NeverThatBored :: Third is the one with the treasure chest?

[NeverThatBored]

Soooo here I am, back again. Guess who's back? Tell a friend!

 

I did super well during challenges 1 & 2 then disappeared. I didn't intend to, but I've been running around a lot. Once again I've changed locations, and now I'm in NJ staying with my aunt while she recovers from her knee replacement surgery. 

 

This is the nature of my life! Every time I get into a routine and feel like I'm handling things, something major changes and I lose momentum. BUT I'm mostly still doing the things I started during those two challenges. 

 

I'm doing daily pullup attempts, both in CA and now in the park across the street from my aunt's house. I'm walking almost every day. Most weeks I'm skipping coffee at least one day per week. 

 

My daily 5 minute study routine hasn't really stuck, but it led me to restarting WaniKani to study Japanese kanji every day. Which is studying, just not the studying I intended with the original goal. The daily forward fold routine I was trying to establish still hasn't stuck, but that wasn't working even before.

 

So all things considered, my micro-habit approach to challenges seems to be the move right now!

 

I don't have a lot of focus right now, so I don't want to set any huge goals. But I'll try out a few micro-habits again this time and see how it goes.

 

Goals

1. Do the bonesaw mobilization for my calves every day (4-6 minutes) - it makes a difference but it sucks so I have a hard time doing it consistently. I'm thinking I'll do this after workouts  on days I work out, and then before bed other days.
2. Do some sort of mindfulness activity each day. Ideally 5 minutes in the morning, but for now anything is fine.
3. Note when I'm eating for a reason other than hunger, and brainstorm activities I could do to satisfy those urges instead. Write those activities down and try them out next time it comes up. (Go sit outside and take a break, take a nap, sing a song, do some stretches, message a friend, etc.)

[fleaball]

3 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

Do the bonesaw mobilization for my calves every day 

This sounds like some kind of torture?

[NeverThatBored]

2 hours ago, fleaball said:

This sounds like some kind of torture?

 

Yup! But the only thing that actually seems to work on my calves...

 

 

This isn't the best video but it's the basic idea. I just do it on the floor without the roller, and usually higher up on the calf. But you "saw" the top leg side to side to move the muscle around and lean back or forward depending how much weight you want to put on it. 

 

[fleaball]

There is no emoji for the face I just made, yikes. But I'm glad you finally found something that works!!

[Maigs]

NTB! Good to see you back around. 

 

Those bonesaws look brutal. I feel you on it being hard to do because they suck so much. One of my goals is to work on my IT Band and it just hurts, but it helps so I really need to be more consistent 

[NeverThatBored]

5 hours ago, fleaball said:

There is no emoji for the face I just made, yikes. But I'm glad you finally found something that works!!

 

It works if I actually do it. That's the trick.

 

4 hours ago, Maigs said:

NTB! Good to see you back around. 

 

Those bonesaws look brutal. I feel you on it being hard to do because they suck so much. One of my goals is to work on my IT Band and it just hurts, but it helps so I really need to be more consistent 

 

Why is stretching the hardest thing?? It's so good for us!

[NeverThatBored]

I'm doing that thing where I randomly re-read an old challenge and marvel at the existence of past me! 

 

It's crazy to me how much of my personal growth as an adult happened between late 2013-2016, my first few years out of college. The foods I ate, the routines I had, the hobbies and ideas about fitness that I developed. All of it. In many ways it feels like all of my growth just kind of stopped after that?? Like I got into Crossfit and made some friends and got better at some stuff, but I feel like nothing happened during those years. Ever since then it feels like I've been trying to be the person I was during those years, or like I've been clinging to the ways I lived and succeeded during those years and trying (unsuccessfully) to recreate them. Like running, and certain recipes I first discovered during that period. 

 

There are so many really specific things in that challenge that make me say "wait, it wasn't SIX YEARS AGO that I made/did/learned that!?" And it just kind of makes me feel like I've been in a haze all this time. Like...how do I get back to growing as a person??

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Hey NTB! Good to see you.

 

Definitely feel you on the disappearing act since I frequently do the same.... (FYI - NJ's doing  a free state park passes for Covid vaccinations if that's a thing you're eligible for/interested in ). https://www.nj.gov/dep/vaxandvisit/

 

Regardless, hope the micro challenges serve you well despite life craziness. Those calf bonesaws look intense - I may have to try them

20 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

There are so many really specific things in that challenge that make me say "wait, it wasn't SIX YEARS AGO that I made/did/learned that!?" And it just kind of makes me feel like I've been in a haze all this time. Like...how do I get back to growing as a person??

^ This is a mood.

