[NeverThatBored] After Enlightenment, The Laundry

[NeverThatBored]

The laundry = THE GRIND. But also, the laundry = the ANTI-grind?

 

A bunch of vaguely connected thoughts are motivating this challenge:

 

I've noticed that I struggle with the in-between moments. I'm good at starting and ending stuff, but not so much at the long sludge in the middle.

 

I struggle with transitions - if my routine gets disrupted even a little, I'm thrown way off! After a vacation, I take a long time to get back to normal.

 

I've recently gotten bad at just enjoying my free time when I have it - I'm always looking for something to do instead. But on the other hand choosing to spend my free time doing Japanese homework might just be because I LIKE doing Japanese homework? Maybe Japanese homework is the fun thing and "I should really play that video game" is actually the chore but I'm not in tune with myself well enough to know which it is??

 

I cannot do a relax??

 

I'm kind of scattered and unfocused - like I'm doing my usual 100 rangerbrain activities, but also I've been meaning to schedule a doctor's appointment for months and just keep forgetting?? I cannot get myself to use my BuJo to save my life. That kind of stuff.

_______________

 

So this challenge is about doing the things, but it's also about giving myself permission to NOT do the things. It's about getting back into the swing of things that have dropped off ("the laundry"), but also about embracing the times when I don't have to do stuff and just enjoying being a person (ALSO "the laundry"). It's about trying to chill the F out. It's about asking myself "what do I WANT to do?" both in the short term and the long term. It's about asking "who am I?" but also about saying "who cares - I'm gonna go play outside."

 

Goals

1. Start doing pullup stuff after Crossfit again. Probably continue doing pushup stuff too, but maybe not if doing both feels like too much. 
2. Walk every day, even if it's just 5 minutes (weather allowing - darn thunderstorms) and/or sit outside, even just on the balcony
3. Meal prep one super tasty thing for each week, and if then do it again if I run out of it
4. DO WHAT I WANT (sub-goal: What do I want??)

 

Context for goal #3

Spoiler

 

So, about 1 year ago, I decided i needed help with healthy eating so I coughed up some $$$$ and signed up for a year of Precision Nutrition Coaching - it's an online platform with lessons, etc. and also a coach who's available to talk through issues and guide you, and also workouts although I ignore those and do Crossfit. They pride themselves on being research-based and diet-agnostic and I've been familiar with their content for a while, so I had reason to believe it would be a good fit. Also Kelley Starrett recommends them and K-Star knows what's up.

 

ANYWAY, that program is ending and I've had mixed results. On one hand, I've only lost 10lbs in an entire year of the program, which feels....lame. On the other hand, I know exactly WHY I've made less progress than I would have liked and I have all the tools I need to get where I want to go. I'm taking the intuitive eating mindset here a little so I understand that there are some relationships with food I have to repair slowly and patiently for me to get where I want to go. I've learned some really good stuff.

 

For a long time now, I've been failing at meal prep even though I do a lot of meal prep. I've come to realize that the problem is I don't like most things I prep that much - like, they're perfectly edible so I THINK I like them, but I don't REALLY like them. And then I feel this sort of diety pressure to eat this food I've prepped that I don't actually want, and either I do and I'm dissatisfied so I give into bad food habits, or I don't and I feel bad so I give into bad food habits. 

 

I feel kind of like a moron for just now saying "oh hey, it's because I don't like the food" but IT IS WHAT IT IS. I've come to see that the way to get off the diet/food rules train but still eat healthy is to add "meal satisfaction" as the #1 component of my meals and meal planning - THEN see if I can make them healthy (add a veggie or protein or balance them out or whatever), not the other way around. So that's my major focus with food for the time being.

 

Some other non-goals to explore:

• Put my bike in my car and go for a ride during a weekday when the trails are less crowded
• Go hike somewhere
• Start doing calf raises throughout the day
• Do more stretching, dangit
• Do some job stuff

[Elastigirl]

I like this- doing the things but also permission not to!

[forkboy]

Following. Random thought, I wonder if the BuJo disinterest is similar to the food disinterest. Maybe you're just not into it? Or you are, that's cool too, just a thought.

[deftona]

Following along! 

[NeverThatBored]

12 hours ago, forkboy said:

Following. Random thought, I wonder if the BuJo disinterest is similar to the food disinterest. Maybe you're just not into it? Or you are, that's cool too, just a thought.

 

Hi!

I usually am into it, although I'm not fancy about it and pretty much just use it as a basic daily to do list. I was using it consistently for like 2 years or so. Lately I just...forget that it's a thing??

