Ballad Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 Ballad's Challenge [#2] “And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?â€â€• Rumi 2016 Epic Quest: Develop mental fortitude, discipline, and kindness. I'm very excited to officially join the Druids for my second challenge. For this challenge, I'll continue to focus on mental health and wellness - this time, with more of a focus on gratitude and being present. All of my challenges will be ongoing throughout February. I hope to continue to cement habits that I've been working on and build up new ones. For those of you who followed along on my first challenge, this format may look familiar (why mess with a good thing?).Quest #1: Go to sleep by 11pm on weekdays (Sun-Thurs) and 2:30am on weekends/holidays (Fri-Sat). I'm still working on the sleep thing. My last challenge took me out of the sleep deprivation cycle. This challenge, I intend to continue building better sleep habits by getting to bed before midnight on a regular basis.A+: 26 daysA: 22-25 daysB: 18-21 daysC: 14-17 daysD: 13 daysF: Less than 13 daysQuest #2: Make breakfast at home 3 times/week. [exceptions made for travel] Because breakfast at home means more energy right when I wake up and less money spent. Win/win. Week 1: Pass/FailWeek 2: Pass FailWeek 3: Pass/FailWeek 4: Pass/FailBonus: Remove caffeinated coffee from my diet for the month of February.Quest #3: Do at least 5 minutes of meditation per day. I want to build the habit of meditation into my life. The goal is less stress, more mindfulness, and increased mental resilience. A+: 26 daysA: 22-25 daysB: 18-21 daysC: 14-17 daysD: 13 daysF: Less than 13 days I've also included one life quest. I plan to link this to my meditation quest by writing the list after I meditate.Life Quest: Write a daily gratitude list containing at least 3 items. Sometimes, I get so caught up in the negatives that I forget to stop and be thankful for all of the goodness in my life. I'm looking forward to this daily practice of gratitude. A+: 26 daysA: 22-25 daysB: 18-21 daysC: 14-17 daysD: 13 daysF: Less than 13 days So, what happens when I succeed? I get access to the treasure pile, where treasures stack.Complete all 4 quests: Book a massage + bragging rights.Complete 3 quests: Purchase The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman. Complete 2 quests: Buy a new lipstick from MAC.Complete 1 quest: Watch a movie/documentary from my Netflix list. Please feel free to follow along, cheer me on, and ask about my progress! Cheers,Meaghan 4 Quote BalladLevel 2 | Water Nymph | Druid Current Challenge | Battle Log | Epic Quest Past Challenges: I "The first and best victory is to conquer self." Link to comment
Ballad Posted January 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 Challenge Tracker Quest #1: Go to sleep by 11pm on weekdays (Sun-Thurs) and 2:30am on weekends/holidays (Fri-Sat). [6/26 Days] 23%23% Feb. 1st - 11pm [Complete]Feb. 2nd - 11pm [Complete]Feb. 3rd - 11:15pm [incomplete]Feb. 4th - 11pm [Complete]Feb 5th - 11:30pm [incomplete]Feb. 6th - 12:40am [Complete]Feb. 7th - 2:00am [Complete]Feb. 8th - 12:15am [incomplete]Feb. 9th - 11pm [Complete]Feb. 10th - 12:15am [incomplete]Feb. 11th - 11:40pm [incomplete]Feb. 12th - 11:45pm [incomplete] Quest #2: Make breakfast at home 3 times/week. Exceptions made for travel. [1/4 Weeks] 33%33% Feb. 1st - Incomplete [W1]Feb. 2nd - Complete [W1]Feb. 3rd - Incomplete [W1]Feb. 4th - Complete [W1]Feb. 5th - Incomplete [W1]Feb. 6th - Complete [W1]Feb. 7th - Complete [W1]Feb. 8th - Complete [W2]Feb. 9th - Incomplete [W2]Feb. 10th - Incomplete [W2]Feb. 11th - Incomplete [W2]Feb. 12th - Complete [W2] Quest #3: Do at least 5 minutes of meditation per day. [11/26 Days] 42%42% Feb. 1st - 5 minFeb. 2nd - 5 minFeb. 3rd - 5 minFeb. 4th - 6 minFeb. 5th - 5 minFeb. 6th - 10 minFeb. 7th - 10 minFeb. 8th - 5 minFeb. 9th - 5 minFeb. 10th - 5 minFeb. 11th - 5 min Life Quest: Write a daily gratitude list containing at least 3 items. [11/26 Days] 42%42% Feb. 1st - CompleteFeb. 2nd - CompleteFeb. 3rd - CompleteFeb. 4th - CompleteFeb. 5th - CompleteFeb. 6th - CompleteFeb. 7th - CompleteFeb. 8th - CompleteFeb. 9th - CompleteFeb. 10th - CompleteFeb. 11th - Complete 1 Quote BalladLevel 2 | Water Nymph | Druid Current Challenge | Battle Log | Epic Quest Past Challenges: I "The first and best victory is to conquer self." Link to comment
Rihor Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 Definitely in your corner! 1 Quote Werewolf Druid | Lvl 2STR 2 | DEX 2 | STA 1 | CON 1 | WIS 4 | CHA 3Character Sheet (work in progress)My Current ChallengeDovie'andi se tovya sagain.It's time to toss the dice. Link to comment
