Juni0r83 re-evaluates and refocuses

[Juni0r83]

 I've just come off of two successful challenges, and I was thinking I needed to continue with the same goals, but somehow up the ante. But a recent assessment by a psychologist has given me some things to think about.

 

Apparently, if you're smart, you have an increase proclivity towards laziness. And although I probably register higher than normal on the various scales they use to measure ADHD and ASD, he considers me to likely still fall within the standard deviation. And although medication may help temporarily, he suspects it wouldn't help as a long term solution, and as such is recommending that I pursue personal discipline practices as well as scheduling and time management as a solution to my in ability to follow through on tasks. Which is interesting, even if somewhat less helpful than I was hoping for.

 

So I'm shifting my focus a little. I'm keeping the calorie and cardio goals, but I'm replacing my workout goals with something to do with getting myself better motivated to get stuff done. But, the specifics will have to come later.

 

Goal 1:

Track calories, but the points aren't just earned for tracking anymore, they're earned for hitting goals. 1 point for each day that I'm under 2400, and a bonus 2 points for each week that my daily average stays under 2700. This should guarantee me at least a 0.5 kg weight loss each week, which is less than I'm aiming for, but enough to keep me tracking along. If I continue to kill this goal, I'll continue to tighten my parameters until I'm finding it challenging and yet not so much that I become demoralised. 36 total points available for this goal.

 

Goal 2:

I've probably struggled the most with this goal out of all of my goals. I've got to get better as using my days off to achieve this goal. So for the time being, I'm sticking to 2x30 minutes of walking each week, and I'll give myself a point for each session, and a bonus point for each session that I manage on a day that I'm not working. So that brings my total possible points to 16 for this goal.

 

Goal 3:

It really is about time I got my shit together. So, after having a conversation with a psychologist, I'm attempting to add some structure to my otherwise unstructured life. And to do that, I've basically given myself a great big to do list, and followed it up with 3 mini goals.

 

The to do list:

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

 

And then basically I've come up with a really basic morning routine, a really basic wind down routine, and a single scheduling goal for myself for each of the 19 days that I'm off this challenge (I've taken some time off of work for an unrelated thing I have to be doing). So, before I get carried away, the two routines:

 

Morning Routine

• Wash and moisturise my face

• Brush my teeth

• Go for a walk with a podcast or audio book

• Drink 1l of water

• Sort out and empty my inbox

 

Wind Down Routine

• Refill soda stream bottles

• Get out the clothes I plan on wearing the next day

• Sort out the schedule for tomorrow

• Put away the remote controls

 

And finally, the scheduling task: make time for a single 2 hour block each day off to work on a project.

 

For the points, I'm giving myself 1 point for each item of the to do list that I get crossed off, 1 point for each day that I use my morning routine, 1 point for each day that I use my wind down routine, and finally, 1 point for each day that I spend 2 hours working towards a non-fitness objective. Total points I can earn for this goal, 68. We'll see how I go I guess.

 

So, that's about as much as I can manage to talk about right now, further updates to come I suppose.

[CourtnieMarie]

i don't know if i've said this before but i really like your points system. i bet you could apply it to something for your 3rd goal. 

[Juni0r83]

8 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

i don't know if i've said this before but i really like your points system. i bet you could apply it to something for your 3rd goal. 

 

Thanks, it's keeping me focused.

 

Actually last goal, with the points penalties, was a killer because I couldn't let myself slip. I probably should have gone that route again this time. Or maybe I incorporate it into my third goal.

[Juni0r83]

So technically, the challenge has started, but I've finally added goal 3 (now that I've worked it out). I had this problem where I couldn't make myself productive enough to figure out what it was I needed to do in order to be more productive... But, it's done now, so, time to get cracking I guess.

[Blocky]

On 5/24/2018 at 3:51 PM, Juni0r83 said:

The to do list:

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

 

I may have to steal all of this - I am extremely unfocused and have a thousand individual todo lists...

[Juni0r83]

3 hours ago, Blocky said:

 

I may have to steal all of this - I am extremely unfocused and have a thousand individual todo lists...

 

Full disclosure, I may possibly have stolen approximately all of this from the YouTube channel of Thomas Frank.

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/electrickeye91

 

With any luck it'll actually work.

[Juni0r83]

Week 1, Day 1

 

Track Calories:

2628 - I didn't really screw up too badly, but my lunch was about double more normal caloric intake, and I didn't adjust the remainder of my day appropriately. I actually thought I had succeeded in coming in under 2400 initially, until I remembered to add the energy drink I had before hitting the gym.

 

Do Cardio:

Working, so between that, the gym, and trying not to die of exhaustion, this didn't happen.

