It’s time for the 2021 pledges! And this year I have referenced some of the 5 ways for wellbeing.
Am not sure how much use there is in setting pledges for the year ahead when 2020 quite simply proved we have little control over what the future may bring. That said, it is very useful to be able to look back on what I planned at the start of the year, what happened during the year and what I actually achieved. So, on that note, here are my pledges for 2021.
Dry January and maybe at least 1 other month
Ok so its not quite going to be dry Jan, as the old firm game on the 2nd came with a few drinks; So maybe mildly moist January? I do like a drink however want to try a bit of detox, first trying to go without for most of January, and then depending on how that goes I may repeat the process at least once during the course of the new year.
Update: Ok so after first week of term, another national lockdown and switch to remote learning, and also a severed fibre optic cable following an incident with a digger, I think I may have to accept “dryer (than December)” January for now!
Reading / Keep Learning
This is now a regular target of reading at least 1 book per month throughout the year. My books continue to be non-fiction and I can see this continuing in 2021. In fact, I have already filled my bookshelves with books to read in 2021, with 14 books purchased, so am ready to begin this pledge right away.
Exercise / Be Active
2020 saw me manage 100km in a single month which was amazing progress for me. In the year ahead I need to build on this and ideally achieve regular exercise across the whole year. My thinking is to try and manage 3 runs per week albeit I may take the occasional week off. As such maybe 100 active days with 5km each would see me achieved 500kms in the year. This sounds like a reasonable challenge but achievable.
Holidays and Breaks
2020 didn’t feel as if it had a real break in it, as my long-planned holiday to the US was cancelled. As such I think it will be important to break 2021 up and to have some breaks away and maybe a holiday, assuming Covid19 restrictions allow for it. I think having some breaks away are critical as they help signify the various parts to the year and to separate them; 2020 lacked this so the year seemed to melt into a single period of time. I don’t see the breaks or holiday being anything particularly adventurous but simply having some family time away, somewhere away from home and work, will be an important part of the year ahead hopefully. Also, I think holidays or other breaks serve as an important reward for all the hardware work, both personally and professionally, throughout the year.
Connecting and Contributing / Connect
In 2021 I want to make sure I continue to connect with fellow colleagues across the world and I continue to contribute to discussion where possible and especially in relation to EdTech, esports and Cyber Security in particular, as three of my particular focus areas of interest. Ideally, I want to identify new ways with which I contribute to these themes including once again considering video blogs or podcasting; two things I have often considered but never made any really progress on. I also hope to get involved in some virtual conference events or roundtable events. I forever find these both useful and interesting.
Take Notice
I intend to keep a journal in the year ahead; This is something I started doing last year but at times I fell away from this habit. This year I would like to try and keep to this process, focusing on the positives but also less on a “done this” / “didn’t do this” approach, akin to a to do list, but more on the emotional side of things and how I felt about things. I suspect this will be quite difficult for me given I have become so very task focussed over the last few years.
It is also worth mentioning my wife’s third charity endeavour, again supporting Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. This year she has swapped her usual 100km walk over 2 days for a longer 200km but over 50 days. I will of course be supporting and encouraging her in this effort. She has raised over £1000 in each of the last two years so I am hoping she manages at least the same this year. For anyone interested her Just Giving page can be accessed here.
And Finally….
2021 is likely to start of challenging as we continue to wrestle with Covid19, however I am determined to make the year as successful as I can and to be able to look back in a years’ time, happy with what I have achieved.
And so, on with 2021.
Technology and Learning