MCB 2025 New Years Resolution Thread

[DocsMachine]

Half way check in

Well, my resolutions were simple:

One, to actually follow said to-do list a little closer and maybe a little further into the year; and two, to finally get around to at least a couple of those personal just-for-fun projects I've had in the back of my brain for so long.

-And at this point... 50%. Which is probably better than can be expected.

I've been trying to kick a few things off the "to-do" list, a lot of which include shop upgrades. My shop is currently so full of machines, that storage and organization have become a critical issue. Since the beginning of the year, I've added a pegboard and collet rack to the rolling tool cart for the CNC turning center, a similar collet rack and tool block storage for the little speed lathe, done some work to organize my storage of carbide inserts, made several badly-needed toolholders for the turret lathes, made a new pushbutton dongle for the digital indexer, made a swaging tool to make a new product- or at least make an old product easier- modded the shop air system, and I'm currently making a cart for the tooling for the big turret lathe.

That's in addition to customer and manufacturing work. I have no less than a full dozen batches of blanks and partially-finished pieces I'm chewing through in the shop.

On the ''just for fun' side, I did decide to start working on my old Olds, a job I've been wanting to do for a very long time now. (Swapping the broken bench seat for buckets- I've had the seats since '17, the console and shifter since '18, the front carpets since '15, and the rusty floorpan has been needing replacement since I got the car on the road in '11.)

BUT... that may have been a stupid move, since, as always, I have zero spare time for it (story of the past six to eight years) and once I dug into it, it of course needs more work than expected. I'll be lucky to have it done just in time to put it away for the winter.

If I can at least accomplish that, and get maybe half the to-do list done, and get all these parts finished on time, I'll call that a success.

Even better if I can do it without too extensive a mental breakdown.

Doc.

[vijil]

Mine was to nail down a proper morning routine for the first time in my 40+ years. DONE, and managed to maintain since January. With that has come fitness, way better mental state etc.

Best thing I ever did.

I used to shower sometimes morning, sometimes night. I used to get up sometime between 6 and 7 with zero consistency. I used to eat breakfast, maybe sometimes. I never used to work out, ever. I'd arrive at work at a completely random time.

Now I do some prayer, I work out, I shower, I make coffee for wife, I evolve to the next saiyan level every morning and then kamehameha the day. Well... at least a shoryuken. But it's consistent.


The key to my workouts was to set up two plans. I have one called "sore" which is lower effort, and I do it when I'm sore (from the previous day's working normally...) or sick or whatever. It's easier. Mostly stretchy stuff and just moving around. It stops me getting out of the habit just because I have an excuse for a few days. I think that was the #1 brainwave this time around, and it's worked.

[Frmrspec]

2025 resolutions/goals

Bike to work at least 60% of the year
organize garage
complete half back yard renovation
finish a lot of my WIP projects
pay off 2 credit cards
get back down to size 38-40 waist

well biking to work/losing weight has been nonexistent… my daughter was born in Jan and between her and her 2yr old brother I’m just trying to survive.. i did build storage in the house and in the garage so actively improving all that

[Jordan]

Still haven't started running but I'm eating better and feeling healthier so that's gotta count.

I've sold a few things too. Still need to sell a few more things, and play paintball (don't know if playing will happen much but I'm working on it).

I want to hit Slim's one of these days so I'll need a passport and a SC gun (I don't borrow equipment if I can help it) - future goals.

[Deus Machina]

Ehhh...
Still haven't started on my video game idea, but I have queued up a lot of tutorial videos and learned a little more modelling. So minor progress.
Still haven't cut my nicotine off. But I have gone down, and am mixing the lowest I can buy at the local shops with zero.
Haven't gotten my teeth fixed, but I have gotten a quote from my dentist and have saved half of what I need to get it all done at once.

So not on schedule, but not completely failed yet.

[Jaan]

Mine every year is to clear my project list. I *always* want to do more and by the end of the year I end up with a very long list of projects I want to do.

I know it's just a mental thing, but it really helps. There will be projects I've had on the back burner for years sometimes and when I get rid of the pressure, and the guilt, I'm more likely to actually finish them.

[Riot]

i'm going to be a little more specific in my resolutions.

paintball:
- less markers. I'm down to 19 markers going into 2025. I hope to get that number closer to 10. I'd accept 12...ish.
down to 16.

As if this week, I’m down to 13. So, I’m actually doing it! Plus, I rid myself of a box of paintball stuff that’s been plaguing my existence for years.

- make it to a field i've never played at.
not the season yet.

This has still been unsuccessful. However, in three days, this will be a success when I make it to Rhode Island!

- rid myself of all extra, unnecessary parts, accessories, and misc stuff either by selling, donating or trashing. I will give myself until slim's spring classic. It is here i will sell my wares.
slim’s hasn’t happened yet, but i have everything boxed and ready to go.
Oh, I mentioned this above, however this was also successful.

