Challenging myself

[TxZen]

I think it's important in life to not become complacent. I try to come up with little or big ways to challenge myself, so I get outside my normal way of thinking, have some new focus and get the enjoyment of completing a task. Some things I have done in the past:
1. 500 hours for charity in 1 year- 10 hours a week or so.
2. Shopping only at thrift for clothes for 1 year (still working on this one)
3. Hiking all the trails around my town (14 to be exact) and tracking mileage
4. 1 Picture per day (next challenge)- theme to be determined
5. Reading the classics in 1 year- I came up with a list of 20 books, considered classics (to be done challenge)
6. 10 minute meditation each day.
7. Removing 1 item per day from my home for 60 days.
8. Write 1 letter to those closest to me, on beautiful paper and sending in the mail (this was a BIG hit)
9. Learn to rewrite in cursive (I write somewhere between print and cursive with a touch of doctor's handwriting) (to be completed)


What are some things you have challenge yourself too or would like to challenge yourself too? I think it is very important for life outlook and brain function.

[Ultralight]

I think it's important in life to not become complacent. I try to come up with little or big ways to challenge myself, so I get outside my normal way of thinking, have some new focus and get the enjoyment of completing a task. Some things I have done in the past:
1. 500 hours for charity in 1 year- 10 hours a week or so.
2. Shopping only at thrift for clothes for 1 year (still working on this one)
3. Hiking all the trails around my town (14 to be exact) and tracking mileage
4. 1 Picture per day (next challenge)- theme to be determined
5. Reading the classics in 1 year- I came up with a list of 20 books, considered classics (to be done challenge)
6. 10 minute meditation each day.
7. Removing 1 item per day from my home for 60 days.
8. Write 1 letter to those closest to me, on beautiful paper and sending in the mail (this was a BIG hit)
9. Learn to rewrite in cursive (I write somewhere between print and cursive with a touch of doctor's handwriting) (to be completed)


What are some things you have challenge yourself too or would like to challenge yourself too? I think it is very important for life outlook and brain function.

TxZen: You are really speaking to my soul here! Challenges are so enriching.

Here are a few I have done:
-The 11 Hour Challenge (11 hours of meditation in 11 days; must be at least 20 minute increments). This basically uses all your grit. Don't plan to do anything else during those eleven days! haha. Also: I have barely meditated since...
-Live Below The Line: Live on $1.50 of groceries a day for one week.
-Invisible Year: From July 8th, 2014 to July 8th 2015 I did not take or keep any photos (exceptions being commerce-type things, like having to sell something on the internet). Two months before this challenge I deleted all the photos I own, both analog and digital. This was a massively amazing experience!
-Year without Facebook. Did this for the past 12 months. I like it and probably will stay this way for at least another year.
-2 years without a cell/smartphone. I am almost a year in. It is NICE!
-Resolution for 2015: Learn 12 dance steps in 12 months. I am about halfway done. Never danced before!

Here are some challenges I am working on/want to try:
-100TC (Old School, I know... but I still like the idea).
-Fit everything in (and on!) my little Nissan Versa hatchback
-Go car-free
-The Compact!

[Kestra]

You have some great ideas. I can't match that. Mostly I challenge myself to live the best that I can in any moment.
I'm also:
- seeking out social opportunities
- trying to speak up and speak honestly when I have something to say
- trying to listen to people better and interrupt less

For brain function I'd like to improve my French skills. I have about a fourth grade level plus some medical stuff, which doesn't come up in conversation. If you need to know the word for pain or limping, or right hind leg, I'm good. But I can't say "I'm going to the store."

I have this long term goal to hike in every state and province (not counting childhood trips). Depending on the definition of "hike" I have one province, and 2 or 3 states done - a long way to go.

[Ultralight]

Kestra:

I did a social opportunities challenge about a year and a half ago. I picked one month and found at least one social activity to do per day. It was essentially 30 days; 30 social activities. But I ended up with more than 30.

As an introvert this was incredibly challenging but so worth it!

[Kestra]

Kestra:

I did a social opportunities challenge about a year and a half ago. I picked one month and found at least one social activity to do per day. It was essentially 30 days; 30 social activities. But I ended up with more than 30.

As an introvert this was incredibly challenging but so worth it!

