The Mifl Report – February
* MIFL = Month In Focused Living
Back in January I chose “focus” as my Word of The Year, a way to set a theme and intention. I’m doing regular MIFL Reports to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Ol’ Carnegie catching the last rays, during Up & Running 5K Workout 1.2 today.
. . .
1. Bandwagon Muesli
A friend of mine in Canberra declared it “porridge weather” the other day so geographically that must mean it’s time for me to commence yogurt season. It’s 4′C/39′F so not exactly toasty but, feck it, I’m sick of porridge. I ransacked the pantry for scraps of ye olde nuts and seeds bought under the influence of trendy healthy living bloggers and stirred them all together to form a kind of muesli. It’s got chia seeds, oats, unsweetened coconut, almonds, sunflower seeds and a few stray cocoa nibs. Very very tasty and none of that annoying dust you get with commercial muesli.
2. Full-Length mirror
I bought one from IKEA last week. There have been no full-length mirrors in my life since I had to give up kickboxing and I don’t think it’s been helping the mind-body disconnect. So far I like being able to have a good gander at reality. It’s not where I want to be, but as ol’ Tony Robbins says, “See it as it is, not worse than it is.”
Monday I did weights with an eye on the mirror, wearing a Reebok sleeveless tank they gave us at Fitbloggin. The tank showed off every roll, but it also showed off the muscle trying to reassert itself. It’s a nice metaphor for the me that gives a crap about me who’s busting to make a comeback.
3. Lard latest
A mere half a kilo off in February. I haven’t been on the scale since, as I was letting it mess with my head. I assure you I’m not in denial. I’m sticking to the 3-2-1 exercise plan and MyFitnessPal-ing, but really need a break from that other contraption.
4. Commute walks
Back in January I got a “year in review” email from Fitbit, telling me that July 22 was my most active day in 2012 and on average Thursdays were my least active day. That’s the day I work longer hours so it was a bed > car > desk > car > couch > bed formula of sloth. In order to combat that I’ve started walking home on Thursdays. It only takes 45-60 minutes depending on my route, compared to 20 minutes by car or bus. So I’m saving money, moving my butt and it zens me up after the working day. I’ve started doing it on other days too. Simple, but effective.
5. Speaking of Fitbits
So many of you folks told me Fitbit had great customer service, even if you launder your device like a nitwit. I didn’t want to look like a Greasy Blogger Demanding Stuff so I wrote as a civilian (snort!) saying it was entirely my own nitwittery and I’d tried putting it in rice and all… and they said, “Nae bother, we’ll send you a newie”. So I am back on the Fitbit and loving it. But being extra careful to keep it out of the laundry basket!
6. Up & Walking
I wrote on the U&R blog yesterday that I’ve joined the Spring 5K Course! Walking it, of course. I’ve got some travel coming up and thought it would give me structure, especially with the Bologna race just eight weeks away. Also, our latest batch of runners are so charming I want to have even more legitimate excuses to skulk around the Forum. I just finished Workout 1.2 today and already I want to deck the Runkeeper lady and her bossy voice.
7. Morning Pages tragedy
I use 750words.com to do my morning writing. It’s a private space with a nice blank screen and a word count. You can win badges for various achievements, like speedy typing or building up streaks of writing days. BADGES!
I’d never managed a streak longer than 31 days so when I hit 58 last month I felt sure I was finally on the road to 100 days which means… THE PHOENIX!
But after the glorious January morns of tea and typing, my pages were becoming more afternoon and evening. There was a smelly big work deadline then the Up & Running course prep ramped up. I shoved the writing further and further down the list. I was doing the pages later and later then on Feb 27 I was in bed with the laptop at 11.50pm desperately tapping out the words to make the cut off. Then on March 1, I woke up and the horror hit me. I’d just plain forgotten to write on March 28.
I was fizzing with rage! Now I was back to day zero! You may say, it’s just a stupid badge. But I want that Phoenix, dammit.
Well, the real reason it rankled was the realisation that yet again I’d lost focus of my priorities. It’s not out of a sense of martyrdom, putting everyone else first like a sniffling cold-and-flu advert lady with a child on one arm and a briefcase on the other. I just forget to remember the personally-important things sometimes. I love my morning pages, they keep me calm and 76% less nutty. Gotta make ‘em happen.
So I’m building up the morning muscle again and I’m on a 12 day streak. It’s all about habit. Focus focus focus. I’m coming after you, orange bird thing!
