done. But I can have a jolly good crack at it!! :D
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: K888 on November 28, 2020, 10:07:50 pm
Good luck with all your summer goals! Make sure you find time to relax and enjoy yourself too before uni kicks off! :)
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on November 29, 2020, 08:53:03 pm
Quote from: K888 on November 28, 2020, 10:07:50 pm
Good luck with all your summer goals! Make sure you find time to relax and enjoy yourself too before uni kicks off! :)
Most of this is relaxing and enjoying myself... but with goals for getting something productive out of it as well. But yes, I'll remember the advice, thanks! :)
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on November 30, 2020, 10:38:53 pm
First week (Late Nov-early Dec):
Writing
Piano
Learning
Uni
Work
Drawing
Sewing
Other
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on December 05, 2020, 01:44:43 pm
Quote from: The Cat In The Hat on November 30, 2020, 10:38:53 pm
First week (Late Nov-early Dec):
I didn't complete everything. :( I'll put up next week's on Monday or so.
Quote
Writing
  • To Kindle A Flame - write 5,000 words, beginning at 50,155
I only wrote 1566 words, although that was all on one day. I was reasonably happy with it, but I haven't got to doing as much as I'd like of this. Part of the reason I didn't was I didn't know how to finish a certain scene; on the plus side, I've got more ideas as to how to flesh out one bit I skipped, so hopefully work on that next week.
Quote
  • David: Anointed Shepherd - open document and Word document and find place in both
After a weird thing where Word apparently removed all the comments and suggestions given in a document, I found a fresh copy (with all the notes) again, and opened it up, found my place in both. I also did a bit of work on it, so more than I was hoping.
Quote
  • What She Gleaned - open document
I got this done. Not that it was a very hard task... however, I did then reread bits of what I'd written (and found it needed loads of work...).
Quote
Piano
  • Practise for at least an hour (not accessing most of the time in the week)
I did at least an hour. I didn't time it, though. However, I was able to work on Tempest 2nd movt, and mostly on remembering fingering for the Revolutionary Etude (I worked on it for a while last year, and am going back to it in hopes of strengthening my left-hand work).
Quote
Learning
  • Get an overview of what I'm trying to learn
I chased up what I need to learn and have it open; now I just need to do it.
Quote
Uni
  • -
I did approximately what I set out to do. :P
Quote
Work
  • Make a resume and send to people
...Next week.... :( This was high on my list, it just got swamped by doing other things.
Quote
Drawing
  • Find leaves picture
Sewing
  • Get out cross-stitch
I didn't do either of these things.
Quote
Other
  • Reorganise stuff post-VCE
You should've seen the massive pile of stuff to throw out. :D Did this one, all right!
Quote
  • Take at least 10 photos
84.
Quote
  • Ride 10kms at least once in the week
My bike now has cobwebs on it. Oops.
Quote
  • Get out Hebrews and reread chapters 1/2, see where I'm at
*sigh* Didn't do this. However, I ran through bits of it in my head, so that's something, anyhow.
Quote
  • Bask in freedom and socialise with rabbit :) :)
:) Did this.
Quote
  • Clear up Firefox of VCE stuff :D
Now Firefox only has a total of 198 tabs over 2 windows, instead of closer to three or four hundred.

