This September I Will...
MadisonMolly2017
Posts: 11,157 Member
Hi Fellow Habit Builders!! 💪🏻🎉😃
I thought I’d send this out a few days early! I know many of us like to brainstorm different habits & some even like to create trackers. That way we can “hit the ground running” on Sept 1st!
It's a brand new month! What's your favorite part of September?
What healthy habit would you like to work on this month? Is it something new or a continuation of your August focus? Whatever it is, let's dive in and make it happen!
If you are new to our group, welcome! Please let us know what you will be working on and how we can help! Just a suggestion: set a reminder to check-in periodically with us. Check-in daily, weekly, or as often as works for you, but let us know how you are progressing! We're here to support and encourage you, but if you don't post, we can't cheer you on!
You might frame your goal along these lines:
1. My goal for this month (This September I will...")
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible)
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? (Small positive feedbacks reinforce the habit you are trying to build.)
6. What help do you need from us?
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September?
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Replies
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Sneak peek!
The flame-like things will get a dot at the end of each one for each time I do the 4 items:
Bottom left: yoga, PT, strength exercises
Top left: gratefulness, mindfulness
Top right: imagining, creating, making
Bottom Right: Cleaning, decluttering, organizing
I see now that these cover:
Physical
Spiritual
Imaginative Mind
Organized Life
I also make sure to learn at least one new thing a day AND I contact a friend or family member. Intellectual, Belonging
Slowly I’m learning the balance I need!!!
PS I’ll track weight etc in my usual ways on my apps
PPS The new one is the yoga-PT-strength exercise. I’ve mostly just been walking as my doc said to get 10K steps. Hoping I can get back to that PLUS 20-30 mins strength/flexibility4 -
@MadisonMolly2017 You are so very imaginative, creative, and able to make what you have imagined! Your tracker is very amazing. I really studied your tracking plan/chart for September. It is so thought out, and indeed, it will definitely help you find the balance in your life that you are aiming for. Well done!
Thanks for starting us off for September 💖
🤠🌺1 -
@texasgardnr
Thank you so much! Funny thing is I created it not knowing what my I Will would be. After I added in the yin/yang symbol, it began to fall into place.
I look forward to seeing if you continue your August I Will or if you create anew!
Best,
Maddie🌼2 -
OH MY GOODNESS MADDIE!!!!!! that is totally incredible and just jaw droppingly talented creative and fabulous. I am in awe of your ingenuity and this chart allows you to grow and gives you the flexibility to do it in any way you need to... Thank you for sharing your talent with us!
And as Mary says the yin yang shows the balance you are working on. WOW!!! you OWN the tshirt this month.
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SummerSkier wrote: »OH MY GOODNESS MADDIE!!!!!! that is totally incredible and just jaw droppingly talented creative and fabulous. I am in awe of your ingenuity and this chart allows you to grow and gives you the flexibility to do it in any way you need to... Thank you for sharing your talent with us! And as Mary says the yin yang shows the balance you are working on. WOW!!! you OWN the tshirt this month.
AWE @SummerSkier !!!!!
You are too kind!!!
It was fun how it emerged... !!!
I’ve been trying out my plan today to see if it’s too much... so far, I’ve...
(on chart):
cleaned/decluttered ✔️
Gratefulness/mindfulness ✔️
Created : not yet
Yoga-PT-strength : not yet
(Not on chart):
Learned something ✔️
Connected family/friends ✔️3 -
I think my plan for Sept might work!
I did yoga, ✅mindfulness,✅ cleaning ✅each for 30-60 minutes.
Created✅ a collage of a Xmas tree from the Xmas stamps I saved from Xmas cards we received last year. Maybe a beginning for our 2020 holiday card?
Yoga
Mindfulness
Cleaning
Art4 -
WOW! Hard to believe it's Sept already!! OK everyone chime in and check in.
@MadisonMolly2017
@texasgardnr
@nebslp
@77tes
Me - I think our weather is about to change because E V E R Y S I N G L E B O N E in my body is complaining. Either that or it just realized hey.. SIXTY TWO!
Work has been a total nightmare today. Tried to run and not only the injured knee started whining but then the other "good" ok "used to be the bad" knee chimed in and I must have looked like a freak out there. But hey. I walked it in for 4 miles and over a hr... So. screw you weather change!!!
