heidi Heidi: Life 2016.05

[Heidi]

Well, I'm not sure how it happened so fast, but here we are, in graduation month.

I have had some huge successes so far this year, not the least of which are graduation and quitting smoking. But now it seems as though a lot of weird loose ends are all that remains, and my externally-imposed structures are all melting away. If I have learned anything, it's that I'm no good without structure.  This challenge is about saying centered in what works while being available for whatever post-graduation life might hold.

I've rediscovered walking, and @T2sarahconnor is helping keep me on track this round: no less than 7,500 a day, starting in Zero Week (May 1).

I'm adding in planking every day, because I need to pick up that habit again, and I'm keeping yoga and sauna every week.

Hanging out and celebrating in Week 2 with @Teros. Graduation will happen, too.

I'm not certain what sort of job or whathaveyou life will bring my way, but it would be nice to have money or a purpose or both. I'll keep you posted, dear read, as ever.

[spooky]

I feel you on the structure piece, it definitely makes a big difference for me. Maybe trying to create structure for yourself on a daily basis? that way you can adjust based on how you feel and what's going on, but still give yourself some boundaries? It's sort of what i'm trying this challenge. 

 

Yay for walking! It's so soothing and centering

 

Following along as always Heidi <3

[Teros]

WOOT WOOT

 

 

[Heidi]

Good to have you along @spookyfoot and @Teros.

Over 7500 steps yesterday (barely, but it counts).

 

Doh - just realized I forgot to plank!

[Heidi]

13 hours ago, spookyfoot said:

I feel you on the structure piece, it definitely makes a big difference for me. Maybe trying to create structure for yourself on a daily basis? that way you can adjust based on how you feel and what's going on, but still give yourself some boundaries? It's sort of what i'm trying this challenge. 

 

Yay for walking! It's so soothing and centering

 

Following along as always Heidi <3

I like the idea of daily structure, but I can get a little nutsy with my to do list, and have driven myself insane(er).

 

Here are my thoughts of the moment:

Weekly yoga, sauna, meeting

Daily walk, plank, water, gratitude, love

Life: I have a pile of disparate pieces of paperwork that need to get dealt with. Currently they are languishing in the Apathy Section of my mind. I could do better, here:

Contact AmfAR to update phone number

Letter to Perkinson

Other stuff

 

And being gentle and loving with myself. It's easy for me to forget that I just came through a huge amount of striving and effort, and that I need to walk softly now.

 

[spooky]

3 hours ago, Heidi said:

I like the idea of daily structure, but I can get a little nutsy with my to do list, and have driven myself insane(er).

 

Here are my thoughts of the moment:

Weekly yoga, sauna, meeting

Daily walk, plank, water, gratitude, love

Life: I have a pile of disparate pieces of paperwork that need to get dealt with. Currently they are languishing in the Apathy Section of my mind. I could do better, here:

Contact AmfAR to update phone number

Letter to Perkinson

Other stuff

 

And being gentle and loving with myself. It's easy for me to forget that I just came through a huge amount of striving and effort, and that I need to walk softly now.

 

Oh yes, the desire to do more, do more, then do everything is definitely a constant struggle. And it plays havoc with my mental state. Which of course makes everything harder. Vicious circle. 

 

It does look like you have a lot on your plate so I can see where structure would help. 

 

Maybe try limiting it to a number of things? I'm shooting for around 6 a day, and at least 2-3 of those are self care oriented (meditation, walking, doing something fun). It's not a perfect system by any means but it does make me consider placing a limit on my "must dos" while making "time for myself" part of that list. I mentally have to give myself permission to be "done" for the day sometimes. I will actually tell myself that I did enough. And it does help even if it feels silly sometimes (there's that self judgement piece again). The life stuff, one thing per day maybe so it doesn't get overwhelming? 

 

I know you can do it Heidi <3

 

[Heidi]

5 hours ago, spookyfoot said:

one thing per day maybe so it doesn't get overwhelming? 

 

Absolutely my plan. I know that some days things will bleed into each other, and I'll get a couple or three done, but the point is that I'm Absolutely Not Allowed to give myself a bunch of negative self-talk when I haven't done All The Things Before Breakfast, which is my default setting. This is destructive from the inside out, and why I needed to be a Druid.

[Leimanu]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaait wait wait wait wait wait.....

 

Sauna is part of your challenge?  That can be a thing!?

 

Heeey, I have an Apathy Section on the corner of my office desk at home.

[DarK_RaideR]

On 5/5/2016 at 4:29 AM, Teros said:

WOOT WOOT

 

 

 

One of those times when simply hitting "Like" isn't enough...

[Heidi]

Yesterday was a self-care day of yoga, a meeting, errands, a long hot bath, some walking.

At the gym, I did:

-1.5 miles with some jogging thrown in 5@[walk .2, jog .1]

-glute curls 2x10@40

-chest press 2x10@15

-glute extension 10@70L,R

-inclined twist sit ups 16

-Plank to exhaustion (63 seconds)

[Heidi]

I got plenty of good sleep for the second night in a row, and I'm really pleased with the effects of the earlier bedtime.

