The amount of time I spend working has declined dramatically in recent weeks and this is a cause of concern for me. My sleep pattern is shot too. Sleep has become a tool I use to escape from the symptoms. However, I do not want my career to fall into decline, and I don’t want my personal well being to decline any more than it already has. Today is yet another day where I have decided to make a fresh start, with a new routine, and fight through these desperate, tormented times with grit, determination, and stoic stubbornness. Stubbornness. Is that word? Scrabble points.
Anyway – here are some of the changes I plan to make beginning today:
1. Beginning the “6-10″ routine I invented, which simply dictates that between 6 and 10 you can do what you want, and between 10 and 6 you should be working or sleeping. This system has the benefit of giving me a clear circadian routine, whilst also ring-fencing my work time, encouraging me to work during “business hours”, and allowing me plenty of free time after waking and before sleeping.
2. Doing some form of exercise each day. At this point, it does not matter what the exercise is. I hope to build up to a more intense and varied exercise regime with time but I will start with small steps. Literally.
3. Ensuring that each day I take vitamins / iron and any other medication that I have been prescribed. These should be done at a regular time, for example with meals, so that I don’t forget.
4. Carefully monitoring my mood, health, nutrition, exercise and routine, in order to note patterns that correspond with improvement or decline in various areas. Make sure this is done in one specific time so I do not become obsessed.
5. Beginning use of the system of “don’t break the chain” – for each day I successfully achieve my goals, I will put an X on the calendar. The aim is to have an unbroken chain of Xes for as long as possible. If the chain is broken, I have to start again.
6. Planning out my nutrition beforehand, to ensure I have a balanced, fun and satisfying diet. I have been snacking in a disorganised manner too much lately and I need to alter these bad habits.
7. Putting together a contingency / emergency plan for if the above fails, that I can use to help myself get back on track.
