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NEW VIDEO: Why You MUST Quit Gaming in 2025

Ikar

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  1. I used the word "lucky" in the way that it's indeed a lottery, insofar as what activity gets us hooked and gives us satisfaction. We couldn't "choose" whether gaming interested us or not. We just fell for it. And we worked hard on it too. That's why I used the hockey sport analogy afterwards; had we been "luckier", maybe we'd fall for an activity that would be more useful for us and the society as well. I actually don't think there's a "predisposition to gaming", but rather a "predisposition to activities like gaming". We probably encountered gaming as the first complex activity that could fulfill us by chance; hence all the talk about luck and bad luck. I agree there's no reason in crying over spilt milk; what's done is done. It's necessary to be forward-looking. You're also correct that I'm lucky that gaming made me re-evaluate my life, values and activities. Maybe quitting gaming was the biggest opportunity for me. I don't think many people get that in their lives.
  2. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    24 Jan - 5 Feb: My friend and I drilled holes and installed the doors for the upper kitchen cupboards. I had a great meeting last weekend with a bunch of inspiring people. The topic was financial independence and everybody shared their journey. Some topics still resonate in my head and the meeting also spurred my activity in related topics. Went to the cardiologist. He said my heart/blood pressure is nothing to worry about, as long as I exercise and eat well. I think I've been doing a good job exercising and flossing as well. My parents and I also went to a hockey match with our family friend. It was nice to experience the atmosphere of a hockey match again, especially since "our" team won πŸ˜„ We also had a couple more game nights with my girlfriend's sister and her boyfriend and my friend. It's generally a good time, although my girlfriend and I think her sister and boyfriend can be sometimes needlessly toxic during game-time for a variety of reasons. Looked after the car by taking it to the mechanic. Just a few small issues, nothing serious. Had a pub meeting with my girlfriend's office colleagues from work. I already knew most of them at least a little. We had good fun. - I probably have mild ADHD. I sometimes jump from one activity to another and forget to finish the previous one. My calendar helps me with that, as I can keep track of the important stuff.
  3. Even part-time work is good. I've been self-employed for a few years. I took up more work quite naturally as I grew more efficient with using my time and got into basic habits. Hope the meds situation gets better. Honestly, it's possible that there are people in your life who try to usurp your independence (and boundaries). Ironically, when I was quitting, I think the fact I didn't know a lot of people and had really just a few connections helped me in fact. I didn't have to renegotiate so many relationships. I had more conflicts with my father after I quit gaming, rather than before. Parents in particular will still see you as their child if they pay for any of your needs. I think it's always a good idea to break that "financial" parental umbilical cord using any means necessary, apart from crime πŸ˜„
  4. I can share what works for me, but always remember you're the boss of you. I think the first thing of importance is to become independent. How is the job hunt for you looking?
  5. It does matter whether you get lucky or unlucky. I don't regret the fact that I didn't become a famous streamer, but the truth is I just got unlucky with the game selection. The game was just too small and there was never any real potential to make a living off of it. If I had a passion/addiction to a sport, for example hockey, maybe I'd make it to the national team. If 1) I liked the hobby, 2) had a good team, 3) met the right people, 4) had no injuries, 5) had the parents' support... the list goes on and on. But even with a successful hockey career, there's no guarantee that my life wouldn't come crashing down after finishing my career as a player, because I'd be useless in other areas of life. Hard work and determination can lead you to both being a gaming addict and being a famous person. It's still a lottery. I feel the same about the part I put in bold. I also feel better about growing into my potential. For "bottom line", I wrote: "Hard work does pay overall for most people, but it's not enough to be famous and you have to be careful with using it in the right way." I don't know if that translates to "it's not worth going through all this hard work because you might not get anything in the end so might aswell not try to begin with". I think work gives people meaning and that it's intrinsically valuable. The issue is you can't choose the activities you are passionate about or addicted to and therefore "hard work" can get you into unexpected or bad places as well. It reminded me of the "Gaming Addiction Superpower". Our determination and hard work on our gaming got us in the wrong place. I don't think it's possible to argue that, but feel free, I'll be happy to read