Chanda Slows Down - Take 2.

[Chanda]

If the challenge below looks familiar, thats because it is... I am going to do the same challenge I set myself last time again with some minor modifications (edits shown in green or crossed out).

 

Why? Because I am looking for more consistent performance and also because it is working for me.  

 

In order to fulfil my need to bring some order into my day to day while still enjoying life, I need to: accept myself, slow down, simplify, accept that "Good is Good enough" and be kind to myself.  

 

Why? Because back in March I had a nasty surprise when I discovered I was on the verge of reaching burnout for the second time in my life. Thanks to my high demand job, motherhood, being a perfectionist who likes to do things quickly and my own sense of responsibility, I have been using up more energy than I am regaining during my down time... My reserves are on empty. I'lll spare you the details except to say, there are a number of actions I am taking to turn things around. Some of these I incorporated into this challenge. I am not re-inventing the wheel, a lot of it is the same old stuff... just with a different focus and expectations.

 

 

 

Main Quest:

To slow down and smell the roses.

 

1. Fuel: Eat smaller portions, more vegetables, less "mindless snacks". With some luck consistency I will loose a little weight by reducing the snacking, if not... maintaining is good too. Tracking: Daily rating: Great, Good, Goof.

 

2. Move: Four sessions per week (more is OK). Since I have a 5 km race at the end of July, these should ideally be 2 runs or hill walks and 2 yoga sessions but I'll take whatever my heart leads me to do. Tracking: Weekly average workout count: Great = 5-4, Good = 3-1, Goof = 0.

 

3. ScheduleRest: 1. Shift get up time to 6:30AM weekdays and 7:30AM (or earlier) weekends, while still getting 7 to 8 hours sleep. Currently average is 7:30AM weekdays/8:30AM weekends. Shift by 10-15min per week. 2. Whenever possible, arrive at the office by 8AM and leave the office by 2PM. This is part of a larger plan to re-arrange my day so I can manage work and being a mother. Tracking: Daily rating: Great, Good, Goof.

 

Life Quest: 

4. Doing: The No Procrastination Challenge on weekdays (optional on weekends). Follow Leo's approach, except instead of the "No wine" penalty, its "No TV series" "spend time doing something fun" reward for being good. And instead of "reading and meditating", doing the NF challenge activities time organising&decluttering my desk is the first item on the 3 most important tasks (MIT) list. Tracking: Daily rating: Great=3MITs , Good=2-1, Goof=0.

 

Diet/Fitness Side Quest: 

5. Being: This is a mental fitness quest. Follow Weeks 2 to 7 of the 8 week Mindfulness program. Tracking: Daily rating: Great, Good, Goof.

 

Scoring: For each of the 5 goals an overall rating of Great/Good/Goof is worth 3/2/0 attribute points, giving a total of 15 points. I will decide on what actual attributes I allocate based on where I feel the benefit/improvement was greatest at the end of the challenge. I level up if I earn 7 or more attribute points. Number of earned attribute points will also determine final challenge score...  A to F based on 15 to 0. 

 

You may have noticed I am being very lenient with my scoring. It is part of training myself to accept that being good is good enough... I don't need to do it all and be perfect. Deep down I really want to earn all 15 attribute points. I challenged myself to set the level up border as low as I dare to go as a lesson that not everything needs to be perfect. I almost went with 8 attribute points as my level up border. In the end I reluctantly decided on 7. This was hard because 8 is more than half of 15, which in my mind is a clear "pass"... while 7 is slightly less than half of 15, it feels like a lot like a fail. Yet... arent "2 Goods and 1 Great" good enough? I think they are... and that is a 7 according to my scoring scheme!

 

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.â€

Thích Nhất Hạnh

 

[Wandern]

Hi Chanda! Glad you're back! I do love your doing well but not pushing so hard challenge. I hope things go smoothly for you this challenge.

[LittleTurtle]

Very nice!  You got this.  

[Jittersthe.Clown]

We've got your back again.  Good luck, Chanda!

[swaffe]

Good luck Chanda!  I love the focus on concistancy.

[I am Eve]

Chanda, so lovely to see you back!

 

It is a long, hard and maybe never-ending journey towards "good enough" but it is worth it I think. As for me I am only at that stage every now and then 

 

I look forward to having you around this challenge!

 

How was week one?

[Heidi]

Hey, there you are!

Subbed and looking forward to cheering you on - I loved this challenge last round and like that you're continuing it.

[Heidi]

P. S. May I steal your grading system? It's just perfect for what I'm trying to achieve.

[LittleTurtle]

Hello.  Just checking in to see how things are going!  

[Sunmage]

I'm glad you are around here!

Your discipline is always impressive =)

[Heidi]

How's it going, Chanda?

via smoke signals from my Fire

[swaffe]

I hope you're doing well Chanda!