March Madness!!!

I've been feeling like my life is in a rut for the past few years lately. So in order to help myself make tangible progress toward Growing Up and getting a Real Job, I am starting some MARCH MADNESS!!! This month, I will strive to accomplish these 5 goals. I think they are managable, and will definitely help me progress at work, where I have been feeling like I've been falling flat on my face every other day. Plus, my boss told me that in order to be ready to graduate my work output needs to be 5 to 10 times more than what it is at the moment. It sounds harsh, but she is right, and I know I can do it if I just get my head in the game. Hence, the daily goals:

1. I will go to bed a midnight, if I am home.
I have a problem getting up in the morning, and I think if I get up earlier I will be able to have more productive days in general. The problem is that I stay up until at least 2am every night, and the hours from about 11pm until 3am are not productive at all. So, in order to take those 3-4 UNproductive hours I have at night and make them into Productive hours in the morning, I'm gonna give myself a bedtime.

2. Read 5 scientific articles.
In order to be a successful Ph.D., I am expected to be an expert on the literature in my field. At this moment, I would say that I have a general idea about the literature in the feild, but am no where near expertise. But the 5-a-day plan will keep me brushed up on landmark papers from the past as well as up to snuff on the new stuff coming out.

3. Do one thing to clean up the house.
Chez hamster_grrl has lately started to look like a rogue mob of actual hamsters are living here. Clothes strewn about, papers piled up, etc. etc. I've been thinking that part of me being a Grown Up is taking care of my home. So, every night I am doing one small thing (like cleaning off the coffee table). By the end of the month, the place should look like Martha Stewart lives here. Plus, I'm moving at the end of April, so I need to get everything in order anyway.

4. Bring my own lunch to work.
This is really just because I shouldn't be spending money on relatively unhealthy lunches everyday when I can bring a healthy alternative everyday. So taking care of my wallet and my figure.

5. Produce 1 CD of data.
This one is all about getting my work done. One CD a day will make huge progress toward finishing a current project and more publishing.

It's not going to be easy, especially at first, but I figure once I get in the swing of things, it will work out fine. Wish me luck!

March MADNESS!!!! MADNESS!!!