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Life Improvement 101 with Monthly Challenges 2

Filed under monthly challenges
Written by Annie on 31st Mar -08

I Can Do Anything for a Month… Maybe.

I am a little obsessed with personal growth, life improvement, all things moving me toward being a better person and living a better life. I’ve only got maybe 80 years here on earth, and I would like to make the most of it. The trouble is that it’s just difficult becoming a better person. I’ve got lots of habits that are hard to kick. Nothing really terrible or criminal or any worse than the next guy, but lots of things that keep me at a mediocre level in many areas of my life.

I have discovered that I can get momentum up for a while but then I just wimp out.

I need to build up more self-discipline. It is a long, slow process, but I am determined to keep trying and keep pushing because I am simply not satisfied with mediocrity. So. I read about this idea of a monthly challenge, and I think it is worth trying.

The concept is simple: try something for a month.

There are two basic kinds of monthly challenges, same concept but slightly different vision. The first promotes a habit. The 30-Day Challenge at Steve Pavlina’s site is a good example. This type of monthly challenge gets you to put forward enough energy for the 30 days you’ve committed to. You trick yourself – “it’s only for 30 days” – but after those 30 days it has become a habit and you can continue it, if so desired, with much less effort.

The second kind of monthly challenge promotes a project

. NaNoWriMo is, perhaps, the best-known of these challenges. The point is to put forward as much energy as possible to complete a (large) project in 30 days. The goal is completion, not perfection. You can let other things slide a bit in order to complete the project; you can always go back and work on the details later. The month of intense effort gets you through the project without a chance to lose momentum.

The monthly challenge possibilities are endless.

Whatever habit you need to establish or break is fair game. (It is easier to make a new habit than break an old one, though, so I suggest teaching yourself a new habit that will usurp the old one rather than focusing on not doing something anymore.) Monthly challenges work well because they give us a light at the end of the self-disciplined tunnel. You can endure almost anything for a certain amount of time. Telling yourself “it’s only for 30 days, and then I can quit,” helps you to keep moving forward on the intimidating project you need to face or the new, perhaps difficult, habit you need to establish. The beauty of the monthly challenge is what you have actually accomplished at the end of it. You have reached the 30-day goal; you are free to quit; but you find that you’ve completed the project, or established the habit, and now that beastie isn’t staring at you from the dark corners of your closet while you try to sleep. It’s been tamed.

My Monthly Challenge Muscle-Flexing Plan

So this is my plan for building self-discipline in my life: take on a different challenge every month

for the rest of this brand-new year of 2008. I did miss January, yes, but I still have 11 months left. 11 Challenges. 11 Chances to Exercise Self-Discipline until I am the Self-Disciplined Life-Improving Personally Growing Muscled Equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger. (And maybe I’ll go into politics then, since Arnold did…)

I know what my first challenge for February will be: To Stick to a Morning Routine. This is not very exciting and not nearly as interesting as a lot of other Monthly Challenge Possibilities (see a list below), but I think it is key to making a whole lot of other (good) things happen consistently in my life. I am so tired of that run around, always behind, totally dragging and wondering what I’ve accomplished at the end of the day feeling. You know the one I mean? Perhaps you want to take on a Monthly Challenge with me. (Anyone? Hello?) I’d love to have some company, and I think we all have areas that could use some improvement.

The Rules of the Game

I had better put a few guidelines in place for myself. I am trusting that the public accountability of a Hub will be motivational for me. I will be reporting in regularly on my progress, or lack thereof. Perhaps I should offer some kind of prize to a random commenter if I fail: further motivation.

Monthly Challenges (in general):

Begin on the 1st of the month and conclude on the last day of the same month.

Must be accomplished every single day of the month unless the specific month’s challenge is stated otherwise at the outset.

Previous Challenges

The Get Up Early Challenge: From Feb. 1st to Feb 28th, I challenged myself get up at the same time every morning (5 am) and establish a morning routine. Overall, a successful challenge. I got up at 5 today and wasn’t even sleepy!

The Life Without a To Do List Challenge: From March 1st to March 26th, I challenged myself to live without making a to do list everyday. Any day. Successful in that I didn’t make a daily to-do list, unsuccessful in that it wasn’t a change I wanted to incorporate permanently, so I called it over on March 26th. It was an interesting experience and has definitely helped me be less obsessive about lists and more balanced about how much I put on them. I am relieved to be able to have one now!

