The 31: quarterly report
I rashly made 31 New Year’s Resolutions. Here, just in case you’re interested, is a little spring report on my results so far. It’s as much for me – because doing this publicly ensures conscientious effort – as it is for you. But it might make you think about your TYSICs and stuff. Hello. Or it might just be sort of interesting. Anyway, here we go.
1-Stop losing things, for God’s sake
Yes. Getting there. Haven’t lost my glasses this year. Small improvements in the field of thinking-hard-about-what-I-don’t-want-to-leave-behind. Did lose a favourite cardigan in Perth, however.
2-Learn to be more passive about things I can’t change, and bolder about things I can/should. Like in that prayer you sometimes see on tea towels
I think I’m managing to do this. The tricky thing is that passivity tips over easily into apathy, which is not a good thing. E.g. with Libya it’s best if I don’t get too emotionally involved because there’s bugger all I can do about it. But I wouldn’t want to be uninterested in the whole situation. So, yes, not easy but I’m doing all right.
3-Do shows in at least a dozen places I’ve not been before
This is happening. Some of these shows are already announced. Some will be advertised imminently. I’ve done pretty well in this area.
4-Eat slightly less red meat, for environmental reasons and to avoid gout
Not easy, but yes, I’ve succeeded in choosing non-beef dishes more often than not. I know it would be better still to avoid meat altogether. I know, I know. But still. This is something.
5-Drink slightly less red wine, to avoid gout, liver failure, death etc
I’ve just about pulled this off. Lucky I stipulated a ‘slight’ reduction. Still some work to do, but steps in the right direction.
6-Also, find at least three new foods I like
No, still mostly eating curry. Must try harder.
7-Give blood at last
Nope. Not yet.
8-Stay abreast of the news at all time, rather than just in the 48 hours leading up to appearances on topical panel shows
Yes, I’d say I have managed this.
9-Do fewer topical panel shows
Yep, just the one recently, and that was in Australia. Approaching a time when I don’t have to say ‘I know what news story this refers to, but first I’ll riff entertainingly for some minutes!’
10-Never read anything about comedy or about myself, where possible
Mixed success. I rashly read a review of myself in Brisbane because someone posted a link. It was nice, though, but I shouldn’t have done it. I’m managing to avoid the comedy press in general. Not bad.
11-Fulfil my musical ambitions
Some progress. You’ll have to see my next live show to see how it’s panning out…
12-Have regular massages
Had one, in Brisbane. I suppose that’s sort of regular. Could do better.
13-Stay in touch more with essential people; stop breaking my back for inessential people
Without wanting to go into details, I’ve made a good job of this. The friend pyramid is now a bit better ordered. NB If you’ve not heard from me for a while, this doesn’t mean I hate you.
14-Do at least six big things for the first time
Nowhere near. Not sure I’ve done ANYTHING big for the first time. I’ve got a couple planned, though.
15-Avoid distractions – i.e. the internet, thinking about football, thinking about self – which squander time that could be spent working or being a good family man
I’ve been on Twitter less. Thinking about football around the same amount, but hey – the season will end in a couple of months.
16-Continue what charity work I’m doing, and try to extend it
I gave money to Comic Relief for rabbit facts. Not bad.
17-Make the most of having a baby, before he becomes a 12-year-old or something
Think I’m doing this, although I was away for a couple of weeks. I’ve taken a lot more photos and made a big effort to enjoy everything he does.
18-Keep working towards conquering some of my many fears
Little real progres. Thunderstorms is the key one. Have to do something about this before I get caught in another one.
19-Run once a week
Just about on course. I let it lapse, but ran twice in Melbourne last week. I found I was badly out of shape (still thing, but panting). Will not let it lapse again.
20-Resist becoming too much of a ‘dad’ by continuing to pursue unusual and challenging hobbies
Haven’t really delivered on this. Not enough time for hobbies.
21-Help one person a week
I’ve just about done this, though not always at the exact rate of one a week. But if you add it all up.
22-Swear just a bit less, just to prevent it from losing its impact
No. I said the c-word on Aussie TV last week alone. Without even really meaning to. Must do fucking better.
23-Continue trying not to be quite such a blight on Planet Earth with carbon footprint etc.
Hopeless. Flying back to Australia this weekend. I don’t fly for recreational purposes much at all these days – it’s all business- but still. Hmm.
24-Make no public negative statements
Oh. That last one was a negative statement. Er. Well, I’ve done much better at being upbeat on Twitter and stuff. Yes, not too bad.
25-(related to 24) See a confidence coach
Haven’t done this yet, but I have found one. More news as we get it.
