Could This Be a Normal Week?

This is Day 5 without soda. I gave it up Thursday, and I've been successful since then. I still miss it, but I've managed to do without it. I've got a jug of water right next to me, and that will have to sustain me at work. The goal is to go one month without soda before I allow myself to have one a week or so, as a treat.

Other than that, I'm not making any drastic changes to my diet. I am going to try to cook and freeze more, so I can spend less money eating out, but I consider that more of an organizational effort, rather than a healthy one.

This is the first "normal" week I've had in a while. I'm not sick, I don't have the duty pager from work, I don't have any car problems or maintenance requests, and I don't have any extraordinary responsibilities this weekend. I'm hoping to use this week to get into a rhythm and work out a schedule and a plan for a few things.

Tonight, I'm going to finish The Hacker's Diet and considering following its instructions.

2 Challenges

Two ideas occurred to me today.

The first one is putting a halt to buying video games. I've become far too susceptible to the hype surrounding games I think I'll enjoy. When these games come out, it's difficult for me to not buy them. I have dozens of games to play, though. I don't need the latest one. In fact, there are many incentives to waiting to buy a game. They inevitably go down in price (except for the rare gem like Rez). Also, buying a new game means either neglecting one I'm playing now or not starting the one I just bought. The cycle begins anew when I buy the next game before I've even started playing the last one I bought. Left unchecked, I'll just continue to accumulate unplayed games, effectively throwing my money into a deep, dark hole.

This is my pledge: I will not buy any more video games for the rest of the year, for any system. There is only one exception: The Wrath of the Lich King, the next World of Warcraft expansion. That's an add-on to a game I already play, so I'm allowing myself that one expenditure. I will maintain subscriptions for World of Warcraft and Warhammer: Age of Reckoning. I will buy no more games for any console or the PC. No digital downloads, no used games, no casual games. I will play what I have. There are simply too many games to ignore. Even after getting rid of all of my first person shooters, the list is embarrassing.

Completable Games 

(having a distinct ending or completion point)

1. Mass Effect
   
2. Oblivion
   
3. Ninja Gaiden
   
4. Jade Empire
   
5. Final Fantasy XII
   
6. Rogue Galaxy
   
7. Devil May Cray 4
   
8. Metal Gear Solid 2
   
9. Final Fantasy Tactics A2
   
10. Mario Galaxy
11. Marvel Ultimate Alliance
12. Black and White II
13. Assassin's Creed
14. Braid
15. Castle Crashers
16. Fallout 2

Repeatable Games

(having no ending, can be played indefinitely)

1. Soul Calibur IV
2. Burnout Paradise
3. Rez
4. N+
5. Puzzle Fighter
6. Bomberman
7. Carcassonne
8. Catan
9. King of Fighters 11
10. Rock Band 2
11. Starcraft
12. Diablo 2

(These lists are incomplete.  They contain only what I can think of off the top of my head in 5 minutes.)

My second idea is related.  On weekdays, 10 pm is fun time.  Until 10, I do chores, programming, writing, TBA work, organizing, and anything else that is not pure recreation.  The only exception is TV or anime while eating.  Once 10 pm comes around, work ends, and I enjoy myself.  Then, I'll read comics, play video games, read books, assemble models, or anything else.  N0 work, though.

I'm doing this to encourage myself to be more productive.  There are too many things that I can easily handle if I simply take the time to do them.  Most of them take 15 minutes or less, but I too often let myself get distracted by recreational activities.  I have to get that under control.  The 10pm deadline is also a reward of sorts.  It gives me something to look forward to as I work. I'll consider bringing the time up to 9, if I can get far enough ahead of my work.