Help Echo get back on track

[Echoceanic]

Hi!

 

 

This is my first actual challenge as a Ranger, and it couldn't have come at a better time, because I need to up my ability to be flexible and stick to a schedule at the same time, and we are the jack of all trades. I'll definitely need some help to pull it off, even if that help is someone either rooting for me or telling me I am doing too much at once (happens a lot). So this is the deal.

 

• I have recently started a new office job (1st of March). It doesn't really change my lifestyle much, I just spend 8 hours sitting somewhere else and not at home. But it has changed it in three ways.

1. I have started getting up at 5:45 am every day. Which means I have to go to bed early and I need to figure out how to not sleep too much on the weekends (gives me a headache). And I come home at 4:30 pm which is right before the time I start feeling sleepy no matter what (5-6 pm) and then feel wide awake. Will this fix itself over time? No idea. Do I need to do things during those hours? Hells yes.
2. I have started drinking far more water - I hit my four glasses goal every day now and I get to 8 at times. It is because I work in a very warm office, and because I get up super early.
3. I eat more (an extra meal or two) because I no longer get up at odd times of the day.

 

• I have started slacking in my workouts. It makes me feel better when I do workout however and I want to get back into it and get some of the strength I lost in my legs back. I focused on my arms more so they are pretty much the same. I like routine, but if I do it too often I get bored. I was on a 'see if you can do yoga' kick and it threw me off balance. Slow and steady is not for me, I want my heart to race.
• I need to keep up with my chores, my freelancing, and my book (I need to finish the self-edit so I can send it to the editor) and the magazine I volunteer at. I need to also read three chapters of a book a friend is writing. I do a lot as you can see. And I need to make myself spend some guilt-free free time.
• I need to chill. I am a naturally anxious person (but I don't have anxiety, though I have dealt with depression before) and I need to learn how not to take everything to heart and be a bit less like a sponge that sucks up every negative emotion around her. I need to learn to care less and realise that being nervous only hurts me and doesn't help. Easier said than done. 

 

Some things I do to help this - I have a planner and a tracker. I track a ton of things, from my water to what I do to my exercise, to meals, to my work. I am aiming for once a week for exercising (probably Saturday), and moving around during other days. I did that this last week and I am still sore from regular squats (as a reference I did assisted pistols by the bed before that). So, saying all of this, this is what I am planning for these four weeks.

 

GOALS:

1. Track everything - I just need to get back on track with this and as these weeks go buy it should get easier. It is an established routine I am too lazy to go through here, but suffice to say I should be doing a chore a day, some work or some relaxation after actual work. It is a bunch of little steps that will amount to big changes. Worked with the bed and brushing my teeth, should work with other things too.
2. Keep calm - I honestly have no idea how to do this one. I know listening to music after work and moving helps a lot. Exercise too - feel free to suggest routines I can do easily below, I could use the links. I do the beginner body-weight workout from here. I just need something to get my heart rate up. I hate running, yoga and anything that makes me sit still. I like weird moves, low rest times and things I can do while listening to Pantera. 
3. Learn to say NO - example, the chapters I am reading. I should have just said 'no I can't this month' but nooooo, Echo has to be nice and accommodating because he is a friend and I have so few of those. Open your mouth and say things, he wouldn't have gotten mad. For this I just need to be verbally slapped over and over. 

 

Phew that was a lot. I hope it wasn't too much. Hope to hear from a lot of you, I like conversing with people, it makes me happy when I know people care enough to read and say something.  

[shaar]

Pheeewww jack of all trades, indeed!  So much stuff to keep track of, I can totally relate with that one!

 

The sleep thing is so tough to tell, it very well could even itself out in time with the new schedule, or it could continue to be a jerk. :[  

 

I think a big thing for staying calm - which I also think you're already figuring out! - is finding what works for you!!  Calm is such a relative term, right??  Most people like things like running but it stresses me out too.  Like you said, easier said than done.

 

You'll totally get there!  Gonna cheer you on, Ranger style!! :DDDD

[Echoceanic]

45 minutes ago, shaar said:

You'll totally get there!  Gonna cheer you on, Ranger style!! :DDDD

 

Thanks! And yeah it is a lot.

 

For me running makes me think too much, people stare and I can't actually let my mind go and just focus on the run. While dancing or general exercise makes me just be physical and that gives me that charged battery feel that stops me from being fidgety and gives me focus. So I associate that with calmness.

