Chanda: Banishing Chaos!

[Sunmage]

Gratulation! If you keep motivating us like that you will be awarded guild mom or something like that.

Genialer Start! Weitermachen.

Using children for housework sounds familiar to me, too. When they are old enough just remember that there must be a reason why the dishwasher is so far down

You will rock this!

[micmac]

Can family help out with "hot spot" patrol and kitchen? My mum used to make us "Blitz" a technique I still use today. I set a time, then set a 15-20 min timer, and do AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE in those minutes. Then tea time to decompress and regroup.

Bambikhan- I do that too! Depending on how much time I have total and how many rooms I want to tidy up, I'll set the timer for 5-15 minutes and just do as much as I possibly can. 5 minutes a room means the house can be (mostly) picked up in about an hour. The deep cleaning waits for days like today when I am stressed out!

Using children for housework sounds familiar to me, too. When they are old enough just remember that there must be a reason why the dishwasher is so far down

I second Dwarfthrower! In fact, I just heard an earfull on why I am the meanest Mom in the entire world because I won't let the kids watch any more of the last airbender until they clean the den!

[Eridian]

I second Dwarfthrower! In fact, I just heard an earfull on why I am the meanest Mom in the entire world because I won't let the kids watch any more of the last airbender until they clean the den!

Ha ha ha, my mom did that to me all the time when I was younger and I turned out just fine. In fact, I had to do 1 hour of chores a day before I could play my Sega Genesis. Life was so hard for me /sarcasm

At any rate, you're doing fantastic, Chanda! Keep it up!

[Wandern]

I certainly plan on cracking the whip and make my girls help me achieve my housecleaning goal! (chuckles evilly)

[Elfin Harvester]

You can do it Chanda! I think it's easy to feel like there aren't enough hours in the day at this time of year - quite simply because there aren't. I honestly think that the shorter daylight time we have really affects us. I notice every November that stuff just isn't getting done - just when everything ramps up for Christmas - it's a difficult time of year.

By the way, great idea on getting everyone in on tidying up - I'm going to try that one - where's that timer.....

[Metal Violet]

My little helper is too young at the moment but when he is older I shall remind him how fascinated he was with the dishwasher and always trying to empty it lol

[Chanda]

My little helper is too young at the moment but when he is older I shall remind him how fascinated he was with the dishwasher and always trying to empty it lol

Same here... well eldest little helper can sometimes actually be very helpful. Consistency is still missing. Youngest helper is a bit like a tornado... like today, a full load of folded washing was scattered in the blink of an eye.

You can do it Chanda! I think it's easy to feel like there aren't enough hours in the day at this time of year - quite simply because there aren't. I honestly think that the shorter daylight time we have really affects us. I notice every November that stuff just isn't getting done - just when everything ramps up for Christmas - it's a difficult time of year.

By the way, great idea on getting everyone in on tidying up - I'm going to try that one - where's that timer.....

Thanks! I am getting there. I think I can do it. Just my online time is going to be severely limited. I am one of the lucky ones that isnt affected by shorter days. In fact, long summer days actually are worse for me... who can go to sleep when its still light outside?!?!?

I certainly plan on cracking the whip and make my girls help me achieve my housecleaning goal! (chuckles evilly)

Lucky you have helpers that can actually help! I have to wait a few more years but am training them already!

Ha ha ha, my mom did that to me all the time when I was younger and I turned out just fine. In fact, I had to do 1 hour of chores a day before I could play my Sega Genesis. Life was so hard for me /sarcasm

At any rate, you're doing fantastic, Chanda! Keep it up!

Thank you! It will be tough but I am sure I can do it. 1 hour of chores a day? that would have been great practice for real life.

Bambikhan- I do that too! Depending on how much time I have total and how many rooms I want to tidy up, I'll set the timer for 5-15 minutes and just do as much as I possibly can. 5 minutes a room means the house can be (mostly) picked up in about an hour. The deep cleaning waits for days like today when I am stressed out!

I second Dwarfthrower! In fact, I just heard an earfull on why I am the meanest Mom in the entire world because I won't let the kids watch any more of the last airbender until they clean the den!

