Some Calm for April

To recap my March challenge, I succeeded in the sense that I did do many new and exciting things, but not the ones I had thought I would. Therefore, I've created a list. This list embodies short and long term goals, dreams, ideas, and silliness. Some favorites include 1) Do a couture photo shoot in a laundry mat 9) Volunteer in a soap kitchen 15) Ride in a hot air balloon. Hopefully I can maintain this list, and continually check items off as I go on new adventures. I'll keep it handy for a rainy day.

For April I've decided to work on meditation. May is always my busiest month, and some calm before the storm would really help. The challenge: Starting April 1st (no joke) I will meditate, sit calmly, or pray for a minute each day, adding one minute each subsequent day. So, by the end of the month I will be meditating for an entire half hour. This minute add-on system will help me from becoming overwhelmed with my new challenge.

I've already begun...
Day 1: I just sat in silence for 1 minute
Day 2: I repeated the matra "I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am blissful" for two minutes riding the train to work.

I'm looking forward to adding minutes and going deeper into meditation. Take it easy.

New Month New Experiences

So, I finished out February a little more rested, yet a little frustrated. I realized dedicated 8 hours to sleep every night was not logical. You need to bend the rules sometimes, so I prefer the idea of getting 56 hours of sleep a week. That way if you have one busy night you can cut your hours short, and make up for them later when you have more time. Because really, sleeping should be restorative not stressful.

For March I decided to try something different. Literally, everyday I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm hoping it'll shake things up a bit and add some excitement to these mundane days at the end of winter. For now I'm off to do something new...

Healthy Timing

I believe that February is the month that the most people get sick. Its the dead of winter, healthy eating habits usually slide downwards toward comfort foods and booze, and everyone's germs are cooped up together in the same dry air. So, I'm extremely grateful to be challenging myself to get 8 hours of sleep a night. I've realized this, with a few herbal supplements I take, has safeguarded me against evil colds and flu viruses. While my wonderful friends cough up congestion and meander around with slow weak bodies, I have felt refreshed. I know my immune system is thankful for my 8 hours.

I must admit this is a hard challenge to reinforce. Perhaps because I'll go to be an hour early on night, and 30 minutes late the next. Its hard to keep track if I'm averaging 8 hours nightly. I'll try keeping a log this week and see how it goes. Sweet dreams!

8 hours ain't easy

If anyone has ever tried getting a full 8 hours of a sleep a night, they would know how hard it is. Day 1 and 2 went fine. But by day three I had to attend a friends birthday event, grocery shop, make dinner, do laundry, check e-mails, and pay bills. This did not all get done in the 3 hours I alloted, therefore scrimping into my alloted 8 of beauty sleep. And day 4 I had a friend in town, which made me feel guilty for pulling up the covers at 11 pm, when I hadn't seen her in years. So I cut an extra 2 hours that night as well.


I decided to take a look at the breakdown of where my precious hours are going...

(weekdays)
8 hours: work
2 hours: commuting
2 hours: daily prep and hygiene
8 hours: sleep

That leaves a measly 4 hours to do everything else in my life. Impossible!
How can I have fun, cook wonderful food, enjoy eating it, spend time with friends, plan events, see new movies, read good books, exercise, and complete all my errands in as little as 4 hours?!?

This week I have discovered the meaning of priority. With so little free time I have to learn to put whats the most important first. That way, the things at the top of my list will get done before my new bedtime creeps up on me. This will take some adjusting. I have to be more stern with myself so I don't break the rules so often. This month sleep is priority.

So, I embark on week 2 with a fierce dedication to accumulate those hours of shut eye. Wish me luck!

February Challenge

My February Challenge is easy: get the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. Simple right? Maybe not... According to the National Sleep Foundation nearly 2/3 of adults don't get those 8 hours. And this puts us at risk for health problems for the future, not to mention a drowsy and less productive tomorrow.

So, in an attempt to live a healthier life for long term benefits I'm cracking down and laying down earlier each night. By putting sleep as the priority this month, I believe I will be a happier and more efficient person.

The rules: Be in bed for 8 hours a night. Even if I can't fall asleep I'll be in bed without music, television, or internet during that time. Write and reflect on how this behavior affects me.

Sweet dreams!

Gratitude brings calm

With the first month of the year officially over, and my January challenge finished, I can confirm that gratefulness brings happiness.

I began by being thankful for the obvious, and expressing gratitude towards those I love. But now after a month inspired by appreciation I'm using my new way of thinking to help me with the unexpected, unpleasant, and undesired. When a friend tells me something I don't want to hear, I try to find the good in the statement. After a stressful day, I breathe and realize how my stress allows me to appreciate the calm times in my life that much more.

I will continue on to my next challenge, feeling that self-less spending and gratitude will remain with me for here on.

Does appreciation = authenticity?

Now almost half-way through the month, I'm finding I'm living more authentically. I started off picking a certain person to express my gratitude towards each day, but now I'm finding I'm just being more honest with everyone. If someone does something nice, I say something to honor them. When I feel someone has really helped me out, I instantly express that thankfulness. Its very refreshing. I don't know why I was so scared before to tell people how much I care, love, and enjoy who they are and what they do. I'm getting a great feeling about this months challenge :)