Elysha`s challenges =)

[Elysha]

Hi everybody

A few weeks ago I read in Steve Pavlina`s blog the first time, among other things about these 30 day trials. When I found this forum then a few days ago and saw people posting their trials in here, I thought this would be a great chance to finally change my habits as well!

I have wanted to change sooo many aspects of my life for such a long time!! Everyday I thought about ways to be a better person, be more effective, eat healthier, lose some kilos etc. etc. etc... Now I realized that I just wanted too much and especially everything all at once! Thats never going to happen!! Its just impossible (at least for me )!

So Ive decided to change just a few habits at a time.
I really hope that posting my progress here everyday will help me to finally stick to my own "rules"... because until now I have changed my plans almost everyday

I would love to communicate with others who maybe have the same problems and goals and to encourage each other
So please feel free to write me to encourage me, tell me your own experiences or to criticize my methods and plans I would be grateful!
And please excuse if I make mistakes - English is not my native language and I havent used it for a time.

Greetings to all of you,
Elysha

[Elysha]

Here my first challenges come

1. I am studying at university. Therefor I have a very unregular schedule. Every day is different... thats interesting on the one hand, but on the other hand I dont have any routine at all, have to motivate myself everytime new to do something, dont have work, family and friend`s time, doing houseworke etc. in balance... and procrastinate a lot! I am perfectionist and often dont know where to start Even if I am doing quite a lot each day its often just not the right things and I havent learned enough at the end of the day

Therefor my first challenge is to build up a daily routine
I am learning at home and wanna have a regular workday (respectively studyday) from 8 am to 6 pm with 2 1-hour breaks (sports, drinking, eating) and some 10-minutes breaks. Sunday is my free day
I wont do other things in between (because I will get distracted then immediatly and my day will end with myself sitting in front of the television again - this will be another challenge btw ).
This challenge will last (at least) 30 days.


2. I wanna eat healthier, less and lose some kilos (about 10). My weight isnt thats bad, but I am just not happy with it. But my biggest problem is that I am a binge eater If I only have good food at home its no problem for me, but if sweets and fast food are there (and I cannot cook at all unfortunately so thats the case often), I just cannot stop eating
My plan is:
- a few days a kind of feasting with Almased (a proteine shake) to make a cut, lose some motivating kilos at the start, lower my feelings of hunger and get away from sugar-addiction
- after that eating almost only vegetables, salads and fruits and cereals in the morning (am not soo sure about that at the moment - any suggestions? Sure is that I wanna eat very healthy -> no sugar if possible, natural food)

So my second challenge now is to have this Almased Turbo feast for at least 7 days, maybe longer.

->
1) Study routine 8am-6pm
2) Almased diet
My challenges will start tomorrow.


Huii, that was a lot of text, I am sorry!
So wish me luck

[Elysha]

Day 1

It was quite a great day

1) Study Routine
I am proud of myself I had courses and meetings for seminar presentations all day, without a real break. I came back at 5pm and did not crawl into my bed and start watching tv (as I usually do), but really finished my last hour with preparing sth for my presentation And I got a lot done in this hour

2) Alma fasting
Well... this went well until I came home. I did not eat anything the whole day... even as my friends were talking about all the great things to eat at christmas time
But when I came back I ate a little bit, because I realized (again :/) that this is not the right way
I have to learn eating properly and not "escape" from food (by fasting).
Am not sure how to eat then... shall I count calories... shall I learn to eat everything or buy just healthy food without any exception??
Sure is, that this challenge will end here. Am sure I will start another eating challenge then soon...
But maybe Ill start another thread then in the health subforum?? What do you think?

Greetings to everyone,
Elysha

[Kaspian]

You can do your body a lot of good by cutting out processed foods and sugars—avoid chemicals (MSG, nitrates, nitrites, preservatives), hydrogenated oils (this means no deep fried foods, by the way), sodas, fruit juice with sugar added, candy/sweets, and most desserts.

Focus on enjoying whole foods - fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed meats if you eat meat. Michael Pollan has a good way of looking at it: Eat only foods that your great, great grandmother would recognize as food.

[Elysha]

Oh, thanks a lot for your post, Kaspian !

Yes, actually I know that this is the best way to eat... but its so difficult I really have to learn to cook and to try healthy recipes!! Its always good to hear from people who live that way and get along with this well!

I hate to count calories. Maybe I should "just" eat healthy, listen to my hunger and finally begin with doing sports!
Wow, a lot of habits to establish
Maybe this forum can help me with that

Many greetings,
Elysha

[Matt Willard]

Just tackle it a bit at a time. Right now I'm installing a water-only habit, and it's been working well so far. It'll take some tme if you attempt one habit at a time, but I'd rather install one habit then no habits at all by taking on too much.

