I’m stuck in a rut. That’s what this week showed me. I want to do different things, but I just end up doing the same things instead. I fall easily into habits and routines. I procrastinate too often, or rather I too readily give in to weaker impulses. Past me is a real son-of-a-bitch.
A peony in our back yard just beginning to bloom.
All of that showed up in a variety of ways this week. I kept putting off my bike rides. I intend to ride on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. I used to do Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays, but Tuesdays end with a late meeting at work, so I switched to Mondays. Except Monday’s generally suck too, so I put those off. Then if it’s nice out at the end of the day I’d rather go outside for a walk. You see where this is going. So this week I did ride my bike on Tuesday, then put off riding again until Saturday, which meant I had to squeeze in a ride on Sunday as well. I refer to this as the cascade.
When I say I just end up doing the same things instead of new things, what that usually means is I spend much of my free time either playing video games, watching videos or reading about video games, or thinking about what I’m going to do the next time I get a chance to play video games. Which—fine—they’re my hobby and a big part of my life. I don’t have qualms with that per se, but I don’t like how it impacts other parts of my life. Things like messing around with AT proto, playing boardgames (yes, more games, but different) or even adding features to this site or other coding side projects I’d like to get into.
I did attempt to play Dragon’s of Etchinstone this weekend, but my brain was a little foggy—I think because of my allergies or allergy meds— and I couldn’t keep the rules right in my head. But that wasn’t until Sunday morning, which meant I’d put off playing them all week.
I think I’m going to have to dedicate days of the week to certain things, or at the very least not play video games on certain days. I’m resistive to things like that generally, but I also see the appeal. And I do it for some things in my life already. It feels weird to schedule fun.
Things I enjoyed this week
- A new Boards of Canada album came out this week. Their first in 13 years. It’s a bit darker than their previous work, but I’m getting into it more with each listen.
- Every once in a while I’m reminded that the Nancy comic strip is still ongoing.
- 868-BACK, a modern update to the classic 868-Hack developed by Michael Brough was released this week. Brough makes some of the most interesting roguelikes around, and I’m so happy that 868-Hack, is, er, back, bigger and better.