the argument πŸ™‚ I think a part of my "calling" is writing as well, maybe that's why I am writing these responses (and I mean it; writing improves verbal skills too and I have a blog) πŸ˜„ By "nothing in particular" I do indeed mean an activity of some sort. For me at this time, it's watching a video about finance (my hobby), helping my girlfriend assemble her 4000-piece puzzle or just getting the clothes off of the dryer. All of these are important in their own way, but they are hardly anything I'd write about in great detail. I put the part in bold, because that's a solid argument to think about from a purely mathematical perspective. If it works for you, it's great. It's just that I don't think it's possible to plan your "gaming rebellion" like that or to guarantee that you ever come back from it. Good job, be watchful πŸ™‚
  6. The thing is, I already do have a schedule for my work and I organize my life mostly around work. Maybe it's not ideal, but it works well enough for me. Organizing my life around other priorities (e.g. exercise every day at 7, eat, take a shower and start work every day at 9) could work too, but they'd inevitably clash. It always eventually comes down to the fact which activity I prefer. I really like/love spending time with my students AND getting paid for it. All the other things I do are "only" hobbies or second-rank priorities at best, except a few emergencies. Maybe it will change with time in the future. I know "trusting my present self" can be lottery-like, but at the given time I already know whether or not I already have done the "basics" for the day. It takes the pressure off of me to do something "productive". I can just do a hobby or something else. There are cases where "doing nothing in particular" is the right thing to do. I think having this stuff planned paradoxically reduces the effectiveness of relaxing activities. You're not a machine "down for temporary maintenance" when you relax. The only problem with these people is that you know them because they succeeded. Textbook survivorship bias. If only determination was enough, I'd have been a successful Twitch streamer for some 10 years now. I was persistent. I streamed daily. Maybe it would have worked if I played a bigger game like LoL, WoW, Hearthstone or something else. But there just weren't enough people watching the game I mainly played. And there are even people with a good plan, who work hard and still fail. We all know the people you mentioned thanks 1) to their habits but also 2) extreme luck and circumstances. Hard work does pay overall for most people, but it's not enough to be famous and you have to be careful with using it in the right way.
  7. Ikar

    Kam's Journal

    After my roughly six years of no gaming, I sometimes reminisce the time, but I think I would do that even if I I hadn't gamed. I don't miss games anymore though. It was important for me to accept the past and move on, not to regret it.
  8. I get that. I just finished a workout with my girlfriend that lasted about an hour. Another hour to relax a little, take a shower and eat. I hated to rush the workout time maybe it was a part of the reason why I quit working out completely a few years ago. These two hour blocks are hard for me to find, but I try to work out at least twice a week. I get up around 7 every day at too, also because my earliest work time is 8. I normally tend to wake up with the sun, so to speak, but everybody is different. There are morningness/eveningness questionnaires online to help out with determining the best circadian rhythm for you πŸ™‚
  9. To be honest, it's quite impressive to resist it so many times (and for such a long time too). I'm sure my will wouldn't be as strong. I can't tell you how I did it exactly (apart from living my life the way I do), but I just don't get cravings anymore, so I don't need to resist them. I'd agree with that statement. Four, maybe three years ago, I approached a girl at the university. I immediately lost all interest in her after she told me that she just sat and watched series all spring holiday. I asked her again and got the same response. I think some people just slob around, do nothing all day and then wonder why they are depressed. I think they are depressed because they know in the back of their mind that they're not doing enough to meet their potential. I used to be like that when I gamed, but not anymore. I'm now intrinsically motivated to do my best. In my case, writing relaxes me and it's an activity I like. I think stretching is becoming a relaxation activity for me too. I think people normally connect relaxation with their hobbies and free time. I find it rather interesting that what one person considers relaxation can be work for another. Dusting for an hour is literally more work for me than to have a lesson with my students πŸ˜„ Yeah, I've just worked for an hour an a half to improve my online tables for students. I didn't have it planned, but it's been in my head for a few weeks now. "Work" and "useful activities" are really my default whenever I find a bigger block of free time, like today. I think it's just about setting "correct" baseline activities of life. I'd really feel lazy if my baseline activity was watching series or films, for example.