 

Get My Shit Together:

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad - This is $7.99 AUD which I wasn't expecting, but I'll have a chat with my wife, and I suspect we'll invest if it can help us be better organised adulty type people.

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list - I've had a look, and was initially put off by the $44.99 AUD pricetag for premium, but the free option does what I'm looking for anyway, so I'll download this and start playing around with it soon.

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture - I've had a look, but I'm yet to download it and start trying to organise my ideas and projects.

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time - Done, days off bed times are now going to be 23:15, and wake up will be 07:00 (approx. 15 minutes to fall asleep, plus sleep cycles of approx. 90 minutes)

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up - I've done this, and I'm confident that it'll get me moving in the morning, it's certainly loud enough, but apparently there's a problem with third party ios alarms. You have to leave the app open for them to work properly, and I don't have a charge point next to my side of the bed. If we fix this, it'll work just perfectly.

2/11

 

Follow morning 0/19

Follow evening routine 0/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work 0/19

I haven't had a day off for any of these just yet, so this isn't me failing, it's just me working 12 hours a day.

 

2/120 points earned so far. It's still a long way to an overall pass mark...

[CourtnieMarie]

10 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad - This is $7.99 AUD which I wasn't expecting, but I'll have a chat with my wife, and I suspect we'll invest if it can help us be better organised adulty type people.

 

SO and I use iCal which is easy to use on the iPhone and also easy to use the web-based version. you can create a shared category where anything that you or your wife adds to that category gets added to your calendar as well. also free! might be worth looking into.

 

10 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

2/120 points earned so far. It's still a long way to an overall pass mark...

10 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

•  

• I haven't had a day off for any of these just yet, so this isn't me failing, it's just me working 12 hours a day.

i think your passing marks will come when you have some time off!

[Juni0r83]

18 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

SO and I use iCal which is easy to use on the iPhone and also easy to use the web-based version. you can create a shared category where anything that you or your wife adds to that category gets added to your calendar as well. also free! might be worth looking into.

 

i think your passing marks will come when you have some time off!

 

I'll have to have a look at iCal and see how I think it'll fit with what I'm planning on doing. Thanks.

 

And yeah, I'm sure more points will flow soon, it's just nerve wracking looking at 120 points to earn this challenge, and so far I've managed 2.

[Juni0r83]

Week 1, Day 2

 

Track Calories:

2679 - still struggling to bring this number back under control. And I know for a fact today is blown out of the water. I'm going to have to put some better planning into my food at some point I'm sure.

 

0/36

 

Do Cardio:

Working again (still) So this isn't going to happen before the weekend I don't think. But, that's okay, I've now got a plan to get the cardio done, so I'm less worried than I was.

 

0/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app - Did this yesterday, and I've already put my morning routine and wind down routine into my habits. Starting to see quite a few things crossed off here now.

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

3/11

 

Follow my morning routine 0/19

Follow my wind down routine 0/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work 0/19

Still working. Friday is my first opportunity. I hope my wife doesn't have too much planned for me to do that day...

 

3/120 points earned so far.

[CourtnieMarie]

2 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

I hope my wife doesn't have too much planned for me to do that day...

she should put it on your shared calendar! 

[Juni0r83]

19 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

she should put it on your shared calendar! 

When we have one, I'll be sure to bug her about adding it.

[Juni0r83]

Week 1 Day 3

 

Track Calories:

2267 - but some miracle, I came in under my 2400 goal for Wednesday. But today's already blown, once I've had dinner, I'm up over 3000 calories. This doesn't bode well for my 2700 weekly average as i know I'm having a few rinks with friends Saturday night. Maybe if I pull everything in tight Saturday, I can keep my total under 2700? I doubt it though.

 

1/36

 

Do Cardio:

Nope. Day 4 is my last day at work, so, maybe I'll get some done on Day 5? It's unlikely though. It'll probably have to wait until Days 6 and 7. But that's okay.

 

0/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

 

I'm going to try and do a few of these things tonight, so that when I start my days off I'll be ready to go, but I'm not expecting to have it all ready to go this week. So long as I keep ticking away at it, I'll be happy. The goal is to be incrementally better each day/week, not to suddenly click my fingers have my life suddenly all come together.

 

3/11

 

Morning Routine 0/19

Evening Routine 0/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work 0/19

 

4/120 points earned so far. This is kind of cool to realise that there hasn't been a day go by yet when I haven't earned at least 1 point. I mean it's not exactly impressive, but it feels good to know that I'm achieving stuff.

[CourtnieMarie]

2 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

So long as I keep ticking away at it, I'll be happy. The goal is to be incrementally better each day/week, not to suddenly click my fingers have my life suddenly all come together.