RMDC Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 Woo! We're 5-minute-meditation-druid buddies this month! 1 Quote RMDC | Chaser Druid 2STR 2 | DEX 1 | STA 3 | CON 3 | WIS 3 | CHA 2NF Character Profile: RMDCChallenge: Current - PKMN Journey, Part 1Previous: 1Write 6 pages per week 24%24% Water only 40%40% Wheat products restricted to 3/wk (this week's slots: {*} - {*} - { } ) 27%27% Daily meditation 36%36% Interval walking, four total hours 36%36% Link to comment
Mushishi Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 You can do it! 1 Quote Mushi-shi"Don't let yourself be blinded by fear or anger. Everything is only as it is." - Nui Mushi-shi Epic Quests Temple BellMake it Swing 100%100% Basic Kettle Bell Course: week 5-8. 12 sessionsCharacter Sheet : Challenge 1, 2 Link to comment
Foo Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 -signing up for the "Ballad Fan-Club Newsletter" Supporting you, obviously. Best of luck! 1 Quote Lvl 4 Mystical Taoist Priest "All teachings are mere references. The true experience is living your own life. Then, even the holiest of words are only words." - Ming-Dao Deng Challenge #1 2 3 4 Link to comment
maegs Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 A bunch of people I follow are giving themselves rewards for various goals/grades/etc, I might have to start doing it... Bonus: Remove caffeinated coffee from my diet for the month of February. Good luck!! 2 Quote Current Challenge Goodreads|Instagram|Ravelry Link to comment
Twilight Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 You can do it! 1 Quote Link to comment
tei_ Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I am with you on the sleep challenge! Cheering for you! 1 Quote Current challenge: Tei gets the zoomies Previous challenges: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Link to comment
Ballad Posted February 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments & support! It's lovely to know that you're rooting for me. I'm going to completely disregard my 11pm sleep challenge tonight because I feel great and want to give a long overdue update (sorry!!). Today was a really good day. I had lovely conversations with colleagues and friends, and the students & fellow volunteers I saw after work today made me laugh so hard that I may be able to count this as my Abs workout. I've been feeling a bit gray lately - meaning, really not feeling much on one end of the spectrum or the other. It's different than feeling calm - more like an absence of emotion rather than an ease of emotion. I don't like it. Today, though, I felt JOY. So much joy that I couldn't stop smiling when I came home. This feels good. Really, really good. ---- Challenge Update: And we're 1/3 of the way there! My 11pm sleep challenge is a bit of a hit and miss, but overall I've been going to sleep much earlier than last month. I've also been reading more & getting up earlier, which are awesome side effects. The other 3 challenges are going well. It's too early to tell if the meditation or gratitude lists are having a positive effect on stress, but I've been enjoying the practice and do feel more level-headed at work. What I know for sure is that exercise, while not part of my challenge, has definitely been having a positive impact. No surprise there. I'll be in the States for work next week, so my mini-goal is to make time for the gym while I'm there. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to catching up with all of your challenges! Cheers,Meaghan PS. maegs, you may be happy to know that I haven't touched caffeinated coffee this month! Not. A. Drop. 5 Quote BalladLevel 2 | Water Nymph | Druid Current Challenge | Battle Log | Epic Quest Past Challenges: I "The first and best victory is to conquer self." Link to comment
Rihor Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I feel you on the greyness. I think that's been a fairly common feeling. But so glad you got some joy! So happy for you! 1 Quote Werewolf Druid | Lvl 2STR 2 | DEX 2 | STA 1 | CON 1 | WIS 4 | CHA 3Character Sheet (work in progress)My Current ChallengeDovie'andi se tovya sagain.It's time to toss the dice. Link to comment
maegs Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 Awesome job! Quote Current Challenge Goodreads|Instagram|Ravelry Link to comment
Foo Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 *crickets* There's a hole in my heart where a Ballad should be. If you catch this, update and let us all know how you're doing. 1 Quote Lvl 4 Mystical Taoist Priest "All teachings are mere references. The true experience is living your own life. Then, even the holiest of words are only words." - Ming-Dao Deng Challenge #1 2 3 4 Link to comment
Rihor Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 ^+1 Quote Werewolf Druid | Lvl 2STR 2 | DEX 2 | STA 1 | CON 1 | WIS 4 | CHA 3Character Sheet (work in progress)My Current ChallengeDovie'andi se tovya sagain.It's time to toss the dice. Link to comment
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