And Next…. April begins tomorrow. I haven’t decided on a Monthly Challenge for this beautiful, wet, Spring month yet. Let’s review the possibilities: continue reading…

Short Review: “Not Buying It” by Judith Levine Comments Off

Filed under the world
Written by Annie on 27th Mar -08

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The book: Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine, published by Free Press; available as an Amazon Kindle Edition, if you’re so inclined.

The format: A month-by-month review of one couple’s year without purchasing anything more than necessities.
The review: A more accurate description might be a month-by-month foray into the life and mind of a writer totally taken in by anti-Bush, anti-capitalism, anti-republican, anti-war cultural popularisms.

Let’s not blame her. She is, after all, a writer living in New York City and New England. She has simply become what is accepted in her particular subculture. Honestly, when did you last hear of a pro-bush, New York City-based writer actually published?
I don’t critique her in order to defend Bush. Frankly, I’m not a great fan myself, but my aim here is not to dissect the politics of the thing but to review the part politics play in her book. I picked it up because I am interested in people trying to simplify, in a less consumer-oriented life, in the reality of trying to live a little differently than the culture around you.

Levine provides a statistically supported, well-researched critique of consumer culture and is fresh and honest about her place in it. Her personal struggles with buying and not buying, her changes in lifestyle, her experiences in the social sphere as a non-consumer: these are the essays that pique and tingle. She is honest about her less-than-ideal habits, her penchants for newness (to which we can all relate), her failures; she is humble and realistic about her success.

She loses me, however, when she attempts to define the failings of capitalism and the problems with rich (read: non-third-world) countries by applying cliches of the liberal leaning to problems of commerce, economics, and wealth distribution. Stereotypes just don’t do enough. The “bigger” issues, in this case, are not better for Levine.

Perhaps that’s because, on the political spectrum, I am far more Republican than I am Democrat. Maybe I can’t handle the criticism where it touches my party leanings.

Or maybe personal, real experience tells a story better than political musing. Where Levine remembers, and writes thus, the book is interesting no matter what your politics. When she doesn’t, however, which is a lot of the time, she inspires me to take the title advice in real application to the book itself.

More: Levine’s 2006 radio interview with Doug Henwood of Left Business Observor. (Downloadable or listen to streaming audio.)

Levine’s 2006 radio interview with Diane Rehm of the Diane Rehm show. (Listen to a segment or purchase the cd or transcript.)

An interview (text) about Levine’s 2002 book Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex from Salon.com. (There was a good deal of controversy about the book when it was published, which the introductory article summarizes.)

Levine’s blog, her other books, and an excerpt from Not Buying It.

Best Homemade Bread: An Easy, Forgiving Recipe 1

Filed under the home, yum food
Written by Annie on 27th Mar -08

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This is my go-to recipe for a basic, good bread. It’s strong enough for sandwiches and can easily be shaped into rolls rather than a loaf. I’ve made it all white or with a mix of white and whole wheat flour, and it’s always risen beautifully and tasted wonderful. The recipe is from Joy of Cooking, 1997 edition, which my Mom gave me on my 17th birthday. It’s been my favorite cookbook ever since.

I often double the recipe and stick half the dough in the fridge after the first rise so we can have more fresh bread later in the week. It also makes great pizza dough – just roll out into pizza shape after the first rise, then bake at 350 for 10 minutes or so, until just beginning to brown. When you’re ready for pizza, top the pre-cooked crust with sauce, cheese, and topping, and bake at 350 until everything is warm and melty.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 t. active dry yeast (I use SAF yeast.)

1/4 cup warm water

2 T. sugar

3 cups bread flour (I just use all purpose flour.)

2 cups warm water (I use half milk, half water sometimes.)

1 T. melted butter (Sometimes I double the butter amount, sometimes I leave it out altogether. Depends on how luxurious I’m feeling at the time. The bread is good either way.)

1 T. salt

3 to 3 1/2 cups flour (all purpose white or wheat)

Mix the yeast, water, and sugar in a small bowl until the yeast is dissolved and frothy, about 5 minutes.

In large bowl, combine the flour, the yeast mixture, the water, butter, and salt. Mix until well combined. Add the remaining flour by half-cupfuls until the dough is moist but not sticky. You may need more or less flour. The dough should begin pulling away from the sides of the bowl.

