I’m taking on some new challenges this year and wanted to invite your thoughts on them:
Energy Management: One of the difficulties I’ve had in the past is recruiting too much adrenaline and energy for routine tasks. I am working to become more aware of myself in order that I might manage this better. Deep breathing exercises, relaxation, and being mindful of energy flow as I attempt to take on new tasks is something that I’m working on right now. While I tend to have an abundance of physical energy, I get depleted fairly quickly in terms of emotional energy. Finding ways to recharge will be key to increasing productivity.
Getting Up Early: This is perhaps the best way to seize the day and to put your stamp on it. This is the action that enables you to take control, to assert that you will not be a bystander or a victim but that you will be an active moral agent, taking charge, making decisions, and carrying out actions. In the past, I have been a fairly early riser. Now, I’m taking it to a new level with working to get up by 5:30 5-6 days a week. I decided on 5:30 because on Mondays and Wednesdays, I need to be up by 5:30 to be ready to teach. It seemed wise to carry this to the other three days, instead of having an irregular sleep cycle. This has also necessitated getting to be earlier, which I don’t mind. I find that I’m not very useful past around 9:30 or 10:00 anyway so this has not been a problem. If my older children are in town and I have the opportunity to hang out with them, I’ll make an exception. But it seems best now to go with a deliberate plan.
Weight Loss: I have started using the My Fitness Pal app, which allows you to record your food and counts your calories. It’s amazing what recording your food intake will do to reduce it.
Finding My Voice: I have read somewhere that you need to write at least 300 words a day on a regular basis to find your voice. I’m taking up this challenge as well.
How about you? What challenges are you taking up that you would like to share? Feel free to post a comment!
Half Baked 