I resolve to make most of my time this year fit into stretches where I will do X every day, where X is something like "read a research paper" or "write a blog post" or "commit something to a git repository". Then I mark the day off on my calendar. This don't break the chain method is remarkably effective at getting me moving. I get started on something because I've convinced myself that I have to, and then I keep going because I want to. It's just getting started that's the tough part.

I resolve to do National Novel Writing Month, because it sounds awesome (just read the web site) and it fits in beautifully with the Don't Break the Chain method above. I reserve the right to pick my own month, though.

I resolve to do some useful research in the field of transactional memory. This obviously doesn't apply to anybody else, but it's important to me.

I resolve not to get stuck doing a group project with people who are utterly incompetent and/or plagiarists. Apparently I'm both technically skilled and unassertive, and there's a certain type of person who exploits this. Now that I've been exploited by three of these dickbags simultaneously, I trust I'll find it easier to be an asshole about this if necessary. (And yes, thinking about them in rude terms is necessary for this.)

That's all. It's probably better to focus on a few very concrete things and make them habits; that way self-improvement becomes a systematic ratchet instead of a confused bar-fight.