I am a big fan of the timer too... 7 or 15min are my usual times! Once I start its hard to stop.

Gratulation! If you keep motivating us like that you will be awarded guild mom or something like that.

Genialer Start! Weitermachen.

Using children for housework sounds familiar to me, too. When they are old enough just remember that there must be a reason why the dishwasher is so far down

You will rock this!

Thanks! I'll keep the dishwasher location in mind when I have to convince my child-slaves in the future that it is their job to do it. Same can be applied to the washing machine.

Your goals look so great! You seem to have whole lot on your plate, no woner you're feeling....whelmed. (not OVERwhelmed, just...whelmed.)

Once you have a routine in place, I think you're going to be in a much better place. I plan out my whole week at the beginning, knowing what I'll do each day. I make a huge list, then take one item off that list, since I know it won't get done in the time I think I have

Can family help out with "hot spot" patrol and kitchen? My mum used to make us "Blitz" a technique I still use today. I set a time, then set a 15-20 min timer, and do AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE in those minutes. Then tea time to decompress and regroup.

Keep on!

Thanks! It is slowly starting to come together. I am definitely not doing everything alone and accept help wherever it comes from. Husband seems to have taken an interest in the kitchen this past week, so I am very happy about that. The girls are a bit too young to help... but training them already. Even the 18month old takes her milk bottle to the kitchen and puts it on the counter. Since she doesnt walk yet nor can she reach the counter top, I have to carry her to the kitchen... but she carries the bottle and puts it on the counter herself!

It can be a struggle till it becomes a habit... you will get there i am sure!!! You are doing great!

We have an accountabilli-thingy-group going on for sleeping and sweets!! i think it is full but you can be part of the thread if you wanna!!! I'd love to see you peek your head in there!

I'll be sure to take a peek... I also have a group going for habits... but any group that can help is a good thing. Thanks!

This really sounds familiar! I am a compulsive planner and a procrastinator. It seems like you have really planned out a great set of goals, though, to really get where you want. Best of luck!

lol, yep, I know all about compulsive planning. I sure planned out a set of goals. Now to actually do the stuff...

You totally earned and deserved that!

You certainly have not given yourself an easy path these next few weeks. But, knowing you, once you get adjusted you'll make the rest of us eat your dust (again)!

Thanks again! Oh and if I am really successful with my life goal... there will be no dust left. *wink*

Chanda, don't panic, you've got this! Just take it one task at a time. Break it down into small chunks if you have to, or establish a set schedule and set some alarms on your phone for it until it becomes habitual. Remember, one day at a time. And if one day doesn't go so good, tomorrow is a blank slate.

Thanks! I am taking it one day at a time for sure... any other way and I would give up!

Oh i'm sorry to hear that you're feeling a little overwhelmed. Is there anything we can do to help? (Also congrats on being your guild's champ for the last challenge).

Thanks! I think the only help you can give is to keep checking in... and have some patience if I am a bit slow on responses for the next few days.

HEY! No panicking! Aren't you druids supposed to be all centered and chill? =P

Seriously, take it slow. You're going to get it, it'll just take some time to adjust.

Also, we'd all rather you take care of yourself the way you need to than stress about posting. Prioritize!!!

Thanks. I am a rather new Druid and still missing the whole centered and chill thing... I think those skills come at around Level 20!

I am definitely prioritizing and computer time is lowest on the list... except for my tracking table for the challenge.

Whew! You are hard on yourself scoring wise. But if that's what it takes to stay motivated - you go! I have the feeling I'm going to have to stay off-line more this challenge, too. Which is probably a good thing.

I had to be hard on myself, since some of the stuff I kind of do already. It was the only way to step it up.

Oh wow, lotta thought and time went into this. I had to create a spreadsheet just to track my tiny little goals. HOW DO YOU DO IT, SUPER-CHANDA?

Thanks. I did put a lot of thought and time into defining the goals, to make sure they are exactly what I need to be doing... and also that they are achievable if I stay focused.

I do it 1 small step at a time and I have a SUPER SPREADSHEET to track all of this. Plus a notebook with a printout of the goals where I write things down throughout the day. There are over 20 items being tracked... no other way to do keep track of it and no chance I would remember it all at the end of the day!

