Checking in again halfway through February. I am beyond impressed at my achievement of such ambitious goals so far. I want to break each one down and discuss my observations.

Goal 1: Increase Job Search – This goal has far and away become my best accomplishment. Previously I felt upset to the point of inability to continue when I would attempt to search for jobs on my own. I am still experiencing significant stress, but by working alongside my wife and documenting the process using a focus plan I have clearly demonstrated a vast improvement from before. In January, I was averaging 8 applications sent per week, and struggling to reach 8 sometimes. Now, I am locating and sending out over 20 applications per week, what an increase! I am proud of myself for improving in this regard.

Goal 2: Laundry 3x per week: Having the laundry system up and running has been a significant contributor to this success so far. Even so, swapping laundry throughout the day between the washer and dryer feels more accessible than before, and I am glad that I have put the time in to discover how to do it in a way that suites me.

Goal 3: Increase Exercise – I have been walking after I finish job searching, both as a de-stressor and to improve my cognition. Walking 2 miles each time feels great, and I am glad to be stretching my legs again. I also use the time spent walking to call my mother, which feels less great. I do not enjoy these conversations very much, but I know she values the contact and I hope that I can use the increased communication to continue demonstrating the kind of relationship I would like to have.

Goal 4: Increase Coding – Until recently, I did not have the mental energy for coding. However in the last two days I have finally fired up an IDE and begun coding in Java again. Coding in Java feels very familiar and, because my new project is DnD related, also very engaging. I am proud that I have found a way to engage with my field that does not feel like too much work, and I look forward to spending more time coding.

Overall, I am immensely proud of the job I have done so far. Not only have my activity levels seen massive improvement, but I have spent most of the first half of the month feeling good and even great! I think the improved mood comes from self esteem, as I finally begin to tackle big tasks that have sat in the back of my mind for a long time. I am proud of myself for taking the time to build to this point, and glad that I can appreciate this progress, and how it shows my growth.