How can I make sure I'm happier in 2018?
New Year’s resolutions. Good or bad? According to a Globe and Mail article, 92% of all New Year’s resolutions fail. Well, lets be nice and put it more positively: 8% of all New Year’s resolutions succeed. Yikes, not a very motivating statistic, is it?
A New Year’s resolution is a Hallmark holiday that failed. It is supposed to be this time of year where you can wipe the misery of holiday’s and the entire away in one swoop by setting a goal and going for it.
I’m going to lose 10 pounds!
I’m going to be nice to people!
Shop less, save more!
Fail. Fail. Fail.
Why is that we’re so terrible at setting and attaining goals?
If you take a naturalistic view, we’re the only animals that actually attempt to set goals. All animals in nature live in the present, spending their time seeking food, mates and not dying. That’s a bit of a cop-out explanation though. We’re clearly more sophisticated than other creatures and are the only animals that can understand the concept of the future. Naturally, we’re going to want to improve ourselves over time. So it’s not too difficult to recognize the connection between setting goals and bettering ourselves.
The challenge is that we have a difficult time constructing a pathway between the present and some future where our goals are realized. You see this all the time at the gyms in January where new people show up in flocks and work themselves to exhaustion. They’ll do it for a week, maybe two and they’re gone.
Real change requires a complete lifestyle overhaul. People want to lose weight quickly but fail to realize that they didn’t gain weight quickly. There’s this illusion that if and when you do reach your goal, you’ll get the green light to live like you want forever.
Instead of setting goals, we need to first imagine the life we’d like to live. What would you look like? How would you act? What would you wear? How would you know you’re happy?
Once you imagine this vision, write it down in as much detail as possible. This is your benchmark. Set your goals based on this benchmark.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t end here. Look for more in part 2 of New Year’s Resolutions coming soon!
Tags: blog December 19, 2017 at 01:20PM Open in Evernote
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12/19/17
Talk about a limp into the holidays. I found some blood in my phlegm today. At first I thought it had something to do with what I drank this morning, but after a few hauls of phlegm, I realized it was blood. Not good. However, it went away and now I feel fine. Strange that this occurred even with a day off yesterday. My hypothesis is that my throat is extremely dry from the CPAP machine. I’m on the fence about going to the doctor tonight because what is he really going to do? I really don’t want to be on any specific medication for the holidays. I think just taking it easy and seeing if I can recover is the best course of action.
I messed up yesterday with the gift. It bothered me more than it really should have. I think it has something to do with my sickness. I feel a little off kilter and even walked into a table. Funny enough, I’m much better today even though the blood phlegm happened. I’ll get Nadia a decent gift with a secret message and hopefully that will help.
Really though there’s only 3 full days of school left. Thursday will be a bit of a write-off so in actuality I only have to wait until the end of day tomorrow.
One day at a time!
Workout:
Trying to de-load to help with recovery from sickness
22 min run at 7.0
3 x 10 front squat
3 x 25 kb swings
10 cal on bike
3 x 10 one arm rows
Tags: blog December 19, 2017 at 08:02AM Open in Evernote
12/18/17
It’s the last week of school and I feel like crap! Goodness, it’s a never ending process. I feel like my recovery rate from sickness is now so poor that I’ll never be healed. I’ve been coughing up dark phlegm and been off kilter all morning. I wonder what my body temperature is?
I did some learning about chest colds and running this morning. Seems like it’s imperative that you rest during a chest cold because it affects the sympathetic nervous system and can make things worse over the long term. I wonder if this is what happened to me in the summer?
I’ve scheduled a deload week this week and perhaps it might be a good idea to follow it through just to see what happens. If I can take some time off and recover than when I get back at it, I’ll be in way better shape than trying to gut through it sick for twice as long.
I plan on getting up tomorrow morning and perhaps just going easy. I think the secret is to not push it too much. A day at a time!
Workout:
Day off due to sickness.
Tags: blog December 18, 2017 at 07:58AM Open in Evernote
12/15/17
I made it to Friday! Amazing how that works, eh? Henry’s b-day too. It’s offically a piece of cake from here on in. I can lighten the load on the diet and fitness until Xmas. I’ll still get up early next week, just won’t put so much pressure on and perhaps even try to do some different exercises. The goal is to experience some downtime/relaxation before Xmas. I really want to take it in this year and be completely mindful of the world around me.
I woke up coughing a few times last night, but had a generally decent sleep. CPAP said 8.5 hours which I’m completely good with.
Today I’d I need to:
Workout:
DAY OFF!
Tags: blog December 15, 2017 at 08:11AM Open in Evernote
12/14/17
Well, I made it to Thursday! The day off on Tuesday really helped recharge the batteries. I’m certainly not the wreck I have been in years past, especially since I’m also sick. I’ve really toned down the cardio too. I still feel like I’m getting a decent workout, almost seems like I’ve pulled back from overtraining. The plan is to kick up the cardio again over the break as I transition my diet to something more reasonable.
That being said, I should take advantage of the last week or so before Xmas. Strange how you’re naturally set to a certain amount of calories though. I’ve really enjoyed not drinking during the week too. Don’t even really notice it. And, it’s nice to have something to look forward to by the end of the week.
Today I’d like to get the basketball letters photocopied and the team set so the kids know who is going. I’d also like to fix the mobile version of my blog and create another post so that I can keep the momentum rolling.
Workout:
17 min run
3 x 500 row
3 x 10 cal on bike
3 x 7 back squat (2 pies)
3 x 7 DB complex
3 x 10 one arm press
Tags: blog December 14, 2017 at 07:56AM Open in Evernote
12/11/17
Mondays. Blah.