- the opposite of the previous one. Have a full, decent set up. Stop using trashy, worn, mismatched gear and playing uncomfortably.
also, not yet… will have a better idea of what i need once i rid myself of the excess!
i'm going to be a little more vague in my resolutions.
This hasn’t happened yet, entirely, but I’ve made steps towards it… we’ll call this: in progress.

personal:
- be active.
- diet better.
- make money.
- create.

, Be active: Yes. I go to a gym regularly and am strong than I’ve ever been. I’ve also been crushing hiking goals.

Diet: Yes, I use premade meals, mostly. It’s expensive, but important to invest in your own health.

Money: Ehh, I made a significant hourly jump, but I’m traveling for work now (2.5 hour each way, daily), so the opportunity to take the overtime is unrealistic. I paid off some things, so while my account is lower, I am actively saving— not that I’ve no time to spend. Ha. That all said, I’m in this one step backwards era, but for the purpose of career advancement, so it’s still a win.

And Create: This one has taken the biggest hit with my new schedule. I simply don’t have time to give attention to the things I’d like to give attention to. It’s not zero, but this was going way better six months ago.

That's it. Now, mcb, let's keep each other motivated.

Overall, I’m way ahead of pretty much any previous years. I’ve managed to tackle a lot of these goals and doing this 3/4 check in really just helped me realize how well I am doing. Hope the rest of ya’ll have at least tried… 2026 is coming up quick.

[cougar20th]

I like this review idea.

My main one is get into better shape.
Didn't happen. Mid winter I screwed up my back. That stopped almost everything I was doing for awhile. So haven't really made any headway. Probably slide some. Guess what is going to be a resolution for 2026.


Paintball wise. My resolution is to break any worthwhile resolution I would make.
Pretty much did perfect here. Although I did go to NR in Maryland which is a new field for me.
A normal year my paintball resolution would be something like: to spend less / thin out the collection more / play more / try new fields.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Life Goals:
- declutter the house and donate a metric shit ton of stuff. - in progress. - still in progress
- organized attic storage better to allow for attic renovation and proper insulation. -ha, no!
-better, more functional storage throughout house - in progress. - storage is improving
- my wife finishes her practicum/Masters program and will become a registered clinical counsellor by end of April. Be nice to do something special to celebrate. - completed! Did awesome road trip with family.

Paintball Goals:
- sell off/donate/trash extra gear - in progress
- find some interesting markers to document - ongoing but added a Naughty Dog Timmy - harder to find stuff locally.
- do more videos for paintball stuff. - doing shooting videos on Reddit - been doing more shooting videos
- cash in my JT horde - sold it all!
- play more, hit the field with some local MCB members - already hit the field, bought. Membership and made connections with local MCBers. Played big scenario game locally. Did not connect with any MCBers though.

Longterm goal:
- fully custom milled and anno’d Autococker body

Uodated.

[Deus Machina]

Update:

Ehhh...
Still haven't started on my video game idea, but I have queued up a lot of tutorial videos and learned a little more modelling. So minor progress.
Still haven't started. But learned a bit more, made some more notes, got Blender and Godot.

Haven't gotten my teeth fixed, but I have gotten a quote from my dentist and have saved half of what I need to get it all done at once.
Still not done, but have more saved up. Will be easier with point 3:

Still haven't cut my nicotine off. But I have gone down, and am mixing the lowest I can buy at the local shops with zero.
Tomorrow is the 1-month mark without nicotine, and 3 weeks without even 0% vape-juice.
Still dealing with cravings and it's one of the hardest things I've done, but now it's getting done both for my health and wallet, and out of spite.
Screw you, cravings.

Still: So not on schedule, but not completely failed yet.

[Jordan]

Update time.

Still haven't started running but I'm eating better and feeling healthier so that's gotta count.

Still eating better so I'm feeling healthier. Gonna hit the gym soon instead, I think.

I've sold a few things too. Still need to sell a few more things, and play paintball (don't know if playing will happen much but I'm working on it).

Got a few things I could sell still but I think I'm mostly done with that. One or two more build ideas if I can find the time but I'm done after that too.

I want to hit Slim's one of these days so I'll need a passport and a SC gun (I don't borrow equipment if I can help it) - future goals.

Got my passport, still need to build or buy a SC marker. Anyone have a nice SuperStocker fir sale?

[MAr]

I'll meet you in the prison in El Salvador - hopefully we can bring our stock class markers!

[Jimmydee]

I haven’t bought a lottery ticket or gambled, those were my two resolutions.

[MAr]

wow big congrats!

[Riot]

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, no changes to my replies from October and it seems unlikely that’ll change in the next few days. Hopefully some of you successfully completed yours.

Merry Christmas, folks. I’m going to go see if I can figure out what I should focus on next year.

I’ll be back with the 2026 Resolutions thread in a week.