juliebarkley

Following! Glad to see you found cardio you liked first try. Goal 1 achieved! Also very glad that you took a break from work at last.

Habits are just so much harder than goals. Seriously. Woo for squats! I use the "third-world squat" all the time as a sitting position, so I have never lost the ability to get all the way down there. It seems like a great complement to pushup pushup time. I'll be following along with you as well! Sorry I was so unreliable on your last challenge.

New challenge up now: https://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/108592-juliebarkley-gets-back-in-the-habit/

Juliebarkley lay in bed for a moment as the sun slowly brightened the room. Her travel things lay in a heap where she had dumped them the night before as she stumbled half-asleep from the wagon into the house. She sat up in bed and stretched. Her shoulder and neck ached from the long journey. She glanced around the room, rediscovering the familiar surroundings that she had been away from for so long. She thought about what she needed to do today, and drew a blank. That was concerning. So much had changed in the last few months. It was going to take some effort to find "normal" again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In my last challenge, I acknowledged the trouble that I have with habits vs goals. I am good at goals, but they are things that you work towards and then are done. I need to keep the habits that underlie them going, and I have been poor at that. Plus, habits keep the rest of my life on track so that I don't end up, for example, unable to post on my own challenge (let alone those of others) because I have to fold a mountain of laundry that I have ignored. You know, just as an example. I tried to make my habits more like goals, but that was a miserable failure. So this time, I am going to simplify and focus. I looked at the habits that I do have established, and noted how it feels to remember them, and also how it feels to not do them. This is my ultimate goal for the habits that I am working on. It will take more than one challenge, and it will take discipline. The only goal that I have is my fitness goal, because the program I am on tells me what to do and when. Other than that, it's all habits, baby! I took my task list in my todo app, put everything into Someday other than my established goals and the goals that I am working on. Now I can see my focuses very clearly. I'm also reducing the number of items in my challenge to aid focus, and themed them around Ramadan both to help remember and because it's an extra reason to work on them. The goal is to do them every day. No misses. I think this is going to be necessary in this habit establishment phase. 1. Post every day to NerdFitness - once to my own thread, and once to someone else's. A recurring challenge. It provides accountability for myself, while also helping me support others and keep up with what they're up to. 2. Pray every day. The goal is to do the noon and night prayer every day, and the others are a bonus. I am always home from work for these, so they are the easiest to target. 3. Read scripture daily. Five minutes is fine. It's about the habit. Target time: right after supper. 4. Weekly worship time. I can't make it to religious services, but that doesn't mean that I have to be a slacker! Set aside some time on Friday for deep reading, Arabic practice, etc. 30 minutes minimum. Target time: after lunch. 5. Pushups and squats! I have restarted my pushups on a slightly higher level for more improvements. I am very happy with my progress so far. So, I started up a squat program as well. In my initial test, I did 39 ATG squats. The program is supposed to take you to 200 squats, but the program also only wants you to squat to parallel. I am pretty sure I could have done more than 39 if I had only done parallel squats. So we'll see; 200 may not be realistic. As it stands, at the end of week 1, I only have to do 18 in a set (but go to max on the last set), so it's pretty easy right now. Goal: keep on keeping on: Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Juliebarkley slumped, exhausted, in the back of the wagon as it rumbled its way out of town. Her new yew bow rattled as the wagon hit a pothole, so she leaned it on her backpack to protect it. She scooped up a woolen blanket from the floor to cushion her head from the bumps as she leaned against the wall. She glanced over at the bow again, making sure it was safe, and admiring the subtle patterning of the grain. She was a beginner still, but was looking forward to practicing with this elegant weapon. From the top of her backpack, she could also see the corner of the red leather book that she was also bringing back with her. Its language and meaning were still full of mystery, but what a joy it was to study it! The wagon turned into the woods, and Julie took a last glance at the tall buildings, the bustling streets, and the sparkling river in the distance. It was time to return home to the beautiful swamp and leave the big city behind. This had been a fun adventure, but it would be wonderful to be home again! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Final Challenge Wrapup: 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. I did not quite practice every day, but I did practice and read quite a lot. I got my Duo tree to golden (until the tree changed and new skills were added). I have made a solid dent in the Fundamenta Krestomatio, and I am starting to feel more confident in reading literature in Esperanto than I ever have before. And I had a great meetup with other Esperantists in Trois-Rivieres, doing lots of talking, making lots of mistakes, but having lots of fun doing it. I say I earned my spellbook. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. Yes, with a but. I completed the program as I had originally planned (woo!). However, I didn't realize until I was done that I had not been going down as far in my pushups as I really should. So I will be starting over, with proper form this time! Going lower seems to work different muscles than I was working before, so I cannot do as many yet, but if I did it once, I can surely do it again in time. I win my bow because I did what I set out to do. 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? Nope. I got as far as looking up the basic movements for beginning parkour, and going out to find places that I could do them. I do not seem to have the right environment for this activity readily available - there is nothing that I could swing from or vault over or under. I could do jumps and balance moves, and that is about it. I am going to think about other fun things I could do in this spirit, as well as ways to build the upper body strength that seems to be a requirement for a lot of moves. But this is not a priority right now. 4. Build a network. Post every day. Oh my goodness gracious no. I was the worst I have been in a long time. Sorry. 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. Success, but slower than I had hoped. I don't mind though, because I want to do it right. Also, being in Canada and watching NAFTA fall apart has put question marks on the future value of the Canadian dollar, which is bad when you are planning to buy American dollar denominated assets. And there have been some of the bureaucratic delays that are out of my control. Basically, it's been a complicated and interesting ride, but really boring to hear about, I'm sure! I have more work to do on the investment front, but I should be able to start giving more time to the other stuff I want to do for online income. The stuff that fills me with self-doubt when I talk about it (though if you're interested, PM me and tell me to get over myself :P). It won't be the focus of my next challenge, but I will not be giving up! 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. Awful. Like, so awful. Embarrassingly awful. Habits so hard. Will be working on this hard next challenge.