Wow, that's a lot. I don't know where I'd find the time. I'm usually at 2-3 a week, depending how you define "social opportunity". Does yoga class count? Talking to my roommate? Consulting gig? What about when you are around people all day long, like the last 3 days I did a business planning course - lots of talking - I'd consider that more than 1 opportunity. Just musing here - obviously there's no exact definition. I just compare my current life to when I had a job. Other than talking to people at work (which often wasn't that much) I felt I socialized maybe once a month. And some of that was with people I didn't even like. That wasn't good. It's much better now being proactive about such things, and only being around people who don't annoy me.

[Ultralight]

Yoga class would count. Talking to your roommate probably shouldn't. haha

For me it had to be a deliberate interaction for at least a half hour with people in a group setting or on a date.

[TxZen]

Keep these ideas and great responses coming!!!

Forgot a few:
1. Take my son to the park for 2 weeks straight, everyday, no excuses. We are one day 2
2. Make dinner for 30 days straight- THIS one was a huge challenge for me but I did it. Do pancakes count though?!? ;)
3. Shop only the farmer's market for food for 2 weeks and live on only what they sell or at least 95%. I would like to do this soon, as we are at peak season. We have fruit, vegetables, some dairy (cheese, eggs), some personal hygiene, household, desserts/breads/cereals, condiments, dog food and even clothing and bags sold at our small market. I thought about this one and the only thing I don't see is milk.
4. Reduce the amount of trash we produce/use. Working on this one.

[Ultralight]

Keep these ideas and great responses coming!!!

Forgot a few:
1. Take my son to the park for 2 weeks straight, everyday, no excuses. We are one day 2
2. Make dinner for 30 days straight- THIS one was a huge challenge for me but I did it. Do pancakes count though?!? ;)
3. Shop only the farmer's market for food for 2 weeks and live on only what they sell or at least 95%. I would like to do this soon, as we are at peak season. We have fruit, vegetables, some dairy (cheese, eggs), some personal hygiene, household, desserts/breads/cereals, condiments, dog food and even clothing and bags sold at our small market. I thought about this one and the only thing I don't see is milk.
4. Reduce the amount of trash we produce/use. Working on this one.

Numbers 1 and 2 are really good! And yes, pancakes count! haha

[Float On]

4. 1 Picture per day (next challenge)- theme to be determined



What are some things you have challenge yourself too or would like to challenge yourself too? I think it is very important for life outlook and brain function.

Several years ago I did the project365 website challenge. I paid a little for full access and it was a wonderful community of people all taking/posting a photo a day. I tended to challenge myself with a different theme every month. Light, glass, rust, spiritual, different colors. I grew so much as a photographer.

[Ultralight]

Very cool challenge! I like these ones where afterward you can really see your personal growth. :)

[freshstart]

5. Reading the classics in 1 year- I came up with a list of 20 books, considered classics (to be done challenge)

8. Write 1 letter to those closest to me, on beautiful paper and sending in the mail (this was a BIG hit)
.

I love these two! you should post the books you loved

[thunderseed]

TxZen: You are really speaking to my soul here! Challenges are so enriching.

Here are a few I have done:
-The 11 Hour Challenge (11 hours of meditation in 11 days; must be at least 20 minute increments). This basically uses all your grit. Don't plan to do anything else during those eleven days! haha. Also: I have barely meditated since...
-Live Below The Line: Live on $1.50 of groceries a day for one week.
-Invisible Year: From July 8th, 2014 to July 8th 2015 I did not take or keep any photos (exceptions being commerce-type things, like having to sell something on the internet). Two months before this challenge I deleted all the photos I own, both analog and digital. This was a massively amazing experience!
-Year without Facebook. Did this for the past 12 months. I like it and probably will stay this way for at least another year.
-2 years without a cell/smartphone. I am almost a year in. It is NICE!
-Resolution for 2015: Learn 12 dance steps in 12 months. I am about halfway done. Never danced before!

Here are some challenges I am working on/want to try:
-100TC (Old School, I know... but I still like the idea).
-Fit everything in (and on!) my little Nissan Versa hatchback
-Go car-free
-The Compact!

Awesome goals!

I don't get it, were you meditating for 20 minutes a day or for an hour a day? Daily meditating is a good habit to get into, but I suppose you could also meditate and relax by doing yoga or something else that allows you to be zen.

