Jarric - Homemaking

[Jarric]

Homemaking

 

 

Ok, to start with, I always feel a bit bad for challenge wrap-ups; they're really important but they turn up right as everyone it leaving a challenge. So here was mine from last challenge:

 

Spoiler

Challenge Wrap Up

 

Run 116 miles - 10XP

Goal: "Simple one, run 116 miles this challenge. My goal for the year is 1,202 miles (2021 backwards), so 116 miles in this 5 week challenge is on track for that. Will be simple if I don't miss any runs."

 

Result: 116.94/116 - 10XP earned

 

Well I did miss a long run, but thankfully I had just enough mileage on the rest of my runs to make it work.

 

Foam rolling - 10XP

Goal: Do some foam rolling at least 3 times per week. I am in considerably less pain when I do this regularly, and I like not being in pain, so I need to knuckle down and do it.

 

Result: 10/15 sessions - 6XP earned

 

I need to stick with this one and do better. Between a couple of sessions at the start of week 4 and one session on Sunday of week 5 I was really feeling what happens after a week and a half of not doing this - my legs really hurt! So I know I need to do it, just still trying to work on that routine.

 

Protein - 10XP

Goal: Drink my protein shakes every day. I've yet to find a way to get sufficient protein without them (and without eating a million calories), so these need to be had.

 

Result: 34/35 days - 9XP earned

 

Had one day where I left this too late and then didn't feel like it, but only one mark off a perfect score isn't bad at all! The habit is very much in place, just need to stick with it now.

 

Teeth - 5XP

Goal: Brush my teeth twice daily, and clean in between them in the evenings. Because apparently I'm a trash person and can't get to grips with this. Because I have a real mental block about this. I don't know where it comes from, or why, but when I get stressed or depressed I fall out of the habit very quickly.

 

Result: 26.5/35 days - 3XP earned

 

This is still a bit of a mental battle. Interestingly this was a perfect score Monday-Wednesday every week, and other than week 4 I was on perfect scores Monday-Friday. Which certainly means I'm having more of a problem at the weekend, but I'm not sure why. I have a couple of theories, but definitely something to examine when this goal comes back for next challenge.

 

Create - 5XP

Goal: Draw something, or do something else creative, at least 3 times each week. I think this is good for me mentally, and I enjoy it, and I want to get better at drawing because I enjoy it more when I'm improving.

 

Result: 8/15 - 2XP earned

 

Not good to be honest, but this just didn't feel that important when I was dealing with house purchase stuff. I'll probably let this go for next challenge and make it a priority again at a later date. I was only saved on this because I've agreed to record some music for someone and I need to learn it, and I counted that bass practice for this goal. 

 

 

2021 Goal Update

 

Part 1 - Make a House a Home

Well, right at the end of this challenge I managed to buy a house! This will be a big focus of next challenge as I organise, paint, decorate, and start saving money.

 

Part 2 - bragging rights and party tricks

I hit 109.39/100 miles in January, and 116.94/116 for this 5 week challenge, so I'm bang on track for my mileage goal. No specific progress with the other things I want to do, primarily because I jumped into a Darebee programme halfway through this challenge. With that said, I've been really consistent with workouts, so that should help.

 

Part 3 - create stuff

This fell by the wayside this challenge, and honestly I'm not going to put too much focus into it until I've fully moved house. So next challenge don't expect much change, and then I'll get on this in earnest afterwards.

 

 

With that said, the goals won't be changing that much time time round. What is changing is that I'm stealing an idea from @deftona to incentivise the goals. Every week I will have £50 available. Based on the percentage completion of goals that week, I'll divert that money to either my new computer fund (for successful completion), or to overpaying my mortgage (for missing goals) This way my money is always going to my benefit, but one option is a lot more fun than the other.

 

Run 116 miles - 10XP

Same as last challenge here - my goal is to run 1,202 miles in 2021, which equates to just under 116 miles in a 5 week period. As long as I hit all of my planned runs this should be fine.

 

Foam rolling - 10XP (+5XP bonus)

Foam roll 3 times per week, for a total of 15 times this challenge. I need to be doing this, because my legs hurt if I don't! It didn't go well last challenge, so lets thrash out the plan a little more. I should generally be able to do this Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, and on weekend evenings. Tuesdays and Thursdays will only happen if I don't have a D&D game.

