![Happy New Year 2023](/assets/images/blog/2023/01/01/00-cover.jpg)

Happy New Year everybody! 

I am excited about 2023! If you read my previous post you'll know I didn't have a great 2022 so I decided to make some
big changes to my life this year. The biggest change is obviously cutting out Alcohol. I have set myself a Big Hairy 
Audacious Goal (BHAG) to go a full year without drinking Alcohol! I've never gone more than a month without in my entire 
adult life so this is going to be challenging!  

There are a number of reasons why I want to eliminate Alcohol from my life, health of course but mainly I just want a 
better quality of life day to day. I want to be productive in 2023 so that it doesn't feel like a complete waste like 
2022 did.

Jordan Peterson has his 12 rules for life. Well I have a few of my own now!

* Meditate EVERY day.
* Read EVERY day.
* Exercise EVERY day.
* Do NOT procrastinate!
* Be POSITIVE by default.
* Replace Alcohol with FUN.
* Get QUALITY sleep.

Now I know what you're thinking. This sounds like every single other person on earth in early January! I agree but these 
are all things I've been doing in bits and bats over the last year anyway. I just haven't had any consistency. I have
failed hard at self-discipline. 

As Joe Rogan likes to say; this year I will conquer my inner bitch!

I know we're only 4 days into January right now but I have to say I feel great and I'm smashing my new rules on the daily. 

This is how I intend to incorporate my rules into my daily routine.

# Meditation

The first thing I do every morning now is sit and meditate. I like to clear my mind and focus on my breathing. I have 
various different breath-work techniques that I like to use that really get the oxygen into my system and give me a nice
sense of calm for the day ahead. 

# Reading / Light Exercise 

Once I finish my morning meditation session I like to head downstairs to my treadmill and read a book for an hour whilst 
walking at a nice brisk pace. I continue to focus on my breathing whilst I do so. I am thinking I will continue to read 
self-help / computing / business books in the morning to help focus my mind for the office. 

When I finish my hour on the treadmill it's time for my breakfast shake and shower. I like to make a Chia Seed and Cacao
Powder milkshake for breakfast. I might make a post about this actually it's quite cool and shockingly good for you!

Edit: I made a [post](https://www.liam-reilly.info/blog/post/chia-seed-breakfast-milkshake/) about my Chia Seed 
Breakfast Chocolate Milkshake!

# Procrastination 

Once I've had breakfast I take a shower and head into the office. I will now tackle all the worst jobs first and get them 
out of the way! Things like replying to emails and general business admin. With this out of the way I am then free to 
focus on the interesting things that I want to be working on without that doom in the back of my head that used to be there
because I'd put things off.

# Positivity 

It's fair to say I do have a very cynical outlook and this can be dangerous and harmful to my overall positivity.  

To combat this I am just point-blank refusing to engage with social media and mainstream media in general. I will be 
conscious of my thoughts and words during conversations and I will continually evaluate and make sure I am in a positive 
mindset by default rather than slipping towards negativity.

During the day whilst I work I like to listen to comedy podcasts and interesting self-help/business podcasts. In the 
evenings I like to watch stand-up comedy and movies. 

I never consume mainstream media or "news"! 

# Replacing Alcohol with FUN

Over the last few years since the lockdowns I've felt like my life kinda stopped. Everyday felt the same like I was 
living Groundhog day. I drank far too much and stopped doing all the things I used to enjoy.

So this year I am making sure to get back to enjoying life. Jan 2nd I went to the IMAX to watch Avatar 2. (Which is 
awesome btw). I'm hoping to get more UFC tickets for March. I have Tom Segura tickets booked already for May. I am going
to do as much as I can this year.

But it doesn't have to be all going out-out things. I've recently really got back into gaming. I'm currently something 
like 76 hours deep into Cyberpunk 2077 and 50 hours deep into Vampire Survivors! I bought both of these games just before
Christmas! 

I'm definitely going to fill my evenings/weekends with more gaming and work-outs in my home gym this year instead of sitting
drinking beer for the sake of it whilst watching TV.

# Quality Sleep

Laptops and Phones are now banned from my bedroom in the evenings. From now on I am going to read a book in bed. A 
physical book, and most often this will be a fictional novel. YES I will read the rest of The Lord of the Rings books 
this year! 

I will read a book in bed until I am ready to sleep. 

--- 

# How about you? 

What changes have you made to your life to ensure 2023 and beyond is great? 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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