Raxie's Holiday Calm

[Raxie]

So, I don't know about you guys but the holiday season stresses. me. out. I absolutely adore my family, but we are definitely one of those families where the drama level is usuall high (hooray for being Italian-American!). Like seriously, I end up hiding in my cousins room with a bottle of wine 99% of the time on thanksgiving/christmas at my grandmas.

 

 

This year there will be none of that! I will take care of myself and my mental health. 

 

I also have a lot going on the next few weeks. My birthday is this weekend, next weekend I'm going to visit my friend in the Carribbean (because that's where she lives. That jerk.). The weekend after that I'm visiting my high school friend. Then it's Thanksgiving, and then we're going camping, and then my boyfriends birthday. Ahhhh so much stuff.

 

I have been finding some real comfort in finding a routine, and doing things every day from my last challenge.  So I am going to basically do the same thing as last challenge, (which was my most successful yet!) except focus more on the calming factors of working out, meditating, and having a routine even while traveling.

 

Main Quest.

 

Keep going with my regular routines, working towards my epic quests and KEEP CALM.

 

The Challenge.

 

The way I'm setting up this challenge may seem kind of complicated (and definitely not the normal NF challenge set up), but it really worked for me last challenge so I'm just expanding upon that. Instead of just having a list of every day things, I'm breaking it down to every day, every week day, and every week tasks.

 

Things I Will Do Every Day (1 pt/day):

 

Move. Preferably doing my 30 day challenges, but since a few of them require equipment I only have at home I am OK with doing something else when I'm away. Especially if it's hiking related Or just this:

 

 

Eat.  And eat consciously.  I've also been doing really well with for the first time in my adult life stopping counting my calories.  Or even my macros.  I have been doing both those things for so long, I know what is good and what isn't.  Having calories and macros to fall back on almost hurts me because then I can eat a pizza (or 20 of my grandmas deviled eggs) and somehow finagle the numbers to "fit" in my calorie or macro goal.  I know if it's not healthy, and if it isn't I will eat it with purpose and because it is enjoyable, not in an uncontrollable food rage.

 

 

Things I Will Do Every Week Day (1 pt/day):

 

Clean.  I may bring Fly Lady back into my life, the site helped me out a lot when I first started on NF.  Not sure yet, but every week day I need to do something to improve the space around me. If I'm not at home I can help clean up where ever I am, or straighten up my car, or even declutter my purse.  Just something.

 

Meditate. With Headspace. This meditation program is amazing and has really helped me ground myself the past few weeks.

 

Sleep. I always get enough sleep on weekends and try to tell myself I get enough because of "making it up" during the weekends.  So I'm removing weekends from the equation and just saying I need to get 7 hours of sleep a weeknight.  No exceptions.

 

 

Things I Will Do Every Week (1 pt/wk):

 

Duolingo: I have been progressing with my spanish a lot lately and would like to keep on top of this. I'd like to do this 4 times a week.

 

Lumosity: I love Lumosity. I know the science is questionable but I have been really enjoying it so I don't really care hahah. Plus it takes like 10 minutes and its free. And it really seems to help curtail my stress if I do it during lunch at work. And destressing is the theme of this challenge! Also 4 times a week. 

 

Foam Roll. 2x/week. It needs to be done. This can count as my movement those days if it is a rest day.

 

Bonus!

 

Bonus Activities (1pt/wk):

 

Handle Snakes. My pet snakes are lacking in the love department. They are really good pets in the sense that they don't need a ton of attention but I'd like to make it a point to hang out with them when I can.

 

Pamper.  Do something for myself.  A bath, a face mask, get the bf to give me a massage.  Even finding time to relax and reading a book.  Whatever.  Something to add to the destress action.

 

 

Extra Bonus (1 pt/challenge):

 

Volunteer.  If the opportunity presents itself I will volunteer again with HRC.  They are an amazing bunch and I love every time I volunteer with them.

 

Scotland Trip. I was supposed to post something here about my Scotland trip back in September and never did.  I was also supposed to finish going through all my photos and put them on FB and haven't either.  If I have time I will do both of these things before I don't do it at all.

 

Cross Something Off My Epic Quest. Some of the things on that list are pretty doable in the short run. It's unlikely I'll have time for any of it right now, but I'll throw it in here just in case.

 

Grading.

 

I will start with 200 points. For every daily, weekday, or weekly task I miss I will lose 1 point. For every bonus I will gain 1 point. I will distribute the 15 stat points at the end of the challenge based on the areas I feel I've improved upon most.

 

A: 199+ (15 stat points)

B: 180-199 (10 stat points)

C: 165-184 (8 stat points)

D: 150-164 (5 stat points)

F: <149 (1 stat point IF I stick with the challenge to the end, even if I do horribly and fail. Otherwise 0 stat points)

 

Now, if at any point I become overwhelmed by the challenge instead of it helping me destress, I reserve the right to totally change my daily goals.

 

Holiday Zen, here I come!

 

[Jittersthe.Clown]

Looking forward to watching you kick butt, Raxie.  

[raptron]

Ohhh, man. You are a busy lady. You're gonna rock it, I know.

