QengpuBenal Prepares for War

[QengpuBenal]

November is a particularly challenging month for me. I participate in NaNoWriMo every year. At my work, November is frequently a month where I see a definite uptick in referrals (which results in more paperwork and report writing for me). In addition to this, I have my typical challenges of keeping my house clean, keeping up with the laundry, and dealing with my wife and kids' medical and academic issues! This challenge is going to be a bit wonky because I'm going to do something a bit different for the first two days.

 

Challenge Days One and Two: These are my prep days. I need to be in the best spot possible in order to really conquer the month of November. This means completing a list of tasks to prepare me for the month.

 

1. Clean the entire house, including cleaning the floors. Finished!
2. Get all of the laundry washed, dried, folded, and put away. Almost Finished!
3. Get all of the paperwork at my office caught up and all of my reports as close to finished as possible. Finished!
4. Go grocery shopping. Finished!
5. Prepare casseroles (4 of them). Finished!
6. Bake a loaf or two of bread.
7. Pay the bills. Finished!
8. Investigate all three of the gyms closest to my house.
9. Schedule out my workouts and my writing blocks for November. Finished!

 

Finishing the entire list gains me +2 STA and +2 WIS

   I can earn an additional +1 STA if I also get all my paperwork at home scanned and stored on my PC.

   I can earn an additional +1 CHA if I also get all of my downloaded video games finished so they aren't sitting on my desktop tempting me!

 

Goal One: I WILL exercise in some way 24/26 days in November! Do some type of exercise every day. I'm going nonspecific here to see if having the flexibility to do what I'm in the mood for will help me maintain this goal.

Bomus Goal: I WILL investigate the three closes gyms during November. DONE!

 

23-26 days = A

19-22 days = B

15-18 days = C

10-14 days = D

0-9 days = F 2 days completed!

 

This goal is worth +2 STA if I earn an A or a B, and +1 STA if I earn a C or a D. 

LOOT: Complete both goals and earn a gym membership for either December or January.

 

Goal Two: I WILL eat a healthy, home cooked dinner 24/26 days in November. No candy allowed! I do not eat candy. I do not eat candy. I do not eat candy.

 

23-26 days = A

199-22 days = B

15-18 days = C

10-14 days = D

0-9 days = F 1 day completed!

 

This goal is worth +2 CON if I earn an A or a B, and +1 CON if I earn a C or a D.

LOOT: Complete this goal and earn a new rice cooker.

 

Goal Three: I WILL dink water (at least 2 cups) 27/27 days in November. Drink 8 cups of water daily.

 

23-26 days = A

199-22 days = B

15-18 days = C

10-14 days = D

0-9 days = F 5 days completed!

 

This goal is worth +2 CON if I earn an A or a B, and +1 CON if I earn a C or a D.

LOOT: Complete this goal and earn a new water bottle.

 

Life Goal: I WILL work on my novel 27/27 days in November. Write a minimum of 1,667 words per day.

 

23-26 days = A

199-22 days = B

15-18 days = C

10-14 days = D

0-9 days = F 5 days completed!

 

This goal is worth +2 WIS if I earn an A or a B, and +1 WIS if I earn a C or a D.

LOOT: Complete this goal and earn a new book.

[QengpuBenal]

Ok, I didn't get all of my pre-challenge goals accomplished, but I did get a large number of them. I also got some of the toughest ones done. I'll say that I have earned the 2 Stamina points and 1 of the Wisdom points.

 

Now, I'm ready to start November!

[Guzzi]

Argh, the dreaded November! I'm in awe of your Pre-Challenge goals, that may be something I need to steal in the future.  

[QengpuBenal]

Woohoo! Day One is complete! I walked about a mile and a half, I drank all my water, I stayed away from the candy, and I wrote 1,690 words! Woohoo!

 

Seriously, that was hard! I had to stay at work until 6, so I really didn't want to walk. I forgot to drink water and had to fit it all in during the last 5 hours of the day. I am surrounded by my kids' Halloween candy. I had a terrible time figuring out how to start my NaNo novel! Lots of obstacles, but I managed to push through them all! Yay!

[Guzzi]

Wow, well done!

[QengpuBenal]

Day Two is done! I drank my water, a little more spread out than yesterday. I wrote my 1,667 word on my novel! I went for a 1 mile walk (after trying to talk myself out of it I did it anyway)! I also resisted all the candy my kids kept trying to share with me by thanking them and reminding them that Mommy doesn't eat candy!

[Xena]

You are off to a wonderful start! The day 1-2 plan was an excellent idea...you've set yourself up for success!

[QengpuBenal]

Day Three was a bust. I failed every single one. Not totally sure what happened. I think it was due to not feeling so well by the time I got off work. On the plus side, the candy I ate was one about 6 SweetTarts (far less candy than I usually eat).

[Guzzi]

It happens to us all sometimes, just don't let it knock you off your stride. 

[QengpuBenal]

Ok, so I've definitely been struggling with my goals, and after taking a hard look at them I realized I am just trying to make too big of changes at once. With that realization, plus some help from the Mindset modules at the Nerd Fitness Academy, I have revamped my goals a little. So far, I'm doing good staying on track with them.

 

I also realized that using my bullet journal to write down the goals and track them if insanely helpful. I always have my bullet journal with me, so it's easy to remember to track the goal when I complete it that day! Another plus is that I got all caught up on my NaNoWriMo word count and am ready to kick some Week 2 butt!

[Xena]

Adjusting your goals to make them work for you is a great step. Congrats on catching up on your novel and bring on week 2!

[QengpuBenal]

Walked my daughter to her violin lesson instead of driving her (despite having a severely upset stomach).Drank my water. Did not cook dinner. Going to have to do better with that tomorrow. I did write on my novel and I'm currently caught up in terms of my NaNo word count! All of this, despite having to deal with some pretty stressful stuff involving the police and stuff yesterday (nothing super bad, but one of my kids may be a witness to a pretty nasty crime).

[QengpuBenal]

Ugh! I have been doing terribly! I'm not sure why, but I've been super depressed lately. As a result, by the time I've dragged myself through another day at work I am exhausted! My plan is to recuperate this weekend, charge forward on my writing, and come back strong next week! In the meantime, I have new pink and silver jammies, and new fuzzy pink slippers. That plus a nice cup of tea and I should be set to write the day away tomorrow.

[Xena]

sorry I've been away so long! And sorry you've had a rough time of it. Hope a little pj time gave you more energy. How are things going?