[Elastigirl]

Welcome back! I think perhaps that more growth is happening than you give yourself credit for. Just in your list  you said you got into Crossfit, made friends, and got better at stuff. Also perhaps you are settling into some of the growth that happened before, and making it more haibitual. Growth is good, but I think what we neglect to think about is that change happens super slowly, especially if we are making it part of our habits. Also, you are doing awesome things like staying with your aunt and helping her recover from knee surgery

[NeverThatBored]

2 hours ago, Rebel Pilot Gar said:

Definitely feel you on the disappearing act since I frequently do the same.... (FYI - NJ's doing  a free state park passes for Covid vaccinations if that's a thing you're eligible for/interested in ). https://www.nj.gov/dep/vaxandvisit/

 

 

Oooooooooh shiny

 

1 hour ago, Elastigirl said:

Welcome back! I think perhaps that more growth is happening than you give yourself credit for. Just in your list  you said you got into Crossfit, made friends, and got better at stuff. Also perhaps you are settling into some of the growth that happened before, and making it more haibitual. Growth is good, but I think what we neglect to think about is that change happens super slowly, especially if we are making it part of our habits. Also, you are doing awesome things like staying with your aunt and helping her recover from knee surgery

 

Thanks Elastigirl. Wise as always ❤️ 

[NeverThatBored]

Yesterday I forgot that once you post the challenge you have to do the challenge!

 

Today I remembered. I had a frustrating time piecing together a workout with what I had on hand, but I ended it with some bonesaws. (T_T) I didn't do mindfulness exactly but at the tail end of a walk I stopped and did a 4-breath mini-mindfulness sort of thing. It counts! 

 

I also found a gym ~15 minutes away that I can drop in to while I'm here, which will be nice! I get stressed when I'm staying with people + working. I'm like...is it rude for me to leave and go to the gym after working all day and spend so little time with my host?? I can either go after work or try to get up early and go...which is probably the better move but ughhh. I'm going to go on Tuesday, I think.

[Sylvaa]

I JUST CAUGHT UP AND DID NOT REALIZE YOU WERE BACK ON THE EAST COAST!

 

That is all for right now. 

[athousandwords]

Welcome back! It's great to see so many familiar faces around, and all of us facing the same existential ennui - what have I been doing for the last 5 years??? 

 

I love the micro-habit approach - I was doing something similar on Habitica, but without the structure of the NF challenges. It worked great for some things, but my ADHD brain needs the endorphin rush of a timed challenge. But making little changes every day definitely helps build some healthy habits!

[NeverThatBored]

Today I remembered my challenge goals!! Woohoo!

 

But I feel really down, so I didn't want to do them. 

 

But then I did them anyway! 

 

I also went on an anxiety spiral that involved googling things like "rules for breaking a lease if you lose your job" among others. Note that I have neither a lease nor any job insecurity at this time. 

[Marauder]

25 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

Today I remembered my challenge goals!! Woohoo!

 

But I feel really down, so I didn't want to do them. 

 

But then I did them anyway! 

 

I also went on an anxiety spiral that involved googling things like "rules for breaking a lease if you lose your job" among others. Note that I have neither a lease nor any job insecurity at this time. 

Way to do it anyway!!!!  Also, anxiety is SO random sometimes.  I’m glad you are now prepared for the next time your job is at risk of making you break your lease on your future apartment. 

[Elastigirl]

Woot for completing your goals today!

[Sloth the Enduring]

Did them anyway is the hardest. Nice job.  

[athousandwords]

On 6/30/2021 at 10:46 PM, NeverThatBored said:

Today I remembered my challenge goals!! Woohoo!

 

But I feel really down, so I didn't want to do them. 

 

But then I did them anyway! 

 

This post was a rollercoaster. Great job!

[Maigs]

Brains are so weird on what they will fixate on in an anxiety spiral. Glad you pushed through and did your goals!

[NeverThatBored]

*sheepish wave*

 

Hello, I'm still here!

 

I've done a bonesaw or two and a mindfulness session or two since I last posted, but barely.

 

My boss gave me like 4 new projects at once and - SURPRISE (not) - everyone wants things done for July on really aggressive timelines. We talk big about preventing our clients from starting contracts with us with these unrealistic timelines, but it never seems to actually happen. I also had to deliver a webinar, which I found out last minute (2 days before said session) my boss wanted me and my colleague to build the slides for too! Improv is not my thing and I care about how I come off when I'm speaking in front of 200 people, so I had to spend several hours prepping for that last minute, which of course pushed back actual project work. And to top it all off, I agreed to participate in this cookie decorating contest work event, so not only have I been WORKING LATE every day, but one night this week I had to spend the whole evening baking and decorating cookies - FOR WORK. AHHHHH

 

 

My workouts have been suffering too. I found a local crossfit gym to drop into while I'm here and went Mon/Tues, but then things got so busy that I haven't gotten back. I've gone on a walk or two, but there have been thunderstorms + I've just been so suddenly busy that those have dropped off too. There IS conveniently a pullup bar at the park so I've done pullups whenever I walk, which is something. 