  10. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    18 Jan - 23 Jan: I had to buy a new shower head because I managed to step on the old one and break it πŸ˜„ There hasn't been that much happening otherwise. I came up with a few pricing improvements for my lessons. I spent time with my girlfriend and picked up a new book from the library.
  11. Ikar

    Kam's Journal

    Welcome back! It's great you're seeing progress already. It's much easier to abstain when the benefits are not vague and murky. I've never really had any gaming friends, perhaps except my brother, so my gaming was never connected with any "real" people. If the friends can talk about other stuff besides gaming, I guess it's OK though. Well done on 16 days!
  12. Yes, that's definitely something to analyze. Maybe gaming didn't present itself as an escape in your head the first time or second time when you ground the project, but perhaps the tenth time. And maybe you resisted it for another five times, until you acted on the thought the sixth time. I only "book" time for lessons with my students (around 25-30 hours a week). The rest of my time is not usually scheduled, I just normally go to bed at 10-11 and get up between 6-8 as necessary. It's good to be bored sometimes, just for the experience. As I wrote, even when I am bored (or overworked, the other extreme), I don't think of gaming as an escape. When I'm overworked, I find an activity to relax like writing or I come up with a plan to tackle the problem. I usually find something to do even when I am bored too. It actually gives me space to focus on lesser priorities like chores around the house that are not as essential (e.g. dusting, putting boxes into the cellar etc.) These reactions are my second nature now and they're generally positive. I don't have to "plan" to relax, which really sounds like an oxymoron πŸ˜„ And it works for me. There are always a few areas I'd like to work on more often, but I don't think I need to start planning for it. In fact, I think pushing myself into planning my days in detail would make me rebel and would cause more damage down the road. I usually do plan some activities if I have entire parts of the day free though. Maybe it will change in the future, but so far I am happy with my approach.
  13. I think I saw it somewhere more times, maybe the first time in GQ-related materials. No book/source in particular.
  14. I hope he at least got a warning from the principal because of that. I don't see how he's a helpful role model/authority, if he's tolerated to yell at students. I think it's fair to slog it out at this high school until you finish it and pass the finals. Once you're 18/19, you're free to call your own shots. Looking back, I'd not get into the university, had I not had a particular reason to study (I wanted to be an army officer, so I had to go to the uni for that). I don't think it's helpful to go to the university for a completely random degree and I think working a few jobs to try out what fits is better (plus you'll get a stable income). I earned money since I was 19 (I also finished a university, but as a side project), but over the years (now I'm 27), I've built up a considerable reserve. It's really a big difference if you start work at 18/19, or after a degree at 22/25. There's data that uni people earn more, but I think it's just a correlation without causation and that the people would do well even without a degree. Plus, you can always do the degree later, if it's something you really want or need to advance your career. Feel free to ask more about my reasoning if you want πŸ˜„
  15. Since I don't have an employer, even my work-hours are my responsibility and decision. I work with students 1-to-1, so I don't have total control over their time, but yes, if I said "My work hours are between 12 and 6.", nobody could stop me from doing that. My reasoning stems from the quote "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety (days without gaming), but connection (having a good life)." You're correct though that this is an "anti-gaming addiction" forum more than anything else. I stuck around over the years mostly because I just like to journal here. Thanks for the encouragement πŸ™‚ Being 3 years without gaming is impressive! It's entirely possible there was something that you started lacking over time during your abstinence, maybe just in the last few weeks or months. Yeah, my point was to show that the identity of being "anti-something" can only take you so far. Knowing what you're against is OK (gaming in your life), but knowing what you're for is better. Because once you know what you're for, it also solves a lot of the things you're against too. If you're for exercise and a good diet, you're automatically against being fat and a bad diet. And you don't need to remind yourself you're against being fat and a bad diet, because it's already embedded into the positive variant. I hope it makes sense πŸ˜„ I'm also against the regulation of gaming in myself. I've tried that many times, before coming to the forum. It didn't work to take one hour here to do the chores and one hour there to do exercise. Now, even when I am bored, I don't think of games. My priorities are completely different than they were and I just don't have the time anyway.
