I know what youāre thinking, another challenge already when I just fell off the last one? Well hell yeah!
Remember in my last post when I said I was giving time to myself for just going through the flow to observe my energy and attention levels, well turns out, I have finally accepted and come to terms with the fact that I am not the bubbly overexcited hyper-enthusiastic productive girl that I used to be. Something has got to me (is it exhaustion of uni, fatigue of adulting, I honestly donāt know) and I have this urge to keep resisting being productive and naturally incline towards slacking all day, you know what I mean? So, to tackle this little situation here, I have a new mantra (not that I came up with it, I just adopted it) and the mantra is - FAKE ITĀ āTIL YOU MAKE IT!ā yup, thatās it. Thatās the mantra. So I am going to fake being happy and enjoying being productive for a while until I start liking it again!
But knowing myself, I know I am also not going to last long if I know thereās nothing keeping me accountable or keeping a check on me, ya know? So, this is where I turn to my old trusty friend, Tumblr! The 100DOP worked really well for me actually, and if not for that crazy last few months for work, I might have kicked ass in that challenge, but shit happens, its life! Getting back to point, I analysed and decided that challenges push me to do better and taking inspiration from the last post I reblogged, I am taking up the Full Potential Challenge!Ā
In case you donāt know what the challenge is, just check the last post I reblogged but to brief you, its this challenge where you stop wondering what life would be like if you lived the ideal day you plan for yourself and START living that ideal day. Start doing things that you always plan to do for making a productive day but always give up like in a week or something. So, here are the things I want to achieve:
Study consistently (Duh!)
Stick to my workout routine
Take better care of my skin and really see how glowing can it really get (wow, that sounds...weird)
Get fit, mentally and physically
Get better at Italian
So, these are the top 5 things I am aiming to achieve. Also, my birthday is like 2 months away and I really want to gift myself a fitter and healthier version of me for my birthday, so I really am determined to smash the heck out of this challenge.
Iām really nervous now, eek! See ya next Friday with my first week update (wow, now I am really nervous but I gotta fake like this is the best idea ever so yayyy!)
Also, very random, but I suddenly have this urge to watch the sunrise tomorrow. Its 11:17 PM here and the sunrises at 6:30ish these days, so I think it is pretty achievable? Iāll be sure to share a picture of the sunrise if I do actually get up to watch it :D
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halfway through day 1 of theĀ āfull potential challengeā and I am feelin good!! Iāve already been to the gym, eaten half of my required fruit and veg for the day and made a lovely body wash that has made me feel oh so fresh! Now itās time to get studying for these upcoming exams. Hereās hoping the rest of today is as productive as this morning has been!
Just checking in with the full potential challenge. I forgot to check in last week, a very busy week! This week I was really good about keeping up with the morning. Need to try to stretch right away and my early mornings make it hard to get a lot done right away, but practice will help! I love the idea for early afternoon. It was hard at first but now my days are so much more productive! Having someone tell you to take your makeup off as soon as you get home. Overall it's saved me so much time in the morning! It's great how much more productive my days feel!! I didn't get much done other than work this weekend. But there's always next weekend.
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Okay so I guess advertising works because now anytime I see a mattress commercial I think "Pfft ain't got Shit on a Casper mattress." I don't even own a Casper mattress, the podcast has ruined me.
āEver wonder what your life would be like if you lived up to your full potential? Would your body be healthier? Your skin clearer? Bank account bigger? I think about these things all the time.ā
Inspired by shrinkingblonde.
I always strive to keep improving myself in most, if not all, aspects of my life -- be it in multiple roles as student, daughter, sister, friend, Christian, advocate, future DPT (claiming it: roadtoDrCastro), and citizen in general or in a manifold of hobbies and interests such as photography, music, watercolour painting, illustrating, reading, writing, blogging, and travelling. I keep considering me -- my mind and body with all of its organs -- as a work in progress, a project that needs to be frequently revamped, a masterpiece in-the-making.
So when I bumped into shrinkingblondeās The Full Potential Challenge and realized that a new month is about to start (I like making new projects each month), I decided to join this challenge! (Disclaimer: some of the things listed below are taken from the original challenge.)
W E E K D A Y S
Every Morning
Wake up before 8 AM. Iāve always loved being a morning person but college has forced me to become a night owl. I think itās fulfilling to wake up early and be able to tick off half of my to-do list before 12 noon. It gives me the feeling of productivity and achievement (trust me, itās addictive!).
Make bed. Iāll thank myself later at night when itās finally time for me to crawl into my bed. In addition, a clean bed gives me an illusion of a clean room which is an environment conducive for working.
Wash face. To wash off any remaining desire to go back to bed and slumber.
Prepare and eat breakfast. Itās a vital meal for me since I have to commute every morning to school and, most often than not, I use my travel time to study; thus, it is a must to keep myself from getting hungry so my brainās quite active.