 

To try and push this, for any week where I get 5 sessions in I get a bonus 1XP. The hope is by aiming for 5 it'll be easier to hit the baseline 3. Only the basic 3 are part of the money side of this challenge though.

 

Teeth - 10XP

Brush my teeth twice daily, including interdental cleaning in the evening. Half marks available for any day where I miss the morning, to give me a reason to still do the evening. This is one of those baseline self-care things that is really indicative of my mental state. Whether hitting this goal actually has a positive impact on my mind set I don't know, but at least if I do it my teeth might not fall out!

 

Protein - 5XP

Have my protein shakes every day. I'm currently in the middle of a Darebee hypertrophy programme called Strength Protocol, which will take me through until at least week 3. After that I'll be going back to my previous programming, which has more of a strength focus rather than a size focus, but I'll still need to make sure my protein levels are good.

 

Todo List - 10XP

I've just bought a house, and I'm hoping to move into it around the start of next challenge. Between now and then there's a lot of stuff that needs doing, so I want to scratch off as much of this todo list as possible. As this isn't a weekly goal it won't count towards the money side of this challenge. Here's the list:

• Replace locks front and back
• Fit cat flap
• Get wall ties checked
• Get roof leak fixed
• Contact damp proofing people the see if any guarantees in place
• Contact structural engineer to see if structural works were done
• Paint living room
• Paint bedroom
• Paint hall and stairs
• Carpet bedroom
• Clean remaining carpets
• Sort wardrobes (doors and floor storage)
• Deep clean kitchen
• Get gas safety checked
• Get electrics safety checked
• Fit new lights in living room
• Replace lightbulbs throughout
• Get internet installed
• Run ethernet cable to top room
• Fit shelves in living room
• Sort workout gear storage
• Buy downstairs sofa
• Buy upstairs sofa bed
• Put balustrade in top room
• Gut outhouse and decide on re-fit plan

 

I think that's everything? If I do extra stuff I'll ad it to the list already crossed off, to give me a sense on achievement!

[deftona]

I can't wait to follow your little home improvement projects and I'd love before and after pics if you'd be willing? And I'm glad to have a buddy in the Fun vs Responsibility game with the overpaying of the mortgage! 

[Jarric]

1 hour ago, deftona said:

I can't wait to follow your little home improvement projects and I'd love before and after pics if you'd be willing? And I'm glad to have a buddy in the Fun vs Responsibility game with the overpaying of the mortgage! 

 

Thank you! I will upload some pictures at some point. I have a new phone now which might take less shit photos, so that's a start. Photo quality will also improve once we get some better lighting!

 

I'm glad to play fun vs responsibility with you too! Thank you again for the idea, it's the first time I've seen a challenge reward system that I think will actually work for me. Usually for challenge rewards seem so pointless, because it's all my money anyway, but this makes sense.

[iatetheyeti]

Well, that sure is a list...

 

Looking forward to seeing how your new house shapes up into a home!

 

[starpuck]

Yay!  Jarric thread.   So excited to watch you do house stuff.   Every person that does it on here before me gives me tips for my eventual!!

 

[NeverThatBored]

12 hours ago, deftona said:

I'd love before and after pics if you'd be willing?

 

+1 

 

[Jarric]

21 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

Well, that sure is a list...

 

Looking forward to seeing how your new house shapes up into a home!

 

 

Yeah, I think I've missed some stuff now I look back at it. And of course those jobs will obviously lead to more jobs. Ah well, it'll be rewarding when it's done.

 

Thanks! Me too!

 

15 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Yay!  Jarric thread.   So excited to watch you do house stuff.   Every person that does it on here before me gives me tips for my eventual!!

 

 

Thank you! Though probably don't follow my example, it's very haphazard!

 

13 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

+1 

 

 

 I'll have to make sure to get those photos then!

[Jarric]

Zero week recap

What happened last week? Well I'm not sure, but I remember some stuff:

 

On Tuesday I went to my new house - officially to pick up a microphone from Hopalong, but also so I could show him round the new place. Not really allowed in our current lockdown, but I would have had to see him anyway to get the mic so that's how I rationalise it. It was amazing to see him after a month and a half apart; it's been so weird to barely see him in the last year.

