2G17 - 1 New year resolutions

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:06 am

2G17 is just starting but it already seems like it's going to be a good year.

Have you made any plans for 2G17? If so, what are they?

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:08 am

I plan on not using any more vacation time on my job even if it means not making my production goals, cause I'm getting tired of this job eating up my vacation time.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:14 am

Only in America could that be acceptable in any way.

Anyway, I hope you stick to it!

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:23 am

The RDM is going to knock down a house, build a chimney, and publish a book. Exciting!

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:28 am

Calbrena wrote:Only in America could that be acceptable in any way.
Anyway, I hope you stick to it!

It's not that they force me to use vacation time. It's that if/when I fall behind on production, the best way to catch up is to use vacation time, so that I'm just working to catch up and not to produce more on top of that. However, I do think the production goals are a bit unreasonable.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:44 am

Over here you outright wouldn't be allowed. Most companies force employees to take December off, if they haven't taken enough vacation during the year.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:16 pm

Damien wrote:Over here you outright wouldn't be allowed. Most companies force employees to take December off, if they haven't taken enough vacation during the year.

Not sure how they would stop me, considering I work from home. They wouldn't let me log in?

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:28 pm

Damien wrote:Over here you outright wouldn't be allowed. Most companies force employees to take December off, if they haven't taken enough vacation during the year.

this.
Tbh, there are plenty of studies that show that not taking time off leads to decreasing productivity, so it makes total sense from a business perspective to force employees to take time off anyway. The only place in the western world which doesn't seem to see that is America.

Setting productivity goals to have some kind of KPIs is a good thing, but it shouldn't lead to stakhanovism. If the goals are unrealistic in the first place, they need to be reassessed, that is all. Otherwise, you're pretty much contributing to adding flawed data into the mix, leading your hierarchy to think they were right all along and there's no problem with the current targets.

In my opinion, you're probably underestimating the opportunity cost there: not taking days off (when already you don't have enough days off in the first place, tbh) means impacting your health and quality of life not only in the short term, but also in the long term. And considering health care costs post retirement in America, if I were you I'd reconsider this and see those days off as an important investment into your long term well being.

So, no time off taken to get free work done for a greedy employer. Instead, use those days off wisely. Like, knocking down a house, building a chimney, publishing a book, or something.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:29 pm

IP BAN!

Also, those expectations do sound kind of nutso.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:35 pm

Lord Golbez wrote:
Damien wrote:Over here you outright wouldn't be allowed. Most companies force employees to take December off, if they haven't taken enough vacation during the year.
Not sure how they would stop me, considering I work from home. They wouldn't let me log in?

Funny you're mentioning this, this just reminded me of this:
https://www.good.is/articles/france-lets-you-disconnect

Oh, and it's not just us lazy French, plenty of non-French companies have already enforced this compulsory disconnection. As I said, by now there are plenty of studies showing letting employees work too much is actually harmful for companies and makes no business sense. Look for it on HBR or something, there's plenty of data on that topic.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:55 pm

Lord Golbez wrote:
Damien wrote:Over here you outright wouldn't be allowed. Most companies force employees to take December off, if they haven't taken enough vacation during the year.
Not sure how they would stop me, considering I work from home. They wouldn't let me log in?

You'd be allowed to log in, but it'd be an HR issue from there/ You'd actually get in trouble for working during your annual leave. There's also a stigma to it in the workplace here. Those who regularly work outside of their paid/agreed hours are seen as bad at their job or having a bad manager.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 4:11 pm

Well, it sounds like it would actually be worse for me in Europe rather than better then.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:23 pm

Why would it be worse to be in a place that cares about your long term well-being, rather than in a place happy to exploit you until you drop dead from overworking? I don't get it.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:59 pm

Stop badmouthing The American Dream™

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:08 pm

Calbrena wrote:Why would it be worse to be in a place that cares about your long term well-being, rather than in a place happy to exploit you until you drop dead from overworking? I don't get it.