I still haven't figured out Sept and I might never except to continue to let my knee (s) recover and not over push things. Apple watch gave me an impossible goal of mileage this month so I am "letting" that go. I think just staying off the food rollercoaster again and working on rehab is going to be it. No tracker except as usual Apple watch and MFP for cals in and out.
SummerabouttobeFallIthink......
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I’m all set for September, calendar printed out. New tracker and goal all set up. My goal is one I’ve tried many times unsuccessfully. I really want to write and I know that daily writing/journaling is the best way to start. I have a bunch of journals I started and did a few pages and quit.
So, I’m using what I’ve learned from James Clear’s book Atomic Habits. I’m stacking this habit with my strongest -reading. I pretty much never skip a day. In the past I tried in the morning or at bedtime - neither worked. I’m making it easy, In fact, TINY, asking for only one word and keeping my journal right next to the chair where I read.
1. This September I will write in my journal daily.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal. I have my pretty little journal and penci next to my arm chair, the place where I read.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit. As soon as I finish reading, I will write a least one word in my journal.
4. How often will you do your new habit - DAILY
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? Fist pump
6. What help do you need from us? Encouragement and Accountability
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September? 30 words. A full journal- best case scenario
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@MadisonMolly2017 , WOWZERS 🤩! That tracker is incredible. Beautiful, clever, amazing!
@SummerSkier , sorry that you’re feeling so bad! Don’t let Apple determine your goals! Those little cyber gremlins are bullies! 🤣2 -
My September tracker. I’ve eliminated a couple things which are pretty automatic, like logging and water.
And here is the journal next to my chair with the book I’m reading. Pretty volume, isn’t it? My sister loaned it to me. Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly.
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@MadisonMolly2017 Your tracker is so zen! The colors are gorgeous and the center looks like it's popping out at me! It's perfect for finding the right balance in your life. The shirt in the post several posts up is also perfect for you! Before I forget again, I meant to tell you the spray baste I have is called Sulky KK2200 Temporary Spray Adhesive. I can't testify as to whether it lives up to its claims, but it says it's eco-friendly and bonding disappears within 2-5 days without staining. It's also very expensive at the quilt shop (IMHO).
@SummerSkier So sorry to hear about your knees. It seems when we compensate with the good one, we get nothing but complaints. I think your plan for September is a good one. No need for planners or charts unless you're like me and can't do anything without making one. I think it's my way of procrastinating sometimes (too often
). What we do or don't do should be individual and Apple can go fly a kite...oh wait, that's one thing Apple can't do! And I will keep my eyes peeled for that voodoo doll and give it a swift kick if I see it...oh no, I just realized the result of that!!!! OOPs! I would definitely take the pins out first, and then give it a hug
@77tes Your planner corner books are so cool! Did you draw them? And your "journal" reminder is a great trigger...love the curl Isn't it great to be able to eliminate things because they have actually become HABITS! Without reminders!!! YAY! I think it's the triggers that jolt the mind into doing what it hasn't done routinely that are essential to success. BTW, Medicare has been pretty awesome for me even though I haven't really needed it (Praise be). Coverage of the annual wellness checks is nice.
And that is a nice journal. Enjoy using it one word at a time
Hi to @texasgardnr ! I'm sure we'll be hearing from you soon
Also, hello to others who are checking us out here and just need to take the plunge and join the fun.
It's late so I'll catch up tomorrow. I'll have to use my iPad to post my chart which is fine. At least it has more than 16 emojis to choose from unlike this computer
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Another busy day at work but I am anxious to hear what the first "word" was @77tes
For Sept so far Day 1 "stayed off the rollercoaster and managed CICO due to reduced energy spend. That's a tough one always in maintenance of course but necessary to closely keep an eye on.
@nebslp I agree we have to get the lurkers out of the woodwork early on!! LOL. And please do NOT kick the voodoo doll. Yesterday someone put ANOTHER pin in the hand and now the back of my hand hurts too. (ok perhaps the cat punctured me while we were playing and apparently in pushing down on my hand to stop the bleeding I bruised it worse. jeez.) Would love to see your chart.
Summerit'ssupposedtorainfor3daysHALLELUHAH!!!!3 -
@nebslp, no I didn’t draw the picture of the books. However, I did find it on the internet, crop it, and attached it to my tracker, so I figure I deserve the artist’s credit. 😉 JK! I did color them, though.