26-Be bolder with my artistic aims
I’m sort of doing this, yes. I have a lot of ambitious projects on the go which I might have hesitated to even try, not too long ago.
27-…but, seriously, stop being so competitive. Really
No. Still failing at this. It’s so fundamental to my personality. This is something I really do want to change. Will keep trying.
28-Always have my flies done up, where possible
Better. But work to be done. Still unacceptably often I find a gaping hole.
29-Get my head round the Israel/Palestine thing once and for all
Some progress. Read a book about it. Starting to have some opinions. Plan to offer both parties a watertight solution by October.
30-Save one resolution for the middle of the year, then announce a 30th Resolution based on what has happened so far
Yes – to ring my mum once a week. It was suggested by my mum.
and
31-Above all, try and remember that things normally work out all right.
They do, don’t they. I’m remembering this most of the time.
Posted by Georgie on March 25, 2011
I know this may seem a strange one to comment on… But just thought I would mention it because I discovered something relating to it recently. See, I assumed that it was general knowledge that there is a way to lock zips (by pushing the ‘handle’ of the zip flat against the closed part of the zip) but it somehow came up in conversation with my older brother the other day and he had no idea about it. I then went on to make a facebook status mentioning how much of an idiot my brother was and discovered from comments that many people had no idea.
So… Did you know about this handy function? Because if you didn’t then it could certainly help with the whole ‘keeping fly done up’ thing.
Posted by amycool on March 25, 2011
Excellent progress and I’m intrigued about how your music resolution will fit into the show, which reminds me that I need to book tickets and work out if I need to take time off work for it.
Posted by Lydia on March 24, 2011
Wow. That’s a lot of stuff. I kind of failed at the whole resolutions thing. I didn’t really want to set much because not doing them makes me annoyed with myself. Plus soon everything is going to change anyway, since I am nearly finished with school.
I was going to try and learn how to juggle with four balls though. It can’t be much that harder than 3, can it?. I should get on to that.
I have been trying to keep up with all that’s going on in the world too. I’m not that great at it, because it’s another one of those things where it’s all talked about as though you understand it already, which is really difficult when you’re trying to figure everything out.
The one I’m really trying with is the last one. I’m doing kind of okay, most of the time.
Posted by Rachael on March 24, 2011
I’ve been working on 29 too, i’m no expert or anything but I think I have a pretty good idea about whats going on which I definately didn’t have in January.
Posted by Anji on March 24, 2011
31 is the one to remember. Perhaps like Louise, right now is a bloody bumpy path for me. And sometimes it’s easy to loose sight of the good things that are still happening And only focus on the negative. But your right, and so is Kate W, if it’s not OK, it isn’t the end yet!
So, here’s too everything being OK!
Posted by Miz on March 24, 2011
Oh dear, is it time for a quarterly report already? How quickly time flies.
Posted by Kate W on March 24, 2011
That seems like generally excellent progress. No. 11′s intriguing and yet another reason to look forward to the next live show… Better ordering of the friend pyramid and avoiding Twitter should free up time for more important stuff. Re 23, I suspect you don’t have much choice about flying (or at least not without turning down work), but you could consider carbon off-setting the flights you take. There are various schemes, but this seems to be run by a charity who manage the carbon off-set projects themselves: http://www.carbonbalanced.org/calculator/flights.asp
Hooray for the ambitious projects in the pipeline and 31 is definitely a good thing to remember. It will all work out OK in the end – if it isn’t OK, it’s not the end.
Posted by ChrisP on March 24, 2011
What’s life without a nice glass of wine though eh? I couldn’t do it!
Well done on the rest of all that though, regarding meat I’ve found that quorn chicken things are quite good it that’s up your street. I’m trying to a bit more nature/animal/body friendly and I’d recommend them.
Posted by alot of rachels on March 23, 2011
really enjoyed this blog and well done on it all but I did feel sad for the cardigan =[
this week I’ve started to rate each day as though they’re football matches as I recalled you saying you did similar for gigs on soccer am. I think I’m just having major withdrawals, 16 months since I last went to a game…
it’s not much but I’m enjoying rating them and writing a day summary as it’s showing me that some days can be really bad but other days can be lovely and i tend to just focus on my bad days so this will remind me that it’s not all terrible. will see how long it lasts
Posted by Misha on March 23, 2011
Well done Mark, nice to know someone else is vaugely working on their resolutions! I’ve only broken one of mine. So far.
I am intrigued, where does teh blog come in the friend pyramid?
