NeverThatBored: What's the Story Morning Glory?

[NeverThatBored]

This time around, I'll be tackling a morning routine. How I spend the morning really sets the tone for the day, so every day I want to think about what kind of story I want my day to have and let the morning routine help put me on that path. (Actually I just like Oasis and wanted to make it fit shhhh)

 

For any new friends who follow this challenge - I am focusing on developing one new habit per challenge, for a total of 10 habits for the 10 challenges scheduled this year. 

 

I made some great progress on a morning routine last challenge, completely unintentionally. My mobility work has filled up my mornings in a lovely, relaxed sort of way that works really well. The problem is that depending on the day ahead, I don't have consistent mornings right now. On Monday-Wednesday I'm pretty consistent because I wake up and go into the office at the same time. But on Thursday-Friday I usually work from home, which means that I can sleep in, which means that I usually skip the full routine. And the same issue pops up on weekends, but not always. 

 

I've had trouble establishing morning routines in the past because I tried to be too restrictive. The morning routine can, and should change depending on the story for each new day. So my challenge this time around is to figure out how to:

1. Have some sort of morning routines and rituals that set the tone for the day
2. Allow for variation while keeping the essential habit in place
3. Still get to sleep in enough on days where my schedule allows

 

My laptop battery is almost dead, so I'll post more about what this means and how I can measure it later. 

 

I will also be continuing with some things that are not actual challenge goals, but that I will report on here:

• Continuing to track my walking mileage each week, as a continuation of last challenge's habit forming. 
• 3 workouts + 2 runs per week
• Daily meditation
• Mobility work 
• The 31 day yoga revolution challenge + Wednesday night yoga class (to the end of February) 
• Aikido 2x/week 
• 3 month shopping ban through March, with pre-defined rules and exceptions. This month is espcially important to me, because it will be my 3rd year doing Frugal February, though I've extended it to three months this time. 
  • I have to buy a bridesmaid's dress this month for a wedding I'll be in this summer, and pay aikido federation annual dues 
  • I bought a birthday present for my sister
  • No eating out, unless it's social or on the road
  • I can replace anything that breaks or runs out
  • I can buy any gear that I decide I need for the winter Spartan race I'll be doing in March

[shaar]

This is EPIC, you're so right about a morning routine, it really sets the tone for the day!  Following to see you KILL IT

[Marauder]

Following!  I really need to do a shopping ban again.  I quite liked it.  Overall, though, I don't spend much still and I debate the heck out of stuff before I actually pull the trigger (this is sometimes not a good thing).

[LordKronos87]

Following! Looks like a great challenge.

 

By the way - love Oasis...

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following as well.

[Muir]

Following along!

 

[Mad Hatter]

16 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

 (Actually I just like Oasis and wanted to make it fit shhhh)

 

Hey there's nothing wrong with basing your challenge around a theme, that's part of the fun!  

[fleaball]

Woot woot!

 

I swear I saw "hula" as one of your tags and was highly intrigued. Apparently I just can't read. 

[Dagger]

[Lara]

Following!

[Kestrel Grey]

Following along

[Cataleya]

Yessss love this song and this challenge! Following again of course.

[NeverThatBored]

Week 0 Monday/Tuesday Update

 

Monday 

• I was travelling home in the AM. I took a half day off so I could hang out with the boyfriend for the superbowl (we also, more importantly, watched the kitten bowl), so I had to get up super early to catch a flight home. Definitely no morning routine in sight, but it was a weird travel day. 
• I proceeded to nap and be mostly useless for the rest of the day
• I DID force myself to go to Aikido even though I really didn't feel like it. It wasn't the best class, but it's still good that I went. 
• I decided to do yoga at night after I got home (I could have done it earlier but naps), so that's still going strong

Tuesday

• Morning: I was cut short because I had to get to work an hour early for a meeting. And because I stayed up on Monday to do yoga, I was extra tired. I prioritized what little extra sleep I could get over doing other stuff in the morning. I did some FF stretches and managed to take care of a few basic things I needed to do though. 
• I did not manage to get out walking because we had really awful freezing rain that coated everything. Boo. 
• I was SUPPOSED to work out on Tuesday, but I started doing my taxes and suddenly it was 8pm and I hadn't cooked dinner yet. On the bright side, my taxes are done AND I filed for free, even though I had to redo them to get the free version. 
• I did do yoga, FF, and wrist strengtheners though. 

[shaar]

YES to kitten bowl!!!!!!!!

 

 

Also YES to free taxes!!  I'm still able to do mine for free too, $$$!!!  Grats on getting them done and for $0!

[Muir]

4 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

we also, more importantly, watched the kitten bowl

 

It's so cute!

 

 

In related news, my cat has FINALLY figured out how to use the kitty treat mouse toy. It only took her 6 weeks to figure out that she can get the treats out of it if she picks it up and shakes/drops it.

[NeverThatBored]

32 minutes ago, Muir said:

In related news, my cat has FINALLY figured out how to use the kitty treat mouse toy. It only took her 6 weeks to figure out that she can get the treats out of it if she picks it up and shakes/drops it.

