Juni0r83 re-evaluates and refocuses

[CourtnieMarie]

44 minutes ago, Taddea Zhaan said:

 

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

we'll keep bugging you until you get it done

[Juni0r83]

5 hours ago, Taddea Zhaan said:

 

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

 

5 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

we'll keep bugging you until you get it done

 

Thanks guys. I'll do my best not to let everyone down.

[Jord]

1 minute ago, Juni0r83 said:

 

 

Thanks guys. I'll do my best not to let everyone down.

 

Don't do it for us, do it for you.

[Juni0r83]

Week 2 Day 4

 

Track Calories:

2357 calories. 1 point earned. I cut it close, but I managed to stay within the lines. Considering Thursday is the day I eat takeaway, I figure that's a relative win.

 

8/36

 

Do Cardio:

Still no cardio. Still at work.

 

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 to add.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 5/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 5/19

 

Only a few days left before I get back home for a couple of weeks. I can't wait.

 

38/120 points earned for this challenge so far.

[Juni0r83]

Week 2 Day 5

 

Track Calories:

2597 calories. No points earned. Bu-Bow.

 

8/36

 

Do Cardio:

Nightshift sucks.

 

8/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

Still working, still haven't done anything.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 5/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 5/19

 

38/120 pointes earned so far.

 

Week 2 Day 6

 

Track Calories:

2222 calories. 1 more point earned.

 

9/36

 

Do Cardio:

So close to the end. But still no cardio.

 

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

I really don't have an excuse for not closing off a couple of these during my work week, but, I just haven't bothered.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 5/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 5/19

 

I'm now on my last shift. And I can't wait to not be stuck at a desk for 12 hours a day.

 

39/120 points earned for this challenge so far.

[Jord]

[Juni0r83]

11 hours ago, Taddea Zhaan said:

 

Sorry, overslept, for nearly a week....

 

Update Pending....

[Juni0r83]

Week 2 Day 7

 

Track Calories:

2213 calories. 1 Point earned

 

Weekly Average:

2288 calories. 2 Bonus points earned. Woohoo.

 

11/36

 

Do Cardio:

Last Shift. This will start happening tomorrow

 

8/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

Can't wait to not be working for a few weeks.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 5/19

Evening Routine: 5/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 5/19

 

41/120 points earned so far.

 

Week 3 Day 1

 

Track Calories:

2984 calories. What the hell. I remember missing my target on Monday, I don't remember it being that damn high.

 

11/36

 

Do Cardio:

First Day off, no cardio.

 

8/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

No new tasks completed

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 6/19

Evening Routine: 6/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 6/19

 

44/120 points earned so far.

 

Week 3 Day 2

 

Track Calories:

2387 calories. Another solid day.

 

12/36

 

Do Cardio:

30 minutes of walking successfully completed

 

10/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

I still haven't managed to get anything done here.

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 7/19

Evening Routine: 7/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 7/19

 

50/120 pointes earned so far.

 

Week 3 Day 3

 

Track Calories:

2451 calories. Another point earned.

 

13/36

 

Do Cardio:

Another good day of walking listening to podcasts. This is the last time I can claim points for this one this week...

 

12/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

I really have no more excuses. But seriously, no progress...

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 8/19

Evening Routine: 8/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 8/19 - I'm actually wondering if I should start tracking how many times I actually do the work instead of just scheduling for it...

 

56/120 pointes earned so far.

 

Week 3 Day 4

 

Track Calories:

2739 calories. It was takeaway day, what do you want me to say?

 

13/36

 

Do Cardio:

I did it, but, no points none the less.

 

12/16

 

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

There are a couple of easy ones I should probably try and check off this week. We'll see...

 

7/11

 

Morning Routine: 9/19

Evening Routine: 9/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 9/19 - This day did not go to plan, I slept in because I didn't get to bed until late. Although I got through everything, I had to completed rearrange everything. I wasn't overly happy about it, but I then went and made the same mistake again. Stupid late nights ruining my morning routine...

 

59/120 points earned for this challenge so far.

 

So close to the half way mark. 50% is a pass right? Really trying to push for at least a pass mark here.

[CourtnieMarie]

50% is totally a pass. plus you're keeping up with updating and reminding yourself of the things you want to accomplish. usually i just forget my goals halfway through and do whatever i want...

[Juni0r83]

12 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

50% is totally a pass. plus you're keeping up with updating and reminding yourself of the things you want to accomplish. usually i just forget my goals halfway through and do whatever i want...

I don't tend to forget them so much as I just start to neglect them (kind of like my to-do list) and then become so overwhelmed with guilt that I stop updating here, and things just tend to start falling into a dark hole and I never get anywhere...

You at least keep doing stuff, even if it wasn't what you originally planned.

 

Side note, I did a thing yesterday, so I have actual stuff to update when I get around to it later today.