(I like to imagine off to one side, in a pyramid of it’s own)
Posted by Margaretl on March 23, 2011
Wow. Really interesting quarterly report. Speaking as someone who only attempts a maximum of three New Year’s Resolutions, to have 31 still on the go is really quite something
Reagarding resolution 5-(Drink slightly less red wine, to avoid gout, liver failure, death etc) don’t forget that red wine protects against coronary heart disease, slows the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), reduces the risk of kidney stone formation and correlates with a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease ( especially the compounds in Cabernet Sauvignon) so don’t beat yourself up too much about red wine drinking. Moderation is the important thing, so the reduction you’re aiming for is sensible.
21-(Help one person a week) Now then, only last week you were referring to 700 people or so reading his blog, so I’d say “job done” ( 700 times over ) on that resolution
My personal favourite from all your 31 Resolutions is 30 (to ring mum once a week) Splendid plan! As the mum of a far away son myself, who I love chatting with when ever time allows, I would definitely applaud that resolution! Three cheers for mums and sons!
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on March 23, 2011
Being a recent discoverer of your blog, I wasn’t aware of your 31 resolutions. Having read them now, with your updates, I am getting all maternal and worrying about you again. You are such a lovely person and I don’t like to think of you not viewing yourself as perfect or needing to see a confidence coach. Agree with the inessential people part though, I did all that a few years back, unfortunately for me it turned out that my parents were not only inessental but downright damaging to my wellbeing and it was a tough call for me to make the decision to turn my back on them for good. If you’re brave enough to disown the people who constantly make you feel bad about yourself, you are doing ok in my book x
Posted by lisan66 on March 23, 2011
In response to number 7….I went to give blood in December, my iron was too low. I went back on Monday, my iron was fine, and then I was on the chair/bed thing, and the nurse couldn’t find my vein, so she got the doctor, and he couldn’t find my vein but decided to stick a needle in my arm anyway. HUGE bruise on my arm, and it looks like I’ve been shooting up. And they didn’t actually get any blood out of me. I’ll go back again though, they said they’ll overwrite my date so that I don’t have to wait the three months. Third time lucky right?
But maybe British people are just better at taking blood than Irish people?
Posted by Alice on March 23, 2011
Forgot the best one!
I didn’t set out to do it but so far the number one achievement of my year is getting a three year old daughter of a friend of mine into The Cat Empire. I have set her on the path of ska and I couldn’t be more proud.
Posted by Phill on March 23, 2011
Thanks for your progress update Mark, I very much enjoyed reading it!
I’m looking forward to seeing your next live show if I can get to one!
Posted by Alice on March 23, 2011
Not bad for the first of ten years, Mark, I’m a fan of the decade system of aspiration. My tysic has been moved along slightly: I’m moving to a much nicer flat in a couple of weeks (try to settle somewhere), with a friend of mine (have some semblance of a social life). I have now performed a couple of times in my new cabaret guise (get back to singing) and have some more performances chalked up for the spring. And having just received an encouraging email from an online food magazine I’m a baby step closer to becoming a food writer.
Once some of these are settled I can start on learning sign language and, possibly the most fanciful, dealing with my phobia of fish. Hm. Maybe wait a bit for that last one.
It’s much easier doing this knowing others have a similar plan in mind, ta very much for coming up with the idea.
Posted by Josie on March 23, 2011
it was a weird coincidence that you chose to do your daily blog on this, because i was just thinking about how i’ve barely managed to stick to my new year’s resolutions!
having said that, i’ve done pretty well. i kept up my grades (3 A’s in my first ever A level exams!), seen more of my friends outside of school (and met even more new people because of it), kept my job (i’m no longer on probation) and generally done alright for myself.
so, good job mark watson! i don’t know anyone else who made 31 resolutions for themselves, but for the most part i’d say you’ve succeeded.
Posted by Louise on March 23, 2011
number 31 – I’m pretty much 100% sure you didn’t write that one to make me feel better, but it did so I thank you. Having a pretty rough time at this moment, so yeah thank you
Posted by Dawn on March 23, 2011
I have stuck to my New Year Resolution which was to stop watching Hollyoaks!
I had watched it from day one but it got more and more ridiculous and more and more horrible so I decided enough was enough!
This is the first resolution I have ever stuck to:)
Posted by Allie on March 23, 2011
This blog has given me inspirtation!!!! I never make new year resolutions as I have always thought that it would make me feel like a failure when I don’t manage to keep them. But that is a feeble excuse for my 1 ( well I have lots more than 1) flaw, I am the worlds worst procrastinator. I have decided to plan some new month resolutions, so by April 1st I will have made 10 resolutions and keep at least 50% of them.
Wish me luck.. I think I’ll need it.