  16. I wouldn't worry about school. The whole concept of school is tedious. You're not supposed to enjoy it, unless there's something wrong with you, or unless you go to a very particular type of school that meets your expectations. Your teacher is in the wrong place. He should teach people who are passionate about math. The problem is, there would be far too many math teachers around for this real demand. He'd either have to be really good (and be self-employed or at a top institution), or he would work a different job. That's the issue with the education system in general; there's far too many teachers teaching far too many students, who are in turn given far too much useless information (at least for the students' benefit). Stacking up straight As is not how life works anyway. I know this, because I've been teaching 1-to-1 English for a few years now. I can say that for most people, only pulling out their wallet and paying the course themselves makes them focus and get involved with English. They might not even be passionate about English, but they know they need it at work or while traveling. That way, I at least know they want to put in some effort. I'll let somebody be the prison guard of 15 teenagers (even if 2-3 of them would at least show some interest in the subject). Being competitive is an interesting trait to have, but don't expect school to help you work with it. It might help you be a good manager or director one day, while the "straight A nerds" will be your rigorous employees. Who knows? πŸ™‚ P.S. I nearly failed high school math and failed a university. I quit my gaming addiction 5 years ago, managed to finish another university without a serious problem and built myself a job I love. Literally nobody remembers (and cares) I nearly failed HS math 10 years ago and failed uni 8 years ago.
  17. In the order that I do them, because my work hours are not regular and I mostly have free time around mid-day and late evening only, plus the weekends are up to me. I just think I could be more efficient/effective with the remainder of my time to get more things done. It's in my hands to change that though, if I feel like I'm getting too little done. Perhaps I misunderstood @Amphibian220 too. To add a little bit of my experience, I've never really used the "day counter" to measure progress, except the first 90 days. Then again, on my 90th day, I was in Iceland for the first (and so far last) time, working a full-time job. I really had no time to think about anything. I think it's OK to have a routine that helps you stay grounded. It's just that I don't think consciously reminding myself of not gaming every day for the rest of my life would work for me. It might work for you though. I don't need that "negative" motivational push from the horrors of my gaming past, because I've already changed just about everything since then. I have a job I love. I have a girlfriend I love. I have friends and some hobbies. My relationships with family are better. I didn't have any of that when I gamed and I identify with my gaming-self very little today, if at all. Yes, it's a good name for a YouTube video. Seeing 5364 days without games is impressive, especially if somebody is deep in the addiction. It might spark curiosity in the person and get them to click on the video. I quit gaming 2099 days ago. Does that mean Cam is 2,555x (5364/2099) more successful than me? No, it's just a random number that looks impressive. Cam is literally somebody who focuses his business around quitting compulsive gaming. It's his mission to help people who are in the same rabbit hole he was in. BUT the nature of his work requires him to keep on working with the topic of gaming addiction. He's not a "normal" person in this regard. Recovered addicts don't regularly remind themselves to not game/drink/watch porn/whatever. They're "over" it, either forever, or until they relapse. You are however correct in the fact that games are a hazard to be managed for the rest of our lives.
  18. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    4 Jan - 17 Jan: I had a call with two of my CELTA course colleagues. Played billiard with one friend group and board games with another. Spent time with my girlfriend too. Stretched or worked out almost every day. Flossed the last two days as well. I'm feeling a bit under pressure due to the uptick of new or returning students. I'm +3 this week and all of them seem to want to cram themselves into my afternoon/evening slots. It's a good problem to have, but still stressful and I want to take care handling it. I already have a plan in my head that I want to implement.