Yeah or they just fire me sooner because they don't even let me catch up on vacation time, but it really depends on how they do things all around.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:52 pm

You wouldn't get fired for something like that in Europe.

If anything, your manager would get fired for setting unrealistic goals.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to work in your workplace, it seems like they don't really treat people well.

Cid · Post by **Cid** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 2:35 am

I'm going to try to really focus on doing creative things. I feel like a large source of my depression is not doing what I'm wired to do and right now I just distract myself from that feeling by playing dota all the time. Quitting has proven difficult, though. I've spent so long medicating with that game now I feel weird not playing it. Haven't been able to make it more than a few days.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:07 am

Sounds like a good resolution

Which creating things are you planning on doing first?

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:35 am

Sounds cool. Have you considered a career change as well, or you just want to do creative stuff in your spare time?

It's not uncommon for people to move to a different professional field in their 30s, it might be something doable for you?

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:14 pm

I went to a gym the other day for the first time since August (leaving university). Now three days later I am in continuing pain. Signing up for gym at the beginning of January is at least optically New Year's resolution-y, right?

Also want to be more organized, more active (in decision making), more direct, that kind of thing. I tend to be passive and indirect--things I dislike in others!

Final resolution: don't die in or due to a nuclear war.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:28 pm

I think a lot of people tend to be passive and indirect. I guess it's partly explained by this:
http://www.summarizedreading.com/2013/0 ... o.html?m=1#!

Good luck with becoming more self driven.

Cid · Post by **Cid** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:43 am

Damien wrote:Sounds like a good resolution
Which creating things are you planning on doing first?

Probably music and art. I used to draw fairly often but it was so difficult to overcome my anxiety in regard to what I made I just gave it up.

Sounds cool. Have you considered a career change as well, or you just want to do creative stuff in your spare time?

It's not uncommon for people to move to a different professional field in their 30s, it might be something doable for you?

It would be nice to do something creative as a career but I have no plans to do so currently. My current job is tech support but I work from home which is ideal for me. I can set my own hours and don't have to interact with anyone in person.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:55 am

Yeah, working from home is awesome.

If you make something, don't forget the fan submission forum

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:32 am

Cid wrote:
Damien wrote:Sounds like a good resolution
Which creating things are you planning on doing first?
Probably music and art. I used to draw fairly often but it was so difficult to overcome my anxiety in regard to what I made I just gave it up.

Sounds similar to me. I used to draw and record silly songs a lot, but as I know people that I'll never be anywhere near as good as, I pretty much stopped. I looked back at some shit I drew in the mid 90's a few weeks back and wish I'd stuck at it from then, as it was actually good (from the point of view of not seeing it for so long).

My main creative things at the moment are keeping my Flickr going (for over 10 years) and the Talking Real show, which has raised about £5,000 for charity over the last 4 years.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 2:27 pm

£5000 in 4 years is pretty good, I didn't realise it totalled to that.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:58 pm

Yeah

Started in March 2013 and have done at least 2 a year since then.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:28 pm

Well done

Vibing_V · Post by **Vibing_V** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 6:18 pm

There are a lot of gritty things going on this year that I don't want to get into.

But I'm learning Esperanto! So there's that.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:07 pm

Haha, what? Why?

Vibing_V · Post by **Vibing_V** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:17 pm

Because I've always wanted to. I like the idea of a language with solid rules and no exceptions. <3

Also I'll add wanting to read more books. I don't read enough things.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:21 pm

I don't think I read a single book last year

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 8:42 pm

You could have picked Klingon instead, or some elvish language.

I'm tempted to ask about your reading list/recommendations, but let's keep that for the next Hot Topic. You should post one next week.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 2:54 pm

More than 6 months later. How's everyone doing?

I am still struggling to be less passive, but I've made a little progress. I'm also seeing a therapist the past couple months. How bourgeois of me.

It's actually been very helpful, I think.