I also need to just not let things like someone being annoyed around me, or someone being an idiot to me get to me as much. It's kinda hard with the new job since both those things happen a lot (not a very healthy environment, but better than other options trust me) and I am still on probation, which makes me even more anxious. I also have a horrible poker face so people see it immediately.

 

The sleep, I feel like it is going to continue to be a jerk because I have been like that forever. Coffee doesn't help, so I just need to either ride out those two hours, or find a way to use the sleepiness. 

[Cheetah]

3 hours ago, Echocheanic said:

feel free to suggest routines

 

https://darebee.com/

 

It's a website of scalable bodyweight workout routines.  There are hundreds of them, maybe thousands, and you can search them a dozen different ways.  Impossible to get bored.

 

Welcome to the Rangers.  :-)

[Echoceanic]

6 minutes ago, Cheetah said:

Welcome to the Rangers.  :-)

 

Thank you, and this is quit a welcome, thanks for the site I already see it will be hard to get bored.

[Novaurora]

WELCOME TO THE RANGERS!!!!!   I feel like we have a lot of the same goals (water, sleep, life organization...I have a tracking binder for all the things) and so here I am to support YOUUUU because the struggle is so real.  I also write and have freelanced, so I feel you on SO. MANY. LEVELS.  You got this!!!!!

[Echoceanic]

18 hours ago, Stribs said:

WELCOME TO THE RANGERS!!!!!   I feel like we have a lot of the same goals (water, sleep, life organization...I have a tracking binder for all the things) and so here I am to support YOUUUU because the struggle is so real.  I also write and have freelanced, so I feel you on SO. MANY. LEVELS.  You got this!!!!!

Thanks and yeah we seem to do a lot of the same things. It's nice when someone gets the problems. And yay for the tracking binder, I have a journal.

 

TODAY:

1. It was opening day in the factory I work at, so I spent all day either handing people folders, having pictures taken and eating. I also got my period but I didn't stain anything and got the pill on time so no pain (till I got home).
2. Yesterday I explained to my friend that I can't do his book. I am swamped and something has to give. He was fine with it, so I am staring at my past self going 'see, not that hard'.
3. I am still a bit confused when people ask me to take photos with them, or offer help in ways that doesn't benefit them. We had to wear a black blazer and pants and a white blouse to work today and I have zero super professional clothes (grew like a weed and am 23 so I didn't have time) and every coworker offered to help. And they want me around, talk to me without passively aggressively making me feel bad, and ask me to take photos with them, like without being made to or because I look funny. This is so weird. And I realise it sounds really sad that I am not used to be treated like a person at my age, but blame shitty childhoods. I was worse before I had a best friend (and even with her I sometimes have to do a double take when she invites me to things). I am used to being the weirdo no one actually hangs out with unless they want homework. I at first tried to hide that I was confused, but these days I decided that no, I am saying it even if it sounds pathetic and sad. Better than than people thinking I am bitchy. So today I did just that. When a coworker asked for a photo with me and I didn't realise she meant me and turned around to see who was behind me I owned up to why. "Not used to people wanting that." Felt good.
4. Didn't exercise, but, aforementioned period was to blame. I had a pain pill with me, but the new kind I bought didn't last long (I cussed out the bottle and mom went to buy the other kind so I don't suffer). I took a nap and now will do my book for a half an hour or so.

[shaar]

30 minutes ago, Echocheanic said:

1. Didn't exercise, but, aforementioned period was to blame.

 

This is the REAL STRUGGLE RIGHT HERE. ><  I swear so many of my workouts get thrown off 'cause of this....

[Echoceanic]

27 minutes ago, shaar said:

This is the REAL STRUGGLE RIGHT HERE. ><  I swear so many of my workouts get thrown off 'cause of this....

And if it is not the pain it's lethargy caused by PMS for me  >< 

[Novaurora]

Congrats on being in a better situation!  I hope this job really works out for you!  Also, I hope shark week is swift and less annoying for you tomorrow!!

[Echoceanic]

TODAY:

 

1. I did a short workout today because I thought I would be going out and then my plans changed. I did this, but I didn't do the triceps dips like that, I did them with bent legs to feel it in my legs. I did feel the workout though it didn't make my heart race, the music before that did. And the 'burn' I felt in my limbs was nice. Now I need to figure out my schedule again.
2. The job site is... iffy. But hey experience that might help me find a new job and nice people I want to hang out with. I need to figure out how to suggest hanging out outside work with someone. It's weird. 
3. I hate flies. I hate things buzzing around me. Ugh. That is all. Trackers are going well I think but I am worried I am not doing enough (it is a light month stuff wise considering all the other months, but I have less time cause work).