  19. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    Take a look at the areas of your life and decide your goals for each of them for the next year. Put those goals on the pageβ€”this is the first step towards realizing them. Plans for 2025: Family: I don't have any specific plans for my family, besides finishing my grandma's kitchen. I also don't have any plans of starting my own, although I've always said I'm ready after finishing the uni. The main thing for the success of that would be to manage time and money correctly. Career: The last year was successful business-wise. I got the confirmation for the new lecturer course running from February to May. The main goal is to get the website finished, so I want to actively cooperate with the other freelancers. I'm not going to set any arbitrary goals, except keeping my lesson work-hours around 20, and to managing the other admin stuff (preparation, mails, trainings) in another 10 hours. That makes the total of 30 hours worked a week. - Friends, community: As I wrote above, I am part of more friend groups and communities. I don't have any big plans in mind regarding this area of my life. I expect to naturally drift towards more libertarian, financially educated and entrepreneurial/self-employed communities. I find the most inspiring people there. Relaxation, hobbies, creativity: I intend on continuing the hobbies I currently do, including writing, working out or going to the shooting range. I also want to remain curious about things and keep on traveling to break out of the cycle to unwind completely sometimes. Maybe I'll get around to blogging again. I think the line between work and relaxation is blurry for me. Physical health, fitness: Again working out (and stretching) and flossing. I think my diet is OK. I might start tracking some indicators of body fitness, but I don't think I'm quite there yet. Mental health, self-knowledge: Avoid overwork and burnout. Keep hours on roughly 20 lessons + 10 hours of ancillary work a week. Keep on doing things that feel right. Keep on planning/marking down things in my calendar. Habits that define you: family - keep in touch with my family at least once a month girlfriend - make time to talk every day and keep on working on strengthening our relationship via common activities career - work on my education continually, learning something new every week, even in unstructured ways; sources: CELTA, meeting other English lecturers/teachers, reading on their websites, lecturer course coming up in February, working on the business side of my work friends/community habits - meet with my best friend a few times a month, meet with my friend groups a few times a month too relaxation, hobbies, creativity habits - shooting range, writing, traveling, blogging, reading, being curious fitness habits - stretch every day, work out/run twice a week; floss daily mental health habits - keep my hobbies, work and other activities in balance, try new things every now and then a better tomorrow habits - provide great added value back for the money of my students
  20. I share that "16 hours most/worst" experience, eating and sleeping relatively normally. I'm now actually in the process of writing down habits that I want to establish work on this year. I still seem to do a lot of things randomly and haphazardly, but I'm trying to work on it. I don't think I need too many habits either. Ultimately, there's no time to do everything either and I want to have some fun or do something different at times. I also eventually ditched the "day counter", as there was no need to track progress in this way anymore. I think labeling yourself as a "non-gamer" is helpful for the initial recovery phase (avoiding gaming), but it's not really an identity to have forever. I remember to this day I had the idea that I would present my then-students of English (back in 2019) what change came into my life by quitting games. In the end, I think the lesson got canceled, so I didn't have this presentation. I also remember having lessons with a former alcoholic and sharing our stories in early 2020. I can't imagine running lessons on that today in 2025 though πŸ˜„ I even played a TV-computer game with my friends in one room last year in autumn and I've just remembered it for the first time, even though at I was initially reluctant for obvious reasons. If anything, it's good to know how you work and how you can operate. If going strictly down the path you set out for yourself, day in and day out, it's great. I've had a similar experience to @wheatbiscuit 's; I could game all day long, stopping just to eat and sleep, but my sleep schedule has always been remarkably consistent. Good luck exploring new activities and habits to help you not game πŸ™‚ Don't worry, I think you got a bit more coherent from the last time I checked πŸ˜„ I get the message about should need/do need, it's a good point to mention.
