We’re a whole 10 hours into March, which means those who vowed to resolve some shit this year are officially two months into their 2017 journeys. As you’ll recall, five such women agreed back in December to let us stalk their pursuits on Man Repeller. As far as bravery goes, I think this falls somewhere between eating the last bite of a shared meal and posting a selfie with the Snapchat pretty filter and not mentioning it. In other words, we’re off the bravery charts.
In case you’re new to this particular franchise, head on back to January to meet Andrea, Lucille, Isabel, Jasmine and Tyler, catch up on their February progress and then meet me back here…Okay. Hi! Let’s see how month numero dos went for Andrea’s vlogging, Lucille’s workout schedule, Isabel’s reading ritual, Jasmine’s novel and Tyler’s saving.
Andrea Raymer
Andrea is 25 and a freelance graphic designer and art director. She lives in New York City. Visit her YouTube channel here.
This year I am going to start daily vlogging. Eek.
Hi! February is over. How did your second month go overall?
Bad.
Did you stick with your resolution? Where did you fail versus succeed?
I technically stuck with it but I was terrible at keeping up. I think I set too high of a bar for myself in January and now I am definitely falling short. I was starting to get lazy towards the end of January and that rolled over into February which then brought the added pressure of fashion week. I had a lot of freelance work come up during fashion week and my videos were getting more complex because of the content I was making. I went a whole week without editing a video and then decided to skip some of the more boring days that I had filmed because I was so behind.
How are you feeling about it? What have you learned?
I’m pretty scared and overwhelmed. This resolution worked very well with unemployment, but now that I have all these jobs popping up (some as a result of this very project: like this and this!) I am not sure how to balance work-work with personal-work.
I am going to set myself a new schedule. I will still film every day, but now I will upload on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays with special videos going up in between.
Has it been harder to stick with it this month or easier? Does keeping it for 10 more months sound exciting or daunting?
Much, much harder. Nine more months sounds very daunting, especially with the idea that I could be working full-time. I have a lot of ideas for projects that I want to do throughout the year, which I am really excited about, though!
Lucille Wenegieme
Lucille is 26 and a digital engagement strategist. She lives in Denver, CO.
To exercise regularly and make a habit of it, finally. My goal is three times a week. That way I have some flexibility and it’s doable.
Hi! February is over. How did your second month go overall?
February was difficult, partially because the New Year’s resolution high has solidly worn off, but also because I’ve been battling near-constant pain from my Trump-proof IUD insertion at the end of January. When I don’t time my painkillers well, it’s hard to think straight, let alone hop on a machine and get my sweat on. I tried pilates for the first time after seeing Hannah Bronfman of @HBFit and Claire Marshall of @heyclaire rave about it on Instagram. I really enjoyed it! The moves are targeted and precise but not crazy exhausting. 10/10 would recommend. Now all I have to do is figure out how to pay for more sessions…
Did you stick with your resolution? Where did you fail versus succeed?
I succeeded in working out three times a week for three out of the four weeks this month. On the week I didn’t hit three workouts, I still had two. Does 75% count as passing? I’m proud that once I get going, I’m able to hit my goals as far as intensity and endurance, probably because I didn’t set crazy fitspo goals.
How are you feeling about it? What have you learned?
I haven’t experienced the mental switch people talk about — where you start to love exercise and love every inch of your body for all it does for you and blah blah blah. Not there yet. Might not be for a while. Might not ever be? But what’s more mature than doing something you don’t love because it’s good for you?
Has it been harder to stick with it this month or easier? Does keeping it for 10 more months sound exciting or daunting?
It’s definitely been harder this month, especially because I haven’t seen the changes in my body that I’m used to seeing when I’m good about exercise. My pants still don’t fit right and I’m resisting the urge to try on summer shorts that I know won’t fit. I didn’t make this resolution to be thinner, but I was hoping it’d be a side effect.
Keeping this up for the rest of the year is actually pretty exciting. My main goal for this resolution is to make exercise a part of my life like showering and cruising through ASOS’s sale section, so I’m excited to be a healthier me this time next year!
Isabel Sanoja
Isabel is 22 and works in digital media. She was raised in the Dominican Republic and has been living in New York City for the past four years.
My resolution is to dedicate 30 minutes every night to a book, whichever one I’m reading at the moment, in the hope that I’ll read two books a month (and improve my crappy sleeping habits along the way).
Hi! February is over. How did your second month go overall?
Hey! It went well, but not as well as I was expecting. I struggled to find a balance between having/wanting a social nightlife and dedicating time to read every night.
