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It’s March. How’s Your NYE Resolution?

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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.

Andrea Raymer Andrea is 25 and a freelance graphic designer and art director. She lives in New York City. What's your 2017 resolution? This year I am going to start daily vlogging. Eek. How do you plan to track this? I am going to start an actual YouTube channel and attempt to post a video every day of my not-so-exciting life. Why did you pick this resolution? One of my very close friends moved to Texas at the beginning of the summer and she and I have done a lot of weird things to keep in touch, like a weekly Skype book club. We used to Snapchat back and forth constantly throughout the day. It started to not be long enough so I would film myself "vlogging" instead and text her the video. In December, when the YouTube world was doing Vlogmas, I joked about actually starting a channel for her to watch. I am also a freelancer and have been trying to come up with ways to keep myself "working" when I am not booked on a job. This seems like a good way to force myself to do something creative every day. I hope that constantly watching myself will help me feel more comfortable in my own skin. Have you set resolutions in the past? I usually do the normal "eat better, exercise more" resolutions but I never make it past my birthday on the 23rd. I always cheat because it is my own personal holiday and then I never get back to it. Last year, I tried to pray the rosary every day because my grandfather got my entire family (all 35 of us) rosaries made from flowers from my grandmother's funeral, but I gave up in March when I went out of town and forgot to bring the rosary with me. How do you think this is going to go? I tend to be better at doing things when other people are holding me accountable, so it might not be too bad. I never used to do my homework in school because I was only hurting myself. But if someone else was involved, I would overachieve.
Her January 1st answer to: “What’s your 2017 resolution?”

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.

Lucille Wenegieme Lucille is 26 and a digital engagement strategist. She lives in Denver, CO. What's your 2017 resolution? To exercise regularly and make a habit of it, finally. How do you plan to track this? My goal is three times a week. That way I have some flexibility and it's doable. Why did you pick this resolution? I was active in sports through high school and college, but never considered myself "sporty." I worked retail for awhile and got my steps in on the sales floor, but since starting a desk job I haven't been nearly as consistent as I'd like. I'm super-intimidated by fitspo and CrossFit, and I've never seen myself as a fitness person, but exercise does give me more energy and make me feel more accomplished, so let's go 2017! Have you set resolutions in the past? Yes. And then I forget about them by springtime. My last fitness push was at the end of last summer. I started to feel sluggish and I tried a spin class near my apartment. One 45-minute class, two days of crotch pain. How do you think this is going to go? I think it'll be really hard to keep it going, especially on weeks that I'm busy and in the winter months when it's too cold to go for a run outside. But I think when I do it and get it down, I'll love myself for it.
Her January 1st answer to: “What’s your 2017 resolution?”

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.

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. What's your 2017 resolution? 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). How do you plan to track this? I want to get ready for bed 30 minutes before I usually would, set my alarm for the next day, cut all social media interaction and cellphone usage, and read for 30 minutes. Since I want to make sure I read two books per month, I’m also mentally preparing for having to read on the crowded L train during my commute, or for an hour or two on Sundays. Why did you pick this resolution? I’ve always enjoyed reading, but it’s become increasingly difficult for me to complete a book. When I was in school I was constantly reading interesting psych or history books. Ever since I graduated, I haven’t been dedicating enough time to it (thank you, Netflix). Most books I start become boring or hard to follow. I’ve also been trying to minimize the hours I spend on my phone at night and think this will help. Have you set resolutions in the past? I have. Some I completed successfully, others I forgot within a week. Once I quit drinking for a whole year. And, although it wasn’t exactly a New Year's resolution -- more of a crazy-night-out-turned-disastrous resolution -- it’s something I’m very proud of. But then again, I also decided I would lose 23 pounds this year and instead I gained four. You win some, you lose some. How do you think this is going to go? I have high hopes about this. Consistency is key, and hopefully reading every night will start to feel more like a habit after the first few weeks. If I’m being completely honest, the added pressure of sharing my resolution with the MR community will probably help, too. I want to be realistic and admit that I won’t read for 30 minutes after going out on a Friday night, so I’m officially declaring Fridays my day off.
Her January 1st answer to: “What’s your 2017 resolution?”

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.

