The challenge suggests we track what we do during the day and see what time wasters we may have in our day and to also see how much of our time is spent doing those things which are really important and are a priority.
I have done this exercise before (for a college class) and I was pleasantly surprised about how well I did use my time. I should do this again but now is not the time. I will revisit this probably on day 71. Its not because I don't want to do it now, but with it being summer, me not having classes, the upcoming move, I just don't feel as though I will get a valid picture of my usual time usage.
There was a section of the days reading that I do think I will implement right away. It was suggest we determine how much time we could spend doing things for others - for example, being asked to serve on X committee or being asked to spend some time at a school party or PTA or or or... you get the point. In each week, once that time was used up or allotted, we should start to say "no" to other requests. I like this idea. I'm going to ponder just how much time is 'enough' to spend on other things. Right now I'm thinking 10 hours a week but this may not be realistic. According to MANY I have spoken with, I'm barely going to see the light of day for the next 2 years while I'm in nursing school. So, for now, in the summer, I will try for 10 hours, with a re-evaluation in the fall.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Day 8: Change Your Life Challenge Pact
Change Your Life Challenge Pact
I, Angela, am willing to commit to the 70-Day Change Your Life Challenge because I want to experience life differently. Three of my specific motivations are:
1. I have not been paying attention to my nutritional needs and what I have been placing in my body to help nourish it.
2. I have not been moving my body enough to keep myself healthy and energized
3. I feel a greater need to be in touch with my children and their everyday lives.
I commit to working through each daily challenge, regardless of how long it takes me.
Angela - 6 August 2008
Signature and Date
I, Angela, am willing to commit to the 70-Day Change Your Life Challenge because I want to experience life differently. Three of my specific motivations are:
1. I have not been paying attention to my nutritional needs and what I have been placing in my body to help nourish it.
2. I have not been moving my body enough to keep myself healthy and energized
3. I feel a greater need to be in touch with my children and their everyday lives.
I commit to working through each daily challenge, regardless of how long it takes me.
Angela - 6 August 2008
Signature and Date
Day 7: Top 3!
I DID read this yesterday but things got crazy busy and I didn't blog about it. However, I think the reading is the most important part. I know that doing should be the most important part but until you read it, you can't do it.
The idea for this day is to make a list, as part of the nightly reflection, of the three most important things you can do the next day that will bring you closer to the goals you have set for yourself.
My "problem" (which I don't think of as that) is my goals overall for this challenge are different than where my efforts need to be right now.
I am getting ready to move in 3 weeks. Moving HAS to take priority over those goals I've set for the challenge.
That doesn't mean I don't have to work on the challenge - far from it. It means that I am going to use the challenge to build good habits for my new place.
The idea for this day is to make a list, as part of the nightly reflection, of the three most important things you can do the next day that will bring you closer to the goals you have set for yourself.
My "problem" (which I don't think of as that) is my goals overall for this challenge are different than where my efforts need to be right now.
I am getting ready to move in 3 weeks. Moving HAS to take priority over those goals I've set for the challenge.
That doesn't mean I don't have to work on the challenge - far from it. It means that I am going to use the challenge to build good habits for my new place.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Day 6: The Nightly Reflection
This is probably one of my favorite days because I know how well this works.
It's suggested we evaluate our day and see if something needs to be put on the list to do tomorrow. Another suggestion is to review our long term to do list and see if its time to move something to our short term listing.
I know when I do this sort of thing, my days go so much better because I go to sleep knowing what needs to be done tomorrow. Not in a worry sort of way but in a "I'm prepared" sort of way.
I also like to review my appointments for the next week so that I can make myself aware of my time commitments and possibly the things I will need to do to prepare for those appointments.
LOVE this idea.
It's suggested we evaluate our day and see if something needs to be put on the list to do tomorrow. Another suggestion is to review our long term to do list and see if its time to move something to our short term listing.
I know when I do this sort of thing, my days go so much better because I go to sleep knowing what needs to be done tomorrow. Not in a worry sort of way but in a "I'm prepared" sort of way.
I also like to review my appointments for the next week so that I can make myself aware of my time commitments and possibly the things I will need to do to prepare for those appointments.
LOVE this idea.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Day 5: The key to never forgetting
If I were using the notebook the way the challenge has it set up, I would be taking everything on my daily "to-do" list and re-writing it everyday for the reminder to get things done.
I'm NOT exactly using a notebook that way. I do carry a book with me where I will write down items that I need to get accomplished and then I move them to outlook. I plan a day to accomplish that which needs to be done and put the task on that day.
If it's not accomplished the assigned date, the task font will be colored red. The red bugs me enough that I don't think its too important to worry about rewriting. However, I do think I would like a way to further color code the tasks. For example, if a task has gone three days past due, I would like to color those a different color, a week past due, another color, etc.
Does anyone know how to do that? Let me know.
I'm NOT exactly using a notebook that way. I do carry a book with me where I will write down items that I need to get accomplished and then I move them to outlook. I plan a day to accomplish that which needs to be done and put the task on that day.
If it's not accomplished the assigned date, the task font will be colored red. The red bugs me enough that I don't think its too important to worry about rewriting. However, I do think I would like a way to further color code the tasks. For example, if a task has gone three days past due, I would like to color those a different color, a week past due, another color, etc.