Exciting, sensible goals! I think I'm going to learn a lot from you, and I'll do my best to keep you motivated! I too am a master of starting things and leaving them unfinished. Not this time, we can both do it!!

Yes we can!

Oh, nice stuff you've got going on in here! I really lov goal #4. I'm slowly trying to figure out how to do something similar to this myself. A sort of... most important things schedule, I guess. Once you're in the habit of actually taking care of all the little things, it makes everything so much smoother... but it can be so hard to get to that point where you go on autopilot and just do it. Wishing you tons of luck!

Thanks. I learned a lot from FlyLady regarding taking care of the little things... and setting up routines that work for me. Check her out... use what works and ignore the rest!

Yeah! These are great Goals.

I should take my Goals to daily habits, too since I am pretty close to that!

It's great that you also noticed how great mental strenght is.

You are really leveling up your life.

And your Chaos goal reminded me of my really, really, really crowded rooms. Time for some cleaning.

Viel Erfolg!

Danke! I am doing my best to level up! Mental Strength is the key to it all... no mental strength and the rest falls apart.

This is AWESOME, Chanda!! And so reminiscent of my life/habits. It looks like our challenges are pretty similar in that we are both going for daily, consistent build up. We can be meditation accountability buddies!

Thanks! From what I've seen a lot of people are trying to build up habits this time around. Mediation accountability buddies may be a good idea!

What can I say Chanda, EPIC challenge and of course I am loving your life goal.

I bet you recognize a lot of the stuff in the life goal. Its distilled FlyLady... I used to have 40 items in my routines... I've decluttered and compressed to what you see there.

Oh that's nice, you have a meditation goal too ! Have you ever try to meditate or is it the first time?

And for your lifestyle goal, I absolutly understand your point. It's been 2 years now since I discover a lot of great blogs and website talking about minimalism and decluttering, and it helped me a lot to deal with stuff and how I see my life and my environment... ^^

Good luck with everything !

I've meditated before but never regularly. Last challenge was the first time I did it regularly... now I am trying to keep that going and to be more focused in my meditation by practicing 2 specific types. How is your meditation going?

I too have been learning about minimalism, I dont think I'll ever be a true minimalist... but there is a lot of room for reduction in my life.

[Chanda]

Feeling less overwhelmed... things are not yet running smoothly but its getting there. The biggest thing is that I am not allowing myself to come online unless I am done for the day. The fact that I am here tonight shows things are improving.

Thursday I went to the fitness room and did my first strength training workout. WOOT.

I've also reviewed my 2012 goals list and narrowed it down to what can be realistically done before the end of the year. DOUBLE WOOT.

Days 4 to 6: 15-Nov to 17-Nov

FUEL

• Calories: 1788, 2794, 2195 (16.Nov was my birthday... and a lot of cake was consumed! same with 17.Nov)
  
• Water: 1.2, 0.9, 0.9
  
• 
  

MIND

• Meditation: 1 x mindfulness present moment awareness (20min). 2 x 7min zazen.
  
• Bed Time: 10:00, 11:45, 11:45
  

BODY

• Exercise: 1 x strength training+warmup+stretches (65min), 1 x walk/run (20min)
  

LIFE

• Hotspot: 3 x Done
  
• ToDo: 3 x Done (I am barely scrapping in with half of my todo list done each day)
  
• Family: 3 x Done
  
• Contact: 3 x Done
  
• Laundry: 3 x Done
  
• Kitchen: 3 x Done (husband continues to help out with this and I only have to do a bit to finish up, I am not complaining)
  
• Maintain: 3 x Done
  
• Progress: 3 x Done
  
• Prepare: 3 x Done (best thing ever to be prepared for the next day! huge difference in my life)
  
• Me Time: 2 x Done (I started cross stitching again!)
  
• Review: 3 X Done
  

And its 11:00PM so like Cinderella I must leave the party! OK, OK, she leaves at midnight... but I must be in bed before 11:15PM. Back tomorrow for some serious visiting of challenge threads!