[Elysha]

Day 2


@Matt: Thanks for your reply!
Yes, that is really so true!! Its better to really change habits step by step than to wanna change everything and do nothing then because you get overwhelmed by it!
I wish you good luck with your water-only-habit!!

Study routine
I overslept today, until half past ten and then I thought about quitting my routine. As I always do... I always doubt my new plans :/
But a little bit later I thought about it again and realized that this ryhthm and routine is the best way and got something done for university
Will try to sleep soon now to be able to get up early tomorrow and keep on with my new routine

Eating
Went well today I even cooked sth healthy!! I really seldom cook! And it even tasted good
I have made an eating plan which I want to follow now. So this will be my new eating challenge. The plan only contains healthy food btw.

Greetings to everyone

[Kura Ookami]

Good luck.

What is your native language? Congratulations on learning English. It's not an easy language to learn, but us natives take that for granted.
What do you mean by "sth" in "I even cooked sth healthy"? Is that a typo?

You can adjust your plans a little if you want rather than completely give up on them. They do say that no plan survives contact with the enemy. I hope you succeed in forging your new habits. ^_^

[Elysha]

Day 3

@Kura:
Thanks for the "compliment"
My native language is German, so English isnt that difficult to learn, because these languages are related to each other. I had English at school, but as I am writing now I notice how many mistakes I make :-o Maybe advancing my English will be a secondary effect of writing here
With "sth" I meant something.
And yes, you are so right!! I should not always toss my whole plans away but better just change them. I hope Ill become better in considering my plans well and then in really sticking to them.
I wish you good luck for your new habit as well !


Study Routine
My day was a little bit strange.
I was too tired at half past 5, of course... and therefor stood up too late. But I started learning about 9 or something which was ok. I did things for university the whole day and didnt even stop at 6, but worked until now (half past ten)... with little breaks of course.
But thats not good either, because I didnt do anything else like cleaning the kitchen etc. Hmmm...

Following my eating plan
Worked half/half. I ate what I "should", but - as always - I did not drink enough. Have to drink at least one litre now before going to bed.

[Stressless]

Hi Elysha,

It is good that you have decided to broken your goals down and have decided to tackle them in a step by step manner. Nobody can do everything all at once.

And you will slip and fall at times. The trick is to get up and get going as if nothing happened.

As a student your important goal should be to finish your studies. If you want to lose weight, go in for more of whole, fiber rich foods. If you don't want to cook, have some fruit, raw vegetables and milk or yoghurt at times.

[Kura Ookami]

Hi Elysha!

Thanks for your post in my thread.

How are your goals going?

It's great that you notice how many mistakes you make with your writing. I'm not at that level with my Japanese yet. Practicing in the language you want to improve is a good way to improve.

What are your goals for 2009?

[Elysha]

Oh hi Stressless and Kura

I havent seen that you posted a reply to my thread, so sorry for not answering! Have not been online here for a week or so...
I have just posted something in your thread Kura

@Stressless: Thanks for your tips!
This falling is my problem. If I dont stick to my new plan I immediatley think that the whole thing wasnt a good idea and start making a new plan... in a few aspects almost every day :-o
Yes, finishing my studies is one of the most important things of course! But I wont have problems with this I guess... this procrastination is bad anyway and I wanna fight it.

@Kura: Hui, how my goals are going?
My eating went quite well the last days. I only have "good", quite natural food at home... so I dont have any "overating-flashs" anymore I am very happy with this!
I will have to do some sports to lose weight I guess.
Probably I will start a new thread in the health forum in a few days with a new challenge concerning this whole thing... because it does not really belong to this subforum, does it?

I experienced with a new timemanaging tool this week On first sight it looks great! It schedules the whole day, but always stays actual ("dynamic scheduling")... I like it, but have to test it a few weeks more now to see whether its the right for me. Hope that I will get everything done with it and stop procrastinating
I dont have fixed studytimes there (yet)...as my actual new habit here was... but maybe I will arrange this again.

Hm... maybe I should start a new challenge here then concerning my time management:
Using this software and following its plan as well as possible

Many greetings to all of you!
Elysha

[Elysha]

A day full of chaos again :/
I watched my plan and I did the things I wanted but I could have done more
I watched too much television and spoke on the telephone too long again... but it wasnt that bad.

And: I have set a studytime again for deviding woking time and free time (+ doing household etc.).

Tomorrow I want to stand up at 6 and follow my plan better.
Hope it will work!
I made a plan for my big exam in february today... and there is so much to do

About eating habits: I cant see my food anymore... I eat almost the same everyday... and too many carbs. Have to change that. But timemanagement habits are to change first.

Greetings,
Jasmin

[Elysha]

Hi guys =)

I havent posted in this forum for quite a long time, but I feel its time to give it a try again!