  21. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    Evaluation of this year's goals: - Main must-have plans for 2024: Prepare for (Feb-June) and successfully make (July-August) the CELTA certificate course. - finished in July Finish the university in January. In case something goes horribly wrong, then in May. I've got this. - finished in January Move in with my girlfriend in April. - finished in April Set up the new kitchen for my grandma. - I now checked on my phone that the first furniture construction/replacement happened this mid-September. Most of the furniture is now changed/constructed, as well as most of the ancillary stuff like gas, walls etc. Optional nice-to-have plans for 2024: Re-start my financial blog in February. - I haven't really thought of it in the last few months. Optional. Learn how to type with all ten fingers on the keyboard. - Optional. I don't even now know why it's here πŸ™‚ Habits: Stop watching porn (again). - I had a run of three or four weeks without porn in June before CELTA. I entered "survival" mode during CELTA, as I just had no other way to relax and really even no time to relax. Holidays with my girlfriend usually give me time to stop, but it usually doesn't last long after. I just can't help but feel excited about it every now and then. And maybe that's it. I should just make my life more exciting and try new activities more often. I'll keep this in mind moving forward. Start getting up when my alarm rings = Put my alarm across the room. - I put my phone in the living room, so that works. Establish flossing at least once a week. - I usually establish flossing for about a week and then successfully forget about it. Exercise regularly. - I exercise with my girlfriend and do stretching on my own, in gradual intensity since about May. - Plans coming up below.
  22. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    2024 yearly report I'll lump reading, learning and university into one chunk: Facts: I finished the university. I read two business/lecturer books, a book about health and a book about relationships. I finished the CELTA course. I met with my CELTA course-mate online. I read up on Reddit about finance and English teaching. I added and removed newsletters. Feelings: I realized going to courses and reading books is nice, however it's not of much use if one doesn't actually apply the advice. Therefore, I'm quite OK with having read 'only' three books during the year, because I made notes (photos) of the important parts, grasped important concepts from them and overall put the advice into practice. I also became much more intent with newsletters. Whenever I find something interesting, I usually sub for a few weeks, check out the basic concept, and then unsub. My email is now much less cluttered than it used to be. Family: Facts: I think 80-90% of the whole kitchen project is done, mostly done in the second part of the last year. I think that's the only fact I have worth mentioning. Feelings: I guess my mom is slowly succumbing to dementia. It's been happening for a few years, but I think putting a label on it helps me cope with it. I also don't think my father has skill-set and toolbox to make the situation better. I think the kitchen project really stretched my family's ability to work together. There would be problems even if we worked smoothly though. I'll let that be my lesson for the future; to do something for somebody with extreme limitations in how I do it, worrying about getting something wrong (for somebody else) and having to take blame from somebody else when something ultimately does go wrong. Maybe I'll grow closer to my family when I have kids, I don't know. Business/English: Facts: My business/English teaching is trending upwards. I improved the lessons for my students (questionnaires, CELTA), improved my business education (business books), worked on the marketing (new website, pricing) and eliminated nearly all language school courses. I have less than 10% of reduction of profits compared to the last year, but I also worked about 25% less lessons. Feelings: I made some pretty big one-off investments into my business this year: I got the CELTA, new computer/technology and I'm working on the new website with a few other people. I feel good about it though, as it was and is necessary. Getting the CELTA was very demanding, but I managed to do it. Eliminating language school courses was also a big confidence boost and it assured me in that what I'm doing is correct and in demand. Exercise: Facts: My efforts to do exercise and stretch have been going up since May. I found a workout group I went out with a few times. I also started working out with my girlfriend several weeks ago. Feelings: I think I started exercising more due to my occasional headaches and higher blood pressure. I don't know whether they are related, but exercise yields more benefits besides perhaps solving these problems. Relationship with my girlfriend: I've been looking forward to living together and we moved in together in April. I can say it's much better than living with flatmates, though perhaps a bit more distracting at times. I like to spend time by myself (for example when I have a free morning and my girlfriend's at work), so that's sometimes a challenge. What's great is that I think we solved/managed the traveling issue as well. I also started to exercise more, so I think that brought us closer together than ever before. We also worked on the "Seven Principles" book by Gottman and took some techniques and exercises from it. We also try to spend at least a bit of time alone with each other every day and I can say we're quite successful with that. Social: I participated in multiple different events: organized my friends and went to the shooting range with them, played billiard, laser game or table football; all that with different people and friend groups. I meet my best friend a few times a month. Oddly enough, I can also say an important social aspect has been the work on my new website with the web designer (and possibly the same for the coder this year as well). I can also say I have a good time with my girlfriend's family whenever I visit them. Writing/Blogging: I wrote/rewrote a grand total of two articles this year. I still have a few half-written articles I could finish, but I can't be bothered. I can't say I missed it or that I had an urge to write more often than that. Maybe later. Other hobbies/activities I worked on this year: modern history, politics (though mostly as fun or infotainment), personal finance/investing, theater/culture events, shooting range, billiard, table football, my business. Plans for this year coming up below.