[Wandern]

Happy birthday a little bit late! Glad to hear that you're settling into your new schedule well. See - didn't even take you a week!

[Jacqui]

Congrats and awesome job on the progress! Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[Blaidd]

Happy birthday! Will pop in later when I have a proper moment to do a proper read thru. Hugs

Sent with awesomeness from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Metal Violet]

Happy Birthday! Cake is good Sounds like you are FLYing Chanda, you're doing great!

[Blaidd]

Feeling less overwhelmed... things are not yet running smoothly but its getting there. The biggest thing is that I am not allowing myself to come online unless I am done for the day. The fact that I am here tonight shows things are improving.

Thursday I went to the fitness room and did my first strength training workout. WOOT.

I've also reviewed my 2012 goals list and narrowed it down to what can be realistically done before the end of the year. DOUBLE WOOT.

Days 4 to 6: 15-Nov to 17-Nov

FUEL

• Calories:1788, 2794, 2195 (16.Nov was my birthday... and a lot of cake was consumed! same with 17.Nov)
  
• Water: 1.2, 0.9, 0.9
  
• 
  

MIND

• Meditation:1 x mindfulness present moment awareness (20min). 2 x 7min zazen.
  
• Bed Time:10:00, 11:45, 11:15 (planned... lets see!)
  

BODY

• Exercise:1 x strength training+warmup+stretches (65min), 1 x walk/run (20min)
  

LIFE

• Hotspot: 3 x Done
  
• ToDo: 3 x Done (I am barely scrapping in with half of my todo list done each day)
  
• Family: 3 x Done
  
• Contact: 3 x Done
  
• Laundry: 3 x Done
  
• Kitchen: 3 x Done (husband continues to help out with this and I only have to do a bit to finish up, I am not complaining)
  
• Maintain:3 x Done
  
• Progress:3 x Done
  
• Prepare: 3 x Done (best thing ever to be prepared for the next day! huge difference in my life)
  
• Me Time:2 x Done (I started cross stitching again!)
  
• Review: 3 X Done
  

And its 11:00PM so like Cinderella I must leave the party! OK, OK, she leaves at midnight... but I must be in bed before 11:15PM. Back tomorrow for some serious visiting of challenge threads!

It sounds to me like you just needed a week to get into the swing of things (for routine to set in). You're doing great and I'm glad to see you're actually getting through you're list. You're like superwoman! How do you do it?

We will miss you online, but I know this is I portent for you, so pop in when you can, but don't feel bad if you don't. Biiiiiiig hug

Sent with awesomeness from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Chanda]

Thank you for the birthday wishes.

Yesterday I had a great sunday with the girls, we baked, did some sewing and went for a walk.

This morning something close to a miracle happened. I found myself looking forward to work. Work hasnt changed... in fact the next 4 weeks will be crazy. Whats changed is my attitude and energy levels.

Still struggling to fit it all into 1 day! No online time left at all.

Days 7 to 8: 18-Nov to 19-Nov

FUEL

• Calories: 1846, 1786
  
• Water: 1, 1.4
  
• 
  

MIND

• Meditation: 1 x 7min zazen. 1 x mindfulness present moment awareness (16min).
  
• Bed Time: 11:15, 11:45
  

BODY

• Exercise: 1 x walk (20min), 1 x BBWWO+warmup+stretches (40min)
  

LIFE

• Hotspot: 2 x Done
  
• ToDo: 2 x Done (this one is still the toughest... however, well worth it, I am getting things done... WOOT)
  
• Family: 2 x Done
  
• Contact: 2 x Done
  
• Laundry: 2 x Done (I keep looking around for laundry to fold... and there is none... cause I did it already!)
  
• Kitchen: 1 x Done
  
• Maintain: 1 x Done
  
• Progress: 1 x Done
  
• Prepare: 2 x Done (still the best thing I am doing to banish chaos!)
  
• Me Time: 1 x Done
  
• Review: 2 X Done
  

[Metal Violet]

You are killing this challenge Chanda!

