How to Get More Time: Don't Value Your Time as Much; In Fact Give it Away.

Check out this article from CNN: You have more time than you think

Feeling stressed for time? I turns out that even though, as a whole, Americans have more free time than ever, we paradoxically feel more pressed for time.

According to this article, if you want to feel less stressed about your time slipping away, don't apply a monetary value to the time you do have. In fact, use your free time to do good for and with others. Volunteer, cheer up a friend, or just have some face-to-face time. Turns out when you do, your perspective shifts, time slows down, and anxiety decreases.
Give it a try... for a time.

-P

Things to Do - Worried About Your Mental Health? - Seek professional help and talk about it.

Why are we as a society worried about distressingly high numbers of suicides and bullying, but yet as are incredibly silent about the main cause? Mental Illness. These two examples can better explain my point.

First up is a beautiful webcomic from the wonderful Beatrice the Biologist website.

And then to drive the point home, this touchingly funny Ted Talk by Ruby Wax.

Why are we scared to talk about and get help for our mental status? Any ideas?

-P
Creativity Challenge Day 20/30 (66.6666667% complete)

Join the Fit Nation - Fitocracy

Here's another way I hold myself accountable for workouts: Fitocracy.

In case you aren't familiar with what fitocracy is it's one part WoW, one part Facebook, and one part fitness logger.

I've been a member since beta and it has gone through as many changes as Facebook. Most for the better.

The site has probably one of the most supportive communities you'll find anywhere. All you have to do is post your first workout and you will have dozens of strangers giving you "props" (fitocracy's version of the "like" button) and people friending you left and right. I've never had a negative interaction with a member.

It's interface is very user friendly. Everything is where you intuitively think it should be.

The best part, for me, is the role playing aspect of it. Every time you log a workout, you earn experience points. Earn enough and you level up. It has challenges in the forms of quests that will give you bonus xp for completing them. The challenges are my favorite part, even though it seems like they haven't added one in a while.

If you have played any of the next gen consoles or an mmorpg, they also have badges you can earn by completing certain milestones. (Give X props, do X number of pull ups, swim X miles).

It even has a cute robot mascot.

Best of all, the site is nearly completely free! Both the android and apple apps are also currently free, and if I am not mistaken there aren't many adds on their site.

There is a paid version, called Fitocracy Hero, which unlocks the ability to add additional customisation to your profile, and gives you the ability to challenge other users. It's currently completly optional.

 I think it's a fun, supportive way to engage your workouts. And it's addictive, but healthier than video games.

Hope to see you there. Keep on catching happiness.
-P
Challenge 16/30

If you do decide to join, let me know. If you already are a member you can look me up there: PJRILSTU.

Challenge 006: Join the Rebellion

I said it before. I am a big fan of Nerd Fitness. It's time to gain social accountability.So I am going to join the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.

XP: 25

Challenge 005: Make 7 Yours.

Before I move into today's challenge. A quick update on the last challenge. It turns out that the marathon training book was little too intense for my current level of fitness, so I decided to tone it down for the time being and look for a different training program. In the meanwhile I am going to build my endurance by running four times a week for 30 minutes, and then a long run on the weekend where I increase my mileage. So far so good. I am two runs into this week, and while I am tired and a little sore, I am in great spirits.

Speaking of tired; on to my next challenge. Studies say that for optimum performance a person needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night. So that is what I am going to do.

Challenge 005: Get at least seven and no more than nine hours of sleep a night.
XP Reward: 10 XP per day.

To achieve this I need to reorganize my day and prioritize. I will actually need to schedule sleep. I started this challenge on Sunday and will have a full week by this weeks rewards day.

Challenge 002: Put Back the Mac

Okay. I know I said that I would update this challenge list on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but I really feel that I need to start this challenge today, if not sooner.

See, I got some addiction problems. My drug of choice? Nothing illegal. The things that I crave? Really bad junk food and diet cola. I seriously crave them if I do not have them within a few hours. I fight with myself during my commute home, I tell myself not to stop and get a double cheeseburger or two. I tell myself that I don’t need the little Debbie double decker oatmeal cream pie (yes they exist and are just as bad for you as you would expect). I even gave in to the craving today. Two double cheeseburgers and one double decker oatmeal cream pie…. Bad me.

Yes I have seen Super Size Me and Food Inc. and I have read Fast Food Nation. I have, in the past, been able to walk away from the local gas station and golden arches. However, around the time I was making my career change, I dropped the ball and gave into my vices. That was a year and half ago. I haven’t found the motivation to change my ways since.

Luckily, my weight has only been creeping up, but I do know I have gone from a muscular 180 to a very soft 200 lbs in that time. However, I feel like garbage. My allergies have been worse. My skin feels greasy and I’m tired a lot. It’s time to make changes to my diet. It’s time to change, and I am going to use this blog for accountability. Not only will I improve my health, but I will improve my pocket book as well.

So here’s challenge 002: No Fast Food Restaurants for at least 6 days a week. No candy, slim jims, or snack cakes for the same.

Challenge EXP awarded weekly.
Challenge 001 – Bloggin x 3(100 xp / week) IN PROGRESS
Challenge 002 – No Junk for 6/7 (100 xp / week) IN PROGRESS