 

4/120 points earned so far. This is kind of cool to realise that there hasn't been a day go by yet when I haven't earned at least 1 point. I mean it's not exactly impressive, but it feels good to know that I'm achieving stuff

 

exactly! keep ticking away at it. and then when you have a day off or two, you've got the snowball effect going for you

[Blocky]

I'm impressed that you've kept us updated every day...

[Juni0r83]

1 hour ago, Blocky said:

I'm impressed that you've kept us updated every day...

It's been a struggle. But I'm kind of using it as my interim to-do list, so it's handy to update it each day.

[Juni0r83]

Week 1 Day 4

 

Track Calories:

3357 - ouch. I kind of knew this would be the day that sucks the most. And this is probably also the day that will throw off my average. This is probably the kind of day that is causing my weightloss to stagnate. Gotta work on that.

 

1/36

 

Do Cardio:

I chose sleep over cardio. Damn Night Shift.

 

0/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

Got no work done towards these goals on Thursday, but I did do my nightly routine before crashing at the end of the shift (technically Friday but I'm counting it for today)

 

Get Shit Done: 3/11

Morning Routine: 0/19

Evening Routine: 1/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 0/19

 

5/120 points by the end of day 4.

 

Week 1 Day 5

 

Track Calories:

1950 calories. Yay, another point!

 

2/36 points earned.

 

Do Cardio:

None for Friday, I didn't even get out of bed before 1400. Stupid Nightshift.

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

I downloaded and started using Todoist on the Friday, and even tried to download Evernote, but apparently it needed a more recent version of iOS, and I am generally reluctant to let my phone sit idle for long enough to iOS to download and install. So, I hadn't done it since 10.2? It's been a while anyway. I did manage to run through my morning routine (minus the cardio) when I got up and I planned a 2 hour block for project work, even if I did fail to execute. But that's okay, it's a learning process, and I'll take the point anyway. Then at the end of the day, I followed through on my evening routine, just for completion's sake

 

Get Shit Done: 5/11

Morning Routine: 1/19

Evening Routine: 2/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 1/19

 

11/120 points earned so far. Woot, I'm nearly at 10%.

 

Week 1 Day 6

 

Track Calories:

2324 calories. By some miracle, I stayed under 2400 on a day when I went out drinking. I'm not entirely sure how, but I'll take it.

 

3/36 points so far

 

Do Cardio:

Went for a walk with my wife and son, managed to get a bunch of stuff done in the morning. It was great. Even my wife couldn't beleive that by lunch time we'd done as much as we normally achieved in a whole day. I was pretty happy with that. Also, it wasn't a work day!

 

2/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

Got up and followed my morning routine. Went for the walk as previously mentioned, and got through the first 50-60% of my schedule for the day. I even updated my iPhone and downloaded Evernote. But that was about as far as I managed to get before everything just sort of fell apart. It's still a huge improvement on my normal level of achievement, but still not quite where I'd like it to be. Then, despite being a little drunk, I even managed to get through my evening routine before crashing out at like 3 in the morning.

 

Get Shit Done: 6/11

Morning Routine: 2/19

Evening Routine: 3/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 2/19

 

17/120 points earned so far. And this is the point where it all finally feels like it's coming together. The points are counting down, and stuff is getting done. Now I just need to hold on and grind through the rest of the challenge (as well as most likely the next one) so that the habits can really start to set in.

 

Week 1 Day 7

 

Track Calories:

2532 No real excuse for this, I just didn't make great food choices today. A large plate of pancakes with maple syrup, sliced banana and whipped cream taste amazing, but they don't set you up for a good day calorie wise...

 

Also, as it's the end of the week, I can finally look back and find out how my average has been... 

2628 + 2679 + 2267 + 3357 + 1950 + 2324 + 2532 = 17737 total. 2533 as the daily average. Woot, 2 bonus points!

 

5/36

 

Do Cardio:

Went for another walk today, once again as part of my morning routine. I have to admit, it's helping me get going in the morning, which is probably contributing to the whole "getting shit done" thing. I like it.

 

4/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

Got up to my morning routine, cooked my wife "brunch" (it was lunch time, but we ate pancakes...), sorted out Evernote and started transferring some of my active ideas and projects into notebooks. Then at 2, as per my daily schedule, I sat down to do some project work, only to realise I don't yet have a space setup for me to do that just yet, so I ended up spending the first 30 minutes just getting together something for me to set a laptop up on. It doesn't count as setting up a workspace, but it did cut into my work time today. But I did manage an hour and half of solid, focused work. It's not much, but it's a start. And about an hour and a half more than I would normally get done in my days off, so go me! Finally, I wound down the night keeping everyone updated here, and then, well, I'm not sure. But I'm already halfway through my nightly routine, so, I'm counting the points as if I finish it tonight.