Take vitamins. For several times Iāve tried to stick to taking vitamins every day but I keep on breaking the momentum and the tablets end up expiring eventually. Because of my sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy sleeping pattern, my immune system has always been weak (my doctor keeps on reminding me to rest). But Iāve learned my lesson and Iām really trying to take care of my body so here I am, hoping to achieve this habit.
Brush teeth + Floss + Mouthwash. This can do wonders.
Check āTo-Doā List and start ticking off boxes. I am a master planner and my life is composed of stuff I need to tick off. But I fail *suck* at following through because I procrastinate a lot. I hope to develop discipline, focus, and determination to stick to my plan because they are for my own good.
Study. I am no longer ashamed to admit that I like studying; there is just no drive for me to do it. But I cannot wait for that drive to just appear otherwise I wonāt achieve anything. If I need to force myself, then so be it.
Work out. So far, Iām winning at this habit. Although I wake up every morning thinking of the pain my muscles would feel during HIIT, I still havenāt skipped an exercise session. I just hope Iād be able to continue this even during internship.
Learn French. I think learning different languages would definitely come in handy in this generation where travelling has become so common. I had a bad experience getting lost in a country where several taxi drivers abandoned me and my friend upon hearing us speak English. It would have been easier for us if we knew, even a little, how to speak their language. I still have a long way to go but I already have a list of languages to learn: Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, and, yes, Cebuano language.
Drink water. Oftentimes, I bring a bottle full of water to school and go back home with the water barely reduced. Hydrating is important to keep our organs healthy and in full function.
Read news. Be informed, be aware, and be involved. It is a responsibility we all have to take hold of.
Every Afternoon
Minimize time using electronic devices and time being online. How many times have I went home at 5 PM and start scrolling my fb / twitter / IG feeds only to realize that itās already 9 PM? And that I need to take a nap because Iām too tired to function? But there are just too many things to do? I lost count. I (You) should be a master of technology, not a slave to it. Be wise.
Study. Smartly. Do not memorize, understand. Take all the time you need. Re-read. Revise. Donāt ever stop.
Move around every 30 minutes. Have you ever heard of the statement, āSitting is the new smokingā? No? Read this. Itās been backed up by studies that sitting for prolonged periods of time has harmful effects on our health. Therefore, it is imperative to walk, jump, climb the stairs, or just MOVE every 30 minutes.
Eat fruits > junk foods. There was a time when I hated eating junk foods. Then one magical night, I just decided to take a break from studying and went to 7eleven to hoard lots of chips! The following days and weeks, I craved for more (and I guiltily satisfied those cravings). I need to decide now that I will only take in nutritious foods.
Eat lunch! Lunch is the meal I tend to skip most of the time. There are just too many things happening during lunch time that I (un)intentionally skip it on most days. I end up being famished at around 4 in the afternoon.
Drink water > milktea / juice / coffee / soda. I take in too much sugar; I think I am pre-diabetic already.
Meditate. Itās great for improving our focus and attention span! Plus, itās a good way to rest our mind when we are stressed / troubled / feeling depressed / not okay. Now if I just cut off my time on social media, I would have probably developed this habit a long time ago.
Follow through my āTo-Doā List. Stick to the plan! The schedule should also leave room for any inevitable circumstances that may come my way. So it shouldnāt be too cramped nor too loose.
Be present. Being an INFJ makes me a very internal person. I think too much, but speak too little. Sometimes, I would zone off for hours. This needs a lot of work but I will definitely reap a lot if I get to control my mind and keep it from thinking too much.
Be mindful of your posture. Do something now that your future self would thank you for.
Every Night
Upon arriving home, rest for 20 minutes and then wash yourself. I can actually meditate during this rest period or just take a nap. But I should never, ever open any social media--or any of my electronic devices--until I get to rest and bathe.
Study. Do what needs to be done. If I really am tired, I will rest -- and NOT SCROLL AND SCROLL AND SCROLL THROUGH MY SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS.
Follow through my āTo-Doā List. Evening, for me, is the most crucial time for following through the āTo-Doā List since itās the time to cram work. If I donāt finish the stuff I need to do, I have to transfer the remaining activities to the āTo-Doāsā for the next day -- which will just give more work for the future me. Thus, itās really, really vital to start early so I donāt need to worry much about how I will finish the work within due time.
Turn-off all electronic devices at 10 PM. If I would be honest, I should be done on most of my work / assignments if I start upon arriving home without any distraction. The only reason why I go past 10 PM writing a paper is because Iāve spent the hours between 6 PM to 9 PM scrolling my social media feeds. L This has to stop. Virtual life shouldnāt be like a full-time job. I should pressure myself to finish work early so I can get more sleep time.