[livingroovy]

First, Happy Belated Birthday!!! My apologies for not keeping up with your challenge thread... it's a doozy! (I don't think I've ever said that before... but the amount of stuff you're doing really can't be described any other way)

Also, this:

This morning something close to a miracle happened. I found myself looking forward to work. Work hasnt changed... in fact the next 4 weeks will be crazy. Whats changed is my attitude and energy levels.

Totally just got goosebumps. THIS. IS. AWESOME. So happy for you!

[Eridian]

Great job, Chanda! That's a solid week. I'm glad you're able to go into work with a great attitude! It makes it so much better.

[Jacqui]

Wow Chanda, you're doing an amazing job!

[GallantNerd]

Great work! I thought I had some intense goals, lol. Looks like you're doing well, so keep it up! :D

[Wandern]

Checking in at the beginning of Week 3! Hope everything is going well for you.

[Chanda]

Checking in at the beginning of Week 3! Hope everything is going well for you.

Thanks for checking in. I am here... and keeping up with the goals... except for tonight where I decided to give some time to the NF forums. Basically its focus on the goals or spend time online. Tonight I looked into the threads of the people that joined my habits group. Tomorrow & Thursday I want to spend time visiting the threads of all the Druids and some of the friends I made during the last challenge. I feel bad that I haven't been around much... hoping to change that following a bit of a review tonight.

In any case, I am seeing results from my efforts and ultimately thats what counts. A more detailed report will follow... probably tomorrow as now I need to finish up my evening stuff and get to bed! For now here is an extract from a post in the Habits thread:

So how am I doing with Habits after 2 weeks of this challenge? What have I learned?

1. I definitely set a though challenge to myself with laying out so much stuff to do. I don't recommend this to anyone unless you've been in the self improvement and creating habits path for a very long time... and know exactly what things make a huge difference to your life so everything you put on your list is helpful. AND have enough energy to carry it through.

2. Some things I am struggling with:

going to bed early

getting at least half my todo list done.

3. Others are becoming so 2nd nature that I simply do it. Interesting thing is that trying to make 1 thing become a habit is having the side effect of building up some pretty solid routines in my day:

• Making myself tidy up in the mornings before we leave and wash the milk bottles: instead of being extra work means when we get home at the end of the day things run better... the girls have a tidy room to go play and that frees me up to get dinner started. It also has made the mornings run a lot smoother (getting myself and 2 toddlers ready and leaving the house on time, with beds made, milk bottles washed and no clothes/toys scattered all over the place). This is both because I am running through basically the same routine every morning so my girls are less stressed out since they know what comes next and because of the next point:
  
• Preparing the night before (laying out clothes, updating todo list, packing bag needed for the next day): it means that in the morning I am not scratching my head trying to figure out what we should all wear. Also my bad is packed, so no running around looking for things and nothing is forgotten at home.
  
• Having to drink an additional liter of water per day means I need to go to the kitchen at work first thing in the morning... or it doesnt happen. Before I knew it I built up a morning routine at work... I get to work, greet my colleagues, start up the laptop, enter the harddisk protection password, take my jacket/scarf off, unpack things from my bag, collect my teapot and tea, enter my login password, go get a bottle of water and make my tea. By the time I come back laptop is ready and I sit down to have breakfast while reading emails and updating my todo list. Often less than 10 minutes after arriving in the office I am done with what used to take me 30 to 60min! (in the past breakfast sometimes didn't happen)
  

Its absolutely crazy how 4 small things tidy up/wash bottles/prepare the night before/drink water have completely transformed my mornings. I still have a long way to go to fit in everything else smoothly into my day... but staying consistent with these 4 things is really make a difference.

Thats it for tonight! Back again soon...

[JuiceeTarget]

Sounds like you are doing great! I can't wait to see what results you are getting.

[Chanda]

Chanda the Druid looks up at the high noon sun and blinks in surprise... Where did the past 3 weeks go? I've been busy as a squirrel preparing for winter.

I've almost made it through with visiting fellow Druid threads (a few more left) and hope to keep coming online regularly, if only briefly, to follow the challenges of fellow Druids and a few friends in other guilds.