Knead the dough for 5 – 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Butter or oil the sides and bottom of a large bowl and place the dough in it, turning it once to coat. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Gently press the dough down and divide into two pieces. Grease 2 loaf pans (8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches) and place half the dough in each pan. Let rise until again doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 and cook the loaves for about 30 minutes, or until lightly browned and hollow sounding when tapped. Remove from pans and let cool on wire rack… or just go ahead and cut yourself a piece as soon as you can and eat it ravenously. It’s great with butter and honey.

Simple Living: Lunch Comments Off

Filed under the home, yum food
Written by Annie on 26th Mar -08

Tools of Simple Lunches

To-go containers
Leftovers
Non-cook options
Heated options
Prepared fresh food

Using the Tools

To-Go Containers
For those who must take their lunches or prepare them for others who take them to work or school, your choice of to-go containers can make lunch simple or complicated. Disposable, restaurant-style boxes are a good option if you find that your Tupperware never makes it home. Yes, it is more waste and more recycling, but if your plastic containers disappear you have to replace them. Better to replace paper than plastic.

A good thermos is indispensable for colder weather. Sandwich bags, zipper-type bags, paper lunch bags, plastic wrap, foil: there are endless options. The best way is to determine what type of lunches you will be making regularly, then stock up on containers that work for you. If you, your spouse, and/or your child will bring home reusable containers, they are best. If not, get something inexpensive and make of recycled materials if possible, and keep a good supply on hand.

Leftovers
You can provide almost every lunch from left-over dinner meals, if you so choose. Make more than is needed for dinner for your family, and go ahead and portion it out into the appropriate lunch container before dinner. Don’t feel that you have to wait until everyone has eaten and scrape up what is left. If you know you have more than enough, remove the part that will be someone’s lunch. We tend to eat as much as we see available: more if there is more, less if there is less. Help fight obesity and remove the lunch portion before it disappears at dinner! continue reading…

Simple Living: Breakfast Comments Off

Filed under the home, yum food
Written by Annie on 26th Mar -08

The Tools of Simple Breakfasts

To-go breakfast edibles
Options: non-cook, quick-cook, make-ahead
A well-stocked freezer
A specific breakfast time

Using the Tools

To-Go Breakfast Edibles
Every now and then, or perhaps more often than that, you’re going to have a morning that just won’t come together. It’s best to be prepared and keep a supply of breakfast items that can be eaten en route. Granola bars, protein bars, bananas or apples, or any of the multitude of breakfast bars are all good options. Except for the fruit, all of those options are rather over-processed to be a healthy choice for every day. But when you’re in a pinch and you know it, it is better to eat something processed than nothing at all. Combine a banana or apple with a protein bar and you won’t be doubling over from hunger at mid-morning.

Options: Non-Cook, Quick-Cook, and Make-Ahead
Non-cook options include cereal and milk, yogurt and granola, fresh fruit of any kind, bagels, and smoothies.
Quick-cook options include oatmeal, cream of wheat type cereals, toast, and eggs.
Make-ahead options include breakfast casseroles and any baked goods you make yourself: muffins, scones, biscuits, etc.
The idea is not to have all of the options listed above and pick your way through them each morning. We’re going for simple. Knowing your morning schedule and approximately how much time you have both to prepare, eat, and clean up breakfast, you need to choose the options that best fit. If you’re looking at ten minutes, go for the non-cook options, preferably those with little or no cleaning needed, like fruit and bagels. Add a glass of milk to get some protein. If you have twenty to thirty minutes, you could opt for one of the quick-cook options. Twenty minutes is enough time to make toast, scramble an egg, eat, and put your dishes in the dishwasher. Thirty minutes is enough time to make oatmeal, cream of wheat, or an omelet, eat, and clean up.
The make-ahead options could work for shorter or longer time periods, if you have the time and desire to make breakfast the night before. You can put together a breakfast casserole while you’re cleaning up dinner (or during your extended weekly prep time) and keep it in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply pop it in the oven while you shower and dress, then take fifteen minutes to sit and eat. Or if you enjoy baking, make up a batch of muffins or scones. You can go ahead and cook them so they’re ready to grab on your way out the door, or you can get the batter from the refrigerator, cook them while you get ready, and enjoy them warm and fresh.
What you don’t want to do is take on more than your morning can accomodate. Don’t try to make an omelet if you have to leave in ten minutes. Save those labor-intensive, more elaborate breakfasts for the weekends. Waffles, pancakes, and the like are great as a Saturday morning brunch or a Sunday evening meal. continue reading…

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