The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 6

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. 

Given that special circumstances delayed this post by two days, Monday marked the beginning of week 6.

The Update

So, week 6 started off with something new.  My baby daughter came home from the hospital and we learned how much time and effort goes into raising a baby, much less three.  Some things were easy to keep up on.  Tracking my spending is easy when you don't leave the house for much.  And for the couple weeks that I have been saving my $5 bills, I have $75 set aside. 

I haven't been able to do a run each of the last couple days, but thanks to the new responsibilities I've been fasting pretty much from 6:00pm till noon the following day.  These intermittent fasts are recommended by nutrition guru Brad Pilon in his book Eat, Stop Eat.  He recommends fasts of 18-24 one to two times per week.

I did not necessarily make it intentional as to doing these intermittent fasts but once I realized what was going on yesterday, I decided to do it again today to see how I feel.  Before I get the comments, "skipping breakfast slows down your metabolism" I suggest checking out his site and book.  It so happens that I had started reading Brad's eBook last week.

I've studied nutrition for two decades and have either tried or studied nearly every major diet out there.  So it's nothing new for me to put my body through an experiment.  Too early to tell with applying Brad's research to my life but am pleased so far.  

So, my new Butterfly Effect this week is to add one day of intermittent fasting per week.  The best time to start the clock is after dinner, and try to make it as close as possible to the following day's dinner. 

For those of you who read Monday's post, I've also started the 100 Thing Challenge.  Seemingly this is the extreme opposite of the Butterfly Effects challenge but like the intermittent fasting, it really is another example of doing less.

Instead of doting over and caring for hundreds of items I make do with the essential.  Apart from my gratitude journal and the repurposing of two items daily, it is the only other Simplification Butterfly Effect that I have actively going.  The others reached the end of their natural progression.

As a quick round-up, here is the list of previous Butterfly Effects that I have implemented.

Overall:

1. Set the Intent – Spend time each night before bed setting the intent for the following day to be successful with implementing the Butterfly Effects.

Health:

1. Drink a large glass of water before each meal.
2. Yoga for ten minutes each day
3. Meditate for ten minutes each day
4. 10 Hindu Pushups and 20 Hindu Squats, incrementing each day
5. Jog at least 1.75 miles 3x per week
6. One day of intermittent fasting per week

Simplify:

1. Re-purpose two items per day
2. Catalog my possessions for 15 minutes each day
3. Write down five things to be grateful for each day
4. Edit my digital life
5. Consciously live the 100 Things challenge

Blogging

1. Comment on 1 post each day
2. Respond to each comment received
3. 15 minutes learning the blogging trade

Finance

1. Track spending each day
2. Save my five dollar bills

Writing

1. Write 250 words each day toward my first book/ebook

Related Posts:

The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 1

The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 2

The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 3

The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 4

The Butterfly Effect – Challenge Week 5