 

I think it was Wednesday I've checked, and it was Tuesday afternoon I had a bit of a breakdown. I didn't even realised how stressed I'd been getting about work, until WW came home in the middle of the day with some boxes and I snapped at her about it. After she left I was fucking livid about cardboard boxes taking up space in the house. Ripping things up and slamming them about and just generally not in control. After I'd calmed down I was able to acknowledge that that wasn't an entirely rational reaction to a rather minor problem, and that I probably wasn't ok.

 

In the evening, after I got back from seeing Hopalong, I profusely and repeatedly apologised to WW about how I'd acted earlier. She was fine about it, but I felt very guilty.

 

On Wednesday morning I saw a link that @Tanktimus the Encourager shared with me about burnout, and it resonated with me in a worryingly accurate way (this one, for anyone interested: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pressure-proof/201503/9-warning-signs-burnout). I've been thinking on that a lot since, and trying to work out what steps I can take to improve it, but even just being aware of the problem helps. The first thing I did, after a few minutes of getting over myself enough to do it, was to share it with WW to try and give her some context on how I was feeling. The other thing I've done it book the first week of March off work - I'll be painting the house but it'll still be a very welcome break from work stress.

 

On Friday WW and I recorded some music for a thing we promised to do - I recorded a bass line and we both recorded vocal parts, and videoed ourselves recording as well. It was really fun, though I was knackered from a ridiculous work week when we started and pretty checked out by the time we'd finished. It was also really humbling - I don't know if I've got worse at bass having not played for a few years or whether it's just that hearing a bassline on its own highlights every tiny mistake, but man it sounded ropey! Hopefully it'll sound better in the mix. When we finished recording I had a few beers, and was quite drunk by the time I uploaded all 2 GB of audio and video to the guy who bringing it together. 

 

On Saturday I did my long run in the morning (only 10 miles as it's a deload week). In the afternoon I went over to the house with my dad and helped him start fitting the new locks. I say I helped, it's not really a two man job, so what I mostly did was watch and make tea. Dad had to leave early to get his vaccine; very grateful that he's had that.

 

Yesterday (Sunday) was valentines day. WW's a florist, so I went to work with her and spent the day in a van delivering flowers to people. It was a really nice change to be able to get out and about, and deliver things that people were generally happy to receive. If only they'd pay me 3 times what that job is worth I'd quite like to do it permanently!

 

Other things that happened:

• I bought a new phone! A Nokia 8.3; it's very shiny and a significant upgrade on what I had before. Not the best time to be buying stuff, but my old phone is getting more and more temperamental with not charging, and I can't cope with the thought of even a couple of days without a phone when I can't physically go and see people.
• I've stuck with the running, but between it being a deload week and having Sunday off to go delivery driving I only hit about 18 miles. So it might be a light month for the running goal.
• I've also stuck with Strength Protocol, though I only got 3 sessions in last week. That's not the end of the world, it just means I take longer to get through it, and quite frankly I don't have the energy to stress about missing stuff.
• Played online poker with Hopalong and The Captain Saturday night, it was really nice to see them and have a virtual drink with them

[deftona]

I'm sorry to hear about the burn out but it's great you can identify what is going on. Since Covid, there are wide changes to the counselling services available through the NHS and it's all self referral now. You can refer yourself for counselling here, and I very much recommend you do because therapy has never made anyone worse*. It's important to look after yourself. 

 

It's nice to hear about the little jobs coming along too! 

 

 

 

*It surely has, but you get my point. 

[iatetheyeti]

1 hour ago, Jarric said:

Yeah, I think I've missed some stuff now I look back at it. And of course those jobs will obviously lead to more jobs. Ah well, it'll be rewarding when it's done.

 

What you have there is basically my dream. I want to buy a project house and fix it up, but it's gonna be a while before I get there!

 

And in regards to the burnout... It's a crappy situation to be in, but the upside is that you know you're in it and you're actively taking the steps to help yourself.

 

[starpuck]

Echoing the others on thoughts of burnout and glad you were able to see what's up and take some steps.    Healthy response there.

I am so curious about this music thing!  Will we eventually get some insight into this?  (Or has there been and I missed it heh.)

