sholio | Fandom stocking again! <3

fandom_stocking was fantastic for me this year. ♥ I think it's the best year I've had, actually. I hadn't realized until I went back and looked at my one other really prolific year (2011) but I wrote more this year than I ever have, and my stocking was stuffed to the brim with lovely things, from season's greetings to beautiful winter icons *points to icon*, fic recs and pictures including a gorgeous Peter & Neal picspam, and so much wonderful fiiiiiiic! I loved every last fic that I received. Thank you so much to everyone who made me something. You made this cold January week very bright indeed. ♥ ♥ ♥

In general, I'm doing well at my resolution to be more productive and start breaking the downward spiral that I'd found myself in at the end of December. The thing I wanted most of all was to break that habit I'd gotten into of spending hours and hours trudging through links, lurking and never interacting with people. And so far I've been pretty successful at commenting more; I don't manage to comment on everything I read, but so far, I'm working hard at getting myself to comment on most of the posts I open in a new tab (if I'm not prepared to comment, I just don't read them). And when I can feel myself slipping into that apathetic state where I don't feel like working, and I don't feel like writing, but just reloading my network page or Facebook or whatever -- I shut down the computer, get a book, and go do something else for a while. I think it's been good for me just to recognize that mental gear-slippage, because I can tell when my brain is starting to do that, so I interrupt it in the middle of the cycle, and it's really working. Plus, commenting more means more reply notifications in my inbox, which gives me more happy, productive things to do online.

I think what's making a difference this time (compared to my halfhearted attempts to limit my Internet time-wasting in the past) was the realization that I don't have to cut out my Internet time across the board, and in fact, can increase the amount of time that I spend doing fun things (chatting with people, say) -- while still having more time, energy and productivity because I'm cutting out the useless, time-wasting habits I'd gotten into.

I don't know if it'll stick, but I do know that I've felt happier, more energetic and less apathetic over the last week or two, and not only have I been more productive without having to sacrifice the good parts of being online (talking to friends, reading happymaking fannish things) but I've actually been doing more of it. Success so far! \o/

I'm also a lot more actively fannish. It really does all tie together. Happiness in one area of my life spills over into another. I'm more resilient and cheerful, and falling back into love with my shows. (Once Upon a Time is back! ♥) Life seems to be on an upbeat these days.

I'm still not getting up early or getting enough exercise, but you can't do everything at once. *g*