I recently took a strict vow of silence for 4 days, with complete abstinence from everything except meditation, prayer, eating and rest, it was a very, very profound experience and I could have kept it up. I meditated the whole time, and had to be mindful and zen even when I was resting and eating. The first 2 days were tough, but once I got used to it, it was the happiest and most at peace I've ever been. I've actually been thinking of doing it for long term!

Good job getting rid of Facebook, that is good to see. I don't think it's good for people. I've permanently gotten rid of it myself.

How on earth did you live on $1.50 a day? What did you eat?

I'm trying to see if I can live on 10 dollars a day, but I doubt that is going to be possible for me.

I'm not very good at budgeting or math and maybe I'm really buying more food than I really need, but I just really don't think it's possible. I know I'm not choosing the cheapest groceries, but I don't want to either because I want to eat healthy.

I suppose oatmeal with milk in the morning won't cost me too much, since the oatmeal and milk goes a long way.

But on days when I am really active, I can literally eat a whole package of organic quinoa noodles for one meal, along with a whole can of organic spagetti sauce, with cooked veggies, meat and a lot of cheddar cheese, including parmesan cheese. The noodles themselves are 5 dollars a package, not including tax. The ground beef is around 15 dollars (I buy a big pack) and I use half of it in one batch of pasta! Cheese is not cheap either, and I can literally go through half a package in 1 meal.

On sedentry days, I can make the pasta last for both lunch and dinner, but either way, it's still way over 10 dollars a day.

I need to eat a lot of food compared to most people because I have a really fast metabolism, but unfortunately I am on disability welfare which means I only get 300 bucks a month for food, which basically leaves me at 10 bucks a day for food.

My parent's are giving me 300 dollars a week so that I can afford to eat the way I am now!!!!!! They are supporting me, but it would be good if I can learn to budget more and cut down on the food expenses so they don't have to give me that much money for food.

[thunderseed]

Some things I'm trying to challenge myself to do now are:

1. Go toilet paper free... maybe that's too much info but I'm installing a bidet and am going to experiment with different techniques haha.
2. Trying to remember to clean up after I eat or whenever I make messes. This is really hard for me to do...
3. Learn to budget and try to live on 75 dollars a week... I don't know if that's a realistic goal for me
4. I want to try to make a new recipe in my new cook book at least once a week, this is going to be challenging for me because I hate cooking and I especially hate following recipes, but I really do need to learn some new meals because I'm getting bored of eating the same things all the time.

[freshstart]

.
-Invisible Year: From July 8th, 2014 to July 8th 2015 I did not take or keep any photos (exceptions being commerce-type things, like having to sell something on the internet). Two months before this challenge I deleted all the photos I own, both analog and digital. This was a massively amazing experience!
-Year without Facebook.

Although somedays I want to purge them, I don't understand deleting all you photos. I can't imagine not seeing pics of the people I love and how they have changed. Pictures from the 20's of my grandparents. I hate dealing with them but I can't let them go, either.

I stopped FB for the last few months. I finally stuck my toe back in because it felt rude to not answer messages from certain friends or family, I also put out a post saying I'm ok but will not be posting much. Lots of responses that led to "conversations" but by the end, I think they understood this is too much until I am better.

[Tussiemussies]

Following...

[thunderseed]

Although somedays I want to purge them, I don't understand deleting all you photos. I can't imagine not seeing pics of the people I love and how they have changed. Pictures from the 20's of my grandparents. I hate dealing with them but I can't let them go, either.

I stopped FB for the last few months. I finally stuck my toe back in because it felt rude to not answer messages from certain friends or family, I also put out a post saying I'm ok but will not be posting much. Lots of responses that led to "conversations" but by the end, I think they understood this is too much until I am better.

You could just phone them?

[Gardnr]

You could just phone them?

We all need to learn to meet people where their communication is most successful as well. Not everyone has compatible time for phone calls. I've learned this the hard way myself. I did not want to give up phone conversation. Thus I found myself having very little communication wtih people that are important to me. So now I text and facebook and email back/forth.

I have 1 person who prefers continued phone conversations and we both love it. We do however also communicate via text and email as we have different availability hours.

[Ultralight]

Awesome goals!

I don't get it, were you meditating for 20 minutes a day or for an hour a day? Daily meditating is a good habit to get into, but I suppose you could also meditate and relax by doing yoga or something else that allows you to be zen.