Status of the Goals mid challenge is as follows:

1. Fuel: food & drink (CON:+3)

HOW:

• Average calorie intake to be within 1750 to 1850. The target calorie intake for my target weight at current level of activity is 1800, set between light to moderate level of activity, closer to light. I reserve the right to adjust the target calorie intake during the challenge if one of 3 things happens: I find myself exercising much more than planned, lean mass starts dropping or fat mass starts increasing.
  
• Drink an additional liter of water per day (average to be 0.9l or higher). I already drink at least 1 liter of fluids per day (with meals and tea) but I often forget to drink water between meals.

Scoring: F: 0-9 days done, E: 10-19 days done, D: 20-29 days done, C: over 30 days done (CON:+1), B: at least 35 days done and either calorie or fluid intake within target range (CON:+2), A: at least 35 days done and both average calorie and fluid intake within target range (CON:+3).

Average calorie intake is 1842. Additional water is 1.05 liters. On target for an A

It feels like I am eating more than I should but my target is for slow weight loss... and thats what I am getting. So I am sticking with it!

2. Mental Strength (DEX: +1, WIS: +1, CHA: +1)

HOW:

• Go to bed by 11:15PM. With little kids, this may be outside of my control. Plus its possible I will be up a bit later some nights trying to keep up with the other goals. Therefore, I am only asking for 30 days for this goal.
  
• Explore sitting/zazen meditation (just sit and breath). Practice at least 15 times for 7 min each time to count.
  
• Explore mindfulness in everyday tasks. Practice at least 15 times for 7 min each time to count.

Scoring: F: 0-9 days done, E: 10-19 days done, D: 20-29 days done, C: over 30 days done (DEX:+1), B: at least 30 days done and 1 type of meditation explored (DEX: +1, CHA: +1), A: at least 30 days done and 2 types of meditation explored (DEX: +1, WIS: +1, CHA: +1).

So far I've gone to bed by or before 11:15PM on 15/21 nights. It is hard to stick with this one when I have so much to do, I am missing my online time. I stayed up tonight to post this update so missed another bed time.

I've done 7 sitting/zazen sessions and 8 sessions of mindfulness in everyday tasks. Averaging 8 minutes per day.

Just scrapping in for an A on this one. Need to get to bed earlier!

3. Strong Body (STR: +2, STA: +2)

HOW:

• Exercise on average 140min per week. More is allowed but not expected.
  
• Do 12 x BBWWO and/or Strength training workouts throughout the 6 weeks of the challenge
  
• Do 12 x 30min workouts (can be anything in any combination: yoga/tai chi/mobility/walk/cardio/endurance/interval/etc) throughout the 6 weeks of the challenge.

Scoring: F: 1 week done, E: 2 weeks done, D: 3 weeks done, C: 4 weeks done (STR +1), B: 5 weeks done and 15 of the planned workouts done (STR: +1, STA: +1), A: 6 weeks done and 20 of the planned workouts done (STR: +2, STA: +2).

I am judging this one based on averaging 20min per day of exercise. At the moment the average is 18min/day. So I need to step it up if I want an A.

I've done 4 strength training sessions and 6 of the other types of exercise sessions. I exercised on other days too but only count it as a session if its more than 30min - if its less than 30min the time counts for the daily average, but not as a session.

My effort for this is a B at the moment. If I get the daily average to above 20min, then I may still make an A.

4. LIFE: Banishing Chaos (DEX: +2, CHA: +1, WIS: +2)

HOW: Do the following items regularly. It doesn’t have to take long, just make sure its done! Time spent on it/quality/content are not being assessed unless otherwise specified.

