Wake-up Call Challenge

Craftyscholar

sneaks in quietly and pretends she never wandered away

I've been trying to decide whether I wanted to do a study course next year - having dithered and drifted this year without a real focus.

Very interesting sequence of thoughts yesterday.
I got invited to go with a friend to nearby park with her grandson to feed the ducks then back to her to sit in the garden and drink tea. Lovely day - thoroughly enjoyed myself - thought at one point "This is lovely - what retirement should be like - couldn't do this if I was studying"

Anyway I got home, doing the ironing - which does leave a bit of spare brain to think and realised
Yes it had been fun - as a change - not all the time - I need a project, a challenge, something to focus on.
So will be signing up when the forms come through
(Now just got to juggle the money to pay for it :rotfl:)

muddled_midget

Hi
I've just read all the way through the thread after reading about it in a diary thread, and WOW! I've always been very good at making to do lists and thinking about where I'd like to be, but never finish any of it, and then give myself a really hard time. Like this w/e for instance, hubby has gone away with a friend, and will only be gone about 30 hours in total. So why is my to do list 100 items long including clearing out every cupboard in the house, redecorating most of the house, gym twice and reorganising all the furniture? It's impossible, but by not making my to do list achievable, I've managed to procrastinate for 8 hours by reading this thread...!
But I have learnt a lot by doing this, and my to do list has now become my list of things to do by 22nd November with a few extras thrown in.
Overall when I scored areas of my life, I was satisfied, work is good, no problems with money, have been with hubby 8 years and love him to bits, but there are still areas I want to improve, and doing Elantan's homework has given me the inspiration to do it.
My main downfall is my lack of confidence. I hate new situations, have a social phobia about eating in restaurants and a lack of willingness to try anything new in case I fail. But at the same time I set myself up to fail and sabotage my own success most of the time, which is just daft. So here is my list of challenges for 22nd Nov:

1)Declutter and tidy/decorate house using my massive 100 item to do list
2)Set up a cleaning schedule to keep the house looking nice so I don't use it as an excuse for not trying new things, ie this w/e, OH is away so I could go and do something, but because I've moved away from my friends and haven't made any here, I spend all my spare time cleaning the house (which doesn't even look like it!)
3)Make new friends and make more of an effort with the ones I've already got - the first part of this is the hardest, I've already lived here 4 years and have made no progress!
4)Work on my confidence - do one thing every week that terrifies me!
5)Work on my relationship- have one night every week that is just about us- no TV, no internet, but going somewhere/doing something we enjoy
6)Spend time on me- go to the gym three times a week, lose that stone I'm always banging on about, and take time to relax and beautify myself.

So to get started-
1)I've emailed my old friends from school and said I'll be back in 5 weeks and would anyone like to meet up for drinks. I haven't seen any of them in about 3 years, so this is combining a few things on my list - confidence, friends and me and seems like a good place to start.
2)Have spoken to my sister about booking a home maintenance course learning basic DIY skills, will ring up when I'm off next week to find out more info and possibly to book- combines friends, home, confidence and me learning something new.
3)Have tidied the cupboard under the sink- starting with the place where all the cleaning products are kept seemed like a good move towards decluttering and cleaning the house once and for all.

Anyway sorry this is so long, I feel better and more positive for writing it, even if no one manages to get to the end of it!
MM x

LuckyBiscuit

muddled_midget wrote: »

Hi
I've just read all the way through the thread after reading about it in a diary thread, and WOW! I've always been very good at making to do lists and thinking about where I'd like to be, but never finish any of it, and then give myself a really hard time. Like this w/e for instance, hubby has gone away with a friend, and will only be gone about 30 hours in total. So why is my to do list 100 items long including clearing out every cupboard in the house, redecorating most of the house, gym twice and reorganising all the furniture? It's impossible, but by not making my to do list achievable, I've managed to procrastinate for 8 hours by reading this thread...!
But I have learnt a lot by doing this, and my to do list has now become my list of things to do by 22nd November with a few extras thrown in.
Overall when I scored areas of my life, I was satisfied, work is good, no problems with money, have been with hubby 8 years and love him to bits, but there are still areas I want to improve, and doing Elantan's homework has given me the inspiration to do it.
My main downfall is my lack of confidence. I hate new situations, have a social phobia about eating in restaurants and a lack of willingness to try anything new in case I fail. But at the same time I set myself up to fail and sabotage my own success most of the time, which is just daft. So here is my list of challenges for 22nd Nov:

1)Declutter and tidy/decorate house using my massive 100 item to do list
2)Set up a cleaning schedule to keep the house looking nice so I don't use it as an excuse for not trying new things, ie this w/e, OH is away so I could go and do something, but because I've moved away from my friends and haven't made any here, I spend all my spare time cleaning the house (which doesn't even look like it!)
3)Make new friends and make more of an effort with the ones I've already got - the first part of this is the hardest, I've already lived here 4 years and have made no progress!
4)Work on my confidence - do one thing every week that terrifies me!
5)Work on my relationship- have one night every week that is just about us- no TV, no internet, but going somewhere/doing something we enjoy
6)Spend time on me- go to the gym three times a week, lose that stone I'm always banging on about, and take time to relax and beautify myself.