 

My diet's off-kilter because I'm at my aunt's. One of the cornerstones of my food is green smoothies for breakfast but she doesn't own a blender, and I've been sauteeing spinach and/or eating fruit instead, but it doesn't have the same effect. She also keeps complaining about things being messy or not having as much counter space as she wants, which is really stressful because I'm AGGRESSIVELY cleaning everything all the time to try not to bother her, but I do have to eat!! 

 

She's now able to drive herself places, so I feel like I've mostly completed my nursing duties. I'm having a good time visiting her and particularly her cat Andrew, who is madly in love with me and comes to cuddle with me all the time, and who I will miss terribly when I leave! I'm thinking of leaving in a week or so, but there are several things I wanted to do while here that I haven't done yet, so that's starting to make me feel frantic as well. 

 

After my visit here, I'm going to go visit a friend in VA who offered to let me stay with her for as long as I want, and then I'm thinking of coming back to this area for my birthday in September before I head back to CA. I turn 30 in September and the idea of spending my 30th birthday far away from all my friends is too depressing. A friend in VA has been babysitting my car for me all this time, but I'm nervous now because it feels rude to ask her to keep doing it, but I'm not sure what else to do with it and I was only ever planning to visit while I'm out here. She might not care but I'm nervous to ask and I'm nervous she'll say yes but be annoyed and not tell me, but I'm also nervous about what to do with it if she doesn't want to watch it.

 

My diet/exercise routine will be easier in VA, even if my work stays frantically busy. So that's something.

 

This post ended up having nothing to do with my actual challenge goals, but I'm out of time and I've got to run now so I'll come make an actual challenge post later where I talk about what to do about this actual challenge (if anything)! AHHHH

 

[Elastigirl]

Whew, that sounds busy! Great job at getting some movement in when you can

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Work stuff sounds crazy! Great job squeezing workouts in when you can and doing your best to keep on track with the foodstuffs. Treading water when life's crazy isn't a bad thing - especially since it sounds like you have a plan for getting back to your normal-ish routine soon

[athousandwords]

On 7/11/2021 at 11:03 AM, NeverThatBored said:

My boss gave me like 4 new projects at once and - SURPRISE (not) - everyone wants things done for July on really aggressive timelines. We talk big about preventing our clients from starting contracts with us with these unrealistic timelines, but it never seems to actually happen. I also had to deliver a webinar, which I found out last minute (2 days before said session) my boss wanted me and my colleague to build the slides for too! Improv is not my thing and I care about how I come off when I'm speaking in front of 200 people, so I had to spend several hours prepping for that last minute, which of course pushed back actual project work. And to top it all off, I agreed to participate in this cookie decorating contest work event, so not only have I been WORKING LATE every day, but one night this week I had to spend the whole evening baking and decorating cookies - FOR WORK. AHHHHH

 

I've had weeks like that - good on you for staying above water and not just aggressively eating all the cookies! Hope you get some time for a proper workout to help destress. And hopefully work will simmer down. Unreasonable client deadlines were literally one of the biggest factors in quitting my last job. It can suck all the enjoyment out of work when you're constantly pressed for time.

 

Where in VA are you visiting? If you're up near Northern VA/Loudoun County, give me a shout! Maybe we can check out a CrossFit class together - it's probably the only way I'll ever go to one!  

[Sylvaa]

2 hours ago, athousandwords said:

Where in VA are you visiting? If you're up near Northern VA/Loudoun County, give me a shout! Maybe we can check out a CrossFit class together - it's probably the only way I'll ever go to one!  

 

YOU SHOULD COME DO THE NATIONALS SPARTAN WITH US

[NeverThatBored]

On 7/13/2021 at 10:00 AM, athousandwords said:

Where in VA are you visiting? If you're up near Northern VA/Loudoun County, give me a shout! Maybe we can check out a CrossFit class together - it's probably the only way I'll ever go to one!  

 

Alexandria! I lived there from 2017 until last year, and I'm going to go stay with a friend in the area who invited me for ~a month or so. 

 

On 7/13/2021 at 12:06 PM, Sylvaa said:

YOU SHOULD COME DO THE NATIONALS SPARTAN WITH US

 

YES YES YES JOIN USSSS