Write on my journal. I used to write on my journal to vent or rant because I donāt really like to bother people (and I just donāt feel like venting to a friend via chat--it doesnāt give me the same relief I feel when I rant in person.) Then I realized upon re-reading my past entries that I really do have a lot to say. I want to see
Write āTo-Doā List for the next day. Itās nice to know the things I need to do for the next day so I know how hectic or how free my day would be.
Allocate 5 minutes of putting things to their places before going to bed. I am currently occupying two rooms in the condo: one for studying and another one for sleeping. Both of which are messy because I tend to leave things the way they are after I use whatever I used. āA place for everything and everything in its place.ā
Read the Bible. Some days I will read only 2 pages while some days I will be able to read 20 pages. The number of pages doesnāt matter as long as I read and reflect. I need God in my life.
Exfoliate face 3-4 times per week and brush your teeth / floss / mouthwash. Do not eat after you brush your teeth! Exfoliate every MWFSat.
W E E K E N D S
Practice watercolour painting. This one which started out as just a way to waste my 4 month vacation turned to become a therapeutic activity for me. I no longer just write, which just intensifies whatever negative feeling I have. But I now have a venue that allows me to take my mind off of whatever is bothering me and lets me make something beautiful out of being blue.
Read a novel for 30-45 minutes. I know that it would be too difficult to try to read during weekdays but I donāt want to completely give up reading. Although, to be honest, I think I have also lost the will to read since I cannot even remember when or what book I last read. But! I am not giving up on myself!
Clean electronic devices. Mix 50% alcohol and 50% water, spray on a cloth, and then wipe. Also, delete unnecessary files or e-mails.
Clean room. Just in case the āA place for everything and everything in its placeā couldnāt keep my room from being a dumpsite. Also, spray on some air freshener. Wipe the tables and floor with wet cloth to remove dust.
Do something with family/friends. Cook with them. Go to a coffee shop and study with them. Watch a movie. Play with the dog. Even if itās only 10 minutes, do something with them.
Track my progress. Take anthropometric measurements (waist, 1 in below belly button, arm). Howās your attention span? How much time do you spend on social media? Howās your savings? Are you behind, just right, or advanced with your papers? Do you workout regularly? Do you read articles? Do you re-read your school books or transes? Do you read novels? How good are you in French? How tidy is your room?
Be grateful and voice it out. I need to make the people around me feel appreciated. Spread love and positive vibes. Donāt let hectic schedules keep you from putting a smile on somebody elseās face!
Drink and Eat! I cannot emphasize this enough. Start as early as now to practice good eating and hydrating habits. I need to take care of my body since itās the only one I got!
Learn French. Itās only through relentless and unyielding trials do we ingrain these lessons. Keep practicing.
Catch up on studying/reading/doing work. Whatever lesson you study will soon come in handy in the future. You donāt know what you do not know so read, read, read! Think of your patients. Think of providing the best quality service. Donāt. Stop. Improving.
O C C A S I O N A L L Y
Learn how to cook at least one meal per month. Preferably a Filipino dish. Since I might miss this when I finally leave. :ā)
Do something exciting at least twice a year. Hike a mountain or two. Surf. Join COLOR Manila RUN. Travel solo. Go to Boracay and try snorkelling or paragliding. I am turning 21 this year and I havenāt experienced much. Itās time to brush off the fear and do. Something.
In attempt to keep myself productive, I've made agendas for certain "every"s (every morning, every night, every weekend, etc.) I got this idea from a tumblr user that I don't know the name of and stole some parts from them as well. If you may know who, please tell me so I can credit them. This is simply my routine for me to track, not me trying to copy someone else's motivational post and pass it as my own. Most of this idea isn't mine. EVERY MORNING -stretch -skincare -teeth care -makeup ("but you're a boy..." I'm a boy who looks a whole lot better with some drawn eyebrows and foundation. It makes me happy.) -lemon water and/or tea -eat (normally fruit) (If I'm eating a meal, I try to have something with a lot of calories. Calories=energy. Calories are your friend, especially at breakfast.) -wear an outfit that makes me happy -drink water!!! -any possible "to-dos" -make bed EVERY AFTERNOON -"touch it once" approach (this actually applies all day) -walk at lunch -drink water!!! -be present -be mindful -smile -eat something (a fruit and protein normally) EVERY EVENING -take makeup off -skin care -work out -rehearse (sometimes this means a cast rehearsal and/or a vocal lesson, sometimes it means looking through my performance binder and going over something) -shower -moisturize my face and body -put on comfy yet cute clothes, not pajamas -caffeine and a snack -homework, revisions, study, etc. -drink water!!! -next day's bullet journal -eat (normally a protein and vegetable with a bit of carbs) -teeth care -clean room -lay out clothes for next day -relax EVERY WEEKEND -do something with the squad -drink water!!! -"me time" -do something creative (this normally means rehearsal) -track progress on here and any other social media that I want to that weekend -weekly gratitude log