• Hotspot Patrol (morning is a must, afternoon and evening are optional). This means a quick look through the house and putting things back in their place. In the morning, it also means washing the milk bottles and making the beds. (43 possible)
  
• ToDo list at home and/or work. This is my normal todo list. Its where the majority of my time is spent. For a day to count as done: either finish the 3 MITs (most important tasks) or do at least half the items on the todo list. Unless there is some major crisis. In that case re-prioritize and face the crisis head on to count the day as done. (43 possible)
  
• Time for Family. Daily time with my daughters and my husband is a must. A single special moment, taking the time to answer a question fully, do something special for daughter/husband… anything counts. (43 possible)
  
• Regular contact with other family and friends. Contact someone on average 4 times per week. Contact can take any form: phone/online/in person/write/etc. (24 possible)
  
• Laundry as needed (make sure laundry is done/folded/put away regularly). No more than 2 loads needing to be done or folded at any one time due to negligence on my part (43 possible)
  
• Kitchen is clean at the end of each day (includes washing evening bottles and wiping dining table). (43 possible)
  
• Maintenance. This means doing 15min to maintain the current status in any area – can be anything but mostly its house-keeping. (43 possible)
  
• Progress or work on Special Project, on average 4 times per week. This means doing 15min to make progress in any area or to work on a special project. Progress is things like decluttering/organizing/improving any area. Special Project are activities like for example preparing for Christmas, participation in the NF challenges, planning a road trip, etc. (24 possible)
  
• Prepare for tomorrow. This is things like checking/updating the todo list, laying out clothes for tomorrow, packing bags, collecting whatever is needed for the next day. (43 possible)
  
• Quality Me Time at least 4 times per week. This is when I take the time to do something I really enjoy and to be fully present while doing it: learn, read, stitch, design, watch TV, self care, etc. (24 possible)
  
• Reflect/review/Journal/Report on average 4 times per week. This means check how I am doing, log my progress and report about it regularly. (24 possible)

You'll notice this list has more than just the small things. There are things I consider as being mandatory... family, work, friends, quality me time, etc. A clean home and organized life is worthless if I neglect the important things in the process.

Scoring: F: less than 49% done, E: 50 to 59% done, D: 60 to 69% done, C: 70 to 100% done (DEX: +1), B: 75 to 100% done and at least a C on each individual task (DEX: +1, CHA: +1, WIS: +1), A: 80 to 100% done and at least a C on each individual item (DEX: +2, CHA: +1, WIS: +2).

Its time to go to bed so I wont go into too much detail with this one. I am struggling with maintenance (currently at 76%). Everything else is 86% to 100%. The average is at 93.1%. So at mid challenge the score on this one is an A. I'll have to seriously watch the maintenance for the next 3 weeks if I dont want to slip into a B.

So for the next 3 weeks I need to focus on:

• Keep doing what I am doing
  
• Get to bed earlier
  
• Exercise on average 22min per day
  
• Do maintenance around the house everyday
  
• Keep focusing on completing tasks from my todo list (not so much challenge related but because its a busy time of the year and a lot of stuff needs to be finished in the next 2 weeks).
  
• I might try to tackle stuff I've been procrastinating about as part of my "Progress" items... closing off items I've been procrastinating about feels great and it was a huge mood lifter during the last challenge.
  

What I've learned so far?

• I can do more than I think I can if I stay consistent and focused.
  
• Get the important stuff done first thing in the day/week... then, even when I inevitably get sidetracked, I still make good progress.
  
• A day or 2 of taking it easy and not getting much done doesnt mean that I stuffed up... it just means I start up again with renewed energy. I am often hard on myself when I get lazy and that only makes me feel worse. Looking at my scores so far highlights just how much I am getting done despite a few slip ups.
  
• It is OK to take time off when I need it!
  

I already know what I'll call the next challenge and what I'll be doing...

Smiling confidently Chanda returns her attention to the task at hand with renewed energy.

[Stareyedgirl]

What I've learned so far?

• I can do more than I think I can if I stay consistent and focused.
  
• Get the important stuff done first thing in the day/week... then, even when I inevitably get sidetracked, I still make good progress.
  
• A day or 2 of taking it easy and not getting much done doesnt mean that I stuffed up... it just means I start up again with renewed energy. I am often hard on myself when I get lazy and that only makes me feel worse. Looking at my scores so far highlights just how much I am getting done despite a few slip ups.
  
• It is OK to take time off when I need it!
  

Amen to ALL of these!

Reading about your challenges is always inspiring. I haven't had a lot of time to browse the threads during this challenge, but I thought I'd check in. It looks like you're doing great! Keep up the good work.

[Blaidd]

You are amazing!!

Keep at it!