This wasn't in any way a resolution, but I started learning guitar on my own in February. At this point, though I'm hardly amazing, I feel I can "play guitar". Feels good! I never considered myself musical before. I can play/sing at least the following songs from memory:
- "Our Moon" by Kevin Morby
- "Beautiful Strangers" by Kevin Morby
- "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" by Bob Dylan
- "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
- "30 Century Man" by Scott Walker
- "Für Elise" by Beethoven

How's not working during vacation, Golby? How are the creative pursuits, Cid?

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 11:18 pm

Nice. I got a guitar a year and a half ago, but I got as far as playing 3 chords badly before I got sucked into getting our office off the ground and running.

I've been signing more in the car. Much to my wife's joy.

Didn't make much resolutions other than going all in on the business this year and keeping heads above water. So I think I'm doing alright there. Creative projects wise just the usual doodles. Planning to tear down and rebuild a house so that takes a lot of planning and is semi-creative. We'll see how that goes.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 11:55 pm

It's not working out at all. New Year's Resolution broken.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:00 am

you can still achieve your goal by procrastinating on the job for an amount of time equal to the vacation you've used up.

it can be done! there's still time!

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:10 am

That's not actually helpful though.

eightman · Post by **eightman** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:27 am

well it's helpful with one goal. not so much for your work goals but that wasn't in the scope of my advice.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:38 am

I mean it's also not helpful because procrastinating at work is procrastinating at work. It's not a vacation.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:39 am

Not that I had set proper goals, but I made plenty of new friends, which is good. I'm also moving out of NYC, which was kind of a goal, and good too as we're moving somewhere quieter.

As for work, I'm not sure. I wanted to be less of a workaholic, but signed up for a job in which I'm gonna have to work more. Then again, the opportunity is great and totally matches my CV, so I guess that's ok?

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 2:59 pm

I somehow totally missed that this got further replies after I dug it.

I'm working on claiming some therapy bills now. I work for an insurance company, so u bet I gots some benefits. Speaking of which, it's been years since I saw a dentist... oh well, almost time for 2018 resolutions!

(ew, sorry for showing my teeth there.)

Eric, I do highly recommend picking up the guitar again, even for like 10 minutes a day. If you're interested, anyway, which I assume you are since you bought a guitar.

Cal, we miss you.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:03 pm

Guess it's about time to dig this again and face the harsh realities of our lives in 2017.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:08 pm

I got married and made it to Manchester, so I guess that's something.

RDM · Post by **RDM** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:23 pm

The RDM nailed his goals. Onto the next year!

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:28 pm

I assume Sally is fluent in Esperanto now.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:29 pm

RDM wrote:The RDM is going to knock down a house, build a chimney, and publish a book. Exciting!

Congratulations!

Vibing_V · Post by **Vibing_V** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 6:44 pm

smeared ink wrote:I assume Sally is fluent in Esperanto now.

Ne ekcitiĝu.

Yeah I kinda fell off. Duolingo really puts me off when I get busy and miss days due to its spammy emails, and then I'm less motivated to pick it up again.

I grew ambitious and also started-and-stopped German (from scratch) and Japanese (for review!)

--

I also read a book! OMG AMAZING! I was inspired to read "Lean In" over the summer when I was gearing up for job stuff. And I almost read another book for a "women's book club" that some friends created a while ago and added me to. I didn't have enough notice to realistically get through it before the meetup anyway, but it sounds like I would have found it irritating to read ("It Ends With Us") so I'm kind of glad I didn't waste the time. The next book for book club (late Jan meeting) looks good though.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:04 pm

Nope. Completely fucked this up.

Fei Ayanami · Post by **Fei Ayanami** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:22 am

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:21 pm

smeared ink wrote:Cal, we miss you.

Aww, I missed that comment.

Sorry, apart from being busy with work, I've been busy with people dying.
Not a great year really. Also, my family's life looks like a poorly written soap opera, it's getting emotionally tiring.