Paul's 52 day challenge

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Feb 1, 2010. Day 1

Not the best of starts for me today to be honest, but I know why and can do something about it. Basically I didn't sleep good last night. I went to bed too late, had caffeine too late and couldn't sleep. Then I got up at 5:00 b/c I couldn't sleep and just messed about on the Net rather than doing anything useful b/c... I was tired.

This had a complete knock on effect for the day. Too tired to work effectively. Too tired to even work ineffectively. Didn't go the gym as I had planned b/c I thought I would work which I didn't. Didn't pack a good lunch. I did eat pretty good out, but it wasn't what I had planned to do.

Two redeeming things for today on a positive note.

1. I started to journal this afternoon over a cup of coffee and noticed I had not journalled in a week and this had been my "worst" week of the year so far. Since I had been using my journal as a personal accountability tool no surprise there, but a total reinforcement of a strategy that had worked well for 1 month (Dec 24 - Jan 24) and then I had allowed to stop. I made a few notes of the past week - like we went and saw CATS on Sat, stuff like that. Then noticed I only had 20 pages left of a 240 page journal - I had written 220 pages in 1 month. I then went and got a new journal to begin a fresh for this challenge (it's a bigger one too ). I've already written 8 pages of stuff, reflections and notes of things I have read.

2. I read the Bible this evening. Usually I have been reading it on my Kindle in a chair (or in coffee shops etc). But tonight I read, sat upright at a table with my journal beside me and I recorded some notes of passages of scripture that felt meaningful to me as I read it this evening. I made 1.5 pages of notes. It was a much more alert and attentive reading experience as a result of this and something I want to try and do more in the future now.

3. I did eat a good "clean" meal for breakfast and dinner so that went well and lunch would count as clean in my book, so diet has not been too bad. But no exercise today of any kind.


But planning on resting good tonight now - very tired.

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Oh and the answer to my questions for Day 1.

I am totally committed 100% to this 52 day challenge because it is an extension of the day to day accountability and raising of standards in my life that I have set myself for 2010.

Each of the goals that I have set are synergystic and support me in my broader goals for this year.

An example of what I mean is what went wrong today. The domino effect.

I didn't sleep good so I didn't make lunch and didn't go to the gym. Also I didn't work good. Now that means I have to decide whether I catch up with work tomorrow or go to the gym. It puts me behind in both goals. I want to be healthier for more energy and more alertness, etc. I want to be more organized at work and more focused to reduce stress in my life and give me more time, which means I have more time to lead a healthier life, sleep better and go to the gym. Circular... you bet LOL.

[Corinne Friesen]

Good start, Paul. A bit of noticing the state of your world, a bit of patting yourself on the back, and some correctional planning. Good start.

[Cat Lover]

Don't be so hard on yourself Paul. You are great at recognizing your weaknesses and faults to improve yourself, my friend, but you are so hard on yourself. So critical of yourself.... Love yourself some more. Do it because you are an incredible person with so much to give and so much more to experience. Stop treating yourself like an experiment in a petrie dish. Maybe journalling every day is not for you. I know you have tried this before. Perhaps allowing yourself to write once a week, instead. All I am saying is you set yourself to follow very rigid, very high standards - that are even hard for you to live up to.

Cut yourself some slack. Okay, so you didn't exercise today. You ate right!! You are making effort and making progress. Baby steps Paul, baby steps. Stop demanding perfection from yourself and allow yourself those small respites. I am NOT saying go off your diet and forget about exercising. All I am saying is stop beating yourself up bad mentally. You deserve to enjoy the journey, as well as make it. You are only human, you will have your moments when you are too tired to write or to exercise. So be it.As long as you make a conscious effort every day to improve and actually take small steps every day to improve - you have no reason to beat yourself up like that!!! You are probably thinking I am over reacting to your opening post here. I have seen you go through similar things and attempts before. You are always so hard on yourself. Take away the flogging yourself part, and you may end up making HUGE progress!!! Stop flogging yourself and be easier on yourself. If you want accountabliity, we can help by holding yor feet to the fire. I am just writing this to remind you to stop being so hard on yourself.

Imagine you are in a hang glider... gliding peacefully, effortlessly on the winds of change - floating, turning and deciding where to go next, going with the winds of change.... You can do it Paul, I know you can!!!

Yes, I am fully aware as I write this and post this, that someday in the very near future you may be quoting this post and making me eat my own words....

[joanne1216]

So you were tired and had a bad 1st day, well, there's 51 left! You can't control a bad night's sleep and the first step is to get the necessary rest.... then take it from there.

[mleighp1]

Originally Posted by Paul@Pittsburgh

Oh and the answer to my questions for Day 1.

I am totally committed 100% to this 52 day challenge because it is an extension of the day to day accountability and raising of standards in my life that I have set myself for 2010.

Each of the goals that I have set are synergystic and support me in my broader goals for this year.

An example of what I mean is what went wrong today. The domino effect.

