Chesire plays in the real world

[Chesire]

I've noticed a terrible habit of wasting time on pointless internet scrolling.  So this challenge I'm going to do my best to reduce being distracted by fruitless screen time and make my own entertainment.  (I'm aware that sounds... questionable 😆.)  I know I have a lot of time in a day but often feel like I don't have enough to get done what I want to.  I am setting the bar pretty low; video games are allowed since I do have to think for those, also any and all reading.  Useful things like DuoLingo are obviously allowed.  I'm curious to see what I can manage to fit in a day when I don't just click, click, click. 

 

General goals:

Cooking as much from accumulated freezer and pantry foods as possible.  There is a ridiculous amount of food in this house.  Between overflow from my neighbor sharing her food pantry things that she can't eat and the CSA, I going to learn to be efficient with what I have.  May need to pick up a few veg, but that should be about it for a while. 

 

Work on some crafty and creative stuff and maybe use a learn to draw book that I just found in MrC's stuff.  We'll see.  My dad always had an eye for drawing and I've always wanted it too.

 

Will tackle another house project.  Most likely fix a water damaged paint job. 

 

Still working through the running challenge and mobility challenge.  I am so pleased with my last challenge where I focused on improving running time and capacity that I want to ride that high a bit longer. 

 

Strength is cautiously approached right now.  I think I didn't give my back enough time to heal after my push for pull-ups and I need to respect it right now or bad things might happen.  Boo. 

 

And, I don't quite know how to phrase it, but I guess I need to try to find a sense of fun?  Pleasure?  My own personal light switch rave?  every day.  Since I know am going to be extra mindful about returning back indoors and socializing will drop to practically nothing from its very low summertime levels, I will probably feel a bit of a drag on mood.  I need to be attentive to this.  Maybe try meditation?  I don't know.  At least if I'm successful in staying off the computer too much, I should by default do things, which should give that mood boost anyway. 

 

Paying myself to essentially bribe myself to do things has worked well and actually built some good habits.  Basically it is just a loot system that allows me to save for loot when I don't have a specific thing in mind to start with.   I'll see how I can work it into this one.

 

 

Maybe I need my own "no loafing" sign.

 

 

yes, yes, I know I just used this one at the end of the last challenge, but I like The Cheat.

 

[Waanie]

9 hours ago, Chesire said:

I've noticed a terrible habit of wasting time on pointless internet scrolling. 

Ugh, I do the same. Some periods it's better for me, but others it seems that I'm just reading reddit all day...

 

9 hours ago, Chesire said:

And, I don't quite know how to phrase it, but I guess I need to try to find a sense of fun?  Pleasure?  My own personal light switch rave?  every day.  Since I know am going to be extra mindful about returning back indoors and socializing will drop to practically nothing from its very low summertime levels, I will probably feel a bit of a drag on mood. 

This is the cause for me as well. Especially now that we're back in lockdown over here, I just don't see that many people anymore. I'm curious to see what will work for you .

 

Following!

[Chesire]

1 hour ago, Waanie said:

others it seems that I'm just reading reddit all day...

 

I feel so recognized!  lol

1 hour ago, Waanie said:

Especially now that we're back in lockdown over here

I'm feel for you, while simultaneously I'm a little jealous in a weird, weird way.  Or maybe not weird given how foolish and complacent much of this country is.

[Waanie]

Just now, Chesire said:

I feel so recognized!  lol

I'm feel for you, while simultaneously I'm a little jealous in a weird, weird way.  Or maybe not weird given how foolish and complacent much of this country is.

Not sure which country you're in, but NL has many more cases per capita at the moment than the US . And strictly speaking, there's a huge gray area where you're allowed to do things like climbing, but where I'd think that's unsafe. I could invite 3 people per day to my own house and spread covid that way, and it would all be allowed. Or you know, become Christian and visit a church with a few hundred people at the same time.

[Chesire]

Ugh.  Sorry to hear that. Yes, I am in the US (which makes it extra difficult to get world wide information beyond our echo chamber, though I try!)  Don't forget, kids can't spread it, so schools are fine!  /s    Climbing is ok?  Are standard gyms still open?  Do they figure there is enough space between climbers, or something?

 

This is precisely why I'm virtually surrounding myself with like-minded people! 