Another short night’s sleep, but I’m not worse for the wear considering my guts and lungs are destroyed. I find my current streak of illness perplexing. I can’t imagine that my CPAP has everything to do with it, but who knows. I’m guessing that the two issues are connected, but have no idea why. I’ll get through this week and really start to wind it back next week in terms of diet. On Dec 26th, it’s game on, again. Eliminate sugar and watch my carbs in the hopes that I’ll regain some energy and reduce my gut inflammation. As for my lungs, I think some time off will do the trick. All in all though, I’m nowhere near the fatigue level of last year at this time. Quite the opposite in fact. My sleep is definitely improving in spite of the sickness.
I came up with a new book idea that I can concurrently write with my entrepreneurship book. I’m thinking right this moment about Seth’s idea of making work and putting it in the world. I seem tentative on that front. Yet, I can easily get up in front of a crowd and give it my all. Strange. I suspect that a book would be easier to market and distribute than trying to sell my services as a public speaker. Who knows, just roll with it!
Things I’d like to accomplish today:
Fix Grade 3 classroom stream class management.
Fix my website
Create another blog post
Workout
15 min run
3 x 500 row
3 x 12 cals on bike
3 x 10 deadlift with straps
3 x 7 DB complex
3 x 10 BenchPress
Tags: blog December 11, 2017 at 09:08AM Open in Evernote
12/8/17
Friday! Made it through the week in tact and actually am not as beat down as one might expect. What’s nice is that my mindset is in good shape too. I feel like if I take next week one day at a time, I should be able to get through it easier. Honestly, don’t rush to the holidays. Let them come one day at a time. Once they’re here, it will zoom away in no time at all.
I’m writing less about sleeping, but the last few nights have been glorious. It’s probably a placebo, but I have had solid dream filled sleeps without the melatonin. Almost 9 hours last night of solid sleep. My cough is a concern, but if I clean the system out tonight and change the water frequently, I’m sure it will make a difference. Not sure what the difference between water sitting in a container and water sitting in the jug on the floor. Whatever, make the effort to keep it clean and see what happens.
Today I’d like to finish my motion video and upload it to the web. I’d also like to pump out a couple more blogs.
Workout:
Day off to rest.
Tags: blog December 08, 2017 at 07:59AM Open in Evernote
12/7/17
Day of infamy! I’m still on the mend, I think. I’ll get a random spout of stomach pain but then it subsides. Hopefully they’ll start to wane after a bit. The important thing to note is that I’m sleeping well, really well. This weening of melatonin will likely take about a week or so. I’ve been sleeping through the night with little to no interruption from my CPAP or needing to go to the washroom. Imagine what it will be like if my stomach and lungs heal? Gravy!
I was able to get some writing done yesterday and as the days go on in this routine, it should hopefully become easier. I was a little dismayed by a tweet that HPR put out yesterday about a chapel talk that someone else did. I wasn’t upset by the person or the talk, more the lack of recognition. The good news is that my initial reaction was to fight through the feelings of disappointment and realize that it doesn’t have much to do with me. Really, the issue is more that I’m in flux on whether or not my speaking is good enough to make a go of it. Seth would tell me to go for it and my conscious is more cautious and wants to have a benchmark to work with (actually how good am I?)
Stay the course. Remember that feeling you had when you were about to go and just after you’re done. Those are the feelings to live by!
Workout
18 min run (no sprint)
3 x 500 row
3 x 30s hard on bike
3 x 10 deadlift
3 x 7s DB complex
3 x 10 BP
Tags: blog December 07, 2017 at 07:51AM Open in Evernote
12/6/17
What a difference a day makes. I’m definitely not cured, but do feel much better than I did yesterday. Here’s to hoping this is now waning instead of waxing. The workout was strange because I felt like garbage during the run and first few lifts. However, by the 3rd set I was flying and felt great. I wonder what happened…
Since I’ve been a little off lately, I haven’t really been motivated to write for the site. I’ve struggled to find ideas on what to write about and certainly don’t want to waste effort for the simple need to write. Keep at it though, as the saying goes.
I really miss that feeling of creating a chapel talk. Although stressful, it feels great to have the pressure to perform. Makes you crave it more. I really just need to figure out a way to make it scale up. My biggest fear - and it’s not that big - is speaking to an audience of adults who have no interest in what I’m saying. I know it’s likely a ridiculous fear and there will be times when people have no interest, but I’m sure that happened during my other chapel talks and I only focused on the good feedback. People who didn’t like it likely said nothing. Keep at it!
Workout
22 min run (no sprint at the end)
3 x 500 row
3 x 30s hard on bike
3 x 10 front squat
3 x 12 sandbag clean
3 x 10 one arm rows
Tags: blog December 06, 2017 at 08:15AM Open in Evernote
12/5/17
What a crappy morning - literally. I had such a great sleep last night and I was certain that the worst of this sickness was over. Instead I woke up to more stomach problems and a terrible workout. Strength and stamina were non-existent. Now that I’m at school I feel even worse. This is crazy, I hope it’s s something temporary and not too serious. I’m going to head out at recess and find some medicine to make this go away!
I’m hoping to add some blog posts and record the chapel talk today while I have a break. The only serious school related activity I need to do is to figure out what’s going to happen tomorrow for a double period with grade 3s.
Workout:
22 min run (relatively slow)
1 x 500 m row
2 x 30s hard on bike
2 x bench press
2 x clean and press
2 x 20+ KB Swing
Tags: blog December 05, 2017 at 08:19AM Open in Evernote |
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December 2018
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