Does anyone know how to do that? Let me know.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Day 3 and 4: The Chat
Susieq: done day 4 yet?
Angela: Just finishing up both 3 and 4 right now. Should be done in about 1/2 hour. How about you?
Susieq: i really have a hard time with the whole notebook thing
Angela: Im not going to do the notebook. I've started to use a blank book for this kind of thing.
Susieq: the notebook is sort of of blank except for the headingson the pages
Angela: Using the right hand side for my lists and the left hand side for a journal/notes area, etc
Susieq: i just posted a short thing on the blog, but this notebook is what hangs me up everytime. i have this fetish for day planners with all the sections
Angela: I know what you mean and although we're encouraged to do it exactly this way, I do think you need to modify to something you will use and works for you.
Susieq: i thought about just using my day planner and just making those few sections to see if that works. but then i started thinking maybe i should give this a try just the way it says. of course, i feel like crap today and that isn't helping
Angela: I just can't carry another notebook around with me. I have so many all for my school stuff that I know it just will get left at home.
Susieq: yeah, i hate having to carry just a notebook that size with me which is why i thought about using the planner cover cuzit's smaller and fits on my purse
Angela: I really think what's most important about the whole thing is to have it with you, whatever it is. If the notebook doesn't work for you, use what does.
Susieq: hey, ever heard of the book called quantum wellness
Angela: I don't think so.
Susieq: Some girls are doing it, and i have looked at it at walmart. it seems interesting
Susieq: if this 70 day thing doesn't work, i might try this lol
Angela: well give it 66 more days before we jump ship, okay?
Susieq: oh, this time I’m gonna finish the whole thing. i keep thinking it's the perfect time cuzi have my own place and space. and i never got past maybe day ten before
Angela: I will keep encouraging you if you will keep encouraging me.
Susieq: definitely, this challenge is the reason i got out of bed and came got online
Susieq: i started using outlook and i like it but don't use it for email cuz of the whole online thing
Angela: I don't use it for email either, unless I know I'm gonna be away from access because I can read/type offline on that and send it when I am connected.
Susieq: it gaveme the option of setting that up when i first started, but i said no
Angela: I did too but there is a way to set it up later if you want.
Susieq: sometimes i think it would be nice, but i get so much crap
Angela: Gmail is great for filtering crap out and you can set outlook to retreive the gmail stuff.
Angela: Just finishing up both 3 and 4 right now. Should be done in about 1/2 hour. How about you?
Susieq: i really have a hard time with the whole notebook thing
Angela: Im not going to do the notebook. I've started to use a blank book for this kind of thing.
Susieq: the notebook is sort of of blank except for the headingson the pages
Angela: Using the right hand side for my lists and the left hand side for a journal/notes area, etc
Susieq: i just posted a short thing on the blog, but this notebook is what hangs me up everytime. i have this fetish for day planners with all the sections
Angela: I know what you mean and although we're encouraged to do it exactly this way, I do think you need to modify to something you will use and works for you.
Susieq: i thought about just using my day planner and just making those few sections to see if that works. but then i started thinking maybe i should give this a try just the way it says. of course, i feel like crap today and that isn't helping
Angela: I just can't carry another notebook around with me. I have so many all for my school stuff that I know it just will get left at home.
Susieq: yeah, i hate having to carry just a notebook that size with me which is why i thought about using the planner cover cuzit's smaller and fits on my purse
Angela: I really think what's most important about the whole thing is to have it with you, whatever it is. If the notebook doesn't work for you, use what does.
Susieq: hey, ever heard of the book called quantum wellness
Angela: I don't think so.
Susieq: Some girls are doing it, and i have looked at it at walmart. it seems interesting
Susieq: if this 70 day thing doesn't work, i might try this lol
Angela: well give it 66 more days before we jump ship, okay?
Susieq: oh, this time I’m gonna finish the whole thing. i keep thinking it's the perfect time cuzi have my own place and space. and i never got past maybe day ten before
Angela: I will keep encouraging you if you will keep encouraging me.
Susieq: definitely, this challenge is the reason i got out of bed and came got online
Susieq: i started using outlook and i like it but don't use it for email cuz of the whole online thing
Angela: I don't use it for email either, unless I know I'm gonna be away from access because I can read/type offline on that and send it when I am connected.
Susieq: it gaveme the option of setting that up when i first started, but i said no
Angela: I did too but there is a way to set it up later if you want.
Susieq: sometimes i think it would be nice, but i get so much crap
Angela: Gmail is great for filtering crap out and you can set outlook to retreive the gmail stuff.
That Darn Notebook
Day four talks about putting together our notebook. It seems really simple in theory, and I guess that is my problem. I love day planners, and over the years I've had tons of them in all sizes and flavors. I seem to think complicated is better. But this one just seems too simple. Plus having the main binder at home with everything in it means if you are away from home, it's not with you. But I have committed to giving this a try, so I'm going to do it. I'm going to just do what it says, and reevaluate when the 70 days is over. I will keep telling myself that doing nothing isn't working, so this might work. One day at a time.
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