Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence – Abigail Adams
Well, here we are – back for another edition of what I’m learning. If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you know I’m a long-time fan of Emily Freeman. Each quarter she posts a list of what she’s learning, and this past year, I decided to join in the fun. If you’re curious about what else I’ve been learning, check out my other posts HERE. It’s been a busy season, and here’s what I learned about myself, and the world, over the last quarter.
I like systems
Ok, so if I’m honest this one isn’t entirely new. I’ve known this about myself for a while. But sometimes, you can know something without really knowing it. I’m learning that, often, I’d much prefer to put a system or pattern to a task, rather than change up the way I do things each time. For example, scheduling social media posts for the blog in advance and having them auto-post later on. Or, chunking my time at home so I do the same tasks each day of each week – Monday cleaning, Tuesday laundry, etc. But, what I didn’t realize is that sometimes I like these systems because they give me a yard-stick with which to measure myself or my performance.
If you subscribe to my newsletter (check out the right side of the page if you’d like to join in), you know Husband, and I started a new eating “system” back in July. We needed help with portion control and overall nutrition, so I researched a few things, and we chose a program to follow. Picking a ready-made plan took away some of the stress of figuring things out, but it also gave me a way to measure my progress Sure, systems sometimes make things easier, but they also provide me with insight into how well I’m accomplishing something…or not.
And, in case you were wondering – Husband and I both have been seeing some weight loss over the past month! Hip hip hooray!
Sometimes, I need tangible motivation
I climbed Mt. Fuji recently, which was a big deal. It’s been weeks and I’m still super proud of myself. It was probably the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done. Beforehand, Vicki and I talked about motivation. What would I need to get me up the mountain? I know that runners sometimes will pick a spot and say “I only need to run to there.” Or hikers will count their steps in 10s. These don’t work for me. I don’t like having to start over constantly. My spot keeps moving, or I count to 10, only having to start back at one.
What helped me most was more tangible things, like the promise of getting to play Hanabi when we stopped overnight to sleep. Or knowing that I wrote postcards that read “sent from the top of Mt. Fuji” and not wanting to be a liar. Buying a stick at the start of the trail and getting it stamped at every station was also a really good choice. Coming down, it helped knowing I was one step closer to dry clothes, to Husband, to never having to walk that trail again. I’m still learning what motivates me best, but I do know that Vicki gets me and I’m so grateful for her. I honestly would not have made it without her.
My DSLR camera
Years ago I was given a nice Nikon camera. I’ve used it here and there, mostly for work stuff, but this month was the first time it traveled with me. I took it north when Cassie and I went to Aomori. We were going to see the nebuta floats and I knew I would want to take a lot of photos. Before we left, I skimmed the camera manual and toyed around with different settings. I’m proud to say most of my recent photos with this camera have been taken without the use of the automatic setting! Baby steps. I’m hoping to get some more clicks in as the weather turns cooler.
Daily dog walks are where I do my best thinking/brainstorming
I’ll confess – we have a spoiled pup. He didn’t come to us that way. When he first came to stay with us, it didn’t take long for me to feel bad that he was lazing around the house all day – especially since I also spend a fair amount of time at home. So we started doing walks three times a day, totaling anywhere from an hour to an hour-and-a-half. Since he and I usually walk just the two of us, I’ve gotten into the habit of listening to podcasts while we walk, particularly in the afternoon. They have become a significant source of inspiration and brainstorming for me.
Most days, I’ve already done a bit of writing in the morning. My creative juices are already flowing from my morning writing, and I find it’s hard to keep ideas from coming. I always have my phone with me ready to make notes. Thankfully, Fred is usually pretty patient if I need to stop to record a thought.
Chunking my writing time to 30 min blocks might be my most productive method
Occasionally, I’ll have an open afternoon with nothing pressing to do. On those days, I’ll usually sit down to write or schedule some posts or take some photos. At the suggestion of one of my podcasts, I started chunking my time into 30-minute blocks. Setting the timer on my phone and doing only one task for 30-minutes has helped my productivity immensely. I’m also seeing an improvement in my mental clarity and focus since changing my diet and focusing on portion control. Those two things have empowered me to sit my butt in the chair and do the thing! And the thing is coming easier than it ever has before!
Once I’m in an emotion, I have a hard time getting out of it
This one, also, is not new. But I’ve been trying to step back and watch my behavior as a way of being more intentional. My anxiety level overall has decreased dramatically since moving to Japan, but I still have triggers I’m working to identify. Packing for my recent Fuji experience, I fell into an anxious mess. I was worried about overpacking, about packing too much (or too little) food, about being able to keep up, about everything. The weather on the mountain is literally unpredictable. But I wanted to predict it so I could be ready for it. I kept trying to anticipate a trip I wasn’t leading and I knew very little about what to expect. Why couldn’t I determine if I should take that extra set of clothing? Why was my bag so heavy? Could I get away with a smaller, but less comfortable bag? Should I go buy a new one? I was a big mess.
Husband, as always, handled me with grace and compassion and sent me on my way despite my doubts and wanting to quit before I even started. I knew my feelings were irrational and not helpful, but I couldn’t seem to shake them once I was in them. It was kind of like slogging through mud – I couldn’t get my boot free of the muck holding me back. I want to get to a place where I can check my (negative) emotions and anxieties at the door, but I’m not there yet.
Ok – your turn! What have you been learning this summer? Leave me a comment or send me an email – I’d love to hear from you! Until next week!