[JustCallMeAmber]

12 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

I don't tend to forget them so much as I just start to neglect them (kind of like my to-do list) and then become so overwhelmed with guilt that I stop updating here, and things just tend to start falling into a dark hole and I never get anywhere...

 

Just my .02, but I tend to feel like that's one of the more important times to hang around. Nerds have a way of helping out with coming up with a different way of attacking the problem, or reframing things so they don't feel so overwhelming, or offering support/encouragement/kick in the backside as needed. Or, 

12 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

 I did a thing yesterday, so I have actual stuff to update when I get around to it later today.

Sometimes it helps just to keep updating so you can see you're making progress, even if it doesn't necessarily feel that way. (Not that I've ever had a week where I felt like I got zero things done only to add up the score and find I actually had a pretty good week.. )

 

Anyways. Keep on keeping on!

[Juni0r83]

Week 3 Day 5

 

Track Calories:

2214 calories. 

 

14/36

 

Do Cardio:

I did it, no points

 

12/16

 

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

Clearing my inboxes wasn't nearly as easy a process as I was expecting. Several hours of just selecting and moving page after page of emails that contain information I still need but don't require action later, and I have nothing but clean inboxes. And I must admit, it was worth it. Having an empty inbox has got to be one of the most cathartic things in my world right now. It honestly feels like a little knot of stress that I didn't even realise I was carrying around has suddenly untangled in my brain.

 

8/11

 

Morning Routine: 10/19

Evening Routine: 10/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 10/19

 

I've been keeping up with my morning stuff, and getting work done every day which is always comforting

 

64/120 points earned for this challenge so far.

 

Week 3 Day 6

 

Track Calories:

2107. Another point down

 

15/36

 

Do Cardio:

Went for another walk. Another day without points...

 

12/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

Nothing to add for today.

 

8/11

 

Do My Morning Routine: 11/19

Do My Evening Routine: 11/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 11/19

 

68/120 points earned so far

 

Week 3 Day 7

 

Track Calories:

2483 calories. Another point down. 

Weekly average calories were 2481, so another 2 bonus points earned.

 

18/36 points earned.

 

Do Cardio:

 

No. Sunday was crazy enough without me trying to fit a walk into the mix as well...

 

12/16

 

Get My Shit Together:

 

No, I did nothing on this day, because from 8:30 till 16:30 I was on my feet running first aid competitions for St John Cadets from two cities to decide who goes to state competitions in a couple of months time. This has been the focus of my project work for the last 2 weeks probably. And it's finally done, and I can relax and maybe start doing other stuff for a change. 

 

8/11

 

Do My Morning Routine: 11/19

Do My Evening Routine: 12/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 12/19

 

I'm counting the project work because I spent all day working. But not my morning routine because I kind of just got up and got to work.

 

73/120 points earned so far this challenge.

 

I just want to say thankyou as well to @Taddea Zhaan, @JustCallMeAmber And @CourtnieMarie for your encouragement and gentle reminders that I still have this challenge happening. It has been really appreciated.

[Jord]

10 hours ago, Juni0r83 said:

Clearing my inboxes wasn't nearly as easy a process as I was expecting. Several hours of just selecting and moving page after page of emails that contain information I still need but don't require action later, and I have nothing but clean inboxes. And I must admit, it was worth it. Having an empty inbox has got to be one of the most cathartic things in my world right now. It honestly feels like a little knot of stress that I didn't even realise I was carrying around has suddenly untangled in my brain.

 

This is awesome! And not an easy task. I have a system of moving anything completed from my inbox to folders. And I get that same feeling when I can see all my inbox without scrolling. Great job getting that done!

[CourtnieMarie]

awesome weekend! so you're not working this week right? how's your to-do list looking?

[Juni0r83]

1 hour ago, CourtnieMarie said:

awesome weekend! so you're not working this week right? how's your to-do list looking?

I’ll crush two out of three of the things on my list. The last one, creating a workspace for myself, that’s a rather significant job. So, work to be done...

[Juni0r83]

Was going to write an update, but given that we're just a day away from the end of the challenge, decided against it. I'll just update the entire last week at the end. Still ticking along though.

[Juni0r83]

Week 4:

Monday

Track calories:

2438. I'm surprised, It was my wife's birthday, and much cake was eaten...

19/36 points earned.

 

Do cardio:

No

12/16

 

Get My shit together:

I did setup a Google calendar and have a look at a few calendar management apps. Found one I'm happy with, started using it. Now I just have to link my calendar with my wifes, and then as life gets more complicated, we'll continue to add layers.