 

AWWWWW

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Weeeeeee, I really love this song.

I still can't believe I slept through the intresting part of the Super Bowl. My boyfriend didn't wake me, when I fell asleep on the couch.

[NeverThatBored]

1 hour ago, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

Weeeeeee, I really love this song.

I still can't believe I slept through the intresting part of the Super Bowl. My boyfriend didn't wake me, when I fell asleep on the couch.

 

You mean this part?

 

 

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

I'm caught in Ahwwwwww. =)

[NeverThatBored]

Week 0 Wednesday Update

• Morning was a bit better paced today. I'm still running a sleep deficit so it wasn't as smooth as it has been, but I'm working with it. I did FF stretches to wake up, did some quick food prep for lunch, and made a breakfast smoothie. It set an ok intention for the day, but there's room for improvement too. 
• Yoga class in the evening! I did that and did not double up by also doing a yoga challenge video. 
• I still have a class to make up for yoga! What sounds better to you guys? A Friday evening "happy hour yoga" class or a Sunday evening "self care" yoga class? I know no details about either of them. 
• I should not be allowed to go to the grocery store after yoga. It is terrible for my food budget because I am hungry and overshop. I arbitrarily decided that I'm going to try an "eat without shopping for as long as I can" challenge. If I run out of protein sources or vegetable sources, I'll stock up. But I'm going to try to eat through what I have stashed for a while. 

[Mad Hatter]

I like the idea of happy hour yoga. Last Friday I went to a contact improv workshop (wait I have even mentioned this on the forum??) and it was such a great way of unwinding after the work week. Happy hour yoga I imagine would do the same.

[Emerald Eagle]

3 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

Week 0 Wednesday Update

• Morning was a bit better paced today. I'm still running a sleep deficit so it wasn't as smooth as it has been, but I'm working with it. I did FF stretches to wake up, did some quick food prep for lunch, and made a breakfast smoothie. It set an ok intention for the day, but there's room for improvement too. 
• Yoga class in the evening! I did that and did not double up by also doing a yoga challenge video. 
• I still have a class to make up for yoga! What sounds better to you guys? A Friday evening "happy hour yoga" class or a Sunday evening "self care" yoga class? I know no details about either of them. 
• I should not be allowed to go to the grocery store after yoga. It is terrible for my food budget because I am hungry and overshop. I arbitrarily decided that I'm going to try an "eat without shopping for as long as I can" challenge. If I run out of protein sources or vegetable sources, I'll stock up. But I'm going to try to eat through what I have stashed for a while. 

 

I like the idea of Sunday yoga - reflect and relax before another Monday morning of craziness.

I also LOVE the idea of an "eat without shopping" challenge! Unfortunately I inherited my mother's food stocking gene. If we get hit by a zombie appolcalypse I'm good for at least three months!

[Owlet]

18 minutes ago, EmeraldEagle said:

Unfortunately I inherited my mother's food stocking gene. If we get hit by a zombie appolcalypse I'm good for at least three months!

See now this is what I should be doing - we get earthquakes so we're always being told to stock up on food and water, but I always end up eating it, doh!

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

We stocked up, too. But then we discovered what can happen if you forget about all the stocked goods. My bf's mother managed to let tins expiere. Usually tinned fruits can be over the date for a few months and not turn bad, but this particular can decided to corrode after seven years and smudged half of the cabinet. That was awfull.

[NeverThatBored]

7 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

I like the idea of happy hour yoga. Last Friday I went to a contact improv workshop (wait I have even mentioned this on the forum??) and it was such a great way of unwinding after the work week. Happy hour yoga I imagine would do the same.

 

6 hours ago, EmeraldEagle said:

 

I like the idea of Sunday yoga - reflect and relax before another Monday morning of craziness.

 

Hahaha, so one vote for each! 

 

6 hours ago, Owlet said:

See now this is what I should be doing - we get earthquakes so we're always being told to stock up on food and water, but I always end up eating it, doh!

 

At least it doesn't go bad! As long as you keep replacing the supplies, it's probably ok, right?

 

6 hours ago, EmeraldEagle said:

I also LOVE the idea of an "eat without shopping" challenge! Unfortunately I inherited my mother's food stocking gene. If we get hit by a zombie appolcalypse I'm good for at least three months!

 

Hahaha, I feel like I could go a long time too, but I'd run out of veggies much faster than I ran out of food in general, so the challenge won't be that long. Also, I'm not actually sure how long I can go without avocados, so this may be a pretty short challenge.  

 

5 hours ago, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

We stocked up, too. But then we discovered what can happen if you forget about all the stocked goods. My bf's mother managed to let tins expiere. Usually tinned fruits can be over the date for a few months and not turn bad, but this particular can decided to corrode after seven years and smudged half of the cabinet. That was awfull.

 

Oof. Yeah, my parents' pantry has gotten like that sometimes too. Gross.