August 31, 2009

The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 3

Each Monday I check in with my update on my 13 week experiment to transform areas of my life using small habit changes that I call Butterfly Effects. Over time, in theory, these small habit changes equate to massive transformation. My experiment is to see if this theory works, and allows me to concentrate on multiple goals at one time.

Today marks the beginning of week 3.

On Health

An interesting week, again. While I am doing good with my Yoga and meditation, I've realized, while trying to install two ceiling fans this weekend, that my upper body strength is quite pathetic. While I am dying to add some cardio to my daily exercise, I am just trying to take it slow.

This week I will be adding some strength exercises. Each day I will ramp up on my Hindu Pushups and Hindu Squats, just starting at 10 and 20 reps, respectively, and going up a single repitition each day on the pushups, two on the squats.

As a side-note, I actually find myself now meditating during my lunch hour at work. I grab a quiet spot and turn on the Meditator software on my IPOD Touch. Ten minutes and I'm done. It seems to recharge me for the second half of my day.

The Yoga, as simple as it may seem, adds a bit of flexibility and strength as all the muscles need to work together for these exercises.

On Simplifying

I am doing well in my quest to simplify. I've managed to catalog many things, I think it will take me several weeks to get it all. In my decluttering process, I've also managed to go through a bunch of printed articles and put them in a binder. Not on the list, but it was uncovered as I was going through paper to see what I needed. I'd like to simplify my digital life as well, but not till I've made peace with my clutter situation now.

I get pretty angry with myself about my clutter. It's the act of being self-absorbed and I don't much like wasting my life energy on it. So, this week I will practice gratitude, in the hopes of changing my attitude. Each morning I will spend a few minutes writing down five new things that I am grateful for.

On Blogging

With Blogging, I have fallen a bit behind on my replies to comments. I will catch up Monday, hopefully, but thanks to some networking with other bloggers, I've gotten more than expected lately, which is a nice problem to have. I will concentrate this week on learning the art and science of blogging by reviewing and implementing the lessons at A-List Blogging. So begins the habit of learning about my trade for fifteen minutes per day, in order to master the skill-set over a year's time.

On Finance

Finance, I continue to track my spending. I don't really have other goals than this, right now. My focus is more on the writing and the health changes, and I'm okay with that. With three babies coming home from the hospital soon, I don't want to set any further goals until I know what the regular costs will be associated with raising them into toddler stage.

The two fundamentals to personal finance are knowing where your money is going, and spending less than you earn. The first part often takes care of the second as you raise your consciousness when tracking and then you think twice about spending.

On Writing

My writing has become a prime focus lately. I have done excellent with posting here five times per week or more, as well as writing 250 words or more per day. I am working on my first book about Haiku Life Lessons, that I hope to have completed by the end of this 13 week experiment. I continue to write everyday, so no new Butterfly Effects on this one, this week.