10/11

 

Do My Morning Routine: 12/19

Do My Evening Routine: 12/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 13/19

 

Tuesday

Track calories:

1942

20/36

 

Do cardio:

Yes

14/16

 

Get My shit together

10/11

 

Do My Morning Routine: 13/19

Do My Evening Routine: 12/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 14/19

 

Wednesday

Track calories

2375

21/36

 

Do cardio:

No

14/16

 

Get My shit together

10/11

 

Do Morning Routine: 13/19

Do My Evening Routine: 13/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 15/19

 

Thursday

Track calories:

3104

21/36

 

Do cardio

No

14/16

 

Get My shit together

10/11

 

Do Morning Routine: 13/19

Do My Evening Routine: 14/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 16/19

 

Friday

Track calories:

2482

22/36

 

Do cardio

Yes

16/16

 

Get My shit together

10/11

 

Do Morning Routine: 14/19

Do My Evening Routine: 15/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 17/19

 

Saturday

Track calories:

1883

23/36

 

Do cardio

Yes

16/16

 

Get My shit together

10/11

 

Do Morning Routine: 15/19

Do My Evening Routine: 16/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 18/19

 

Sunday

Track calories:

3572

Weekly average

2542

25/36

 

Do cardio

No

16/16

 

Get My shit together

10/11

 

Do Morning Routine: 16/19

Do My Evening Routine: 16/19

Schedule 2 hours for project work: 18/19

 

Total Points for the challenge: 101/120, 84%. Solid B. Considering how big a life change this challenge was for me, and how big of a shift in focus, I'm happy with that. A bit work still to go to get myself into a position where I would call myself organised, but there has been definite improvement in how I run my life. Some thoughts to follow...

[Juni0r83]

In regard to a calendar system:

• It works, if you tend to book a lot of things into fixed time blocks. I don't. I'm hoping this improves as I get better at scheduling my time from day to day.

 

In regard to a morning routine:

• Getting out of bed is hard in the winter time
• You really do need to be looking forward to something every morning to help get you moving in a timely fashion. As I lost interest in the podcast I was listening to, I lost interest in getting moving early
• It doesn't work if you don't have an evening routine designed to set you up for an easy access morning routine

 

In regard to an evening routine:

• This is more important to improving personal organisation than I thought
• I need to have an alarm that tells me: now, do it now, and go to bed. Without that, it only tends to happen sometime

 

In regard to writing a schedule the night before:

• It helps if it's somewhere I can see it and refer to it constantly
• It helps if my wife is equally committed to the schedule. Halfway through my two weeks off we got into an argument because she wasn't happy with the way it was being done. So I got her to write the schedule. It didn't change all that much from the way I planned it, but suddenly she understood why it was the way it was and worked along side me to help us both be more organised and get more stuff done.
• Additionally, the days I tried to operate without a schedule were by far the worst in my personal performance. The schedule is important

 

In regard to scheduling 2 hours for project work each day:

• I've found while it is important to schedule these time blocks to ensure I have time to complete tasks, if you aren't really focused on what it is you want to achieve by a certain deadline, the time tends to be wasted. I have to get better at knowing what it is I need to work on so that I can focus myself properly, and actually select a project each day so that I don't sit down and waste half my time thinking "what do I want to work on today?"

 

In regard to getting 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

• I did these two too late to have any real impact on my life just yet, so, verdict pending

Start keeping a running to-do list with due dates

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

• I've been good with the to-do list, but no so good with the due dates
• Ultimately I need to get better at checking this when deciding what it is I need to be do when writing my schedule for the next day

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

• This has completely changed the way I write notes
• Needless to say I've been using this pretty consistently, and the addition of notebooks allows me to sort, organise and find what it is I'm looking for quickly and easily. This was a good decision.

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

• Nothing has felt better to my peace of mind than this step. Absolutely awesome.

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

• I've done this, but I'm not so sure it's helping, maybe more just allowed me start tracking goals consistently. It doesn't help that things that should be dailies have become habits because I don't have time to do them when I'm working.
• Would probably be better for someone who didn't work 12 hour shifts.

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

• This is the goal I've failed at. I'm working on it, but it's slow going. Some decisions have been made however, and hopefully progress will improve rapidly from here.

Pick a bed time and wake up time

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

• Math alarm has worked on all but 2 days so far. Even when I've rolled back over and decided I didn't want to get up, by brain has become active, and I end up getting up within 15 minutes anyway.
• Getting to bed on time has been the biggest part of the struggle here. If I'm not to bed on time, I probably wont get up on time.

 

Final thoughts on getting my shit together:

 

The most amazing part of this process is that it seemed to snowball. As I got myself more organised to utilise my free time more effectively, my wife started to do the same. And once the two of us were moving, we more often than not got additional things done each day. I've also become more motivated to work on projects rather than just stop and watch tv, which was probably the best side affect of this process. But I still need to get better at some things, and I'm thinking there is more stuff that needs to go on that to-do list in order to continue to improve my life.

 

 

[CourtnieMarie]

so many awesome improvements! even if some of the tasks didn't work out, it taught you something about the best way to move forward.

[JustCallMeAmber]

Nice work! You learned a lot and also checked those boxes to grab some points.