Week In Review... Yesterday, especially.

Yesterday was a pretty darn good day! I actually accomplished most everything I wanted to! That NEVER happens.

Clinicals went great like Thursday. I just can't tell you how much better it feels to have a clue. I mean, I still don't know what I'm doing, but now I feel like I have a shot in hell at figuring it out one day. Dude, nursing/school is hard!

I drank tons of water, which I've really been trying to work on lately. A couple of my girlfriends and I had a girl's date night scheduled and I knew there would be lots of delicious, greasy food and definitely some alcohol involved, so I hate super healthy all day to kind of counter-balance. I think I did pretty decently: Oatmeal for breakfast, granola bar after clinicals, exercised, had only veggies/fruits for lunch (carrots, broccoli, grapes and a banana) and only ate half my cheeseburger/fries at dinner and had only one Long Island Iced Tea (well, they call it a Texas Tea, but it's the same thing) and only like a third of the fried pickles we shared. Hey, I know that still sounds like a lot, but sadly it is an improvement from my usual when I go out :) It's a good thing I don't go out that much!

I know this probably sounds like an excuse and you should always try to health-ify your meals, but I genuinely don't mind going out and eating something awful and greasy every now and again! Never doing it really would be better, but I don't like to feel like eating healthy is a punishment and if I don't splurge once in a while, it ends up feeling that way.

Now about my other goals: Do homework, follow calendar, eat healthy, exercise at least 2x/wk, meditate, hubby time, listening, facebook hiatus.

I did okay. Again. Slowlyyyy getting better and making those lifestyle changes. It's an arduous process changing your habits!

          I didn't get even half as much of the crap that I wanted to, but I really can't point to any one day and go "I really could have done more," or "I was really lazy." I'm starting to wonder why I can't reach this goal?? Are my standards to high?? I'll think about it this week and get back to you.
          Did check my calendar regularly and follow that as best as I was able (aside from the school work.)
          Ate quite healthy this week and I'm very proud of myself. It wasn't a perfect week, as I said about yesterday, and on Tuesday I did have a cocktail with my husband which was not healthy in the least, but all in all. I made vast improvement :) Still working on keeping a journal.
          Exercised once, yesterday, but it's a start! I have to say being at the hospital is such  a motivation to be active. I see all of these people who either can't because of a health issue, or they're having health issues because they're inactive. Either way, realizing how luck I am inspires me to try to reach for my full potential.
          Didn't meditate every day... Or any day... At all. :/ I want to say I was just "too busy", but I know that's not an excuse. SOMEWHERE in my busy days I KNOW I could have carved out 5 minutes to sit and be calm and reflective.
          I think my hubby and I took a big step towards trying to spend more time together and really being present during that time. We had a long talk about it and I was able to say how I felt and he said how he felt. I feel like now we really understand what we need from each other during these next couple years of school.
          I think I'm getting slightly better about the whole listen more, talk less thing. I still talk wayyy too much, but when I do, half the time it is asking about other people. Though it still isn't ONLY listening, I feel like I'm in a good place with it.
          I did bad with facebook. I didn't spend whole hours on it or anything (yep, done it before...), but that time could have been better spent meditating or reading.

So there's my week! I'm so glad I started this blog, well I think of it more as a journal, but either way, I feel like it really gives me an opportunity to hold myself accountable and reflect on my life. Though I know it must be boring as hell to others! :) I think I'm okay with it. Ain't no shame in doing things just for yourself.

Week in Review

So about a week ago (exactly a week ago? Whatever.) I made all these promises about changes I wanted to make in my life. And in an effort not to sound like a shitty boyfriend who talks about how he'll change all the time, I actually tried to hold myself accountable to those.

To sum up, my goals were these:

Homework/Studying
Follow my calendar for the day (both personally and for school)
Eat healthy
Exercise  at least 2x/week
Meditate 5-10 mins/day
Stop neglecting hubby
Be a Listener and NOT an over-sharer
Facebook Hiatus

I did okay. I know Rome wasn't built in a day and it takes time to make and break habits, but who doesn't love seeing immediate results with no work?

I didn't follow my schedules and accomplish all of the homework (which consisted mainly of required reading), however I did TRY. The problem was the sheer volume this week was just incredible. I'm hoping to catch back up today and start fresh for the week. If I can manage to read 3 chapters today and finish my clinical paperwork, I won't be golden, but I'll at least have a fighting chance to get back on schedule. I'll let you know how that goes...

I didn't exercise, like, at all. Although in clinicals on Friday, I did help move and clean a 300 pound woman. That should count for something, because I'll tell you, that was damn hard work lol. I'm really going to try hard to get those 2x in this week, though.

I did eat pretty decently this week. Not great, but better than my usual. Yesterday I finally went to the store and stocked up on a bunch of healthy stuff. I didn't buy any junk food for myself, so that should take care of that! As long as I don't go out anywhere and stick to what I bought, my diet will be fine. I'm going to start taking pictures of what I eat, too. I promise I won't dump it all on you here, but I do plan on making a photo food journal. I used to keep a written journal, but I find I don't feel as accountable as actually seeing what all I ate does. I may post the highlights or especially smart ideas, but I promise I won't bore you with every meal I eat, every day of the week :D

I didn't meditate every day, but I did manage it three times. That's a start, right? And I am trying to be more relaxed and mindful all the time.

Unfortunately I did continue to neglect my hubby this week. It's not that I didn't try, but as I mentioned before the workload was a bit much this week. I did make an effort to cook a meal for us a couple times, where we sat down and actually got to chat. And I made his lunch for work a couple times, too. I think it's a start in letting him know I care, even when I'm busy. Though he does wish I had more time for him, I'm lucky in that he is perfectly content playing his computer games and such while I study. Some of my classmates say their husbands actually get angry because they don't have enough time for them. That's just crazy to me! What else are they supposed to do? Flunk out?? Insanity. I am very fortunate.