 

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

I'm really starting to work my way down to the bottom of this to do list, and I'm quite proud of myself for that. I'm not actually sure what I want to replace it with for my next challenge just yet, but it's something I'm going to have to think seriously about before I get there.

 

Get Shit done: 7/11

Morning Routine: 3/19

Evening Routine: 4/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 3/19

 

26/120 total points earned so far. I still have another 2 days off before I go back to work, so I'm kind of excited to see how much more I can get done this week. 

 

[JustCallMeAmber]

Awesome update! Looks like you're getting the things done. Great job!

[Juni0r83]

9 hours ago, JustCallMeAmber said:

Awesome update! Looks like you're getting the things done. Great job!

It was a long time coming, but thanks. 

[Juni0r83]

Week 2 Day 1

 

Track Calories:

2113 calories. 1 point earned.

 

6/36

 

Do Cardio:

Got a walk in this morning, listening to a business podcast. I don't know if I'll keep listening to business and finance podcasts, potentially I'll move into science and pop culture podcasts, because that's the sort of stuff I can more happily listen to, but at least it kept me entertained for the 40 minutes that I took to walk 3.8km in the fog this morning. 2 points earned because it's not a work day.

 

6/16

 

Get My Shit Together

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

So, I haven't gotten anything additional done here today, but I'm not worried because today just felt super productive anyway. 

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 4/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 4/19

 

These items seem to be ticking away nicely, so I've got nothing to complain about. I would like to get at least 1 or 2 more things checked off my to-do list before I got back to work on Wednesday, but, it's probably good enough at this point.

 

32/120 points earned for this challenge so far. Getting there...

[Juni0r83]

Week 2 Day 2

 

Track Calories:

2540 calories. 0 points earned. I had 1 too many double coat tim tams to finish off my calories for the day apparently. Whoops.

 

6/36

 

Do Cardio:

Got a walk in this morning, and finished listening to that podcast. I downloaded a few more from the same guy, and depending on how I feel about these others, I'll figure out if I need to switch to something else.

 

8/16

 

Get My Shit Together

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

Nothing new to see here, move along.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 5/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 5/19

 

Five days off, five points earned for each one. That's right on target. I must admit, some mornings were harder to get moving than others, but none of them is as hard as getting up for work at 5:30 in the damn morning. That  can go take a flying leap. Stupid shift work.

 

36/120 points earned for this challenge so far. I feel like it'll seem less overwhelming once I can get past the half way mark...

[Juni0r83]

Week 2 Day 3

 

Track Calories:

1977 calories. 1 point earned. Not sure if this is a big swing back from last week or if it just worked out for me yesterday.

 

7/36

 

Do Cardio:

I'm back at work. So no cardio. I actually need to think about this goal as I move into my 19 days off. I don't think it's appropriate to count my 2 points for every day. I'm thinking I just count the first 2 per week.

 

8/16

 

Get My Shit Together

• Set up a Google calendar to manage my appointments and fixed time bookings

• Check out fantastical to manage my Google calendar effectively from my iPhone and iPad

• Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

• Check out todoist as an option for managing your to-do list

• Start keeping notes better organised to capture ideas and projects you want to work on

• Check out Evernote as an option for managing your ideas capture

• Clear my inboxes so that they can become incoming traffic only instead of store houses of years and years of messages and information that is no longer relevant to my life

• Reset Habitica and become familiar with the web based system instead of just the app

• Setup a workspace so when I want to work on a project I have a place to do it

• Pick a bed time and wake up time

• Check out Math alarm as an option to help me wake up

Still No change here.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 5/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 5/19

 

Work means I'm not doing these things at the moment. I'll get back to it next week when I'm not working again.

 

37/120 points earned for this challenge so far.

[CourtnieMarie]

On 6/6/2018 at 2:49 AM, Juni0r83 said:

36/120 points earned for this challenge so far. I feel like it'll seem less overwhelming once I can get past the half way mark...

you're right on target as we're about a third of the way into the challenge!

[Juni0r83]

20 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

you're right on target as we're about a third of the way into the challenge!

 

I know I've loaded most of my points into the back half of the challenge, but that's kind of what's worrying me. My efforts normally dwindle towards the end of a challenge, and if I can't build some serious momentum in the first half of the challenge, I don't know how I'm going to go at finishing all of my goals this time around.

[Jord]

1 hour ago, Juni0r83 said:

 

I know I've loaded most of my points into the back half of the challenge, but that's kind of what's worrying me. My efforts normally dwindle towards the end of a challenge, and if I can't build some serious momentum in the first half of the challenge, I don't know how I'm going to go at finishing all of my goals this time around.

 

you are just going to have to do things differently this time no slacking at the end!