The Day the LOLCats Died
Archive for » January, 2012 «
Category: Announcements
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Jan
16
One of the things I decided to do when starting my new schedule was to make sure the start of my day was computer free. For years I would either get up, exercise and get straight on the computer or I would get up and go straight on the computer.
Partly, this is sad. Partly, it’s kind of understandable given that I work with a lot of people in the US and the earlier I’m on, the better.
So when I started a couple weeks ago, I gave myself time not only for exercise but also for some computer-free time after that. I initially started it as a part of mindful eating because there was never a breakfast that went by when I wasn’t distracted. I realised that I wasn’t giving my breakfast – no matter what it was – any sort of proper attention.
What I didn’t realise is how good I would feel after doing it for just a few days.
After a short time, I began to feel better in the mornings. My outlook was sunnier, I felt more equipped to handle the day… Even days I woke up knowing it was going to be a ‘sensitive’ day weren’t quite so bad because I got a quiet start.
And it wasn’t about a ‘slow’ start either because it was out of bed and onto the Wii Fit board or out for a walk. (Better than a cup of coffee, I reckon.) It was more about not getting out of bed, putting my body through exercise stress and then hopping on the computer straight after for mental stress.
I was getting to the point where just opening up my email to take care of a few things was sending me into a mild panic attack. My heart would race as soon as the inbox was opened.
Yet what started as something I changed for mindful eating practices grew into a mindful anxiety control practice. It’s not an option for me to quit what I do online, but by postponing it for just an hour and getting up earlier so I had more time to relax into the day, I eliminated 99% of the stress.
Yes, I still have bad days, but I feel much better about handling those bad days than I used to.
More than ever, I am seeing that a little bit goes a long way – and in a lot of different directions to boot.
Category: Checking In
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Jan
10
I love TED Talks and found this one to be very useful for those of us who use weight for comfort/protection/etc. Especially when it comes to the ‘waiting to feel like it’ impulse.
Category: Videos
3 Comments
Jan
02
A day or two before New Year’s Eve, I read my horroscope. Basically it said that it’s not the date that is important, it’s what you start on a date. The funny thing about that horroscope is that I read it a few days after deciding that I had no reason to wait for 2012 to start doing things.
Significant dates are lovely when they work for you, but the general consensus seems to be that new year resolutions are there to be broken. I like significant dates as much as the next person (hello Mondays!), but I also have no patience.
So, on Christmas when the Bloke traded me his phone (because I “will have far more use for it than me” he said), I perused apps to help me keep on track.
I found Noom, which is the one I’ve stuck with since trying out a couple others. It keeps track of weight, has a food diary function and does all sorts of things including GPS tracking for workouts. It’s not everything I want (what about water?), but it works. And I started on Christmas.
Also before 2012 started, I discovered that making my own Christmas cards was really good for my headspace. I hadn’t done anything crafty for a long time, and it felt so good! So now I’m rockin’ some craft time in my schedule*. I just finished up two small homemade Smashbooks for friends.
I have plans for a couple more – including one for me! (Go figure, making something nice for myself…)
*I mentioned a schedule didn’t I?
Well, after listening to the Bloke have a discussion with a pub owner on New Year’s Eve about the failings of many modern parents, it hit me that I’m glad I haven’t had children at this point in my life.
Yep. That’s right. Glad.
It finally hit me that I have not ever been ready to be a parent. I don’t stick to things, I can’t keep to a schedule, and I don’t take proper care of myself. A baby is not just something you can get bored with. It’s for life.
Now, I’m not here bashing myself. I’m accpeting who I have been up to this point so I can make changes to become the person I want to be.
So I’ve started a schedule. It’s currently flexible because I don’t know everything that works for me. For instance, I’ve already figured out that I need to move writing time to the afternoon because I’m just not ready for that kind of thing right after exercise. And yay, I’m exercising!
I suppose that this year isn’t about making or breaking resolutions so much as it is about proving to myself that I can put in the work necessary to be who I want to be.
Day one nearly done. A lifetime to go…
Category: General
3 Comments