Daily accountability and check in

Day 112, sat currently with the sun on my back in the hotel restaurant. I'm nursing s filter coffee, finishing some journaling after breakfast, a great moment in time, the sun feels warm and fulfilling, the coffee is rich and I can feel the boost it is giving me.

Marcus Aurelius this Morning talked about seeing challenges as opportunities and to bear them without pain. I've got a busy day today, but I can navigate and champion them all.

I didn't manage a vegetarian dinner, I skipped lunch and was really drained on my way to the hotel. I did track my day though and stayed within my calorie plan.

I either read or listened yesterday to someone talking about calories and diet and its changed my viewpoint. It simply said " don't eat to reduce calories, especially drastically, instead think about how you eat and live your 'ideal' life and adopt that lifestyle now.

I went through a few calorie calculators at my ideal weight (13st) and it is indicating 2200. This is doable for me and should allow me just to pivot my mindset to living and eating in a way that fulfils my ideal lifestyle.

Similarly work today, I'm in a privileged and senior role but I'm dragging myself through the days and should be living the lifestyle I want every day, not 6 or 12 months from now.

Obvious maybe and I'm not sure how I go about it yet but I spend a lot of time being hard on myself and trying to change, I should instead just start doing the things ideal me wants to do, maybe then it'll feel less like change and feel more fulfilling.

Anyway, 15 min walk to the office now, I'm planning on swimming tonight and reading at the side of the pool, to reduce my screen time.

Whatever you are all doing, lions and lionesses, have a great day, I hope you smash it to bits.

Yeah the flavour definately comes from the chia and protein, the current one is a chocolate powder but it's not too overpowering.

Field notes are great. It's a small pocket sized pad that has maybe 40 total pages. I have got a dot matrix one, a bit like bullet journaling.

I've sketched out some pages each month. A calendar page, a daily list of habits, sleep, reading, calories and mood. I've got a page tracking my spend and a page of wins/gratitude.

I've then got a couple of pages week to view with a few lines each day.

It works for me as I love taking 5/10 mins to work through some of these things, I have free flowing pages where I just scribble thoughts or ideas.

I've had a5 journals in the past, but having the fields notes with me in my pocket makes it so much easier, I do a new one each month, so I can swap out the format, try a new approach or whatever.

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Was listening to a podcast this Morning, a couple of really great ideas.

- Social media break. Weirdly I don't do a lot of social media but I open it and scan the couple of people I still follow, very little actually interesting and usually end up just scanning shorts and burning my time and braincells.

I'm gonna try this week not to even open those apps.

- Have a summer project or challenge.

I'm going to try skipping of all things, the host mentioned it, I'm travelling again this week and thought, I can actually have a rope in my case and try it either in the Morning or evening.

I'm going to pick one up later from a store near the hotel.

- Slow down.
Listening to Daniel Kahneman talk about having single 'focussed' projects, setting expectations and thinking about how much you can reasonably expect to get done.

I spend a lot of time wired brain going 100mph, I struggle to unwind and end up making bad choices.

I'm going to try a few strategies this week to just slow down, be more realistic with myself and honest with others about what is reasonable.

I didn't do a great job of tracking this weekend but I've done plenty of steps and movement, done a tonne of jobs and chores that Mrs R had for me and I know I was well within my calories.

I'm aiming to lose again this week, good choices for dinner and breakfast, hopefully some skipping or other movement.

Funnily enough, where I stay on this trip, there is a rooftop hot tub, it looks out over the town and is a great feeling when it's a bit cold outside but the hot tub is warm and you can look out at the view. Maybe I'll pick up the rope, do 20 mins of cardio and reward myself with a trip to the roof.

Anyway, about to board, thats enough rambling for today, whatever everyone is doing, have a great one.

Hi – funnily enough, I tapped this post out whilst enjoying a coffee and lost it twice. Ive actually taken 10 mins to do it in work and email it to myself so I can post it a bit later 😊



I’m so sorry to hear about what you went through, how hearbreaking. Glad to see you on here though, even if you are lurking and taking a little something from my posts. They were intended originally just to force me to count the days and add a bit about what I was (or wasn’t doing), I think its grown into more of a space for a journal/braindump, I’m definitely not a writer but I am really glad that you have been able to take something from them.


Why don’t you try the gratitude/wins log, use a sheet of A4, a pad, your phone or whatever – just make a list of 3 things that went well, you enjoyed or that you are grateful for – it can be anything, I often just put ‘coffee’ because the coffee in that moment was amazing and it gave me a moment to reflect on and is just something to count as a win. It gives me a couple of positive things to kick off the day with.

The habit list is just a list of things I want to do better at, more sleep, reading, tracking my calories and my mood, it is sometimes just a data entry exercise but Im trying to use it to get better in those areas.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, you aren’t a garden gnome, you are here reading my posts, starting to think about changes – that’s a massive positive in itself, take small steps and take time.

That's exactly it, reflect on those small moments and enjoy them. Someone said to me years ago, any given moment, the sun on your face, a nice coffee, a walk, the sun dappling on a river, you cab never experience them again. You can be in the same place and see something similar, but that moment is unique and that's what I capture, the small daft moments that touch me there and then.

This week has been a success so far, healthy lunch and dinner, skipping is a no because I've got ankle tendonitis, stayed within my calories though, just gotta navigate the trip back today.

Didn't make the most of my chance to sleep last night and ended up tired today but it's fine I'll grab something to eat before driving to the airport and make good choices. I've got water in the car at the other side.

Make a last minute decision this Morning to shoot across to Isle of Man to celebrate the 40th of one of my oldest friends, he always turns up for me and I should make the same effort for him.

Anyway, off to the office until 2pm when I'll be free again. Have a great day all, smash it.

Oh, mowing, haha. I've done quite a lot of physical work this weekend but didn't get to the garden, raining now unfortunately.

Today's Stoic Quote. Interesting, I guess this counts for decisions or actions that aren't aligned to your own values.

"Nothing is noble if it's done unwillingly or under compulsion. Every noble deed is voluntary." Seneca

My goal this week is to put some thought into what I want to do, my current job is wearing me out, change is required sharpish.

Also to think about my ankles, they are sore after London and the concerts, I need a bit of a plan for them.

I really enjoyed Noom, the daily list of articles/lessons were really good, helped to build good habits and keep motivation. The actual Noom programme I found similar to either SW or WW, stay within the points.

The coach wasn't very useful, I asked for some guidance/advice at one point and he said something like 'you can do it' 🤣

I haven't found anything similar since, MFP does the job for me, tracking and staying within the calorie goals is the key, the rest is 'fluff', I just need to keep the habit now.

132

I had a couple of experiences yesterday which highlight why I need to change jobs, I'm gonna take it easier on myself.

Ankles are a bit less painful which is a surprise after the work over the weekend.

Also solved a problem with my car media centre needing an authorisation code, crisis averted without the need for a dealership visit and can resume use of the reversing camera, imagine having to actually turn your neck to drive your car backwards 🤣