# Year 43: When I Make Plans, Fate Laughs

I read a thing on the Internet a few years back that said after you turn 18, every seven years is essentially a lifetime -- or something to that effect, I can't be fucked to find it as I write this. **Point is**, under this idea, I've blown through three such "lifetimes", and I'm well on my way to wasting a fourth.

But past attempts to rectify this state of affairs have all failed because my brain doesn't like me all that much. (I probably have some form of ADHD.) So rather than go into detailed plans about what I want to do this year -- something that always bites me on the ass -- I'm going to instead lay out three binding principles around which I can craft my year.

Thus!

## Principle 1: Minimize (Useless) Screen Time

I spend way more time than I should checking on Internet shit out of boredom and fear of trying to do something creative. Sticking to this principle will have me using my screen time for something other than endless scrolling/rechecking/etc. Being fatally online has done nothing for me but make me an attention whore; I must take back my own attention and redirect it towards useful endeavours.

## Principle 2: Do Creative Things

This principle is left generalized to keep me from feeling as if I need to do one specific type of creative work more than any other. Maybe I'll feel like doing pixel art one day and writing the next, or maybe I'll even pick up a pencil and start drawing again. Who knows! But I'll play it by ear rather than force myself to stick to one thing. That way lies burnout.

## Principle 3: Track Myself More

This means not only tracking (among other things) how much time I spend on the Internet, but also tracking the media I consume -- be it music, movies, books, or anything else. This will let me recommend and share media I find particularly enjoyable or enlightening while giving me the drive to further experience new(-to-me) media. I have a lot of stuff on my to-do lists in that regard in both cyber- and meatspace; getting around to that so I can soothe my FOMO tendencies may also help inspire me to do more creative work.

## In Conclusion: Shut the Fuck Up and Do the Work

That is my message to myself for tomorrow, next week, next month, and beyond. Fate will laugh at me for daring myself to keep this promise. With time and luck, maybe I'll have the last laugh.