Just like everything else, I did mediocre at best at my listening (and not sharing) goal. Although I still felt my mouth take over and feel the need to chime in way too often, I did attempt to listen more than I talked. It's nice to hear what other people have to say, I just have to give them the opportunity to say it.

My facebook hiatus was the one thing I actually succeeded at! It was the easiest one, I know, but it's something! I still have that instinct to, whenever I get on the computer, pull up my browser and type in Facebook.com, but I fought the urge! I didn't go on once except to pop in yesterday and catch up for a minute. And I'm cool with that. Once a week still keep's me up to date on what's going on in people's lives, without facebook becoming my life.

Not a bad first week, but hoping for more success next week! Of course, I will keep you posted :)

Promise.

This last week I've really gotten behind in my studying!
I was ahead for so many weeks.
Then I slacked a little and was just doing things as they were assigned/needed.
And now I'm officially behind.

And it is a lot and all, but it is still completely my fault that I lost my lead.
I've been lazy
and procrastinating.

So tonight, it stops!

Tomorrow I am going to do all the crap I've been meaning to and planning on and putting off until tomorrow.

(((I know it's a bit ironic to talk about not procrastinating tomorrow, but today really is a lost cause.)))

I'm going to DO my stinking HOMEWORK! And I guess when I say this, I don't mean homework per se, I mean more like do the assigned readings BEFORE the lecture like I was. And finish my clinical paperwork the same night instead of three nights later right before it's due.

I'm going to follow my calendar. No more last minute re-working to make more time for procrastinating.

Eat healthy. I'm going to stop using food as a crutch for comfort because "I've had a hard day." Eating healthy is a must and if I'm going to be able to keep up with this grueling school schedule, I need to be nourished! Hydration will be a big priority and I'll use the My Plate guideline like I know I should (my nutrition professor would be proud), meaning half veggies and fruits and one quarter protein and one quarter carbs -Complex carbs, that is- oh and don't forget that dairy :) Milk with dinner from now on. Though, for the record, reasonable, nightly desserts will not be denied me.

Exercise. Twice a week minimum. I always mean to and I never do! I did well this summer, but since the semester began it's completely gone by the wayside. I always have all these excuses about why I won't or shouldn't, but the fact of the matter is, it's like a natural caffeine high! It'll help me stay awake during the day and fall asleep at a normal time at night. I don't have a gym membership and really want one (our local gym has a pool, which is my FAVE thing to do for exercise!) But it's expensive and I want to make sure I'm really going to use it (unlike my husband who has had his membership for 2 and a half years and hasn't gone in 2 of those -.-) before I go and shell out all this money. So, if I keep up working out at least 2 times a week (of course, the more often the better, but that's a good starting point) I will get a membership. In the meantime, running on the local middle school track or around the neighborhood (although, the pavement really hurts my joints) is free! Or calisthenics in my living room. Or I could start up Insanity again?? Though, I really think I want to wait and be a little more in shape than I am now to jump on that train again... Anyways...

Meditate when I get home from school or clinicals. I need to make sure I'm managing my stress levels to stay healthy and that's a great way to do it. Also, I think it will help me get centered and focused on what I need to accomplish for the evening or next day. I think I'll start with 5-10 minutes, probably setting my phone alarm in the beginning to make sure I'm not skimping.

Stop neglecting my husband. Now, we both knew that things would be a little harder when I started school. He has to pull more of his weight around the house; cleaning, shopping, meals, etc. And he has REALLY stepped up to the plate! (Have I mentioned that I couldn't do it without him?? Gosh, I love that man.) But by adhering better to my studying goals/schedule, I will have more time to spend with him. I shudder to think how much time I waste on facebook or just procrastinating around, when I could be saving it and spending it with him. Also, after a long, stressful/exciting day, I want to talk all about it. I mean, I do ask the required, "How was your day, honey?" but for the most part all I do is talk about me me me me. It's selfish and it's unacceptable. Also, I'm embarrassed to admit how long it's been since we had some bedroom time. My goal is to make the effort to be intimate at LEAST once a week. Now, when I say intimate I don't necessarily mean sexytime. I mean accomplishing my study goals and going and just SEEING the guy! Talk to him. Give him a hug and a kiss! BE PRESENT. And whatever follows, well, great :)

Be a Listener. Kind of goes with what I was saying above. I worry I might be an over-sharer and that it might come off as being self-centered or selfish. When people are talking about themselves, in my mind, a good way to bond is to share about myself in relation to the topic they were talking about. But I don't want to be the person people know way too much about, I want to be a Listener. That person you can go to and really be heard. Also, I think it never hurts to be more observant and introspective.

Get the FUCK off FACEBOOK. I waste so much time there. 98% of that time I'm on it, I'm just being nosy and procrastinating doing what I actually should be. My goal is to take a week long hiatus and see where I'm at. How hard was it? Do I have a lot more free time? Am I getting more done? It also kind of relates to the sharing less thing. People that half the time I wouldn't say 'Hi' to in the street really don't need or want to know most of what I'm doing on a daily basis! It's just not that interesting. (For the record, I totally don't count this blog. I consider this my journal, so it falls under the introspection category ;]) I think my overall goal regarding Facebook for the long haul would be for it to not be a daily occurrence, more like a pop in once a week and see what people are up to kind of thing. But like I said, I'll start with a week and see.

I think that about covers it. Now that you've seen my faults, you must think I'm a pretty awesome person, huh. Selfish, gluttonous, lazy. I know, until now you thought I was perfect. It's like when you first realized your parents have sex. Rocks you to the very core.

:D

I'll keep you posted on how it all goes. Wish me luck!