I actually wrote more than one word. 🤣 But I did list three words from my reading that I wanted to look up. The first one was manège, I think it has something to do with horsemanship. I actually wrote about 3/4 of the page. I‘m only required to write a minimum of one word.2 -
I so enjoyed catching up with everyone here. Last night got waaay to late so I finally just went to sleep. Yes, I am going to continue with my reading / coloring I will. Even though it looks like I have it down pat, I don't because I have yet to figure out when to do these during the day. Often I am reading right before sleep and then the next day I have to re-read what I was starting to snooze a bit on. The point of making these my wills is to find balance. But at least I am doing them!
I am also wanting to add something additional that either needs to get back into being a habit again, or that I want to do every day with even greater focus, but not to the exclusion of other needed things to be done.
But in the meantime, for today:
I will read my book and/or color some every day. 📖 = reading a book for fun, 📜= coloring
September 1: 📖 📜
September 2: 📖 📜
🤠🌺2 -
Sept 1 did all items + 12 mins of 5 mins LOL on Medicare
Sept 2 First 90 min walk (my regular exercise) in over a week due to smoke. It got better, so out we went!
Didn’t do yoga - rethinking. If I do 90 min walk, I might not do yoga.
Will do mindfulness now. Or I might just sack out. LoL
Decluttered over 90 minutes of a 15 mins minimum: collage papers
Medicare - made the phone call (left message) & called Soc Security & got disconnected but fouls website too be excellent. Figured our a LOT!
My 5 mins turned into 1 hour & 20 minutes!!!
Art: whoops Well I watched over an hour of one of my online art classes AND I collected dried leaves & a few fallen flower petals for my current, ongoing art project. I think when I moved my leaves to make room for collage sorting & Medicare folders, I forgot about my art project. LOL
Rethinking. I certainly had a great day.
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@MadisonMolly2017 , I’m making my Medicare goal be no more than 5 minutes.😊 I probably should have picked up when the rep that handles my husband’s policy called yesterday, but didn’t want to take the time and give him too much encouragement, for fear of being besieged with calls.3
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@MadisonMolly2017 , I’m making my Medicare goal be no more than 5 minutes.😊 I probably should have picked up when the rep that handles my husband’s policy called yesterday, but didn’t want to take the time and give him too much encouragement, for fear of being besieged with calls.
Don’t let the Medicare black hole swallow you up - it’s so frustrating.
I also suggest that you just do a little yoga. Don’t make it have to be a half hour routine.1 -
Just checking in. That medicare black hole is something which is just crazy. I remember when I was dealing with a lot of my Mom and Dad's stuff - trying to work thru those phone calls was so frustrating. I finally assigned that task to my older brother who is much better and more patient than I am on the phone with working chains.
I am laughing at the wrote more than one word. I guess once you actually OPEN the journal and pick up the pencil the hard part is done.
Sept I will continues. it is really hard to me to "let go" of being the little energizer bunny I love so much to be, but in the interests of long term benefits I am accepting that for a little while (day 18 since wrecking myself but who's counting?!!
) I am quite happy with how it is going and am quietly and shhhhhh not announcing that perhaps the voodoo doll has been located and put in a safe place without any pins for the rest of the month.
Yesterday was a rainy day and today continues (I can hear thunder and rain right now). I did get a nice period of time to go to the barn and let my horse out to play in the mud since he had not been out to graze during the day. It is so enjoyable to me to watch him play and have a good time and the cooler weather got him moving for sure!
Hope everyone is doing well!
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@SummerSkier That is one beautiful horse! He looks VERY happy to get to play in the mud.1
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Hi everyone! I feel like a total failure because I keep going MIA. I'm really struggling with the loss of my job and trying to figure out life. But I need to get back into some sort of routine where I do some self care!
I will go back and read August when I get a chance. I did catch up on July! I can't believe it's been another whole month since I was on. Someday I will be so mad at myself for wallowing through an entire summer instead of seizing the days and making the best of them.
Thank you Maddie for jumping in as co-leader! I'm so bummed I missed the declutter challenge! Those are my favorite. lol! Your tracker is really cool! I love it! you are really talented!
@77tes I really like your tracker also! The books up in the top left corner add such a cute homey feel.
@SummerSkier What a beautiful horse! I know how the knee thing goes. My right knee is bone-on-bone and everytime I try to get into a habit of walking, I end up with my leg raised and ice on it. So frustrating! It has to be because I turned 60 this year!
I really don't even know what to work on this month because I have let so many things slide.
1. My goal for this month (This September I will..."): Drink half my weight in ounces of water
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: I will keep my teal stainless steel 25 oz water bottle next to me and make sure I fill it at least 3x daily. :
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: When I'm done with my morning coffee, I will put cup in sink and grab the teal water bottle.