[Cheetah]

2 hours ago, Echocheanic said:

short workout today

 

Good job!

[Mad Hatter]

On 3/13/2018 at 6:49 PM, Echocheanic said:

1. Learn to say NO - example, the chapters I am reading. I should have just said 'no I can't this month' but nooooo, Echo has to be nice and accommodating because he is a friend and I have so few of those. Open your mouth and say things, he wouldn't have gotten mad. For this I just need to be verbally slapped over and over. 

My favourite goal. So important to learn.

[Echoceanic]

Yesterday:

1. I came home, ate, washed my hair and then proceeded to pass the fuck out at 6:30 pm and not get up till bedtime. Then I slipped under the covers and continued to sleep till 7 am this morning. Everyone was tired at work, I have no idea what was happening. But yay, my nap didn't ruin my schedule? 
2. I need to figure out how to comfort people. I suck at it, and my best friend needs me to be there for her. And I just feel like I suck at comforting and I need to be there for her.

Today:

1. Did a lot of shopping for food, did some talking to people - apparently people see a sleeveless dress and don't care it was thickly knitted and ill let you know you are dressed too summery. 
2. Not going to think about exercising today, I need to do other things. I feel like this is a part of the learn to say no goal. I need to learn that I don't have an infinite amount of time every day and if I want to do the things that really matter to me - like right now I really just want to finish my book and have it be at the editor already, and postpone the rest. 

[Novaurora]

9 hours ago, Echocheanic said:

 

1. I need to figure out how to comfort people. I suck at it, and my best friend needs me to be there for her. And I just feel like I suck at comforting and I need to be there for her.

 

 

This is me.  I feel so awkward (especially because my life up to this point has avoided many of the things that people go through so empathy is hard) and I feel like I can't relate and so I always feel like everything I say is stupid or cliche or unhelpful.  But it always works out okay, so I'm sure just the fact that you want to be there for her means something.

[Echoceanic]

18 hours ago, Stribs said:

I feel so awkward (especially because my life up to this point has avoided many of the things that people go through so empathy is hard) and I feel like I can't relate and so I always feel like everything I say is stupid or cliche or unhelpful.

I feel this way too, but I have been through the thing she is going through now, and I still feel unhelpful and cliche. 

 

Today:

1. I think I have a cold. But it is not a full-blown 'i have a cold' feeling. Just a small scratch here and an itch there, it is making me doubt I am actually sick, but then I feel my throat and go 'yup'.
2. I did nothing today. Well, not nothing, I did go to the market and dragged over 15 kilos of stuff home so that was good. Mostly potatoes. But other than that, I grated salad. And that is it. Took a nap. I did manage to not just stay on the computer with nothing to do, so that's good.

[Echoceanic]

Happy first official challenge day ya'll!

 

Today:

1. I did so well with not getting upset at work today, despite my headache and my wisdom tooth making my entire jaw hurt. And I managed to schedule my time better.
2. And then I came home to a message from the friend I was going to beta-read for, the one that I said will need to wait. Apparently the only reason he said he was fine with it was because he got another beta reader, and now that he lost that one (they bailed) he came at me with a "Just asking but are you ever going to read my book'? Just with more words. I took a deep breath, and instead of writing either a 'of course I will, maybe after *insert random thing*' or a 'fine I'll do it right now', I decided to explain that I feel guilty enough already and that he needs to be patient. And then I mentioned that the job has uprooted my life so much I barely have time to even vacuum. Which is true. All I need is time to settle in my new routine and him mentioning the book every day to me won't actually help me with that it will just make me feel guilty. It is a wonder I am still in one piece. And I have a brain where if someone is asking me about a thing, I can't stop thinking about that thing and my brain starts calling me lazy because I can't get to that thing and I don't do anything. And I hate hate hate complaining. And my brain still thinks I should be doing more than this because is is only 9 hours, I have 7 more if I leave 8 for sleep. And then I wind up doing nothing. It's like my brain tries to play life on expert mode weather I want it to or not. I wound up talking to him about it, because, surprise, I never told him I am like this.