I didn't sleep good so I didn't make lunch and didn't go to the gym. Also I didn't work good. Now that means I have to decide whether I catch up with work tomorrow or go to the gym. It puts me behind in both goals. I want to be healthier for more energy and more alertness, etc. I want to be more organized at work and more focused to reduce stress in my life and give me more time, which means I have more time to lead a healthier life, sleep better and go to the gym. Circular... you bet LOL.

Hey Paul, What did you decide? Catch up a work or go to the gym? Can you squeeze in a workout at home on your new incline bench?

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by mleighp1

Hey Paul, What did you decide? Catch up a work or go to the gym? Can you squeeze in a workout at home on your new incline bench?

A bit of both.

I got up earlier this morning and got into work a bit earlier than usual. Also, my wife is going to a meeting this evening so I can do an hour or two then (before Biggest Loser LOL) and before she comes home.

I am going to the gym lunchtime ... can you believe ... I don't think I went at all in 2009!!!!

[KahunaGrande]

It is all about overcoming inertia and building positive momentum Paul. Today's questions about habits are all about it.

Keep at it!

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Feb 02, 2010 - Day 2 update

I will edit this for a progress report on other things later, but just wanted to report that I have been to the gym and did a 45 min cardio session. Built up a moderate sweat too.

More later...

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by KahunaGrande

It is all about overcoming inertia and building positive momentum Paul. Today's questions about habits are all about it.

Keep at it!

I agree 100% John. I keep going back to this, but the reason I started a journal back in Dec was because I got that I had been missing an important part of AR's ultimate success formula. I kinda got the actions figured out etc and a plan and would go off, but when things either didn't work or I stopped, I didn't adapt. The journal enables me to track patterns, and not the patterns of some person who I am reading about, but my own patterns. That has been a missing component for me. And the journal also means looking back is not clouded in I think maybe I do this or that... it's there over a month for me to see.

What that has enabled me to do is identify routine patterns in the day. I think we all know they are there but are they serving us? That's another question. I have identified a few critical time periods in my day now which have a far greater leveraged effect than most other times.

For example - the first hour in the morning decides what I eat for breakfast that also impacts my energy level and focus, and what I pack for lunch (or don't LOL).

My first hour at work defines (or seems to) my focus for the day and how well I will work to that... if I get momentum I am great and get on a roll.. if I don't I usually/often remain unfocused.

The first hour at home defines my evening with my wife and again what I eat for dinner, etc.

Of course I make choices during the day, but getting focused on these special times and making right choices and right habits of those will make victory much easier in my opinion.

Paul

[mleighp1]

Originally Posted by Paul@Pittsburgh

A bit of both.

I got up earlier this morning and got into work a bit earlier than usual. Also, my wife is going to a meeting this evening so I can do an hour or two then (before Biggest Loser LOL) and before she comes home.

I am going to the gym lunchtime ... can you believe ... I don't think I went at all in 2009!!!!

Awesome!! I remember when I first starting getting back into the gym in 2004. That first time I went back to the gym I couldn't remember the last time I had been to the gym but I figured it might have been about a year. Well I went in and asked a question, something along the lines of where did the cardio room go (it had moved locations after a remodel). The guy looked at me and said, "When was the last time you were here? We moved it during a remodel two years ago!" I was shocked at how long had gone by. But its never too late to start a new habit. I've been hooked on the gym ever since that first day back in 2004. Wow, that was six years ago. I can hardly believe it.

anyway, I am so proud of you for getting to the gym!!!! Especially when you have so much on your plate at work. and you are making time for the wifey today! Way to keep your life balanced today!!

[mleighp1]

I have no idea why there is a thumbs down on my post above?! It wasn't supposed to be there!! Defiitely two thumbs up!

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by mleighp1

That first time I went back to the gym I couldn't remember the last time I had been to the gym but I figured it might have been about a year. Well I went in and asked a question, something along the lines of where did the cardio room go (it had moved locations after a remodel). The guy looked at me and said, "When was the last time you were here? We moved it during a remodel two years ago!"

Too funny - confession - I actually took a wrong turn in the car when I approached the gym... okay a sign threw me off, but I couldn't remember for sure that's where it was LOL.

You lost the cardio room.... I lost the whole freakin' gym

[joanne1216]

Originally Posted by Paul@Pittsburgh

Too funny - confession - I actually took a wrong turn in the car when I approached the gym... okay a sign threw me off, but I couldn't remember for sure that's where it was LOL.

You lost the cardio room.... I lost the whole freakin' gym

Did you end up finding it???

[KKPDX]

Originally Posted by Paul@Pittsburgh

You lost the cardio room.... I lost the whole freakin' gym

Now that is freaking funny...

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Gotta do my update and my Day 2 questions tomorrow LOL... it's 12:40 here... just finished a sales report after watching LOST Gotta get to bed now.

Cat... I owe you a reply and I will do so... I appreciate your comments... I just need some time to give it the time it deserves as a reply back.

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Okay here's my Day Two update.

Health and fitness goals.
Had a good day eating wise apart from a bit of (organic) chocolate later last night while watching LOST... a LOST treat LOL. But factored it into my cals so all was good. Three clean eats for yesterday.

Went to the gym as I reported yesterday and felt good about that. One cardio session of 22 completed.