I also created a USI and transferred emails - to be gone through at my leisure - from my school email address to my personal one. Note to self: next week switch email address stuff with different newsletters etc. Also, need to organise the VCE-results-page-thingy-whatever-it-is.
So while I was doing stuff all week, such as going for walks etc., it wasn't such a good week on the to-do list front as I might have hoped. Perhaps next week. :)
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on December 07, 2020, 12:37:23 pm
Second week (Middle of Dec):
Writing
Piano
Learning
Uni
Work
Drawing
Sewing
Other
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on December 13, 2020, 05:54:30 pm
Quote from: The Cat In The Hat on December 07, 2020, 12:37:23 pm
Second week (Middle of Dec):
This week was an epic failure on a few fronts, especially writing. However, I was working hard most of the week - it was just other stuff happened, and I definitely underestimated time taken with stuff. Maybe next week??
Quote
Writing
  • To Kindle A Flame - since I'm now behind  :-\ write 10,000 words, beginning at 51,721 (so at least 61,721 by the end of the week)
  • David: Anointed Shepherd - finish working through chapters 'Life at the palace', 'The bigger they are...' and 'The covenant'
  • What She Gleaned - reread/skim whole lot, note down what needs doing
A spectacular failure. Not a word written, or read, or fixed. >:( Must. Do. Better.
Quote
Piano
  • Get fingering correct for Revolutionary Etude and play through at slow pace first three pages without too much faltering
Two pages?
Quote
  • Play at least a page of any music without making a mistake
I got close - only a couple of mistakes at a reasonable pace. I'll settle for that.
Quote
Learning
  • Go through all the circulatory system introduction (already watched one video, Khan Academy) including making concise notes of what I need to know; total of 10 videos
*sadly shakes head* Didn't finish, although I did 3 of them (and started the fourth one). Ah, well.
Quote
Uni
  • -
I did stuff to do with scholarship applications that I hadn't expected to do (I'd forgot about them). So exceeds expectations! :)
Quote
Work
  • Make a resume and send to people (didn't do last week, needs doing)
I did that early in the week... ten days after it was sent six hours after I enquired... oops! I need to get on with these things quicker.... (Also, more developments in the possibility of work department. We'll see.)
Quote
Drawing
  • Find picture wanting to draw
  • Find watercolour pencils/look up if I want to acquire some
Not a sausage. Didn't do this.
Quote
Sewing
  • Get out cross-stitch (task from last week)
I got my cross-stitch out, photographed it (to have a frame of reference at the end of summer) and proceeded to spend quite a bit of time (and thread) on it. So I exceeded this goal, at any rate. :D
Quote
Other
  • Curate photos from last week
Some. Not all. But fifty or sixty.
Quote
  • Take more photos
Not even one.
Quote
  • Ride 10kms+ at least twice in the week
On Monday, I rode 15.6kms along a bike trail. :) It took me just under 1.5 hours - I'm out of practice! Didn't do more, either.
Quote
  • Get out Hebrews and reread chapters 1/2, see where I'm at (didn't achieve this last week)
*sigh* Didn't do.
Quote
  • Bring rabbit in at least thrice and take at least one photo of her :D
Brought her in on Monday - there was hail, and I looked out and she was cowering in the corner of her cage, so I brought her inside for a while; the instant she got inside, she was happy, but beforehand she definitely wasn't. Then also on Tuesday; it was late at night and she just sat on my lap and watched me while I almost went to sleep. Then on Thursday, Friday, Saturday - so more than I wanted minimum.
Quote
  • Shift all the things that can/need to be shifted from school email address to personal
I've I think one more to do. So almost all done.
Quote
  • Go through 100+ of school emails and delete/de-label [currently 9,974 unread]
Went through just over 200.
Quote
  • Do all the stuff to do with receiving ATAR/SS's, etc.
Done!
Quote
  • Go to multitudinous things that need going to
*ticks off long list*
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on December 21, 2020, 06:00:59 pm
Third week (Late middle of Dec):
Didn't write this down, because I was too busy doing stuff.

On Monday I had a job interview (my first ever) which was nerve-wracking, then I was away from my computer for a while, then I had a bunch of things to organise quickly that I didn't know how to do.

In other words, I got a lot of stuff done this week (no writing, photography or learning, though I did do piano and sewing) but not stuff I had on my list (well, I didn't have a list for the week).

My summer goals may go out the window (though I'll still try 'em) because - to my amazement and delight and trepidation - I got a job. Much uncertainty in that, though, so I'll see how much I work and what happens.

So. I'll post another week's list in a couple of days, hopefully. :)

My writing style has really gone down the drain, probably connected to the fact that I've done no writing of any kind since last week....

EDIT: forgot to post this two days ago...
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: katie,rinos on December 21, 2020, 07:19:13 pm
Congrats on the job!! What type of job is it?  :D
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: turinturambar on December 21, 2020, 08:05:26 pm
Quote from: The Cat In The Hat on December 21, 2020, 06:00:59 pm
My summer goals may go out the window (though I'll still try 'em) because - to my amazement and delight and trepidation - I got a job. Much uncertainty in that, though, so I'll see how much I work and what happens.

Just remember that changing your plans and goals in response to changing circumstances (and what you've learned from following those plans) is a strength, not a weakness.

Well done and good luck :)
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on December 21, 2020, 09:58:15 pm
Quote from: katie,rinos on December 21, 2020, 07:19:13 pm
Congrats on the job!! What type of job is it?  :D
Kitchen stuff at an aged care facility - not really sure what that entails! :) It's also my first job, so... lots of stuff to learn.
turin did you already know about my job before now by the way? if not, apologies...
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: turinturambar on December 21, 2020, 10:12:06 pm
Quote from: The Cat In The Hat on December 21, 2020, 09:58:15 pm
turin did you already know about my job before now by the way? if not, apologies...

