Positive Steps: Tuesday, April 4

[Gaelen]

Here are some thoughts about goal-setting and attaining goals, methods to keep you motivated through the small daily steps. The author is a writer from New Zealand, who posted these tips to a website, but then didn't sign his name. Perhaps he's working on a goal of anonymity...if so, he nailed it. ;)

I didn't do as well on my water on Monday as my goal, so today I'm reinforcing that I need to do this, I need to plan how to do it, and I need to reward myself for getting it done. ;)

Goal-setting and Goals

Work out what your goal is.
What you want to become?
What sort of person do you want to be?
Picture what changes you want to make in yourself and in your life...for the better, of course.

Set stepping stones (or sub-goals) as sign posts along the way to guide you and ensure that you stay on track. ... The marathon runner doesn't think of the finish line , but, the lamp post in the distance...or the next drink spot. Thinking of the big picture often seems impossible, so it can be very discouraging.

"Take small steps... and one at a time. You can get get loads of satisfaction from taking one step at a time. Attaining sub goals can help you with a more immediate focus, and it rewards you along the way in your pursuit of the grand plan.

"Make daily affirmations to yourself to keep yourself positive and focused on the way ahead.

"Have written goal checks to ensure that you are on track - on the right path. These are a good aid in reassessing your performance and how well you are doing on your chosen path. It's never too late to change direction.

"Set priorities. It is important to have flexible goals goals that aren't set in concrete and can be changed as you change and develop. Remember changing goals in mid stream doesn't mean losing ground (or "the plot"). As long as you grow personally, you are making the most of yourself."

[banshee]

I met my goal yesterday to spend 30 minutes clearing out a file cabinet. Some stuff went in the trash, and the rest are old financial papers in a bag waiting to be destroyed. I was surprised that there was less blank paper than I thought. Either I was magnifying the problem in my mind, or I've used up the paper over the years and just didn't realize it.

Tonight I think I'm going to take some me time and do at least 30 minutes of beading.

[Shadow]

I find that daily affirmations work well for me - if I just remember to do them :rolleyes:.

Yesterday I more than met my goal as I spent time on a sudoku puzzle. Okay, a lot of time, but I got it solved and gave my brain quite the stimulation :p.

Not sure what it will be today - maybe some crossword puzzles....some reading.... The day is young - who knows where it may lead ;)!

[Mitra]

Funny, spending less time doing sudoku puzzles is what I need to work on ;). I find they're like junk food. They leave my mind unsatisfied, and sort of disconnected. But then I just go back for another one! The one thing that might stop me is RSI.

[Shadow]

Janet - This was only my second one - but I agree they are addicting :eek:! However, for me it worked well. I find that I have problems focusing on anything and if it doesn't come easily to me, I get frustrated and quit. Hence my return to doing crosswords and adding sudoku puzzles. I'm trying to get my mind back into focusing on things and trained to respond again rather than just blowing everything off I don't want to concentrate on or anything that takes time. Probably doesn't make sense, but I know what I mean :p.

The best thing about doing the puzzle yesterday was that I didn't get frustrated once - I just spent the whole time reasoning it out and using logic. Somehow, that felt really great to me :o....

[Janis]

**running off to find out what "sudoku puzzles" are**

[Janis]

AAARRRGGHH!! They're full of NUMBERS!!

AAARRRGGHH!!

**Running off - period**

[Mitra]

Janis, some people, who share your view of numbers, replace them with the letters A - I. The puzzles aren't actually about numbers, so as long as you have nine different symbols, it doesn't matter what they are.

[banshee]

So I probably shouldn't mention that I'm up to the "expert" level on Sudokus and can usually finish one in about 10-15 minutes? ;) Actually, my favorites are the 12 number ones, with each square 3 down and 4 across. I haven't managed to graduate to the 16 number ones yet. There's a website that has all sort of variations, including ones all the way up to 81 numbers. :eek:

[avnndd]

You know, it's strange...some of the logical puzzles like those are a breeze for me, but these are NOT. My brother-in-law, the firefighter/carpenter, LOVES them. I just don't. Kind of like those little slidey-puzzles that have 9, or 16 or however many pieces that you have to rearrange into a picture...HATE 'EM!!!

Back to Gaelen's original post...I am having a REALLY hard time right now establishing any goals or setting any priorities...right now, it's just "go to bed, get out of bed, go to work, get home, yell at the kids for not helping out more around the house, go to bed, etc., etc., etc.

[Janis]

I am having a REALLY hard time right now establishing any goals or setting any priorities...right now, it's just "go to bed, get out of bed, go to work, get home, yell at the kids for not helping out more around the house, go to bed
Aaron, are you deliberately following me around and living my life, or what?