Squats are great! There will be more squats in my future (see next challenge, to be posted inside the hour!) Shame I disappeared again myself... This is not a pattern I want to be repeating! I do have a link to the pushup program. The one on the website seems a little different from the one in the book, though. Apart from anything else, the book goes 7 weeks rather than 6, and nine difficulty levels rather than only three, plus a plan for if you cannot even do one pushup. I like the book better myself. I am the proud owner of the book now (the binding failed and the book is in two pieces, so I had to discard it from the library), so if you decide to give it a try and do the test (basically just how many pushups you can do), I'd be happy to copy out the reps for your level and send them to you.

Looking forward to hearing about your hike when you get back!

This is not a thing that I knew about! I"m not sure what my form is like though, so maybe I don't belong on the Leaderboard just yet. 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. Done Duo, but no reading today. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. I am repeating the last week of the pushup program in the hopes of making my sets easier and my form better while I figure out what to do next. I am thinking a squat target next, and maintaining the pushup progress by increasing the intensity and decreasing the reps. I could use the same program structure and restart at an earlier week. (Edit: No, actually what I will do is really focus on getting good form on these pushups first so I can post on the leaderboard with confidence. Probably I will go back a few weeks in the program, go slow, and get someone to watch me to make sure I'm going low enough and keeping everything straight. Then I can work my way back up! Should be fun.). 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? I went outside and looked around to what I can use to try parkour on. There is... not much. I can do jumps, but at the moment I have nothing to try vaulting or swinging on. Not that big of a deal as I think I will need more leg strength for pushing off and arm strength for pulling up. I'll work on building those, and practice cartwheels and stuff like that in the meantime (my cartwheel is pathetic). 4. Build a network. Post every day. Done. 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. Worked probably a little less than 2 hours today. But close. 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. Well, I have done nothing to help prep myself for Ramadan from a routine perspective, but the time is nigh! Must remember to eat as it is really not fun to be super hungry due to poor planning. I am not happy with myself here.

I love seeing that pushup countdown keep dropping! You're doing great!