 

 

[NeverThatBored]

Week 0 Tuesday Update

 

I went to Crossfit in the AM. I'm getting back into the AM routine after being in CA for 10 days, followed by a week of not being able to sleep normally because of the time change. Coach K (CK? CK.) mentioned that I seem to be improving a lot lately, and other people had said the same thing to her. To which my brain said: "People talk about me when I'm not there??" But that's pretty neat.

 

Now that all my travel/wisdom teeth/swim class stuff has ended, I want to get back into Aikido. At least for the next month or so before my Aikido buddy from NY visits and possibly drops in for a class and sees how bad I've gotten (yikes). So I was all "I should do Aikido today!" but also I was really tired and didn't want to drag myself to another activity. So in the spirit of this challenge, I said "if I'd rather hang out here then I should do that!" I figured I'd just focus on doing some fun relaxing stuff instead of getting lost on the internet all evening.

 

So what did I end up doing?? Going on a walk to the library to pick up a book. Folding laundry. Putting away some lingering sweaters from Spring that had been sitting in a pile in the closet. Reorganizing some drawers. Doing some dishes. Roasting some asparagus. Requesting a replacement credit card for one that hasn't been working. Then suddenly it was 8PM?? So the question is - was this me not able to relax, or was this exactly what I needed to do to relax?? 

 

 Mesmerizing

 

In terms of goals - I got outside on that walk, I'm good on food with the enchilada casserole I made this weekend, and I did what I wanted...I think. 

[NeverThatBored]

I finally broke 200# on my deadlift~~~~~~~

[Sylvaa]

3 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

I finally broke 200# on my deadlift~~~~~~~

 

Was it the unicorn socks? This is awesome!

[NeverThatBored]

1 minute ago, Sylvaa said:

 

Was it the unicorn socks? This is awesome!

 

It totally was!! 

[NeverThatBored]

Week 0 Wednesday

 

Another AM Crossfit. Since I had a couple of light workout weeks while I was traveling this month, I've been trying to bring up my average for the month by going to extra Crossfit classes. It helps that I have a 2 week break between Japanese semesters, too. I normally do 4 classes/week, so last week I did 5. I wasn't doing it on purpose, but at the rate I'm going I might just go for the full 6 classes this week just to say I've done it??

 

I also worked on pullup stuff after the workout, for that goal.  And I finally called and made that friggin' doctor appointment, which worked out fine. I always feel like I have to call way in advance because my old doctor in NY would be booked for months whenever I tried to schedule a regular check up. 

 

I didn't go on a walk, but I sat outside on the balcony and read for a while, so I got my outside goal done. 

 

In the evening, I finally went to an Aikido class! They were happy to see me, although I dealt with my usual complex about being the only person who doesn't instantly understand how to do every technique. Sensei asked if we had any requests, so I asked to learn a fancy looking weapons technique they do sometimes that I can never follow, and we worked on it! It turns out it's also her last class before a vacation, so the timing worked well for me. 

 

 

[Xena]

On 6/26/2019 at 10:54 AM, NeverThatBored said:

So what did I end up doing?? Going on a walk to the library to pick up a book. Folding laundry. Putting away some lingering sweaters from Spring that had been sitting in a pile in the closet. Reorganizing some drawers. Doing some dishes. Roasting some asparagus. Requesting a replacement credit card for one that hasn't been working. Then suddenly it was 8PM?? So the question is - was this me not able to relax, or was this exactly what I needed to do to relax?? 

 

Really interesting thought. It depends on you. This would all be really satisfying to me. I don't think that relaxation has to be purposeless.

And I love your title. Laundry is my absolute favorite chore, so I was curious what you were going to say about it.

[Lara]

Following!

[Maigs]

Following

 

I have a similar problem with downtime vs productivity. Hubs doesn't understand how my relaxing Saturday evening when he's gone ends up with the house clean, but it makes me feel good to do those kinds of things at a slow, relaxed pace with lots of breaks for reading or tv

[Mad Hatter]

Ohai! Congrats on the deadlift, very nice!!

[NeverThatBored]

Week 0 Summary

 

I did my 6 days in a row of Crossfit. I was feeling really good, and then on Saturday I CRASHED SUPER HARD and just watched tv all day because I was too tired to do anything else. But, I tried it. And now I know what overtraining feels like! 

 

I did do meal prep over the weekend for my "meal prep one super tasty thing for each week" goal. I ended up making a few things - salmon, rice, and DELICIOUS ratatouille. Also, a berry cake. I bought all the ratatouille (and most of the berry cake) ingredients from the farmer's market and they're all in season so I'm extra cool now.

 

I walked most days, but not every day. This is going to be one of those things I need to remember to update pretty regularly before I forget what I did.

