What is your challenge tomorrow?

white knight · ‎16-02-2016

Last night when I went to bed I was undergoing my nightly muscle tensioning exercises. This process that takes around 25 minutes helps me sleep and has been almost totally responsible for me conquering my anxiety that peaked in 1987.

My mind drifted into a state whereby I thought about my challenge the next day (today). That challenge was to find my reversing camera in my shed to mount on the roof of the caravan we have just finished building. The camera has eluded me for a long time.

This morning I was feeling unwell and like many of us I just wanted to stay in bed. That challenge haunted me. So I dragged myself out to the shed and 2 hours later found the item. Being a cold windy day I returned indoors and was so pleased with my efforts was buoyed by it and felt really good. So I thought "why not have a daily challenge?" Wouldn't that help to avoid a full bad day?

Have you had daily challenges and what are they? Do they work like mine did.

Tony WK

Guest_1055 · ‎16-02-2016

Hello Tony

Thankyou so much, I appreciate you starting this thread. Way cool....I am glad you felt really good after being challenged to actually go in search for your reversing camera.

You have encouraged me now, because in my mind I see my kitchen that needs such a good clean. It has been an overwhelming part of the house to well....tackle I guess. So I will see it as my personal DAILY CHALLENGE for today. And after I tackle it, I will report back here and let you know how I felt after my challenge, if you like. Good idea for us to set a challenge the night before. Maybe it helps drive us on out of our beds the next day. Almost like a feeling of motivation or something.

Shell xx

Maureen · ‎16-02-2016

Hey Tony, I've decided (not psychiatrist or GP as I haven't asked them) that I have a dopamine deficiency. A drug I was on til side effects forced me off it was actually making me feel happier, more motivated to do stuff instead of lying on the couch. Dopamine can be elevated by, amongst other things, accomplishing set goals. So decided to give it a go last week (when I came off the drug).

I'm not happy that I now smoke over 25 cigarettes per day and have gone up to 4 coffees a day. I'm not meant to drink coffee. So I set a goal to reduce smokes to 16 per day and drop coffee to 2 per day. I've managed to maintain this goal for a week now and hope to stay at this level for another week when I will drop down a bit more.

I haven't been able to do anything for myself for over a year. Something that makes my self esteem be much lower than it already is. Who doesn't help themself try to get better? I know the answer, can't help it at the moment, but doesn't make it any easier to cope with. But by doing these two little things for a week has almost made me cocky, 'geez I'm good' Weirdly I laugh at this thought. But it does help setting small goals, pat yourself on the back.

As Shell suggested above, it would be cool if people let us know of a little challenge they would be prepared to undertake, if they succeeded, and how good it made them feel.

Maureen

white knight · ‎16-02-2016

Hi Maureen,

Wow, great effort. I smoked for 12 years and at 21yo stopped cold turkey. I'm 60yo next month so its been a long time.

Now, cigs are really expensive so to add to your challenge and withdrawals....buy yourself a treat every week as you get lower on your cig count. Well done

Tony WK

StaticRose51 · ‎03-03-2016

My challenge is to submit a few artworks from my portfolio by tomorrow. I have recently been asked to do a few paintings for a good friend.

Thank you for starting this Challenge!

Maureen · ‎04-03-2016

That is so cool Static Rose. Wish I had your talent.

Tony, I laughed when u suggested I should buy myself a treat to celebrate. I am having issues with spending money inappropriately. Buy myself far too many treats. So won't be following your advice this time. 😊 also have fell down this week with this challenge. Maintaining motivation is definitely an issue.

How on earth did you quit smoking cold turkey? well done!

I think I need to do a challenge that I set one night before as per your initial post. And perhaps change it up each day. Have fallen down the hole again, so am finding thinking of an appropriate challenge difficult.

white knight · ‎04-03-2016

Hi Maureen,

Firstly, it has been documented here on this forum before- that at 31yo I had a workplace incident that led to pains in the chest. hat led to an ECG of my heart and as that test came back abnormal I was initially diagnosed as having a heart attack. 3 months later in a Melbourne hospital I had a stress test done, you know, treadmill, wires stuck on me all over, like the million dollar man lol. Anyway my heart after 20 minutes of near death walking showed such good response that I was told my heart is fine. But of course I'd stoped smoking for 3 months by this time so kept refusing the urges. I knew if I didn't I'd never give up.

Giving yourself a treat. Well I like symbolic treats. A treat could be a walk to a park, a handful of lollies or a spa. It doesn't need to be expensive. Us aussies are good at that, we bet each other 5 bucks the first to the gate!! A pure gift to yourself no matter if it costs nothing is a symbol of your effort.

As for "falling down" your challenge this week, like dieting, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. Make sure your challenge is realistically achievable.

Love your courage. Keep going.

StaticRose- My daughter now 27yo is an art/maths teacher. Our home is filled with her paintings. Everyone that comes here is in awe of her talents. Pursue your talent. Wasted talent would never have Van Gogh's paintings in our world.

Tony WK

Maureen · ‎04-03-2016

Thanks Tony for the advice. Didn't think of the treats that don't cost anything.

Guest_1055 · ‎05-03-2016

Hello lovely people.

My challenge that I am setting myself up for tomorrow is vacuuming the house. I know it probably sounds very simple for some. And maybe insignificant. But I am finding it real hard to motivate myself in this household chore at the moment. So I challenge myself to accomplish it tomorrow...

Guest_2350 · ‎06-03-2016

Dear Shelley,

that is a great challenge and I am learning myself to accept these to be challenging. I think everything we seem to procrastinate over is a great challenge.

I challenge myself to get a move on this presentation I am supposed to prepare this weekend. I procrastinate so badly that I often finish presentations while setting up for the presentation / or whilst other presentations are happening.

Hope you have a great day, Yggy