Spiritual
Read the Bible last night. I have started to read this sitting upright at a table or desk with a journal beside me and it's a much better experience both in terms of concentration and engagement.

Also prayed

Work and Organization goals
Had a good day at work yesterday. Little time wasted or lost through lack of focus. I didn't stick entirely to my plan but that was because I consistently reevaluated priorities but I did get some important things done. Looking for more of the same right now. I am playing catch up as the price of lack of focus for the first few weeks of this year.

Got my inbox to zero.

Kept up my journal.



Overall a good day!


My answers to the questions for Day Two.

Day 2
a) What habits do you already have that support your goals for the 52 day challenge?

- I enjoy eating natural and simple foods and I also enjoy cooking

- I enjoy planning and I am well versed in the GTD and RPM methodoligies even if I don't always use them as consistently as I would like to.


b) What habits do you already have that take you away from your goals for the 52 day challenge?

- Staying up too late at times means I get up later and tired in the morning which has a domino effect on the day

- Losing focus and surfing around on the net

- Not working to a plan even after writing out a plan for the day.

c) What new habits could you cultivate that you don't already have that would support your goals for the 52 day challenge.

- Just do it (I will steal this one from John, but it's true). Just do it. Take one small step and get momentum.

- Start to prepare packed lunches the night before and not the morning of.

- Go to the gym during lunch times.


d) Choose one habit from a) or c) that you will commit to cultivating over the next 51 days.

- Prepare packed lunches the night before (except when on travel). This should give me more time to go to the gym.


e) Choose one habit from b) that you will commit to eliminating over the next 51 days.

- I will get to bed by midnight each night as an absolute latest time.

[Paul@Pittsburgh]

Feb 03 2010 - Day Three Update

Will edit if I need to as the day goes on.


Health and fitness
Weight this morning was 258.4 lbs and body fat on the scale was 39.0%. These are both new lows. I had plateaued a bit on the scale this last week or so, but started to drop again a bit more now and I think exercising more will now help that.

The body fat readings are very erratic each day and sensitive to hydration etc. But what I have done in a spreadsheet is take a 7 day moving average to gauge trends. I am happy to say that over the last 2 weeks I have lost about 3 lbs of weight and according to the numbers based on the body fat % and lean body mass this all would correspond to fat. This is really encouraging to me as I was getting worried I was losing lbm at first. I now have a good baseline to work on as I move forward on this.






Question for the day
Can you think of one, two or three goals or projects you have successfully pursued in the past where you had to focus on the goal or project pretty much each day until you completed it or crossed the finishing line? And supplementary question. What can you learn from those experiences and apply to your life in this challenge?

The reason for this question was to alllow us to tap into references in our past that remind us that we have committed to medium term goals and projects before and saw them out to a successful completion.

1. I can think of several work related to do with different projects over the years which required a lot of focus in order to meet deadlines.

2. 2-3 years ago I set a goal to read the Bible in one year. I went through a long period of time where I did not read it at all and got behind in my reading plan. But I was determined to honor that committment and through Nov and Dec I read more than half of the Bible. It wasn't the most satisfactory way to achieve the goal and not the original intent, but I was pleased that I had finished it all the same.

3. Personal Power. Back around 2001 I started Personal Power for something like the 4th or 5th time and had always stopped doing it for some reason around Day 9 or 10 (sometimes sooner). On this occassion I did it for the full 30 odd days, to completion. I remember feeling pleased when I started to take off the cellophane off the new tapes (it was Personal Power 1 on tapes) that I had never heard before.

4. Back in 2003 I got into a bit of a health kick (I am now heavier than I was then). I started around 253 lbs and dropped to 247 or thereabouts. I was exercising and eating better, but not as good as now. I realized then that I was heavily addicted to caffeine and gave up coffee, diet soda etc. I went 11 weeks with no coffee or diet coke... but then started again. But it was a good experience.

What does all this tell me? That I can focus on goals over a period of more than a few days or a week. I can look at each of these in more detail and figure the critical success factors in each of them and what went wrong in e.g. the case of going back to diet soda. I have points of reference that tell me I can succeed in this challenge now with sufficient focus, clarity and committment, and also it just occurred to me... an external accountability.. in the case of work that is obvious (deadlines), in the case of the Bible I felt committed to God over this, in the case of PP and my kicking caffeine this was on the AR boards in both cases. So this peer group and accountability will help me succeed if I use it!!!

[KahunaGrande]

Good realizations in there Paul and congrats on completing PP. I have honestly done the same with with all of Tony's materials, and a couple others I have. I start, see some improvement, then get interrupted or takle my eye of the prize and back to old habits.

This is even true for TOYL which has had the most impact for me.

I think I may revist GTE and TOYL thanks to your example above. Thanks!

[GR8FL2BME]

Originally Posted by KahunaGrande

Good realizations in there Paul and congrats on completing PP. I have honestly done the same with with all of Tony's materials, and a couple others I have. I start, see some improvement, then get interrupted or takle my eye of the prize and back to old habits.

This is even true for TOYL which has had the most impact for me.

I think I may revist GTE and TOYL thanks to your example above. Thanks!

Pitty