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible) Daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? (Small positive feedbacks reinforce the habit you are trying to build.) I will write it in my No BS journal, document it in my MFP Food Diary, and if it is early enough in the day, I will reward myself with a hot cup of apple cinnamon tea.
6. What help do you need from us? It would be really great if one of you could come stay with me this month and whack me with a yard stick whenever I start whining or feeling sorry for myself!
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September? My fingers will be less swollen and hopefully I will be able to wear my wedding ring again. 💍
Thank you all for always welcoming me when I find my way back and not judging me. You are such an amazing group!
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@packerfaninGB does that mean you are a Green Bay packer fan in Green Bay? LOL.. Welcome back and I volunteer to come stay with you if you promise to whack me with same yard stick if I start whining again. 62 last month and things seems to want to go to heck more quickly but I guess we should be grateful for what we still CAN do and accomplish!!!
Your Sept I will looks perfect to me for a great start back to healthy habits And the declutter challenge continues I think ....
summerinrainyTxnotaCOWBOYSfantho2 -
It's time to jump in and commit to September! I just wrote a long list of things that are on my chart. However, I feel as though I'm getting away from the core value that this group was based on. That being Tiny Habits. So while I will have my chart and use it at a tool to improve myself in 4 health areas, I have to come up with one thing that will help push the other activities in motion, and that is my September goal. I believe I had this goal when the group started and it was very helpful. However, I've stopped doing this regularly.
1. My goal for September: Use my daily planner.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: Go upstairs in the morning and spend 5 minutes going over my planner. Fill it out if I didn't do it the day before.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: First cup of coffee will be enjoyed upstairs in my special room.
4. How often will you do your new habit: daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? I will tell myself, "Well done. Je peux le faire!!! (You can do it!)"
8. What does success look like to you at the end of September? Lots of checks on my activities chart.
I've been using a daily planner sheet for several years now that I got from the PUSH goal program by Chalene Johnson, but not consistently. The plan has 30, 60, and 90 day review sheets where you evaluate and list things you would like to change or continue. I haven't been using those but I may need to get them out again.4 -
From @SummerSkier: I guess once you actually OPEN the journal and pick up the pencil the hard part is done.
YES! That is actually the basic premise of this group!!
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OK, I cried HARD today for the Redwood State Park that has been almost destroyed by fire about 2 weeks ago. I had cried the first 24 hrs, but then realized the redwood trees are fire resistant & the rest would grow back.
But today, I just began sobbing. I’m not sure how long it will take, but it’s definitely a big loss to me & being 64, I can only hope I’ll see it in its former glory before I die. (Sorry)
So really the sobs were about unpreventable changes...fires, COVZiD, aging, illness. Good to let it out.
I then binge watched TV for a few hours. (I haven’t watched tv in months.)
SO
My “I will” for September is changing...
I will do at least 3 of the following 4 items each day:
I will do “5 mins” on Medicare M-F
I will do “5 mins” of yoga/wt lifting/PT exercise
I will do “5 mins” of mindfulness (on yoga mat - not in bed)
I will do “5 mins” of art making
I exercise, eat well, track, declutter, clean, organize, do other desk jobs already, so they won’t be part of “I will.”
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SummerSkier wrote: »@packerfaninGB does that mean you are a Green Bay packer fan in Green Bay? LOL.. Welcome back and I volunteer to come stay with you if you promise to whack me with same yard stick if I start whining again. 62 last month and things seems to want to go to heck more quickly but I guess we should be grateful for what we still CAN do and accomplish!!!
Your Sept I will looks perfect to me for a great start back to healthy habits And the declutter challenge continues I think ....
summerinrainyTxnotaCOWBOYSfantho
LOL! Yes, it does mean I live in Green Bay and am a Packers fan! How very perceptive of you! Bahahaha! 😂. I totally agree with you about being grateful for what does work! That’s a great reminder. I’m grateful for everyday. Thanks!
I’ll check out the Declutterfest thread!
WindyButSunnyInGreenBayWInearLambeauField. 😊2 -
It's time to jump in and commit to September! I just wrote a long list of things that are on my chart. However, I feel as though I'm getting away from the core value that this group was based on. That being Tiny Habits. So while I will have my chart and use it at a tool to improve myself in 4 health areas, I have to come up with one thing that will help push the other activities in motion, and that is my September goal. I believe I had this goal when the group started and it was very helpful. However, I've stopped doing this regularly.