Did you stick with your resolution? Where did you fail versus succeed?
Yes, kind of. I read 24 out of the 28 days and I started reading a book – a 1,470-pages book – that I had been putting off for years. However, in January, it was easier to focus on my resolution and dedicate the time to read every night. In February, my parents visited for a weekend, I traveled for a week and started a new job. It seemed like every other night there was something that made it hard for me to stick with my resolution.
How are you feeling about it? What have you learned?
To be honest, I was feeling a little uninspired for most of February, but I’m excited for March. I’ve learned that carrying a dictionary comes in handy when reading a complicated book, and that when it comes to book recommendations, my parents know best. Reading has taken over my nighttime routine, so I guess my resolution is working!
Has it been harder to stick with it this month or easier? Does keeping it for 10 more months sound exciting or daunting?
It was wayyyyyy harder this month. The most exciting aspect of this journey so far (I know it’s only been two months) has been reading books that I used to believe were too long or difficult to read. I’m looking forward to the next nine months!
Jasmine Afia
Jasmine is 25, a trainee lawyer and style blogger. She lives in London.
To complete a novel by the end of the year.
Hi! February is over. How did your second month go overall?
A mixed bag, really. It didn’t go as well as January but there’s still time to redeem myself!
Did you stick with your resolutions? Where did you fail versus succeed?
Surprisingly, I did! I initially stuck to writing consistently every day (whether I managed to get down 350 words or only 30) but then towards the end of the month I really fell off. My hours at work became ridiculously long and I kept having to move between London and Brussels at a moment’s notice, so it was harder to open up my laptop and write something even vaguely cohesive when I was always getting home from the office at stupid o’clock.
How are you feeling about it? What have you learned?
I’m still feeling positive about it even though it’s been a tough month. I’ve learned that writing requires a lot of patience (something it seems I don’t have so much of). I find myself thinking of an idea for a chapter towards the end of the book but then I remember that I’ve got to finish the section I’m on and wait until I’m further along to develop and explore that idea properly. But I’ve also started to enjoy re-reading some of my favorite classic novels at night when I’m stuck on what to write, much like Isabel’s resolution. I didn’t anticipate that.
Has it been harder to stick with it this month or easier?
A lot harder, for sure. This is typically the time of year when I fail at or “forget” the resolution I’ve set for myself, so it’s been tough trying to push through my natural tendency to procrastinate. In this case, procrastination equals Googling “how to write a book” for the fifth day in a row and calling it productive work.
Does keeping it for 10 more months sound exciting or daunting?
Even though this month wasn’t my best, I’m excited by the thought of keeping at it for another 10 months. As long as I stay consistent, I’m looking forward to getting to the end of the year and wondering how so many words have somehow managed to materialize into one single document on my computer screen. And I’ll know that it was partly because the Man Repeller team and community kept me motivated and accountable. That’s going to be a good feeling.
Tyler Coffin
Tyler is 23 and works at Ralph Lauren. She’s a recent Texas transplant living in New York City.
To save more money! And in February my goal is to save money by not going out to eat during the week.
Hi! February is over. How did your second month go overall?
How did this month go? My life is a sham and I am a joke, that’s how this month went. Between spending an obscene amount of time at work and unexpected family visits, my mind was anywhere but keeping my money-saving resolution.
Did you stick with your resolution? Where did you fail versus succeed?
Lol. Not really. I ended up having to buy dinner out fairly frequently this month, and Internet outages in the city meant the data portion of my phone bill skyrocketed. Didn’t help that I love coffee as much as I do. I totally failed at keeping meals out a weekend-only thing.
How are you feeling about it? What have you learned? (Did it have the expected results so far?)
I’m feeling like my life is a joke and I am a shell of a human. This month’s only success — that I spent almost no money on the weekends — is a double-edged sword: I spent the majority of February watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bones at odd hours of the day with no one but the cats I was cat-sitting and my eternal solitude. I’m learning that I have a tendency to spend money when I’m sad and to order Seamless at the first sign of trouble. In short…I AM TROUBLE.
Has it been harder to stick with it this month or easier? Does keeping it for 10 more months sound exciting or daunting?
Ten more months sounds…horrific. It feels a little hopeless, but it also makes me determined to do better. Next month’s goal is easy enough: get my taxes done on time. With any luck, I’ll be able to finish this early on in the month and focus more on fine-tuning my budget and avoiding unnecessary expenses. Here’s to hoping I don’t blow right through March without thinking about them and turning them in with 49 seconds to spare. It’d be like high school all over again.
Collage by Maria Jia Ling Pitt; photo by Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images.