  23. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    I'm using the template I used the last time. 10/12/24 - 7/1/25 "L" will stand for the (last) plan/notes for this term. "T" will stand for done this term. I added "Future goals/direction" to better reflect on the things I am trying to do and to add specificity. I will copy it and stick it somewhere where I can see it to remind myself whenever I feel aimless. I will also use different colors: blue for newly added goals/habits, green for completed/successful, orange for ongoing/some progress and red for ones I haven't worked on in that period. Books/Reading articles/Learning: L: I however do think I made good progress in educating myself through chats, meetings and Reddit with other English lecturers. Read up on my sub-reddits about finance again. I also read a short and a very insightful book about language lecturing. Gonna borrow a book about health today. T: Spent some time reading on Reddit again, scanning for any relevant information. I'm almost finished with "Outlive" by Attia. I can say it sparked more interest about health, exercise and fitness in general. Possible direction/goals: (Borrow) and read one book until the next monthly report. Family: L: Managed to get to my grandma's kitchen twice with my friend and my father. Most of the old furniture has been eliminated. Now we just need to install the sink/sink cabinet and one more drawer cabinet. I also visited a Korean grill restaurant with my brother to try something new πŸ™‚ T: I went to the theater with my mom and made some family visits as usual. My father and my brother took turns to work on the grandma's kitchen and it seems like we're really nearing the end. NOT: I don't want to get alienated from my family. Possible direction/goals: Work on getting the new kitchen for my grandma. Continue work on maintaining the relationships with my family. Business/English: L: I have the CELTA certificate at home now! I also improved my financial planning by implementing new tools. I also worked on writing some of my new website and worked with my web-designer. Section with the split of lessons (my own/language school) deleted. Feels good! I've had this goal for the last two/three years and now it's reality. I had nearly 20 hours of lessons last week and just 1 for language schools. I'm happy πŸ˜„ The website improvement project is still ongoing, though not much work was done in the last month. The web-designer just asks me a thing or two every week; I assume he has enough work on other projects too. Truth be told, the ball was sometimes on my side and it took me a few days to supply something. It's OK though, because I know I'm doing something for my future career development. Other than that, it's standard Reddit reading about other teachers' experience, students finishing and starting, admin and preparation. T: Worked on the new website again with the web-designer. Sent out the bi-yearly questionnaires to my students. After sending out the questionnaires, I went for a holiday to Balearic Islands with my girlfriend. After coming back, I felt very excited to work with my students again! I contacted some of my old students and I signed up for a course organized and run by a coach I cooperated with in the past at the university and that paid for by the government. I hope the application goes through πŸ™‚ NOT: I don't want to have a job that I don't enjoy. I don't want to have a job that is not well paid. Possible direction/goals: With my job position and student demand secure, I'm more able and willing to reschedule or even cancel classes in case I want to do something, mainly in the evening and for holidays. I enjoy having this option thoroughly. Keep classes at a stable 20-25 hours a week. Keep asking for reviews or recommendations from students. Look into strategies to become truly self-employed by skipping the agencies in between. - check university offers after CELTA Create a learning plan for myself. - going to CELTA Go through "lecturer academy" + CELTA materials. Networking and business events. Past projects: Questionnaire - June 2023 Fixed logos on my website for better visuals. Updated the pricing section of my website. Variable/tiered pricing (do in July/August). Got minor pay raises from language schools. - summer 2023 Did evaluations/testing of my students, if required. Attended one networking event and one marketing seminar. Introduced "phone call" classes. Update website/business profiles with "phone calls". Lecturer academy Brona. - fall 2023 Sample business contract on my website. - update the web with new ideas before July Google sheets system for students. - update it Questionnaire part 2 - January 2024 Canceled agency courses - March Taxes - April/May 60/55 minutes online transition - April/May Questionnaire part 3 - June CELTA - July 2024 Contacted old students with offers - Aug/Sep 2024 Raised prices - from Sep Website improvement project - from Aug reading business books - Vlach, Gramel Questionnaire part 4 - Jan 25 Exercise/Movement: L: These days, I normally manage 1-2x exercise sessions (or runs) and 1-2x stretching sessions. All that along with some hikes at the weekend and regular walks once or twice a day. My blood pressure is somewhat elevated, but not in need of medication. I have another appointment on the 19th to check up with the doctor. T: Exercise is about the same as it was the last month. The appointment went alright, though I am going for another test later this month. Went to donate blood plasma twice as well, so I assume my health is alright, as they need to do checks. NOT: I don't want to become fat. Possible direction/goals: I enjoy the fact I do not have to be "actively" dealing with this area of my life, as it's technically a part of my job. I just have to be on lookout if that was to change. Keep in shape. --- My hobbies are: personal finance, graphs/projections/statistics, gunnery, GIS/statistics, reading/videos about (modern) history, English, working on my business, blogging/writing, geography. This month, I did these cool activities: going for holiday with my girlfriend, baking christmas sweets with my girlfriend, visiting the theater with my mom, having a board-game night with friends, visiting my friends, working on my relationship with my girlfriend (7 Principles), reading about finance, reading about English. Spent less time at the computer too. --- For thought: Maybe I should just learn to plan better, though just the thought of having some hours of my day scheduled makes me cringe. Oddly enough, I don't get this feeling while planning lessons of my students, normally in bigger blocks. Maybe I should rethink that belief to make me happier. I've had this recurring thought every now and then that I am often somehow prevented from what I want to do in my free time; basically whenever I am not with students or sleeping. --- Goals/resolutions/aspirations for 2024: Main must-have plans for 2024: Prepare for (Feb-June) and successfully make (July-August) the CELTA certificate course. Finish the university in January. In case something goes horribly wrong, then in May. I've got this. Move in with my girlfriend in April. Set up the new kitchen for my grandma. Optional nice-to-have plans for 2024: Re-start my financial blog in February. Learn how to type with all ten fingers on the keyboard. Habits: Stop watching porn (again). Start getting up when my alarm rings = Put my alarm across the room. Establish flossing at least once a week. Exercise regularly. Continue: planning, walking/exercising, writing/journaling, reading, working on good life/work balance. It's a short list, but if I manage all of it, I will be happy. ---
  24. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    17 Dec - 3 Jan: I've had this recurring thought every now and then that I am often somehow prevented from what I want to do in my free time; basically whenever I am not with students or sleeping. I don't think the activities I'm missing are unimportant either. I'd like to read more, exercise more, work on my business more, floss more or journal more. I really miss doing the things, it's not about hitting some arbitrary benchmarks of hours exercised or money made. I can also say that I am better at the mentioned activities than I was a year ago - I'm more effective at work, I started exercising and I make time to read more often. Distractions vary, but I ultimately believe I have the power to manage them in a way that makes sense. I just hate being distracted and not being able to focus. I feel like my day just wasted away if I don't have a regular dose of these sessions. Maybe I should just learn to plan better, though just the thought of having some hours of my day scheduled makes me cringe. Oddly enough, I don't get this feeling while planning lessons of my students, normally in bigger blocks. Maybe I should rethink that belief to make me happier. As for the activities over the last two weeks: I did some reading, meeting with friends, went to cardiology, questionnaire, week-long trip to Mallorca with my girlfriend, got my financial spreadsheets updated, met my family, watched films and series with my girlfriend.
  25. Ikar

    Ikar's Diary

    Yes, I'm about to finish it and after I'm done, I'll find out more, especially about exercising. I am still nowhere near the recommended amount/quality, but I'm trying to get there.
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