Progress

I need to start this week's post with a confession (I haven't done that in some time)...  While I didn't end up working 8-hour days this past week, I did manage to only work three 12-hour days and two 10-hour days.  On Wednesday and Thursday I walked out of the building after putting in a 10-hour shift and I have to admit that it felt pretty good doing it.  I didn't necessarily do anything exciting with my extra time - one day I went shopping (just for little odds and ends) and the other day I went for a 40 minute walk around a big lake that's near the ocean.  Even though I didn't do things that most people would see as very exciting, I felt those two days to be extremely liberating.  I will just have to make sure to do it again...

On the two days that I left work "early," I was tempted to bring work home with me.  I am very glad that I talked myself out of it because that would have been counterproductive to leaving work before putting in a 12-hour day.  It's not that I had things that were pressing to bring home I just felt slightly guilty leaving work before working the hours I've been doing all summer thus far.  In my rational thoughts, I know that I have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about since I've been working 60-hour work weeks up until this past one where I only worked 56.  I'm shooting for another week where I attempt to work 8-hour days but I'll take 10-hour ones as well.  We'll see how well that goes for me...

I know that I definitely need to work on not feeling guilty about things such as only working a 10-hour work day (especially when everyone else in the building only is required to work 8-hour days).  I don't quite know how to go about not feeling guilty but it is something for me to work on.  This past week at work, I started to read a book on the importance of not shouldering the tasks of others but to empower them to complete the tasks for themselves.  This is not a foreign concept to me but following through with it is foreign.  The people-pleaser in me needs to get beyond wanting to "fix it" for everyone so I don't continue to allow my entire candle to melt (please refer to last week's post if you're confused).

Something else that I was able to make progress with is I ate breakfast every day before work this past week.  I had three days of different types of scrambled eggs (made in the microwave in a coffee cup) and two days of different types of granola.  They weren't necessarily overly exciting meals but I did find that I had more energy so I feel as if the effort was worth it.  I have found some yummy looking smoothie recipes that I'm hoping to try this upcoming work week just to try some things that are different (since I tend to get bored eating the same types of things over and over - ironic since I had yogurt and pretzels almost every day for lunch all four years in high school).

I've been working again with portion control and not necessarily denying myself things I want but limiting the quantity I allow myself.  I've been counting food into bags so I can take the baggies to work (one at a time) rather than having the entire box sitting on my desk.  I have tried just not buying it in the past but I find that I fall off the proverbial diet wagon faster when I do so have learned that course of action isn't the best for me.  Just like everything else, I guess it's just a work in progress.

Another area in which I'm going to attempt to make some progress is I'm looking for a new potential piece of music to use with my sword.  I love the piece that I've been dancing to but I'm looking for another piece to add to my repertoire.  I haven't found anything yet but I know the "vibe" I'm looking for it to have so that's a step in the right direction.  I'm hoping to find a piece that has a "warrior" feel to it (Mom is working to design a new costume for me which I know makes me a very lucky gal!!!) and I know it's out there somewhere just waiting for me to stumble across it.

I'm also working on helping out my sleep patterns some since I don't always get the best of sleep.  On that note, I should probably bring this to a close and get my things together for my work day tomorrow.  Wish me luck in leaving the building at least early (for me) tomorrow and I'll let you know how that all works out for me.  I hope that you have a fabulous week ahead of you and that you can do at least one thing each day that's just for you!  =)