 

I think a lot of us are at a point now, a year into this mess, that we have to be proud of what we keep at, rather than nitpick over minor slips and misses.   I mean, overall, we're all killing it ya know?   I'm thankful to be here in a community that both encourages us to keep moving on, but also supports the much needed and healthy idea of ya know, 'taking a short rest' before facing the next encounter.

 

[Jarric]

28 minutes ago, deftona said:

I'm sorry to hear about the burn out but it's great you can identify what is going on. Since Covid, there are wide changes to the counselling services available through the NHS and it's all self referral now. You can refer yourself for counselling here, and I very much recommend you do because therapy has never made anyone worse*. It's important to look after yourself. 

 

It's nice to hear about the little jobs coming along too! 

 

 

 

*It surely has, but you get my point. 

 

Thanks for the info. I'm probably not going to go down that route at this stage, mainly because I feel that a lot of the problem is external to me. By sorting out my workload at work, as well as actually taking some holiday, I'm hoping to solve the problem. Ultimately I have a stressful job, and there's nothing wrong with that per se, but I've been too stressed for too long and it's now starting effect me in a burnout way. 

 

Today I cleared a couple of very big jobs, which I'm hoping will let me wind down a bit before my week off.

 

Also, if I'm honest, I don't want to be the asterisk.

 

11 minutes ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

What you have there is basically my dream. I want to buy a project house and fix it up, but it's gonna be a while before I get there!

 

And in regards to the burnout... It's a crappy situation to be in, but the upside is that you know you're in it and you're actively taking the steps to help yourself.

 

 

Yeah, I thought you'd appreciate a project like this. I grew up in what was basically a building site, and that's not an experience I'm eager to repeat, but I'm hoping here we'll be able to get most of the big work done before we move in.

 

And thanks

 

 

4 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

Echoing the others on thoughts of burnout and glad you were able to see what's up and take some steps.    Healthy response there.

I am so curious about this music thing!  Will we eventually get some insight into this?  (Or has there been and I missed it heh.)

 

I think a lot of us are at a point now, a year into this mess, that we have to be proud of what we keep at, rather than nitpick over minor slips and misses.   I mean, overall, we're all killing it ya know?   I'm thankful to be here in a community that both encourages us to keep moving on, but also supports the much needed and healthy idea of ya know, 'taking a short rest' before facing the next encounter.

 

 

So the music thing is a secret project, but it's also probably not something I'm going to share on here when it's done. I might send you a link depending on how it turns out, but just for privacy reasons it's probably not for the forums.

 

And yeah, I agree, this is a good place to get stuff done but also a very good place to rest.

[iatetheyeti]

17 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Yeah, I thought you'd appreciate a project like this. I grew up in what was basically a building site, and that's not an experience I'm eager to repeat, but I'm hoping here we'll be able to get most of the big work done before we move in.

 

I most definitely do! Yeah, living in a building site isn't exactly fun, but weirdly enough I'm looking forward to the day I can do just that...

 

[Jarric]

1 hour ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

I most definitely do! Yeah, living in a building site isn't exactly fun, but weirdly enough I'm looking forward to the day I can do just that...

 

 

I can see you making the best of it - you're much craftier than I am. Hopefully I'll get to hear about you doing up a house sometime

 

[iatetheyeti]

27 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Hopefully I'll get to hear about you doing up a house sometime

 

Well, I'm very slowly saving up (my help to buy ISA isn't looking too shabby!), and I may or may not be keeping an eye on the market, so all going well, you will do at some point!

 

[Xena]

Just catching up.

I love your idea of putting your challenge wrap-up on the new challenge.

In the super old days, there used to be a gap between one challenge ending and the new forum being available. There were some negative aspects of that system, but it meant that more people tended to stick around to read the wrap-ups. I think you've come up with a good system for the way things are now.

 

Congrats on the new house! And thanks for re-posting the burnout post....gonna go read that one myself 😉

[PaulG]

Always down for a good money-based challenge, and I am 100% with you on the fluctuating living space part of the challenge! I think I may just peek in some more to see how everything goes now you’re a big-shot homeowner

[Red1263]

I'm here to root for your journey into making a house a home!

[Jarric]

9 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

Well, I'm very slowly saving up (my help to buy ISA isn't looking too shabby!), and I may or may not be keeping an eye on the market, so all going well, you will do at some point!