1. My goal for September: Use my daily planner.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: Go upstairs in the morning and spend 5 minutes going over my planner. Fill it out if I didn't do it the day before.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: First cup of coffee will be enjoyed upstairs in my special room.
4. How often will you do your new habit: daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? I will tell myself, "Well done. Je peux le faire!!! (You can do it!)"
8. What does success look like to you at the end of September? Lots of checks on my activities chart.
I've been using a daily planner sheet for several years now that I got from the PUSH goal program by Chalene Johnson, but not consistently. The plan has 30, 60, and 90 day review sheets where you evaluate and list things you would like to change or continue. I haven't been using those but I may need to get them out again.
I was just thinking of the Tiny Habits challenge earlier today. I think I need to follow that format also. One habit at a time! 😊2 -
@MadisonMolly2017 you certainly did have a great day!!
@77tes you wrote to @MadisonMolly2017 "...do a little yoga. Don’t make it have to be a half hour routine." That was well said because I, more often than not, give in to things being or doing all or nothing. Doing a little is much better than none at all. Thanks for the reminder!
@SummerSkier I loved reading you post, and seeing the picture of your horse! Your horse seems so happy to be able to be outdoors for a little while! You captured the moment perfectly!
I haven't landed on what my additional 'I will' ought to be yet, so I continue...
I will read my book and/or color some every day. 📖 = reading a book for fun, 📜= coloring
September 1: 📖 📜
September 2: 📖 📜
September 3: 📖 📜
🤠🌺2 -
Sept 3
I agree with one tiny habit!
Since my goal this month is balancing my interests so each day feels productive, artistic, and peaceful. I’ve found this makes me happier. I have a few items on my “I will” but each only for 5 minute minimum.
I will do “5 mins” on Medicare M-F
✔️30 mins
Making good progress! 5 minutes definitely helps. I end up doing much more! LOL
It will be great to have this all figured out & feel “on top of it”
I will do “5 mins” of yoga/wt lifting/PT exercise daily
✔️18 mins
I am standing so much taller in just 4-5 days. I didn’t want to do it this morning, but found a video of yoga for inflexible people which was great! I have to keep yoga on my Sept I Will.
I will do “5 mins” of mindfulness (on yoga mat - not in bed) daily
✔️40 mins
I didn’t want to do this either, but it was so beneficial that I had to keep it on Sept I will too.
I will do “5 mins” of art making daily. I resist beginning my art creations, but I always have a great experience, so had to keep this one too!
✔️25 mins
Do you see the pattern?!! Haha3 -
Good Morning! And nice to see such activity here. Happy 4 Sept!!!
I have a 4 day weekend and boy do I need it. I did not need to stumble at the barn over a pallet covered in hay last night and give th bad knee a crank again tho. I actually cried on the way home because I know that is a setback to the recovery. (and I know you gals understand a moment of self pity of course) Maddie, I understand and LOVE that about you that you cried for the redwoods.
I cry everytime I see roadwork here tearing out beautiful live oaks. I have often thought about putting something on my facebook page that when I pass I would like my friends to plant a tree somewhere in my honor. Can you imagine if even 100 of my friends did that what a contribution to the world!!!!!
Work has been crazy nutz and mostly because one of my programs is coming to an end and I am being asked over and over again to research things from years ago - very tedious. And to me a waste of time because the folks who I give the info are not the decision makers and until we present it to them it's just churn and over and over and over again. Wasted meetings etc.
As a treat to myself since COVID cases seem to be really coming down right now I have scheduled to get my lashes done tomorrow morning. It's been 2 months and I really do miss having the ease of that vanity. It's thundering again outside so most likely my walking and exercise will be limited to typing today but I am good with that as I really do need to just try to chillax. (and of course that means less cals .
Sept I will. Stay off the rollercoast so less cals but BALANCE!!!!!! I guess I should try to make it official as I think the format here is really awesome.
1. My goal for September: Stay off the rollercoaster food wise.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: Set MFP goal to 1700 cals with no exercise add in,
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: logging here
4. How often will you do your new habit: daily
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? When I get back to running I will not have extra to carry around so my joints will be happier! (as will Bandit)
8. What does success look like to you at the end of September? meeting my cal goal both not going too far under or over (hence the rollercoaster thing) while allowing my knee to heal without pushing to exercise.
bONinrainyKABOOMAustin2
