52 Week Challenge - Week 20

Moving forward

Wow 20 weeks already.

I’m taking Deb’s (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/achieving-goals/) advice and had a look back at my goals and found out something very interesting. I’ve made excellent progress in some areas actually in some areas I couldn’t be happier with my progress but (yes there is always a but isn’t there). I’ve been procrastinating with the two major goals on my list. I keep making plans, setting goals, creating vision boards and talking the talk but I’m not getting anywhere.  I need to put the plans in action.  I need to walk the walk.

My weight is the issue, I start all these things to help me reduce weight but when they start to work.  I get side tracked, or just stop doing what I should.  I stop walking the walk and go back to just talking about it and finding every possible excuse not to keep to the plan.

I had to break the cycle.  I had to shake things up and really look at what was going on.  I had to have a honest talk with myself and find out what is really going on.  So looking back to move forward I have been thinking about why I sabotage myself. There is something that keeps blocking my ability to stick to my weight reduction regime.

I’ve decided I need to find out what it is, so I had my first Theta healing session and all I can say is wow.  Although we didn’t talk about the weight issues at any great length I think I have found out the reason but more importantly I know how to change the self belief that has kept me off track.
Its got to do with being a large baby and thinking that the only way I will be loved is to be a big baby, all the stories I have been told about my baby years have to do with large baby issues:

                Trip home from hospital being handed to my sisters because I was the size of a 3 month old baby. So cute because I was a big baby. Getting stuck under the radiogram and the list goes on.

Only getting attention because I was big. This is very interesting.  Can’t wait until my next Theta session and we get to the bottom of this.

On another note, this week has been very interesting at work.  I’ve been making a few changes especially about the way I make decisions and for me it is going really well.  I am feeling really good about things especially the way I stand up for my decisions and I just don’t go along with others.  Funny thing though I was told that people thought I was “testy”. I suppose its better than saying I was bitchy.

It’s a funny thing when you change sometimes people don’t like it. Is it because my changes are taking them out of their comfort zone? Is it because they don’t like change? Is it because they are jealous?

Truth is I don’t care, I am happy and I totally approve of my changes. I feel so much better and less stressed.

My life is simpler.

Living a simpler life

Simplify your life - 52 Week Challenge - Week 19

 Routinely routine

Yep that sums it up – as a creator of lists I love a good routine.  I am routinely routine.

I have a routine for everything and I like it like that.

Wow that was short and sweet – maybe there is a bit more to this.  Let’s have a look at my routines.

LOML and I have been married for nearly 29 years and we know each other fairly well, he is very anal retentive…….. really anal retentive and everything has a routine attached to it.  Merman and I have grown used to it and we have our own ways of dealing with it.  I hate to admit it but a lot of the routines LOML has developed are good if not great and they do make our lives easier.  But, yes there is always one of them, sometimes too many routines drives me crazy.  Yes we put the keys in the one place – very handy, can’t tell you the last time I lost a set of keys (actually I have never lost them – they are always hanging in the same spot).  The one thing I do get a bit distracted with and it is his routine not mine, he puts his shirts, socks and undies in order of wearing.  Yep that’s right, he puts his shirts, socks and undies in order of wearing – I don’t do it he does so it really doesn’t matter to me.  Whatever floats his boat.

Ok back on track, routines.  Routines make my life easier and as I get older I find I like routines more and more especially in my work.  In my work (as an administrator) I set up routines (processes), things I do first thing in the working day.  It helps me to remember to do things.  My life gets so busy sometimes, Merman’s sporting, schooling, socialising and not to mention my bits and pieces, it is really important for me to be on top of everything and for this to happen routines make it easier. Dare I say – routines simplify my life.

Routines change to meet the needs of my family.  My dad is in aged care ( 12 hours away from me) and at Christmas when I visited him I realised he misses contact and he reaches out to anybody for attention, in a way that was making me uncomfortable. In particular I noticed I didn’t talk to him enough and that at times when I did ring he wasn’t there. So I put a new routine into my day, a routine that not only suited both Dad and I but suited LOML and Merman.  I call Dad each every morning at 715 and we talk for about 15minutes.  Occasionally I have to miss a morning but I’d say 28 out of 30 days I call him and it has a twofold effect.  I get to find out what is going on in his life, I’ve been able to detect that he is deteriorating and that he actually needs extra care.  More importantly he is getting more attention and I am enjoying our relationship more.  It isn’t just a duty call anymore but something I look forward to.  

Routines, living in a household of routines of course Merman has picked up a few and as he grapples with all the challenges a 15 year old deals with I know that he has already established routines.  From packing his school bag the night before to showering times (so he doesn’t miss the bus) routines are making his life easier to. 

I’ve had a look back to move forward and yes I do have many routines but there are one or two more I really need to change and add.  This is something I will work on this week. 

Exercise -  it has been cold and I am not getting my exercise as I should – so my new routine will be to ride the exercise bike instead of walking – I have the time at night to ride for 30 mins and I will do it.  I will also walk twice a week at lunch time instead of before work.

Housework – dishes to be done at night.

Routines aren’t boring, routines come in all shapes and sizes but mostly routines make our lives simpler and helps us get on with the mundane things so we have more fun about the fun things that we want to do. 

For me routines are a very important part of my life and are definitely here to stay. 

Thanks Deb (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/simplify-your-life-week-19-routines/) for reminding how much I love a good routine.

PS.  It’s been a bit of a crazy week and to be honest a tough one, some of the changes I have made aren’t sitting too well with others and there have been a few teething problems.  A bit emotional for me at times but I am sticking to my changes because I know that I am on the right track.  At the moment there are a few pot holes in the track but I will navigate them and come out on top.

52 Week Challenge - Week 18

Procrastinating

In psychology, procrastination refers to the act of replacing high-priority actions with tasks of lower priority, or doing something from which one derives enjoyment.

Time to do it all

My first thoughts were “nope, not me I don’t procrastinate”.  I do what I have to and that’s that.  But then I thought about it and well the truth of the matter is that I do procrastinate.

I do put things off like the housework, exercising, contacting people that I don’t really want to talk to or handling a situation that I know will bring me grief.  So on second thoughts “yep I do procrastinate”.

Keeping true to form (looking back to move forward),  I’ve looked back over the week and thought about the times when I have procrastinated and looked for the common denominator.

Being a list queen I made a list using:

Procrastination

Why

Effect

How to fix it

I found it came down to two things – not looking silly and being lazy.

Not looking silly:

Once again the lack of confidence raised its ugly head. For me this is a work in progress and each week I am finding there are less times that are influenced by my lack of confidence. Change is happening and whilst it has been slow I know it is lasting.

Being lazy:

Nothing much to do with this but get on with it. I need to make a few plans and stick to it.  Get back to walking and swimming.  I’m meeting my friend on Tuesday for a swim. Walking is a bit harder now that the cold weather has hit Canberra. I need to get back to walking at lunch time and I will. I know what I need to do I just have to do it.

Taking a lesson from last week I am not going to over think it and plan too much I am just going to do it. 

Working with Deb (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/procrastination/) has helped me to realise that I will achieve the changes I want to make, it may not happen overnight but it will happen.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Lord Chesterfield