Jasmine Afia Jasmine is 25, a trainee lawyer and style blogger. She lives in London. What's your 2017 resolution? To complete a novel by the end of the year. How do you plan to track this? I originally told myself I'd get up early every morning before work and write for hour, but remembered my adoration for the snooze button and got real. My plan now is to spend about an hour every Saturday afternoon and/or Sunday evening in front of my laptop and try to write something -- anything -- until I have enough words on screen to be able to officially call what I've drafted a "novel." Google tells me this is around 70,000. *cries in Spanish* Why did you pick this resolution? As cheesy as this sounds, I've always known I wanted to write. I was the kid who would scribble sentences in crayon on the walls of my parents' home (although is "that kid" really a thing? Was it just me?) and then at secondary school, would genuinely look forward to talking about sentences for an hour in class. I spent a very chilled-out three years studying English language and literature at university and used up most of my student loan on Oxford classics (instead of cheap alcohol like everyone else in their early twenties). After obsessing over Zadie Smith for the millionth time, I thought to myself, I read so many of these things so why not write my own? I'm hoping I can stop talking about it and just do it -- no matter how crappy or awesome it may turn out. Have you set resolutions in the past? I have, but it usually goes one of two ways. I'll either commit to something and then do the total opposite (last January I swore I'd take up fewer side projects and focus on my day job and my blog, but somehow ended up flirting with DJing/Italian lessons/graphic design/coding by December) or I'll make a resolution and then totally forget about it by mid-February. So this should be interesting. How do you think this is going to go? Well, the good news is that I won't be starting from scratch. The novel that I want to write currently consists of one paragraph that I wrote last June when I was off work after ripping my Achilles tendon (long story). Anyway, that paragraph has been gathering digital dust on my MacBook ever since, so I feel like I need a gentle kick up the behind to finish what I started. Tough love and all that.
Her January 1st answer to: “What’s your 2017 resolution?”

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.

Tyler Coffin Tyler is 23 and works at Ralph Lauren. She's a recent Texas transplant living in New York City. What's your 2017 resolution? To save more money! How do you plan to track it? I have mini goals for every month. January: Evaluate my current financial situation. Write up a budget and use it, for god’s sake. Categorize all expenditures and sources of income and start tracking everything. February: After I begin this new job, open a new bank account and get my first credit card to start building credit. March: Get my taxes in order for 2016. Have everything ready to be sent by March 31! April: Time for spring cleaning. Cut unnecessary expenses from my life. I don’t need to spend so much in the clothing category every month! May: Start contributing to my retirement fund. Get my 401k in order at work and start contributing monthly! June: Re-evaluate everything at the halfway point. Are my savings growing? Have I been able to pay bills on time? How are student loan payments going? Get my sh*t together. July: Start a rainy day fund. I should eventually have one full year’s worth of expenses covered. August: Set some attainable long-term goals for future savings. New apartment by next year? Save. House by 2022? Save. Sailboat by the time I'm 40? YOU GOTTA SAVE, BITCH. September: Better start saving for Christmas! If I'm smart, I’ll even start shopping the sales for Christmas presents now. October: Save money on food by planning balanced meals and grocery shopping one to two times per week. I can do it. Seriously. November: (If I’ve finished buying Christmas gifts) start a vacation fund. It never hurts to actually have a separate amount saved up for travel! Also: start thinking about investment planning, and stick that on the 2018 budget. December: Evaluate the situation again. Edit the 2018 budget to allow for those long-term goals. Why did you pick this resolution? I've never been good with money. What I'm great at is setting abstract boundaries for myself and then just totally ignoring them. I wanted to set 12 goals so that I constantly have something to be working on in 2017, rather than just the general idea that I need to be saving money for retirement. This also seemed to be the most trackable goal that would benefit me in the future. Sure, I could (and should) exercise more, but I need to get my finances in order... hopefully before 2018. Have you set resolutions in the past? I’ve set a few resolutions before, but never anything this trackable. How do you think this will go? I think I’ve got a fair chance of doing really well if I can just keep myself on track! Regardless of whether or not I "succeed,” I’ll be in a better place financially by the end of 2017 for just trying.
Her January 1st answer to: “What’s your 2017 resolution?”

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.

Haley Nahman

Haley Nahman

Haley Nahman is the Features Director at Man Repeller.

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