Today looks pretty simple so far:

Breakfast

Gym with the family

School to fix whatever is holding up thesis printing

A meeting

Pick up alterations, attempt 3

An Evening with my partner

[Heidi]

On 5/5/2016 at 5:10 PM, Leimanu said:

Sauna is part of your challenge?  That can be a thing!?

Yes, yes it can -- welcome to the Druids!

 

I am working on an acronym for my challenge.

Staying SASSY:

Steps: 7500 every day, and stay in challenge mode with @T2sarahconnor

Academics: Graduate! Sign up for summer classes. Enroll in yet another degree program.

Sauna: At least once a week, probably on Saturday. 

Sponsorship: Every week, probably on Monday afternoon with my sponsor, and on Sunday afternoon with my sponsee.

Yoga: Every week, on Thursday; additionally on Monday if possible.

[Teros]

On 5/5/2016 at 4:32 PM, Heidi said:

Absolutely my plan. I know that some days things will bleed into each other, and I'll get a couple or three done, but the point is that I'm Absolutely Not Allowed to give myself a bunch of negative self-talk when I haven't done All The Things Before Breakfast, which is my default setting. This is destructive from the inside out, and why I needed to be a Druid.

 

That's my perfectionism creeping in.  What helps me is realizing that I'm doing more ON AVERAGE now compared to before.  So what if I do 4 things this morning? Compared to last year, I did like none so using that as my benchmark helps me realize I'm human.

 

[maegs]

Cutting down the amount of things I put on my daily to-do list to something reasonable is something that I've struggled with - I find I get overwhelmed by the amount of stuff and then do nothing instead :/ Definitely better to do less things and feel better about it! (but definitely put sauna on the list!)  

[Heidi]

Yesterday's gym visit saw more of the Walk2Jog1 repetition, and then some pull ups and a stint in the hot tub.

 

Today I'm planning on hitting the sauna and then checking out the Y to see if it's a better fit for my family than the gym we have now.

 

My weight is back down to 130, after hitting 135 while focusing on thesis and conference papers. Lesson learned: walk and write in balance.

 

Also, today or tomorrow, I get to try on all my altered business clothes. It's kind of like Christmas.

[Eirlys]

Congrats on graduating Heidi!  You're an amazing woman and this is the start of an exciting new journey for you!

 

p.s. also massive congrats on quitting smoking, very pleased for you over that! x

[Heidi]

Thanks, @Eirlys - it has been an adventure, a journey worthy of the effort. Now, let us gather around and sing songs with one another. And yes, smoking was a demon, and I still wrestle with it, so thank you for being supportive.

 

Sauna meditation this morning, followed by breakfast, a trip to the possible new gym for information, and then a saltwater cleanse at home.

 

I'm wicked tired. It has been a very emotional week, and my partner and I didn't rest much all night before he left in the wee hours for work. Unfortunately, we are starting to develop a bit of Friday Night Blues before he leaves, and that is silly as well as counterproductive.  As a result, I spend most of Saturday recovering from no sleep and tender feelings.

 

I invited @T2sarahconnor to a step challenge for the weekend, but she's probably going to trounce me.

 

Found out that the New gym is about half the price of the old gym, with more classes for Vivian, a sauna for the adults, a warmer and bigger lap pool. I almost signed up on the spot.

[Heidi]

Got my 7500 steps in, but only because I know @T2sarahconnor is out there killing it. I would have stayed in bed all day if she wasn't challenging me.

 

Discovered that people are weird.

In other news, water remains wet.

 

Water also complete, and I'm leaning toward looking at my original goals from three years ago, the ones that worked really well. 

[maegs]

10 hours ago, Heidi said:

Found out that the New gym is about half the price of the old gym, with more classes for Vivian, a sauna for the adults, a warmer and bigger lap pool. I almost signed up on the spot.

 

That does sound pretty good! 

 

What were your original goals? 

[Heidi]

16 minutes ago, maegs said:

 

 

 

What were your original goals? 

Not drinking alcohol

Drinking water every day

Gym three times a week

Not smoking

Yoga/Pilates once a week

Walking every day

Plank every day

Being mindful of what I eat

 

 

Speaking of that - time to plank! I almost forgot. Again. Thank you @maegs!

 

[Heidi]

Oh, and there was that pesky Good Bedtime goal, too.

 

I'm wondering how many of the Seven Summits of Roanoke my partner and I can do this challenge. Seven Summits of Roanoke

[spooky]

2 hours ago, Heidi said:

Discovered that people are weird.

In other news, water remains wet. 

I giggled  

[maegs]

44 minutes ago, Heidi said:

Oh, and there was that pesky Good Bedtime goal, too.

 

Bedtime goal is my nemesis haha

[Heidi]

6 hours ago, spookyfoot said:

I giggled  

My work here is done.

6 hours ago, maegs said:

 

Bedtime goal is my nemesis haha

As I well recall! I would start sending you text reminders again, but I got rid of my phone when I downsized.

[T2sarahconnor]

I think Heidi needs to go take a nap this afternoon and rest and relax.