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Continuing on in my ‘the only constant is change’ theme of the past few years .... We are in Phase 4 Part 1 of lockdown where I live (maaaaaybe opening to Phase 2 next week?). Malls are open with no restrictions but kids’ play areas and entertainments being closed (mall restaurants are limited to 30% capacity) - fitting rooms are open again and kids are allowed back into the mall Cinemas are open for very limited capacity Gyms are open with restrictions Mosques are open with restrictions Restaurants are open for parties of 5 or less unless single-household - some are at 100% (new) capacity; some are still at 30% depending upon government approval (still no buffets or shisha - which is actually kind of funny: there was a move to ban shisha a couple years ago that met with huge local pushback) Offices are up to 80% capacity Water sports are back Home care services are back with testing Spas, health clubs and indoor pools are back at 30% capacity Beauty centers are open at 50% capacity General guidelines for out of the house remain at: masks everywhere, hand sanitizer everywhere, temperature and green status health app checks when entering all buildings but home, social distancing This last few weeks has seen an influx of people returning from either being stuck abroad or taking their Summer holiday at home per usual and returning for school. Schools are staggered at lots of home time + a little classroom time for limited numbers of students per day. As of yesterday, September 4, we are sticking at around 150-200 new cases daily, which is good. We shall see what happens in the next 2 weeks to a month when people that are coming back leave quarantine (which is a mix of home and hotel). There were 4 people arrested yesterday for breaking home quarantine. My routine is currently in flux again because my gym is closed due to deep cleaning because of COVID exposure. Hoping by the time challenge starts it’ll be open again. Hoping that by the time Zero Week starts it’ll be open, but that may be optimistic. My goals aren’t really updating from last cycle. Goal 1: Fuel my body in a way that brings me joy and moves me closer to my goals This is actually harder than one would think. Getting back to a regular yoga practice last cycle has me wanting more and more veggies and lighter meals. My gut disagrees with that assessment for the most part (my favorite veggies are off the table if I want a happy gut). Lighter meals are definitely possible, and I’ve already put the brakes on eating like crap during the weekends a bit. I‘my not back to my ‘all no all the time’ ways, but I’m not okaying or suggesting weekend BS either. Mostly. This Cycle I’m focusing on: Eating more veggies (that don’t kill my gut) Continuing down the less-meat path, but also less fake meat Focusing on smaller portions Not eating garbage during the weekends Making sure I have emergency food on hand that isn’t chips re-re-re conceptualizing meal times to incorporate more nutrient dense options but not necessarily going back to paleo (ie I’m not ready to give up sushi rice bowls, I just need to make sure I’m getting more actual nutrition than lotsa carbs + fat + some herbs) Not discounting fancy hippie food out of hand - I used to love making this shit, but stopped when I moved because nothing was ever available locally. There is a lot more selection nowadays. I’m also toying with the idea of going back to macro counting. I was at my healthiest and had my best relationship with food when I was eating paleo and tracking macros. (Minus gut issues. The death farts were real, but at least came without ripping pain). Since I’m not eating out anywhere near the amount I was pre-Covid this should be totally doable. I just might not like what I see. Which will also help with portioning 100%. Fitness Fingers crossed that I can get back into the studio and that the schedule they had set holds. If so, continue on with my 4x a week yoga classes and walking to and from. 1 day off a week to chill and hibernate is good. If not, I’ll sign up for more Zoom classes from the other gym - or go in person, though that would necessitate Uber trips instead of walking and I don’t know if I’m there yet. Feeding My Non-Food Needs Continue to work on a main project + busywork projects + Animal Crossing + coloring Set a deadline and actually make myself take 1 Skillshare class on something with no pressure to apply that knowledge Continue checking in with y’all mostly daily Continue on with 1 dinner a month with friends Continue taking 1 morning each week (currently Tuesdays when the dogs are at daycare) to spend some time out of the house doing something else like getting breakfast in preparation for rejoining the demands of being social, and sitting with that to see how it feels before deciding if i want to return to my social life at all. Examining what feeds me v what drains me. What anxiety is my brain being an asshole and what anxiety provides room for growth. Current projects: An exploded Ohio Star quilt for my Dad Sew House 7 Tea Dress in black cotton lawn (the shirt version, not the whole dress) Braided cable experiments with the lucet fork Knit lace experiments with quilting cotton Busywork knit shawl I don’t really even like anymore Maybe macrame that looks like lace with that quilting cotton? Finding something to do with the printed lawn cotton I bought Blackwork embroidery - probably handkerchiefs for gifts That smocking dress I have in my head if I find the right fabric and tutorial Finishing the fruit tree grove on my island (Animal Crossing) Finishing the Overlook Hotel on my island Finishing the beach resort on my island Finishing the witchy studio on my island Figuring out what to do with the area surrounding my house on my island

Hello Challenge #2 As it turns out, I won't focus on Monk training quite yet. I am struggling to get out of my lethargy and the days becoming shorter, colder and damper aren't helping (wow, Scotland is not going to be fun in Winter!) Luckily, I know exactly what I have to do to combat this, here's the plan... Six week quest - Control the downs, invite the ups! #1 Goal : Center my mind (and lower cortisol levels) (+5 WIS) -> Meditate every day from 20 minutes to 1 hour with Peace Revolution videos -> Take 1 minute to center with deep breaths whenever emotions or stress get overwhelming #2 Goal: Give each day a chance (+2 CHA +1 WIS) -> Sleep at least 8 hours -> Wake up with the dawn (approx 7:30 for now) -> 5 Tibetans yoga right after waking up #3 Goal: Healthy body for a healthy mind (+3 STR +1 CON) -> No sugar at home -> Eat 1 leafy green and 1 root veg every day -> Drink 2L per day -> 3 BWW per week #Life goal: Do more of what I love <3 (+3 CHA) -> Sing every day -> Learn Momoiro Sparkling choreography -> Take a whole pampering afternoon every week -> Do at least one of these things every day: watch an old film, read a Poirot, have a soy latte, skype with a friend or family, make fresh mint tea, pretend to be Ella Fitzgerald, write a letter to someone, make dinner with friends, cuddle a stray cat, make Christmas decorations, check in on NF. Motivation: Depression is hard to overcome because it leaves automated pathways to the land of I feel miserable and Meh, apathy day today Kingdom. Well, I don't want to let these automated reactions get the better of me anymore! In fact, I've been successfully exterminating them for over 2 years now and it can be tiring sometimes. I love that the brain is plastic, synaptic connections are remodeled all the the time so that's exactly what I'll be doing for the next six weeks, active and conscious brain rewiring. Very actively and very consciously so. I know how to be happy, I just need to control the frequency and intensity of my down moments. Daily Victories: There will be daily victories this challenge, it's an awesome idea I took from Starsapart and it will help with staying positive oh so much. Today's victory = I created this thread Can't wait to hang with you awesome people again and meet more inspiring superheroes! Edit: Evaluation method. I will give myself percentages of success each week for every item. 7 days out of 7 = 100%, 6/7 = 85%, etc. Then I'll round it up to evaluate each goal and the final average at the end of the 6 weeks will tell how many points I'll get. Yes, this challenge is all about Wisdom and Charisma