[Bean Sidhe]

This sounds like a very practical well thought out challenge. I totally get the "and I scroll past things all day" problem. Hopefully this challenge will help. I do it too, and then wonder where the day has gone.

My department (not company, department) was back in the office BEFORE the rest of the county was out of lock down stating we were essential and had to be in the office (US). My stuff was fine from home. The department as a whole is small and we have been lucky but he county as a whole is on the rise and now most kids will be returning to buildings.

Good luck and stay safe.

[Waanie]

4 hours ago, Chesire said:

Climbing is ok?  Are standard gyms still open?  Do they figure there is enough space between climbers, or something?

Anything is fine as long as there's less than 30 people together. Standard gyms are still open, including the climbing gym, although there is a reservation system and you should keep your distance (hint: nobody does that anywhere). At least masks are now recommended indoors, but that's only introduced a few weeks ago. Schools are still open, and weddings and the like can just go on as long as they have fewer than 30 people. Even the orchestra would be allowed to rehearse in groups of at most 30, but the board decided that it's unsafe at the moment. There are no restrictions on workplaces, although the government is asking everyone to work from home as much as possible.

 

Anyway, I decided quite early on that the second wave formed a serious risk, and I'm starting to know some of the people with covid. I deem the risk much higher now than with the first wave, especially because most people perceive it as less scary. We have more cases, and people are skirting the rules as much as possible. We do know more about treatment and such, so mortality rate is lower, but I wouldn't want to gamble that I would get a mild strain with no aftereffects. 

[Bouchra]

Great challenge! I like how you defined what would be considered mindless Internet scrolling. I know I have a problem with this too, I would probably double my productivity if I managed to find a way to stay online for work but avoid the mindless surfing!

 

Good luck, I will be following to cheer you on!

[Edgedancer]

Following to see you fight internet scrolling!

[Jupiter]

Following!  

[Countess D'If]

I HEAR you on the pantry overflow. It's time to do something about it. . .

Good luck on your challenge!!

[juliebarkley]

Love this challenge!

 

On 10/20/2020 at 5:27 PM, Chesire said:

And, I don't quite know how to phrase it, but I guess I need to try to find a sense of fun?  Pleasure?  My own personal light switch rave?  every day.  Since I know am going to be extra mindful about returning back indoors and socializing will drop to practically nothing from its very low summertime levels, I will probably feel a bit of a drag on mood.  I need to be attentive to this.  Maybe try meditation?  I don't know.  At least if I'm successful in staying off the computer too much, I should by default do things, which should give that mood boost anyway. 

I have just checked out a book from the library, The Art of Frugal Hedonism. I haven't started it yet, but from the description it's about finding pleasure in the scenery on your walks, birdsong, the taste of your food, etc. rather than just rushing past all these simple chances for joy.

[Chesire]

Had a really good weekend mostly keeping away from the mindless pit, but today was a cold, rainy day.  I did what I needed to get done, but after that it was so easy to get sucked in, but not for as long as it could have been.  So not a complete win or loss, but an effort made.  And I have meals planned for the next few days entirely from the pantry!  Maybe even healthy and tasty. 

 

 

[Chesire]

As expected, when trying to avoid the internet, I avoid the internet.  By which I mean I mean I'm neither posting nor following posts here.  But I want to follow other people.  whine*  And, to be honest, I didn't have quite as good a week as I would have liked avoiding mindless stuff.  Definitely some improvement, but it was a tough week for MrC and I got to bear the brunt of it, so hiding in useless stuff happens.  (The week culminated in his first ever anxiety attack yesterday.  It wasn't an unmanageable event, as far as anxiety attacks go, so I was able to coach him through it.  Now I await how he feels when he wakes up, and we'll figure it out from there.)

 

Running is going well.  That will be changing soon if the snow sticks around.  Usually running is my time and dog walking is just walking.  The pups LOVES snow and zoomie attacks are very common in the snow.  Therefor, dog running and walking or snow shoeing for my own time if I still have the energy.

 

General mental lag is being dealt with accordingly.  I'm trying brief daily meditation, looking for what is lovely about each day when I'm out with the dog, and simply honoring the fact that some days just are that way. 

 

My parents have left for the next month to escape the chill.  Lucky snowbirds.  There leaving for a bit has helped my stress.  Of course we got into the habit of visiting during nice weather, but I was becoming more and more uncomfortable with the idea that some family member might bring the plague upon them; especially my step-nieces as school is back in session .... for now. 