Juliebarkley collapses, exhausted on the bed behind her. The load of packages from her delivery job was particularly large this week, and every package seemed to be a longer trip than the last. She was arriving at home every night, wanting to do nothing but eat, then sleep. Even sleep was elusive. But finally, finally, the pile of packages was gone, and she could focus once again on the quests that she was so keen to complete. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I promise I am not dead. But I have been a very, very bad challenge updater. Just, work, events, and other stuff popping up leaving me little time to do anything other than eat, sleep, and put out fires, and even less inclination to do something hard when there was a spare moment. Hence, I am rather behind. I have not kept up with anyone. BUT, that is past now, and now I can GET BACK ON TRACK! Yesterday is yesterday; today is today. I think I'm going to keep going on this challenge during the next zero week to try to make up for some of the missed time from this challenge. Week I-am-not-even-sure-anymore: 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. I have done this for at least 50% of the days since the last update. I finished the Fabeloj - the last story was a translation of The Little Mermaid. I have never seen the movie, but I thought the story had a happy ending. And it did, technically, but in a way that was so tragic that it makes you want to cry. I should have known; it is a Hans Christian Andersen story. I finished Anekdotoj a couple of days ago, and am now in Rakontoj. The last story I read was about what was likely going through Christopher Columbus' head in the 2-3 hours before the first sighting of land in the Americas. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. I did the last day of this 7-week program yesterday. I did miss a single day, even when I almost fell asleep every time I sat down. And I was able to hit the target every single time, which means that I did 60 pushups in a row yesterday! Considering my life goal was 50, I'm pretty proud of myself. I can feel and see the muscles that have grown during this program, which is pretty cool, too. 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? No time to internet and getting home after dark day after day means no work done. Such a shame, as the weather has been gorgeous and perfect for outdoor shenanigans. BUT, tonight I will do something, so that I have a thing to do tomorrow when I can finally GO OUTSIDE! In the daytime! 4. Build a network. Post every day. Horrible, horrible fail. But I did it today, and will keep it up, too. 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. Hahaha, 2-3 days was wildly optimistic, even accounting for hardly any extra done for the last week and a half. I have made good progress since last time though. Ended up working on two categories at the same time instead of one because it was just more efficient, so I don't have any chunk done yet to completion, which makes progress feel slower than it really is. BUT, I am looking good to get half of my stuff invested by the end of the challenge. 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. My schedule has been so messed up that I have not really had any time to eat in the mornings. Some days I have barely eaten at all. So this has been an epic fail. But again, tomorrow is another chance to do better.

Wow, that's so exciting!:D Of course, now you have to make sure you've got that "financially and mentally prepared" thing down before you go. What are your plans for now till then?

Have you heard anything yet? Fingers crossed!

Week 1, day 7: Not a bad day. I had plans, but they fell through, except that it took a while to realize that they had fallen through. So the first half of the day was pretty lazy. 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. Oh shoot! I will have to do this now, before bed. I must be nearing the end of the Fabeloj. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. I did 39 pushups today. I needed to do 37, so I am staying where I need to be. Adding all the sets together, I did 116, which sounds pretty darn impressive. 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? Still nothing. I forgot about it, to be honest. 4. Build a network. Post every day. Done. 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. About 2.5 hours of work. I should have the first chunk of my investment plan done and hopefully invested in the next 2-3 days, I think. Progress! 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. Did it! Still need to work on getting it done in a timely manner, but it is getting done, and that is the most important thing. There's no real point in doing a weekly summary for so few days, but I think I have good momentum, so looking forward to week 2!

I'm going to bypass the fascinating classics talk and just point out that this here was a good call. Well done on keeping on when you didn't feel like doing anything.

Your backpack flap even coordinates with the other colours reasonably well! I had a book out of the library (sadly, since discarded) called Trail Life (I believe it is this one). It had a sort of rough pattern on how to make a backpack and a sleeping quilt that you might find useful if you want to make your own stuff. Does your sleeping cap have little ears?

I know - I need to stop being late all the time! Week 1, day 6: Today was a busy day, but unfortunately, that business wasn't challenge-business, so I haven't started my research/work-oriented goals yet. 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. Did another unit today, and will take the Fundamenta to bed :). Hoping to finish 2-3 stories in the Fabeloj section tonight. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. Nothing today - more tomorrow! 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? No further work. 4. Build a network. Post every day. I am working on it right now. 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. No work today. 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. Did it!

I'm on 3 for the week. As long as I hit tomorrow, I have succeeded! (and I will Do Better on checking in)

It was indeed. I was VERY relieved to see it come back to life again! For the last bit, I was definitely drifting in that direction. It is, unfortunately, my natural tendency. I did get some good things out of it though. I have told myself that I can finish going through the tabs I already have open, but that's it. Yes, deciding on a direction is hard. Super hard. Also, scary to take the first steps. The whole I-don't-know-what-I'm-even-doing-why-would-anyone-care-I'm-probably-going-to-screw-it-up impostor syndrome thing. I am trying to remind myself that if I fail, I have lost some time and a very little money only, and I will learn things for next time. But it is hard. I think I have a workable plan now though, so that is good. I'm scared, but I'm also excited, and I'm doing this. Also, next challenge is up:

My progress so far: 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. I have not missed a day yet! I have seven more crowns to finish the tree, and my Kindle says I am 5% through the Fundamenta Krestomatio. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. I hit 36 pushups today! At the beginning, I could (barely) do 8. Today, I flew through 10 and it wasn't even hard. This is amazing. 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? I have pulled up a couple of YouTube channels @WhiteGhost suggested to someone else in a thread last challenge, but have done know further research. 4. Build a network. Post every day. I posted today... 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. Pulled out all of my previous research and planning, and wrote up a basic plan of attack. 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. Did it today!