Actually time hasnt changed a lot and I am still dealing with the same issues

Again I have realized that I cannot change too much at the same time - I have to do small steps and be happy with them! I need some success to believe in myself again and in my capability of changing myself to the better! Right now Im sure that I will fail before I have even really started

Biggest problem is my procrastination. I am writing an assignment (paper?) for university and its like a huge mountain sitting in front of me and I just cannot DO it! Its too overwhelming.

I would like to write down my progress here concerning my new habits every day. Feel free to leave ANY comment - whether its encouraging or kind of warning, advising etc. - Ill be happy to hear from you =)

Ill start with some productivity habits. Eating goes quite well right now fortunately Still want to lose some kilos but I have started to eat healthier, thats the most important for now.
I hope its ok if I write down everything in this thread. I could create different threads in different categories also, but in my opinion this is more comfortable and clear. Besides I cannot open a new thread everytime I change my plans lol.

Wish me luck =)

[Elysha]

Day 1

Well, Im gonna count today as day 1, so maybe it will be more motivating tomorrow if theres one day already

sleeping times
My sleeping rhythm is totally out of order. As Ive noticed I cannot change it rapidly, so Ill do it step by step.
Today I wanted to sleep at 1 am and Im sure Ill get that done.
Tomorrow: I wanna stand up before 9 am and sleep before 0.00

study goals
As I didnt have any specific goals today, I count them as done.
Tomorrow:
- assignment: write chapter "history"
That will probably be quite a lot of work, but if I get that done it will be so great Its a lot of notes, but shall be only 2 pages, so its not that bad.

[Elysha]

Day 2

Well, what shall I say... of course I did not get everything done as I wanted today - big surprise lol! But of course I am not giving up!

sleeping times
My alarm rang probably a hundred times tomorrow morning, but I could not stand up. I guess its because my dog wakes me up during the night often at the moment (seem to be sooo interesting things outside which definitely have to be barked at ), so Im not "fresh" when I have to stand up. Hm.
Tomorrow Ill have to see the doc and go to the university in the morning so Ill HAVE to stand up very early. Ill better set up three timers for tomorrow
As Ill go to bed before 0.00 I have gained my sleeping goals for today halfly - at least.

Tomorrow: stand up < 6.00, go to bed < 23.00

study goals
Hmmm... I am FAR away from having "history" finished and I didnt study a lot today. But: I did a little bit and liked it. Unfortunately I got a call from my friend and we HAD to talk for one and a half hour or so... after that there was not time/motivation or better to say there were other things to do... hmm.

Tomorrow: Write on paper for 3 hours.
Ill better set smaller goals from now on. If I wanna do more then, I can do it anyway (I know I wont... but I could )

[Elysha]

Study goals (0)
Unfortunately I didnt do anything for the assignment today. Until midday I was at university, after that I slept 3 hours cause I did not get enough sleep the night before :/. After that I had to get some other things done before I go to my parents tomorrow to spend the holidays with them.
Tomorrow I wont have a lot of time, but I would like to spend 2 hours with my assignment.

Sleeping times (0)
I stood up on time today morning (cause I really had to).
But now its half past midnight already, so I didnt go sleeping before 0.00. But thats not too bad cause I slept so long this afternoon and I am only 1 h late.
Tomorrow I wanna stand up at 8.30 and sleep before 11 pm.

[CoolBee]

Keep at it! Do you work on your assignment all in 1 go, or do you split it into half an hour bits?

[Elysha]

@CoolBee: Thanks a lot for your encouragement!! Thats exactly what I needed =)
I was a little bit off the track of writing here but now Im willing to keep on doing it!
I dont write on my assignment all at once but try to split it into smaller pieces like 1 h to 1,5 h.

study goals
Today I wanted to study for at least 2,5 hours. Only got 1 1/4, but its christmas and I wanted to spend time with my family whom I havent seen for some time, so its ok. Most important is that I got into the stuff and am motivated again
Tomorrow well go eating out and Im gonna visit a friend of mine the whole evening so I wont have a lot time, but I have planned to study 3 hours in total (2 x 1,5 h).

sleeping times
Tomorrow I slept long because we went to bed late yesterday. Tomorrow I wanna stand up at 7. Dont know when Ill go sleeping, cause Ill be at my friends house.

planning
I have started a new habit. I want to plan my day to overcome my procrastination. I know that I cant plan my day detailled from minute to minute but at least it gives me some guideline and I feel somehow more comfortable with that Today was great and I have already planned tomorrow (wanna plan it the evening before).
If someone is reading this who has experience with planning the day with set times (instead of following to do lists): I would love to hear your experiences with it! Ive tried it a few times yet and did not really succeed, but with a to do list "only" I feel kind of lost and overwhelmed.

Greetings to all of you and merry christmas =)