[Shadow]

Well, I am not aiming to become a master at it :p. For me, it's just requiring myself to focus - and since I'm achieving that, I am more than happy. I suppose if I were more logical, analytical, or whatever by nature, I might feel a bigger push to excel - but right now I'm just happy these brain cells still function ;).

Aaron - Mmmmm - maybe some activity would help chill you out some :D! Now that the standard nag is in, though, hang in there - you've been down this road before and it will get easier soon :).

[avnndd]

Aaron, are you deliberately following me around and living my life, or what?

Whoa, is this deja-vu, or what?

Whoa, is this deja-vu, or what?

;)

[Bellgirl]

Oh, you guys have me cracking up completely. Here Gaelen has written another excellent post on Being Focused and you guys totally hijack her thread and go off in ten different directions! LOL! You're all ADD, I tell ya!

So, on the subject of Sudoku... :o

Janis, that was my first reaction too! But Sudoku has nothing at all to do with math. It has everything to do with logic. I'm a creative artistic math phobe and I find Sudoku very enjoyable... and I find it's PERFECT for air travel.

And, um, it helps me to focus... and set goals... yeah, that's the ticket!

[avnndd]

Gee, Stevie, what was your FIRST clue that we were ADD?

[SherryJ]

AAARRRGGHH!! They're full of NUMBERS!!

AAARRRGGHH!!

**Running off - period**
__________________
I'm still hot...it just comes in flashes...


ROTFWL!!!!!!!


Here Gaelen has written another excellent post on Being Focused and you guys totally hijack her thread and go off in ten different directions! LOL! You're all ADD, I tell ya!

STILL!!!

This is JUST what I needed today! Confirmation that I am NOT in this alone, LOLOLOL!!!

Sherry

[Bellgirl]

Hmmmm.... when my Mom used to say "This is JUST what I needed today" we usually got the feeling this was not a good thing....

Gee, Stevie, what was your FIRST clue that we were ADD?

Look! A bird!

[SherryJ]

WHERE!?!?!?

:p

[Shadow]

You're all ADD, I tell ya!
Yup - now you know why working on my focus is this month's goal :p!

[hawk]

Where were we..:cool: oh yeah... Goals :o What goals ??
Today I got my whole house clean. Floors and everything. Took Gus to the Vet. Had all his shots. He didn't bite the vet. I paid as much for the visit,shots,heartworm and anti flea stuff as I did for the dog. I still need to clean out the refridgerator and finish the laundry .:mad:
Then it will be time to sit down and relax and work on ....sudoku puzzels:eek:
April fools.:eek: No I have to take in a sketch and have it blown up at Staples and copied darker so I can transfer it to water color paper.:D I've never tried sudoko. Where would I find some? They really sound like fun. Kind of like trying to balance a certain coworkers cash drawer at the end of her shift because she is so bad at it. I will work for an hour to find all the mistakes and make it balance. It drives me crazy if I can't.

[Janis]

For those of you who asked:

http://www.websudoku.com (http://www.websudoku.com/)

Lynn, you got your house clean today? Lucky you...

Sherry, you'll have to excuse me, I have this horrible number phobia. But, being the logical being I am (and if you believe that, I have some lovely ocean-front property in Kansas for sale) I believe I shall give it a whirl. In my free time. :p

ADD? Moi? Surely you jest...oh, look - there's Stevie's bird...

Aaron, great minds and all that jazz.

Gaelen, my most abject apologies for my part in the thread hijack. Okay, everyone - back to your regularly scheduled inspiration.

Now, what is this focus thing you speak of?

[avnndd]

Me like bird. Where bird?

Oh, and me also like jazz.

[hawk]

Drink a cup of coffee or take your ritalin Aaron. You'll be Ok soon.

[gitfiddle]

Oh my gosh, would you all please settle down! I WORK with people like you and I LIVE with people like you. No wonder I like you!

p.s. I'm not ADD, but I'm alarmingly right-brained. It's funny, because I always thought I was left-brained and I work in Accounting. I can work with numbers, but I'm afraid to do Sudoku because it might become another obsessive habit.

I can do goals, though, Pat. One of my goals is to get on this board once a day. It doesn't matter what I do when I get here, though. :D

[avnndd]

How about ritalin with some coffee to chase it???

[avnndd]

OK, Pat...I'm done...really...unless someone else provokes me. Can you all tell how bored I am right now? We are testing this week (and next) and my students are all done...we are just waiting for the announcement that we can go back to our "normal" routine.