So to get started-
1)I've emailed my old friends from school and said I'll be back in 5 weeks and would anyone like to meet up for drinks. I haven't seen any of them in about 3 years, so this is combining a few things on my list - confidence, friends and me and seems like a good place to start.
2)Have spoken to my sister about booking a home maintenance course learning basic DIY skills, will ring up when I'm off next week to find out more info and possibly to book- combines friends, home, confidence and me learning something new.
3)Have tidied the cupboard under the sink- starting with the place where all the cleaning products are kept seemed like a good move towards decluttering and cleaning the house once and for all.

Anyway sorry this is so long, I feel better and more positive for writing it, even if no one manages to get to the end of it!
MM x

WOW!!!!!:T Go you!!!!!

Nottoobadyet

How's it going, everyone? So far my raise has been refused, I haven't taken any exams and I spent last night fighting with OH then crying over the doomed nature of our relationship

Craftyscholar

Nottoobadyet wrote: »

How's it going, everyone? So far my raise has been refused, I haven't taken any exams and I spent last night fighting with OH then crying over the doomed nature of our relationship

Hugs, love.

Lots of companies struggling, maybe they really can't afford your raise?

Why haven't you taken the exams - external problems? Circumstances beyond...?

Are you fighting with OH because there are problems between you or because you are stressed about other things?

Buffythedebtslayer

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Hello all, just dropping by with my plans for Memory Girl's 100 day challenge which started on Friday,

1. Lose weight - between 1 - 2 stone. I know that is a bit vague! but I don't want to get caught up it all, so anything from a pound to 2 pounds per week is good. I am ordering the Fly lady body clutter book......I want to do more walking/running since it helps with my stress levels
Not done anything about this! Only some walking.

2. Declutter the house and sell all I can on e bay. Clearout the loft esepcially for ebay and charity shop.
Have got four boxes of stuff piled up to e bay.

3. Pay off 2000 pounds of the debt.
Am on track for this - also joined the 100 days challenge that starts on 1st Sept.

4. Get an schedule and stick to it. ie, sleep, eating, working in a balance which means I do my job and don't have these periods of stress that are if I am honest mostly my own fault. (use the control journal)I procastinate loads and this must stop.

This is not happening either.

5. Catch up with my masters, finish the first (by 31st July) and second module by the end of the summer holidays.

I have decided to pullout of the Masters, I have spent a great deal of my holiday being ill and tired. I just haven't done it.

6. Follow the Flylady plan, for the house and work
Not happening!

7. Finish the garden(weeding cleaning), start the fish pond(digging)

hasn't been started yet:o

8. Paint the bathroom and then get some one in to fit a boiler
Bathroom is done and looks lovely, no boiler man yet.

9. Paint the wood work in the house and do small niggley jobs. Ideally I want to put up shelves for some stuff from the loft but not sure Mum will cope. The whole boiler malarky has been going on long enough.

I have the paint! And will wait till Mum goes on Holiday.

10. Return the conservatory to its former glory - it is clutter ville atm. and I did have it straight before and will do again.

Conservatory has been cleaned and sorted. Does have the e bay stuff in tho! and some work.......
I posting this here as I think it fits in with what i have said here before. I have been stuck or not ready for change for a while now and I know I had my reasons but now I feel ready. So this 100 days is the start.

Hope all is well with everyone? How is the homework going?

xx

xxxx

Hello all

Just doing a quick update. Having written it down its not so bad, do need to do more on numbers six,four and two tho!

And I can't believe I didn't put my room on there - have been decluttering it for about two weeks! God it is depressing! Given away four bags to charity.

Any how best get on

Hope everyone is doing well and staying perky - sorry i havent read, I will come back later I pormise!

Hugs
Buffy xxx

Nottoobadyet

Craftyscholar wrote: »

Hugs, love.

Craftyscholar wrote: »

Lots of companies struggling, maybe they really can't afford your raise?
No, its that they've decided that they dont to raises out of cycle unless you're doing two peoples jobs. So no recognition for success then... a bit annoying as I've been a big part of winning them £60 million over the last month or two!
Why haven't you taken the exams - external problems? Circumstances beyond...?
Partially the extra (unpaid of course) hours at work that have been making studying hard, but mostly because i've been unable to make it my own priority.
Are you fighting with OH because there are problems between you or because you are stressed about other things?
Sadly its because, though we're really very happy together, its just not working and we know we'll need to end it sooner or later. 5.5 years is too long to keep doing the same thing over and over and assume you'll get a new result!

Thanks for the hugs, Crafty. I've been in a bit of a funk the last week or two.

On the bright side, challenge wise:

• I'll go running today and we will go for a very long walk in sussex tomorrow. We were going to go today but heavy rain was predicted.
• I havent heard back from the external job, but my boss is all aboard on getting me into a 2 year field post that wont be well paid but will be perfect experience for the rest of my career. Im thinking that we'll aim to start this in April. Exciting and scary at the same time!
• I'll study for my exams in ernest all of this afternoon.

Hope everyone is having a great long weekend! Well done on your progress Buffy, sorry that you had to give up on the MA.

Nottoobadyet

You can hear the crickets in here! where is everyone? on hols?

elantan

Maybe having some reflecting time ? I'm kinda surprised at how although my goals are the same my methods of achieving them are different ... I'm also finding obstacles that I didn't expect ... So that is making me look at my behaviours and contributions to the obstacles ... And it's frustrating .... I am frustrated with myself .... I self sabotaging and don't know why .... I know how to stop it .... But somehow subconciously don't want to..... I would kick my butt if I could

But I am working through it and slowly unravelling myself as I go

elantan

How's everyone else doing ?