Yes, you mentioned at Yertle's party.

Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on December 22, 2020, 07:24:03 am
Quote from: turinturambar on December 21, 2020, 10:12:06 pm
Yes, you mentioned at Yertle's party.
Good, I couldn't remember. What you said here though scared me into thinking maybe not!
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on January 06, 2021, 12:25:19 pm
So... I haven't done stuff with this for too long...

Who knows what week (Early January):
Writing
Piano
Learning
Uni
Work
Drawing
Sewing
Other
Title: Re: Help a Cat have a productive summer
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on March 07, 2021, 09:12:27 pm
Quote from: The Cat In The Hat on November 28, 2020, 09:00:03 pm
My goals for the summer:
...Fanfare?
Writing: goals vs reality
Writing
    Quote
    • To Kindle A Flame - complete first draft, rearrange and fix timeline issues created, ideally do second draft (but if I get to partway through it I won't complain) [note: this is the story currently featured in my creative excerpts thread, though I may include other stuff from other stories later]
    I didn't complete the first draft. I didn't rearrange or fix the timeline issues. I'm still not far away from where I started the summer with. I have clearer ideas in my head, they just haven't translated to paper.  :-\
    Quote
    • David: Anointed Shepherd - complete second draft/make notes for a third and send to person again
    I did some of this. Not much. I didn't complete the second draft.
    Quote
    • What She Gleaned - figure out what's going on with all the stories-within-story, rearrange all the pieces/make a conceptual map of how I see it; actual writing/editing does not need to happen; end with a clear plan on what to do next with it [haven't touched since NaNoWriMo 2018]
    This is depressing. Not a thing done.

    The one thing I've done that I didn't have on my list: almost finished reworking a short story for stuff. Also I guess I've been doing a bit of fanfiction to keep my hand in.
    [/list]
    Piano: goals vs reality
    Piano
      Quote
      • Play Tempest movt 2 well
      Nope nopety nope nope. Better, but not well.
      Quote
      • Be able to play movts 1 and 3 all the way through at least without a break
      Once again, nope.
      Quote
      • Be able to play at least first page of Revolutionary Etude at close to speed, stumble through first three/four pages
      Kinda, maybe? On the stumble through stuff? Nowhere near playing close to speed, though, mainly due to lack of practise.
      [/list]
      Learning: goals vs reality
      Learning
        Quote
        • Um... learn stuff?
        • More will be added when I know what I'm doing here...
        • Get a general idea of what's going on which I don't know now
        Did some of this. Read textbooks and things. So somewhat a victory, I suppose.
        [/list]
        Uni: goals vs reality
        Uni
        Quote
        • Prepare for uni
        • Do everything necessary
        • Know all sorts of stuff I don't know now, have everything I need
        • Get working with children's check
        • Get police check
        I can tick all this off! (I hope.)
        [/list]
        Work: goals vs reality
        Work
        Quote
        • Hopefully find work/apply at least, have a resume
        • Decide whether I want to do proofreading stuff, if so what, and have it set up/in the swing of things before uni starts (if I want to)
        I got work. Decided I wouldn't have time for proofreading given that I have work. So that was a definite success. :)
        Drawing: goals vs reality
        Drawing
        Quote
        • Do pastel of leaves picture/decide if I don't want to
        • Try pastel of rock picture
        • Experiment somewhat with watercolour
        This is a big nope.
        Sewing: goals vs reality
        Sewing
        Quote
        • Complete recognisable section of cross-stitch
        • Finish knitting/start new knitting (decide when I get to it)
        Definitely did quite some cross-stitch! ...Didn't touch the knitting, though.
        Other: goals vs reality
        Other
        Quote
        • Take lots of photos :) - end with a curated list of 100+
        • Experiment with water photos and end with at least 1 in curated list
        • Be all right with riding 20km at a time and not feel dead afterwards...
        • Learn up to at least Hebrews 5 thoroughly
        • ...Be more social somehow? Meet new people/talk to people?
        Took photos! And more photos! And ones I was happy with! So yay! And riding is okay, at least I hope it is since I've kind of got to ride 15+ kms tomorrow to uni! ...Hebrews just didn't quite happen. Social might be covered by work maybe?

        Overall: bye, hopes and dreams. The reality is a little depressing. Some bright spots, though. Bye, productive (not) summer. You... happened?

        Over and out!