 

Week 1 Monday

 

I went to Crossfit in the AM, and then walked to the library to pick up a book. CK has already launched a campaign to get me to come every day again ("See you tomorrow?" "Ehhh maybe not" "See you tomorrow!"), which I am resisting. TBH I'm very easy to talk into things, so if someone wants me to do something and I don't find it scary, I'm about 80% likely to do it. 

 

(Wait, is this why @Sylvaa likes me?? )

 

I'm feeling super antsy lately but I don't know what to do with myself. I've been complaining for ages that I need more free time in the evenings, and now that I have some I'm like "but, what do...?" Maybe I'll just play Civ. 

[Sylvaa]

11 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

TBH I'm very easy to talk into things, so if someone wants me to do something and I don't find it scary, I'm about 80% likely to do it. 

 

(Wait, is this why @Sylvaa likes me?? )

 

It's not the only reason! I like plenty of people who don't do things with me. But it's also amazing to have a friend that I know is usually likely to go along with my plans. It was easier to earn my title this way.  

[Elastigirl]

Sometimes you need to just push yourself to see how far you can go, even if it means you overtrain a  bit. Nice that you took the rest day to recuperate.

[NeverThatBored]

Week 1 Tuesday Update

 

Went to Crossfit again in the AM.

 

I finally did some yoga after work! I just pulled up the easiest/shortest NF Yoga video and did that. My yoga has gone from dwindling to stopping completely over the past few months, with the exception of an occasional visit to the local yoga studio. I used to do 3 small yoga sessions a week without even trying - that was my bare minimum mobility work! But it totally died off, along with all other mobility work I was doing. So this is a very good thing.

 

I went on a walk even though it's 90 degrees out, so I got that in too. I rushed a bit because it looked like a thunderstorm was going to start in about an hour, but it held out until later. Lately there have been thunderstorms or at least thunderstorm warnings several times a week, and it's really cramping my style! Like - I'm not going to leave on a 45 minute walk if I think there might be a thunderstorm starting in 10 minutes, and I'm also not eager to drive anywhere (the road I take to Aikido floods when it rains - no bueno). And worse - they don't always actually manifest! So then I hide inside for no reason. 

 

I had ratatouille for lunch, but I didn't want it again at dinner so I was getting grumpy about it...and then I realized I can do what I want so I made tacos, which I was planning to do sometime this week anyway. Win win win.

[Lara]

On 7/1/2019 at 11:16 PM, NeverThatBored said:

did my 6 days in a row of Crossfit.

O_o

 

On 7/3/2019 at 3:18 AM, NeverThatBored said:

I'm not going to leave on a 45 minute walk if I think there might be a thunderstorm starting in 10 minutes

Why not? You don't like them?

[iatetheyeti]

On 7/3/2019 at 2:18 AM, NeverThatBored said:

Lately there have been thunderstorms or at least thunderstorm warnings several times a week, and it's really cramping my style! Like - I'm not going to leave on a 45 minute walk if I think there might be a thunderstorm starting in 10 minutes

 

I absolutely would do that. I find thunderstorms weirdly therapeutic.

 

...although I guess maybe you might get a more intense version than the Scottish 'grumbly sky, maybe someone took a flash photo maybe it's lightning, oh look here's all the rain we were supposed to get last week coming down in half an hour'? They're usually very mild here...

 

 

[NeverThatBored]

I got blood drawn for my annual check up this morning, and the lady had to stab me THREE TIMES. She kept going on about how I have really small veins in my arms and should have drunk more water before I went in. There seem to be two kinds of phlebotomists - the ones who tell me I have small veins, and the ones who SCOFF when I warn them I have small veins and have absolutely no trouble drawing blood from me.

 

Grumble grumble grumble. 

[Endor]

I got blood drawn for my annual check up this morning, and the lady had to stab me THREE TIMES. She kept going on about how I have really small veins in my arms and should have drunk more water before I went in. There seem to be two kinds of phlebotomists - the ones who tell me I have small veins, and the ones who SCOFF when I warn them I have small veins and have absolutely no trouble drawing blood from me.
 
Grumble grumble grumble. 

Are you saying she tried to draw blood in vein?!

Boom-tish!

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[Maigs]

Have you paid attention to which arm they do? Apparently my left arm is super easy but my right one is harder

[NeverThatBored]

On 7/5/2019 at 9:13 PM, Maigs said:

Have you paid attention to which arm they do? Apparently my left arm is super easy but my right one is harder

 

Yeah, they usually do the right arm, and that's the one she tried. Then she tried the left and couldn't get anything, and then she ended up using a hand which I didn't know was a thing?

[NeverThatBored]

Also this reminds me that I need to post an update, so that's on my to do list for tomorrow!