I recently took a strict vow of silence for 4 days, with complete abstinence from everything except meditation, prayer, eating and rest, it was a very, very profound experience and I could have kept it up. I meditated the whole time, and had to be mindful and zen even when I was resting and eating. The first 2 days were tough, but once I got used to it, it was the happiest and most at peace I've ever been. I've actually been thinking of doing it for long term!

Good job getting rid of Facebook, that is good to see. I don't think it's good for people. I've permanently gotten rid of it myself.

How on earth did you live on $1.50 a day? What did you eat?

I'm trying to see if I can live on 10 dollars a day, but I doubt that is going to be possible for me.

I'm not very good at budgeting or math and maybe I'm really buying more food than I really need, but I just really don't think it's possible. I know I'm not choosing the cheapest groceries, but I don't want to either because I want to eat healthy.

I suppose oatmeal with milk in the morning won't cost me too much, since the oatmeal and milk goes a long way.

But on days when I am really active, I can literally eat a whole package of organic quinoa noodles for one meal, along with a whole can of organic spagetti sauce, with cooked veggies, meat and a lot of cheddar cheese, including parmesan cheese. The noodles themselves are 5 dollars a package, not including tax. The ground beef is around 15 dollars (I buy a big pack) and I use half of it in one batch of pasta! Cheese is not cheap either, and I can literally go through half a package in 1 meal.

On sedentry days, I can make the pasta last for both lunch and dinner, but either way, it's still way over 10 dollars a day.

I need to eat a lot of food compared to most people because I have a really fast metabolism, but unfortunately I am on disability welfare which means I only get 300 bucks a month for food, which basically leaves me at 10 bucks a day for food.

My parent's are giving me 300 dollars a week so that I can afford to eat the way I am now!!!!!! They are supporting me, but it would be good if I can learn to budget more and cut down on the food expenses so they don't have to give me that much money for food.

Thunder:

I meditated for a total of one hour each day for 11 days straight. Sometimes I did this in three 20 minute stints. Other times I did two 30 minute stints. I also did a couple one hour stints. Clear now? :)

I ate $1.50 worth of groceries a day by sticking to rice and lentils. I supplemented this with carrot, onion, and bananas. I had a few Ram noodle packs to mix it up though.

There is a simple living guy named Ultra Romance who lives on about $10 a day. Give him a google! :)

Jeff Yeager's Cheapskate books are excellent for learning to be frugal. I used to be Mr. Spendy McSpenderson. But then I realized I needed to get it together financially after some life events left me with few other options. So it can be done!

Good luck!

[Ultralight]

Although somedays I want to purge them, I don't understand deleting all you photos. I can't imagine not seeing pics of the people I love and how they have changed. Pictures from the 20's of my grandparents. I hate dealing with them but I can't let them go, either.

I stopped FB for the last few months. I finally stuck my toe back in because it felt rude to not answer messages from certain friends or family, I also put out a post saying I'm ok but will not be posting much. Lots of responses that led to "conversations" but by the end, I think they understood this is too much until I am better.

I will be honest, getting rid of all those photos was incredibly liberating for me! It helps me to be more mindful of the moment I am in. My memories are more vivid now. I am done with my Invisible Year, but I still don't keep any photos. And I still only take photos for commerce (selling stuff or what-have-you). Though I will suggest someone take a photo if I think it is important to them and I will get in the photo. I might look at it once, then delete it.

I think I will eventually have two photos that I keep though:
1. My dog Harlan
2. My life partner if I have one in the future.

[thunderseed]

Thunder:

I meditated for a total of one hour each day for 11 days straight. Sometimes I did this in three 20 minute stints. Other times I did two 30 minute stints. I also did a couple one hour stints. Clear now? :)

I ate $1.50 worth of groceries a day by sticking to rice and lentils. I supplemented this with carrot, onion, and bananas. I had a few Ram noodle packs to mix it up though.

There is a simple living guy named Ultra Romance who lives on about $10 a day. Give him a google! :)

Jeff Yeager's Cheapskate books are excellent for learning to be frugal. I used to be Mr. Spendy McSpenderson. But then I realized I needed to get it together financially after some life events left me with few other options. So it can be done!

Good luck!