 

 

Oo, that's exciting! What's the house market like where you are? I know houses are massively cheaper (here we're paying £253k for a 2-up 2-down with a room in the roof), but I don't know how house prices correlate to wages?

 

5 hours ago, Xena said:

Just catching up.

I love your idea of putting your challenge wrap-up on the new challenge.

In the super old days, there used to be a gap between one challenge ending and the new forum being available. There were some negative aspects of that system, but it meant that more people tended to stick around to read the wrap-ups. I think you've come up with a good system for the way things are now.

 

Congrats on the new house! And thanks for re-posting the burnout post....gonna go read that one myself 😉

 

Yeah, I'd never thought of it before, but if we assume that challenge wraps are really important I think it makes to have them in the new challenge to refer to.

 

Thanks! And no worries; if you can catch it before it gets too much then so much the better.

 

4 hours ago, PaulG said:

Always down for a good money-based challenge, and I am 100% with you on the fluctuating living space part of the challenge! I think I may just peek in some more to see how everything goes now you’re a big-shot homeowner

 

Thanks, good to have you! I've never done a money challenge before (not money as a reward anyway), so this'll be interesting.

 

1 hour ago, Red1263 said:

I'm here to root for your journey into making a house a home!

 

Thanks man! Always glad to have you in my corner.

[iatetheyeti]

2 hours ago, Jarric said:

Oo, that's exciting! What's the house market like where you are? I know houses are massively cheaper (here we're paying £253k for a 2-up 2-down with a room in the roof), but I don't know how house prices correlate to wages?

 

 

...I spied a nice 3 bed fixer-upper for £78k, and a 2 bed bungalow with plenty of potential for expansion and renovation for £58k. So, er, I think massively cheaper about describes it! Even so, it'll still be a while. I'm setting a tentative five year timeline.

 

[sylph]

Hubs and I just bought a house (moved in last week). It's the opposite of a fixer upper (on purpose) but there's always something to do with a new-to-you house. Following along in solidarity.

[Rhovaniel]

Just poking my head in to say hi! Here for all the house renovation updates - and to be on your case about foam rolling!

[Jarric]

4 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

 

...I spied a nice 3 bed fixer-upper for £78k, and a 2 bed bungalow with plenty of potential for expansion and renovation for £58k. So, er, I think massively cheaper about describes it! Even so, it'll still be a while. I'm setting a tentative five year timeline.

 

 

Wow, I thought things your way would be about half the price, maybe a little less! I should say what we got was a steal as well; there is another house a couple of doors down, in better condition but the same floorplan, for £290k

 

At least you can actually get the bonus cash out of the help to buy ISA anyway!

 

1 hour ago, sylph said:

Hubs and I just bought a house (moved in last week). It's the opposite of a fixer upper (on purpose) but there's always something to do with a new-to-you house. Following along in solidarity.

 

Oh yeah, there's always something to do. To be fair most on my list is cosmetic, so I'm not too worried.

 

Good luck with your new place! How did the move go?

 

46 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

Just poking my head in to say hi! Here for all the house renovation updates - and to be on your case about foam rolling!

 

Hi! And thank you, that always helps!

[sylph]

26 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Oh yeah, there's always something to do. To be fair most on my list is cosmetic, so I'm not too worried.

 

Good luck with your new place! How did the move go?

 

Cosmetic is good. Those are the fun projects, rather than the "If I don't do this, the roof will cave in" stuff, which just winds up being expensive and nerve-wracking.

 

Thanks! So far we are really enjoying it. The move was exhausting but mostly fine. We did all of the boxes and bins ourselves and had movers come to shift just the furniture. Made for a very busy week leading up to The Day but we've had a little time to recuperate, now.

[iatetheyeti]

37 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Wow, I thought things your way would be about half the price, maybe a little less! I should say what we got was a steal as well; there is another house a couple of doors down, in better condition but the same floorplan, for £290k

 

At least you can actually get the bonus cash out of the help to buy ISA anyway!

 

It depends where you look. Edinburgh, for example, is pretty steep for house prices. The £58k property is located in a town with the, erm, charming name of Cumnock. But there are a surprising amount of properties within Fife itself that are sub-£90k and two/three beds with gardens if I decide to stay local.

 

And yes, the bonuses on the ISA are, well, a bonus!