You are currently browsing the daily archive for January 8, 2010.
Last week’s resolutions to set a bedtime and make my bed were successful until last night/this morning. I stayed up late talking with my brother and sister (who had stopped by). This meant I woke up tired, rushed to get ready, didn’t make my bed, and was running late to work. All due to the lack of bedtime.
Up until then, I was making myself get into bed between 10 and 10:30 the nights before I work. (An hour later before my days off.) I had some time to read before falling asleep (another personal resolution: finish Cannonball Read.) I woke up rested and got up earlier and easier. I immediately made my bed after getting up. I got to work earlier than usual (i.e. earlier than the absolute latest I can clock in and not be late.)
It was amazing to see how my sleep affected so much of my morning, not to mention the rest of the day while running on a full tank instead of a half or quarter.
There were a few things that helped me keep a bedtime.
1. Change for bed and wash my face about 2 hours before my bedtime. This makes me ready to climb into bed. Nothing else to do but slip under the covers.
2. Chamomile tea. I used to drink this every night before bed, so for me this is another signal that I’ll be going to bed soon.
3. Set the DVR to tape any later shows I think I might want to see. This way I don’t stay up to watch, and the odds are good that I will simply erase them a few days later. This also helps me toward my own personal resolution of less TV in 2010. I’ve found most of my mindless TV watching comes at prime time and later.
4. Exercise. Not much really, but I’ve been walking the dogs most nights. It helps.
This week’s 2010 Happiness Challenge resolution is get more exercise. Walking my two energetic dogs has already added an extra dose of activity to my life. The key word this week is “more.”
Small. Realistic.
I put together a small group (4 people) at the last minute (turned in papers five minutes before deadline – started recruiting members an hour before) for a 12-week weight challenge at my hospital. The rankings will be by percentage lost. The teams are comprised of 4-6 members, and the grand prize is $600 for the team. Obviously it wasn’t the prize that I wanted. $150 per person isn’t quite the dream win. What I want to win (besides a healthier me!) is the bragging rights on my unit. My charge nurse was putting together a team, and I was told I couldn’t be on their team. And then repeatedly told again (I didn’t ask again) that I didn’t have anything to give them.
The truth is that I could maybe do 15 pounds realistically. They were talking about the challenge again today as they had to turn in their papers. I decided that I’d put together a team of people who are perhaps just 10-20 pounds overweight but certainly more motivated than the other team. I think we could beat this team of 6 by losing a larger percentage of body weight as a team. I’ve worked with most of the women on the other team for 2 years. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it is that they don’t exactly motivate easily. They talk a lot, but you rarely see any action. They never work any harder than the minimum required. The girls I recruited were also rebuffed by the other team’s members. Hence, the motivation. Plus, these guys work hard on the floor. I know they’ll put real effort into the challenge.
The beginning weigh-in is Jan. 12th. I’ll be in Vietnam for the first 3 weeks of the challenge, but I don’t expect to find a lack of physical activity. I plan to be an awesome team leader. I’m even starting a blog for it. Plus, there are a few other people who may become part of our group unofficially since the deadline has passed. They are all welcome.
My own personal goals for this week are to continue to keep to my bedtime so that I can wake up early and rested enough for a 20-minute workout before work in the morning. I recently bought the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD. One 20 minute workout (Level 1!) left me with achy thighs for two days. It is hard. Plus, I need to get smaller hand weights. They’re only 8lbs, but it really was too much for the repetition involved. My biceps were sore. I could hardly take the stairs at work. I’ve healed enough for me to do it again tomorrow.
My best bet to keeping to an exercise routine is to do it in the morning. The only way for me to do that is to continue the bedtime. I may even start setting it earlier.