[Mad Hatter]

That's rough. How did he take it?

[TGP]

I'm sure everything went as good as it could have.  if I understand you correctly you did for a fever give him some constructive criticism. thats really quite a gift. normally the aspiring reader sees and hears no comments about how his/her story reads.

 

thats the best way to look at that imho.

[Echoceanic]

3 hours ago, TGP said:

I'm sure everything went as good as it could have.  if I understand you correctly you did for a fever give him some constructive criticism. thats really quite a gift. normally the aspiring reader sees and hears no comments about how his/her story reads.

 

Beta-readers are basically the same as beta-testers. I am a writer and we trade our books (though his are triple the size of mine). It helps to fix errors before we go and edit it. He has a completely different style than mine and we are both extremes - he is really winded and I am really short, so we balance. But if he grabs onto something he doesn't let go and I am the opposite, I still haven't bugged him about the book he has. 

The thing is, while I am not a better writer than he is, we have different strengths and I am pretty good at the things he isn't, and I am almost editor-level through. It is exhausting, especially since I've read the book's first few chapters so many times they blend together.

He did help with mine, but it didn't take nearly as much work - he only read it once.

 

4 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

That's rough. How did he take it?

Pretty well actually. he gave me advice, and was kinda hurt I didn't tell him before, so now I know I can talk to him about this. He gave me good advice though it will take a while for me to get used to a reward system. It is weird to be told that I can share things with people.

 

 

• I have a thing to add to today - I worked out at 8 pm-ish, up to 9 pm. Apparently I can do that. I'll see how I sleep and if I sleep well I'll know I can exercise this late. Will jot down the routine here for posterity:

 

warm up

20 squats

20 elevated push ups (a set is now 20 and I still can't do one regular one)

10 what the internet tells me are bicep curls - 4 pounds weight each hand

a few experiments with the dumbbells and moving my arms with them

10 wood choppers each side - 4 pound dumbbell

20 triceps dips - proper ones this time (might have been 10 don't remember)

20 leg kicks each leg because I neglected my legs and I need to find something 

20 squats

stretching - have to prevent lower back pain and crack the middle of my back so I don't sit like a croissant.

 

Will be sore tomorrow, but boy did that feel good. I find I do my best exercise when I don't get ready. I did it in my regular clothes with my makeup still on (at least I don't wear foundation so that didn't have a chance to melt into my skin and make it worse - been having crappy acne lately and redness and it make me feel not put together).

 

• I also had a good laugh with my mom. About sad things but it's good to find the funny in the bad.

 

[Cheetah]

6 hours ago, Echocheanic said:

I wound up talking to him about it

 

Good job! 

 

3 hours ago, Echocheanic said:

because I neglected my legs

 

If you did 20 squats at the beginning and end of your workout, you didn't neglect your legs.

[Mad Hatter]

9 hours ago, Echocheanic said:

Pretty well actually. he gave me advice, and was kinda hurt I didn't tell him before, so now I know I can talk to him about this. He gave me good advice though it will take a while for me to get used to a reward system. It is weird to be told that I can share things with people.

That's fantastic. I find it so helpful to know that I share uncomfortable things with people and they won't go running for the hills. If anything it strengthens the relationships. 

[Echoceanic]

16 hours ago, Cheetah said:

If you did 20 squats at the beginning and end of your workout, you didn't neglect your legs.

At the point when I was doing the leg kicks it didn't feel as much considering what I did for upped body exercises.

 

9 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

That's fantastic. I find it so helpful to know that I share uncomfortable things with people and they won't go running for the hills. If anything it strengthens the relationships. 

I'm so used to shouldering things like this alone that it is weird when I can share it with people. And apparently I look really put together in texts.  

[Echoceanic]

Yesterday:

1. The time got away from me. I planned on doing things but they didn't happen because I went to the store and everything stopped.

 

Today:

1. My head hurts so much! Today was so draining I feel like I need to plug myself into an outlet and charge right now. 

[Cheetah]

On 3/21/2018 at 12:24 PM, Echocheanic said:

The time got away from me.

 

It happens.  Time is getting away from me right now, and any minute I'm going to remember something I'm supposed to be doing instead of reading NF posts.

 

On 3/21/2018 at 12:24 PM, Echocheanic said:

My head hurts so much!

 

I'm sorry to hear that!  I hope you're feeling better!