[Starpuck]

I heard something about a party being moved over here?

 

[Priscillia]

If it works it ain't broke

[Raxie]

Reserved for tracking... but I didn't end up sticking with it all the way through so here's this:

 

Edited January 5, 2015 by Raxie

[Jill Beat]

I like your cleaning everyday challenge and that it'll be something, even if it's just your purse.  Right now this isn't a focus of my challenge, but I have noticed I've gotten really lazy about upkeep of my house and then spend the whole weekend cleaning.  In 2015 my goal is to have less stuff and keep my house tidier, so I think I'll have to keep this in the idea bank for now!  

 

Can't wait to see you rock it! 

[shaar]

Snoopy gifs + Clark Griswold?  EPIC WIN!

 

I'm with you, while I love the holidays they can get a liiiiittle tense sometimes...

 

You got this!  Subbing to keep up with keeping calm and Griswolding on.  (Seriously I love that moooovie..)

[ladylydia]

Love it, holidays are amazing and hard all at the same time.

[Raxie]

I like your cleaning everyday challenge and that it'll be something, even if it's just your purse.  Right now this isn't a focus of my challenge, but I have noticed I've gotten really lazy about upkeep of my house and then spend the whole weekend cleaning.  In 2015 my goal is to have less stuff and keep my house tidier, so I think I'll have to keep this in the idea bank for now!

 

Can't wait to see you rock it! 

 

Thanks!  I think it'll really help ground me, that no matter where I am I have some control over the situation.  And it'll probably end up helping others out too.

 

Snoopy gifs + Clark Griswold?  EPIC WIN!

 

I'm with you, while I love the holidays they can get a liiiiittle tense sometimes...

 

You got this!  Subbing to keep up with keeping calm and Griswolding on.  (Seriously I love that moooovie..)

 

I'm ashamed to say I only saw that move for the first time last year! It's definitely quickly become one of my favorite holiday movies though.  It's just so good.  And the Peanuts and the holidays for me are not complete without each other hahah.  Anyway, thanks!

[Balthazar]

I love the 'eating consciously'. When I started this it was like a switch being flicked

[Raxie]

So... I'm off to a good pre-challenge start.

 

Last night I did my 30 day challenges and did a teeny bit of cleaning in the bathroom.  I had pizza for the first time in agesssss (it used to be a weekly, or multiple times a week thing only about a month or so ago) because it's ma birfday .  But I didn't eat it like a maniac... I had it because it was delicious and I completely deserved it   I also got a vodka sauce shrimp pizza that was light on cheese and thin crust so it in all honesty wasn't even that bad for me anyway.

 

All the noms!

 

 

I got a solid 7 hours of sleep (my newly purchased bed/mattress is helping loads with my sleeping issues) and Duolingo's and Lumosity'd.  I did not meditate, but I will tonight for sure. Gotta get back into finding time to do that... I always feel so much better when I do but once I stop I feel like I don't have the time to start again. Hmmmmm....  Maybe I'll just start doing it IMMEDIATELY when I get home. 

[Raxie]

I love the 'eating consciously'. When I started this it was like a switch being flicked

 

I started doing this last challenge and it seriously was like the world made more sense.  It's so much less stressful, and I have been eating so much healthier because of it! 

[raptron]

Oh hey! Happy birthday, my dear!

[Raxie]

Oh hey! Happy birthday, my dear!

 

Thank you!

[Raxie]

Oh and for anyone new to the Raxie program, I keep all my number crunchy work out details over in my battle log so as not to fill up my challenge thread with endless numbers and such.

[shaar]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  A little pizza treat on a birthday is totally acceptable in my book!

[Amdhiel]

I really like your setup, keeping things simple is always a good thing IMO. Subbed to cheer you on .

[Raxie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! A little pizza treat on a birthday is totally acceptable in my book!

Thank you! It was apparently worth it because I did my pre challenge weigh in today and I'm down 2 pounds! (I only weigh myself once a week on Friday mornings).

Sent by TARDIS delivery service. Apologies for typos caused by interactions with the time vortex.

[shaar]

Thank you! It was apparently worth it because I did my pre challenge weigh in today and I'm down 2 pounds! (I only weigh myself once a week on Friday mornings).

 

 

WHOA!  That is fantastic!!!  And a great birthday gift

 

[Starpuck]

Pizza plus pre-challenge weight in happies?

 

What an awesome Birthday surprise!     And Happy Birthday Raxilicious!    Yaaaay!

 

I weigh in on Friday's too - except I forgot today.  Boo hiss.

[thekatisalie]

Sub'd

[stillskies]

Ooh, duolingo. I really need to start doing that again. I got bored since the first few levels of Spanish were so easy. 

 

Good luck with your challenge and that foam rolling. That can be super painful. Which is why I avoid it. >.>

[Priscillia]

Happy Belated Birthday and Wooooo Challenge Day

[Raxie]

Just popping in to say I'm doing well. I'm having some computer troubles but I should be in for an update tomorrow! I hit everything yesterday so I'm off to a good start

Sent by TARDIS delivery service. Apologies for typos caused by interactions with the time vortex.