 

 

[Countess D'If]

On 11/1/2020 at 5:39 AM, Chesire said:

As expected, when trying to avoid the internet, I avoid the internet.  By which I mean I mean I'm neither posting nor following posts here.  But I want to follow other people.  whine*  And, to be honest, I didn't have quite as good a week as I would have liked avoiding mindless stuff. 

That's OK. We're still here!!!

 

On 11/1/2020 at 5:39 AM, Chesire said:

Definitely some improvement, but it was a tough week for MrC and I got to bear the brunt of it, so hiding in useless stuff happens.  (The week culminated in his first ever anxiety attack yesterday.  It wasn't an unmanageable event, as far as anxiety attacks go, so I was able to coach him through it.  Now I await how he feels when he wakes up, and we'll figure it out from there.)

I am so so sorry. Anxiety attacks are terrible. I hope he's doing OK and taking treating himself gently. And you too. It's horrible to see a loved one go through so much pain 

[Chesire]

6 hours ago, Countess D'If said:

I hope he's doing OK and taking treating himself gently. And you too. It's horrible to see a loved one go through so much pain 

Yes, he's doing much better, thank you.  He mentioned the next day how off he felt.  So I asked "spent? wrung out?"  He looked at me confused, and said "yeah, but I didn't do anything."  Oh, dear, yes you did.  Your brain fought a battle as much as your body would a sickness. 

 

The terrible thing is I realized I was thinking of it as his "first" attack.  Like these are a normal thing to be expected by most people, and there will be more to come.  What a sad commentary on life.  I'm going to work on this for myself and encourage he do so as well. 

 

Also it was odd to be on the outside and able to recall the feelings with out going through them.  Anyway, thanks for checking in. 

[Chesire]

I just did my run for the 5k group challenge over in Prime.  I PR'd!  On the heels of a PR a few weeks ago!  Today I managed a time of 29:32!  Less than half an hour!  Guys, I danced on the trail.... and tried not to be sick.  😂   Uh, that's a lot of exclamation points.... 

[Chesire]

I think I broke myself, but in a good way.

 

When we go on vacation, especially to the cabin, there are no food rules.  I allow myself to eat as much of whatever I want.  Eat Doritos while making bacon and eggs for breakfast?  Sure!  It turns out this allowance has had a unplanned result.  I haven't eaten Doritos in about 2.5 years.  I broke Doritos.  And this summer seems to have brought around at least a reduction in potato chips.  Well, that brings me to this week.  We have candy in the house.  See where this is going?  I recognized I was working down that path of breaking my interest in candy, so I kept going.  Allowing myself to grab a piece again and again and again.  We still have candy.  I don't want it.  For the win!  Seems to be an added layer this time, too.  Sweets in general are unappealing. 

 

It just occurs to me it's like that parenting idea if you want your kid to not smoke or drink, have the kid sit down and do it until they are ill. 

[Countess D'If]

On 11/8/2020 at 5:21 AM, Chesire said:

When we go on vacation, especially to the cabin, there are no food rules.  I allow myself to eat as much of whatever I want.  Eat Doritos while making bacon and eggs for breakfast?  Sure!  It turns out this allowance has had a unplanned result.  I haven't eaten Doritos in about 2.5 years.  I broke Doritos.  And this summer seems to have brought around at least a reduction in potato chips.  Well, that brings me to this week.  We have candy in the house.  See where this is going?  I recognized I was working down that path of breaking my interest in candy, so I kept going.  Allowing myself to grab a piece again and again and again.  We still have candy.  I don't want it.  For the win!  Seems to be an added layer this time, too.  Sweets in general are unappealing. 

 

 

YAY!

[Chesire]

First of all, still not into sweets much.  I think I want it and then I think about it, and I don't.  Cool-io.  Secondly, still trying to do my limited internetting and it's kinda working.  I've been doing more crafty stuff in the evening instead of scrolling.  It feels so much better!

 

Thirdly,  I had an epiphany of sorts which kind of relates to big why thinking.  I'm trying to fit the words to a feeling, so bear with me.  I realized that no one is going to care about my wellness and efforts except me.  That sounds super sad, but in my head that isn't the feeling; it's realistic.  MrC will celebrate my wins but he loves me without them.  Studying French is for my own betterment; it effects no one else.  The doctor will suggest better diet or more exercise but it doesn't really effect her as it does me.