Oh nice, so did you notice any benefits from meditating that often? Sounds like you've had enough of it for awhile lol.

Wow that is impressive, and it gives you protien, veggies and grain, how big were your meals? Did you get hungry during the challenge?

I'll check out those books, thank you!

[Ultralight]

Oh nice, so did you notice any benefits from meditating that often? Sounds like you've had enough of it for awhile lol.

Wow that is impressive, and it gives you protien, veggies and grain, how big were your meals? Did you get hungry during the challenge?

I'll check out those books, thank you!

The 11 hour challenge, if you do it, will have a profound effect. For me, I could tell I was thinking in new thought patterns and that I could control my thoughts with much more dexterity. My friends who did this with me mentioned similar things, but I did not notice is (and neither did they) until over halfway through and then afterward.

I have only meditated a little since then. That is because I got my fill for a while from doing a few of the 11 hour challenges. But also because I have other things I want to do -- other lives I want to live, if you will.

Doing the $1.50 diet (haha...) my meals were smaller, much small than I am used to. But I am a middle aged, out of shape dude accustomed to eating large, carbo-rific meals. haha

I think people can gain some great insights living on $1.50 a day of food for a week. It is worth it.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I think I made it about 2 months with 1/2 an hour meditation a day. I guess I quit because I didn't want to wake up to meditate just wanted to sleep another 1/2 hour (and was always of course way too tired to meditate after a day of work - falling asleep when I did - so the morning before work really was the only viable option). I was battling minor insomnia so I did need the extra sleep, it was undeniable my body needed the extra sleep. It was probably equally undeniable my psyche could have used meditation but ....

It never became easy, it was like "shouldn't it be getting easier by now?". Sure it's misguided, this wanting things to come easy that is, but it doesn't mean such desires aren't there. I didn't notice much else in the way of any changes either (but again this speaks to persistence over a long time, not 2 lousy months or so). Was I less stressed out, no the stress was at times more sudden and noticeable rather than just dull and chronic.


Doing the $1.50 diet (haha...) my meals were smaller, much small than I am used to. But I am a middle aged, out of shape dude accustomed to eating large, carbo-rific meals. haha

I think people can gain some great insights living on $1.50 a day of food for a week. It is worth it.

being hungry? Well I've fasted for 24 hour or so periods, yea hungry. Any diet will make you hungry really though. Maybe most people are overweight because they think "I should never be hungry" (except anorexics and well that's no good either obviously).

[Ultralight]

I think I made it about 2 months with 1/2 an hour meditation a day. I guess I quit because I didn't want to wake up to meditate just wanted to sleep another 1/2 hour (and was always of course way too tired to meditate after a day of work - falling asleep when I did - so the morning before work really was the only viable option). I was battling minor insomnia so I did need the extra sleep, it was undeniable my body needed the extra sleep. It was probably equally undeniable my psyche could have used meditation but ....

It never became easy, it was like "shouldn't it be getting easier by now?". Sure it's misguided, this wanting things to come easy that is, but it doesn't mean such desires aren't there. I didn't notice much else in the way of any changes either (but again this speaks to persistence over a long time, not 2 lousy months or so). Was I less stressed out, no the stress was at times more sudden and noticeable rather than just dull and chronic.



being hungry? Well I've fasted for 24 hour or so periods, yea hungry. Any diet will make you hungry really though. Maybe most people are overweight because they think "I should never be hungry" (except anorexics and well that's no good either obviously).

Meditation is a tough game, for sure!

[thunderseed]

UltraliteAngler & ApatheticNoMore... what kind of meditations did you both do? Buddhist, visualizations, etc?

Yeah, I would like to try the $1.50 diet lol one day just for the sake of learning how to budget, did you get the idea yourself or read it somewhere? Do you remember the exact measurements of groceries you got to last the time and exactly how big and how often a meal was? Sorry for all the questions lol.

...Also, I'm not overweight and I try not to go hungry or skip meals lol. Not eating enough lowers the metabolism lol.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I meditated usually on the breath, occasionally added a mantra, but mostly just on the breath (sometimes with a fan running, so on the white noise as well I guess). There's some serious meditators on this board though, this was just my last experiment with it so to speak (surprised I lasted that long, since usually I'd quit meditation much sooner, so even making it 2 months was a change, that perhaps left some impact - woah I was able to go that long :)).