Three Weeks for Dreamwidth

[embracingcalm]

I've been neglecting this space despite the fact that it has huge potential. I'd really like to use it more regularly. So, I think I'm going to use 3weeks4dreamwidth to set a habit of using the space. There are a few different ways I feel like I can work toward that goal other than just posting more regular.

1. Practice HTML and customize my page

It would be extremely helpful for me to reorient myself with how to use HTML via customizing my page layout, learning how to add cuts, insert photos etc. I honestly don't always have something to say especially with the news being so stressful but I would like to consistently use this space as a daily photoblog. Right now, because I'm rusty on HTML the task seems a bit intimidating. I know this stuff isn't hard, I've done it before, I just need practice.

2. Find Some Communities to join or make my own

The only thing that keeps pulling me back to these social apps that I hate is the sheer number of people using them and how that makes each niche community inevitably larger and more easy to find. Since Dreamwidth skews a bit more toward fandom than lifestyle blogs folks who collect houseplants, share photos of walks, or collect physical media are fewer and further between when looking via profiles. However, the community aspect of the site implies there might be hidden Physical media, walk, and collection communities hidden in plain sight. IF THERE AREN"T I think it would be easy enough to make a Physical Media appreciation community (maybe called "Let's Get Physical"), a community focused on sharing photos and entries about walks or hikes, and/or whatever else.

3. Create some personal theme days and events

I've been depressed and it's resulted in some severe anhedonia. I'm trying to push out of it. I've made a lot of lifestyle changes to support me being happier and more productive and I am feeling beeter but I don't have an underlying routine to help me practice doing things that bring me joy. So, since I enjoy painting maybe I could create for myself a month long drawing challenge. Elsewhere I shared the stack of CDs I accumulated from each week's listening prior to putting them away. Something similar to that even is a fun and low maintenance way to share what I've been listening to.

4. Set aside time once a day to look at my reading page and comment.

This one is probably the most important because what I like most about this space is the long form format. I really enjoy reading about people's lives and exploring what other people are doing. You can't do that elsewhere and because I have spent time elsewhere I feel like my mind has equated reading with work. Isn't that sad? So, I need to actively fight against that by changing my normal.

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I think these four ideas are likely more than enough to keep me busy and gain a habit of posting here. I'm really looking forward to finally embracing this space. I remember similar spaces being very good for my mental health.

That's all I have for now. <3

Comments

Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I'd really like to use it more regularly. <<

Yay!

>>1. Practice HTML and customize my page<<

newcomers has many tutorials about how to do things on DW.

dreamcodes and htmlcss are more specific to coding on DW.

>> 2. Find Some Communities to join <<

See followfriday and its masterpost of theme lists, or dw_community_promo to watch for new ones. Here is a list of Most Useful Communities.

>> or make my own <<

This is a good plan if your favorite thing has no active community. vriddy has a post on creating a new community.

>> who collect houseplants,<<

I haven't seen one for that but would join it! The closest would be gardening or common_nature.

>> share photos of walks, <<

common_nature does this often. flaneurs is for urban walks but is less active. birdfeeding gets nature walks occasionally.

>> or collect physical media <<

There might be fandom-specific ones I haven't seen. datahoarders is for folks who collect information in whatever format.

>> I don't have an underlying routine to help me practice doing things that bring me joy. <<

goals_on_dw is for all kinds of goals. It has signup posts for categories like art and nature, with lists of challenges for inspiration, or folks can just do their own.

Fun goals are explicitly supported! The Alternatives page has a bunch of stuff for that. Punch card goals are low-stress if you like cute things.

>>4. Set aside time once a day to look at my reading page and comment.<<

Excellent plan. It's a good way to make friends and build community.

>>You can't do that elsewhere and because I have spent time elsewhere I feel like my mind has equated reading with work. Isn't that sad? So, I need to actively fight against that by changing my normal.<<

Exactly. Seek venues and activities that improve your mood and life. :D

[frith]

puddleshark takes walks and nice pictures of scenery and vegetation very frequently, much more often than they cross-post to Common_Nature.

There are more authors and people reviewing books on Dreamwidth than you can shake a stick at. Find someone you like on Dreamwidth and read their reading page, and if they have it, their network page, which is like a combination of the pages read by those who are read by the person whose stuff you like. "Friends of friends" as it were.

trailer_spot lists upcoming movies, about six at a time. offcntr throws, hand-paints and fires assorted pots and dishes. soemand is into sailing and listening to shortwave radio.

Look through Dreamwidth's list of the top 1,000 active feeds that you can add to your reading list. People frequently comment on the xkcd_feed even though all feed posts and their comments get scrubbed after 2 weeks.

For communities there is dw_community_promo where you can find posts made by people promoting their Dreamwidth communities.