 

(I don't like a wall of text break)

Funny thing is this idea developed after my last dentist appt in May.  I had "dark spots between my teeth that indicate softer spots leading toward cavities."  I asked what I could do about it, after having said with all the stress I wasn't flossing quite as much (which meant 5 days instead of 6 per week, though she didn't ask for clarification.  Arrgh!).  She only said, "Floss more."  And that was it.  No further suggestions even though I asked.  So clearly I was on my own for my own well-being.  I was annoyed but I took time to figure out what had changed in my actions.  Fingers crossed. 

 

Then I realized this is true for most areas of my life, being on own for my well-being.  Meal plans often don't suit my needs, so I need to figure out my own.  Fitness plans can be drawn up but I need to do the work and adapt as needed.  Mental health, skin care, personal learning.  All of it.  And conversely, treats/cheats.  I can allow it or I can evaluate cravings vs pleasure.  Pleasure is important, but is it just a craving that will be empty?  

 

If you made it to then end, thanks!

[Chesire]

Ok, I've committed myself to knitting gifts for the holidays.  I'm not a confident knitter.  Guess my evenings will be spent off the 'net. 

 

Generally speaking goals are going well.  I'm particularly happy with pantry planning and cooking, I've even been able to involve MrC in the planning, so he gets to have things he enjoys too.

[juliebarkley]

On 11/18/2020 at 6:47 PM, Chesire said:

Thirdly,  I had an epiphany of sorts which kind of relates to big why thinking.  I'm trying to fit the words to a feeling, so bear with me.  I realized that no one is going to care about my wellness and efforts except me.  That sounds super sad, but in my head that isn't the feeling; it's realistic.  MrC will celebrate my wins but he loves me without them.  Studying French is for my own betterment; it effects no one else.  The doctor will suggest better diet or more exercise but it doesn't really effect her as it does me.

Yup. My version is: No one cares as much about your ...... as you do. You have to care about yourself because no one else will do it for you.

 

17 minutes ago, Chesire said:

Ok, I've committed myself to knitting gifts for the holidays.  I'm not a confident knitter.  Guess my evenings will be spent off the 'net. 

You can't leave it at that! What are you making?

 

On 10/20/2020 at 5:27 PM, Chesire said:

And, I don't quite know how to phrase it, but I guess I need to try to find a sense of fun?  Pleasure?  My own personal light switch rave? 

How has this been going?

[Chesire]

17 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

You can't leave it at that! What are you making?

You don't like the cliffhanger drama?  hehe  Scarves for my two 10yo step-nieces in a simple pattern, and hats for my friends' two 3yo twins, cat ears for the girl and puppy for the boy.   You probably notice I pick the four people that are the smallest so smaller projects and  that will be the roughest on their gifts so mistakes will be less important to me.

 

17 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

On 10/20/2020 at 5:27 PM, Chesire said:

And, I don't quite know how to phrase it, but I guess I need to try to find a sense of fun?  Pleasure?  My own personal light switch rave? 

How has this been going?

Generally ok.  I've been forcing us to plan something to look forward to, no matter how small.  We sit down and pick out a movie for Wednesday night, Fri or Sat night's dinner is a little bit special whether it be slightly fancied with wine or junkie pleasure food.  And just for me things like singing and dancing, both poorly but with enthusiasm, while cooking, etc is definitely happening.    Ultimately it falls under the same epiphany that no one else can do it for me if won't do it myself. 

 

[Chesire]

In adventures to boost my own mood.....  I was making bread and of course the White Hand had to happen.  Josie isn't the most fierce of the Uruk hai, but will fight hard for a carrot.

[Jupiter]

On 11/18/2020 at 4:47 PM, Chesire said:

I realized that no one is going to care about my wellness and efforts except me.  That sounds super sad, but in my head that isn't the feeling; it's realistic.

 

It's not sad at all, just realistic, like you said. I came to the same conclusion for myself a few years back. 

 

3 hours ago, Chesire said:

In adventures to boost my own mood.....  I was making bread and of course the White Hand had to happen.  Josie isn't the most fierce of the Uruk hai, but will fight hard for a carrot.

 

Cute puppy!