**If I have time to properly storify this later I will, but for now the perfect is the enemy of the good. Basic gist: I (well, my character) am in the Big City for the first time in a long time, I have money in my pocket, and I am looking to train so that I have loot to take home to the swamp. Now that spring is finally showing signs of arriving, it will be time to head back home after this challenge.** -------------------------------------------------------- Late again, but at least I was working on stuff while I was absent! A little bit, anyway. In looking back at my last few challenges, I have noticed that when I list a goal (something that I can achieve and then it's done), I always achieve it. I find them very motivating. However, when I have a habit that I am trying to form, one that will continue indefinitely, those I am struggling with. So, I am going to try to set goal (or goal-like) targets for the habits that I am working on, as well as what the daily habit itself is. Hopefully this will help get my habits on track. Also, story rewards. 1. Decipher the magic tomes. Practice Esperanto every day. Goal: I have a meetup on the May 19 weekend, and I have gotten rusty at speaking. In order to improve, I want to finish all of my Duo Esperanto courses to at least level 1, and finish reading the Fundamenta Krestomatio. Habit: 1 crown or five Duo lessons per day, and some reading of the Fundamenta Krestomatio daily. Reward: If I succeed, I can take a book back to the swamp and learn some spells. 2. Can you even draw that bow? Continue pushup program. Goal: 50 pushups minimum in three weeks (end of program). Habit: Keep following it on workout days. Reward: I can buy that bow I was eyeing up. 3. Fight like a ninja. ??? Goal: There is so much cool assassiny stuff going on in the threads, and now that the snow is (finally!) gone, I can frolic outside and try stuff. I have not yet identified the stuff I want to try yet, but I'm thinking parkour foundations. Habit: Until May 6, check out a small number of parkour YouTube channels and/or websites (small! no underpants!) to figure out how to get started. By bedtime on May 6, have a training plan laid out. Thereafter, follow it! Reward: Hand to hand combat skills. Or cool jumpy evasions. Or something. 4. Build a network. Post every day. Goal: Stay connected to the NF community and on track with my own goals. Habit: Post on my own thread and someone else's every day dang it! I lurk a lot, and often don't feel I have something to say. That's why this keeps coming back every challenge! Reward: I will have made connections for future learning opportunities or other assistance as needed. 5. And how will you pay for these classes? Work on business/passive income. Goal: Ultimately, to replace my current employment income with other, non-employment sources. My work situation is a big reason this challenge is so late; this was a stressful week. It has been a stressful few months. The big stressy things are mostly done now, I think, and I survived, but my gut tells me I am essentially on permanent probation. And my gut has been bang on for months now about work. I will continue doing my best in my current position, while also watching the listings for other positions. Should one come up, I will apply. But I can't control that, so I am instead focused on building my own independent income sources. My last challenge was all about research here; now I feel like I have a plan to move forward on. First, the low-hanging fruit. I have money sitting in chequing accounts earning nada, savings accounts earning not much better, and a few random investments I haven't checked up on in ages. This money needs to work for me. Once this is in place, I can move on to step two of Project Income. Goal: Have a plan for my money, and execute it. Habit: Well, really more of a plan of attack. The actual plan is boring, so I spoilered it. Work on this for 14 hours per week. Finish this by the end of the challenge. This may be an optimistic goal given a few difficulties that I foresee towards the end (ie. it will either go well and quickly, or be a total nightmare - we shall see). Reward: Money in my pocket (for me and my character). 6. Get to the classes on time! Do my morning routine. Goal: Have a morning routine in place that is as solid and automatic as my workout schedule. It is going to be extra important because Ramadan starts near the end of this challenge, and I want to remember to eat breakfast every day so that I don't, like, die. Habit: Do the routine every day. Even if it's not on time. Reward: Not sure storywise. In real life, it sets me up well for the day.

Sounds good! How has your week been so far?

So cool! Please feel free to share pics!

Crossing fingers that in a year's time, you'll look back on this moment and be glad that you weren't offered the position on the team, because it started a chain of events that led you somewhere so much better!

Following for cartwheels, handstands, and all that fun stuff! How's it coming along?

Here for the adventure! I also have a tendency to hermit. Nice to meet you!