Challenge #2 Update and Other News - Jessica

Hello! Challenge #2, to read more, is going really well! I have finished two books and am starting another one tonight. I have found that I really love reading outside, and have actually been spending more time out there now than I did in challenge #1.

Onto the news part, if you have looked at my challenge list, #7 is to get a new job. This has happened! I am extremely excited to start my new job tomorrow. The reason I am mentioning this, is because I am going to mark it off my list, and add an 11th challenge. This challenge will be to cut out soda's. I will still give myself the option to drink tea, but I want to go three weeks without a single soda.

So anyways, that is the update on my challenges at the moment!

Challenge #2 Sarah

Challenge one is over. I haven't though much about challenge two. I did well with challenge one, I got up early and did something productive. I found it easier to do something productive, if I actually had something to do. I did get up early toward the end and go back to sleep around noon, which isn't good, but I proved to myself I am able to wake up earlier. Since then I have gone back to getting up late, but hopefully I will get up early soon.  I don't do anything productive when I get up now either, it is straight to the computer. I have completed the challenge and did what I said.

Challenge two, I am going to spend more time with my brother. I will start my challenge today.

New Challenge!

Hello! Roopa here! Saturday marked the end of our first challenges, so I am here with an update on my two challenges. First off, I picked two challenges that should have probably been done by themselves- go vegan, and write more in  my journal. I found that I had to force myself to write in my journal, but I did it, because I want this habit to stick. I did not write everyday, but there were some really big days over the past three weeks, that I wrote three to four pages on. I did draw pictures that associated what I did that day, and that was a lot of fun. Next, going vegan! I would have to say that I went vegan at least four days  out of each week, which is a lot better than the other times I went vegan! So, I am very proud with that progress. I cooked vegan, and did not tell my parents, and they actually liked it!!

Plan: I plan to continue to go vegan as much as possible, because I general like the taste of vegan recipes! I plan to continue to write in my journal when I see fit, because it's a great way to remember things that have happened!

New challenge: I will actually be copying Jessica on this one, but I want to read more! Two weeks ago, I joined the Anniston Public Library for their adult reading program. For every book you read off their list, you get a punch card, and punches for each of the books! I currently have three punches (read two books, and one was not on their list). At the end of summer reading program, you are entered into a drawing, and can win a prize!

And so another challenge begins...

Hey! Jessica here. I'm going to kind of wrap up challenge #1 and discuss challenge #2 in this post. So, I mentioned previously how the first challenge turned out to be a little trickier than I first imagined. I DID spend time alone every single day! Not always thirty minutes and not always outside, but I did do part of the challenge every day. The outside part was the hardest. I would go outside with no plan whatsoever, and just sit. That made thirty minutes feel like HOURS. It was so hot, my neighbor's dogs were consistently barking, and honestly I was bored! I learned over the past three weeks that my attention span is ridiculously short, and I have to have constant entertainment.

I don't count my attempt at challenge #1 a complete failure because I did spend time alone every day. So, it was about a 50%, I guess.

Reading Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Onto challenge #2! I feel like this will be easier for me to accomplish. It's pretty simple. The goal is to Read More. I know I can do this! I finished another book last night, so I'm already well on my way. I'll keep you guys updated on how this challenge is going!

2nd Update Challenge 1- Sarah

I have found that getting up around 10:45am works well. I don't normally need a nap and feel fine once I wake up. I started part two of my challenge yesterday, being productive when I wake up. Yesterday I got up and wrote in my Happy Book (Jennifer, Jessica's sister bought me for Christmas) and read some of Dad's bible that describes the verses as well. Today, I got up at 8:30am. I volunteer on Thursdays, and got ready, then wrote in my Happy Book again. I took a nap a little while after I got home for about 4 hours. I didn't fall asleep till around 2am. I have been caught up in a TV show and my mom and me decided to watch the episode we had been looking forward to. Other then my occasional long naps, I am doing well still!

Alo!

Well, it's Thursday, and it is update time!

Challenge 1- Writing in my journal is going awesomely! I am either writing, or drawing a picture in it everyday...something that represents the day! It is actually very therapeutic, and helps me remember what I did, and need to do the next day! I have gotten behind two days due to job interviews, but plan on making it up tomorrow!

Challenge 2- Vegan- This is actually going great! I am trying several new recipes that I have collected on Pinterest (peanut butter cookies...omg, so good), and am doing better at stopping, and thinking about what I eat before each meal! There have been a few instances where I have had to stray, but in those instances I have chosen the healthiest vegetarian option available. I'm not going to beat myself up about straying, but plan to eat healthier! Going cold turkey is quite hard, so I plan on building it up, collecting recipes, and then- the last week of the challenge, go completely vegan!

1st Update Challenge 1-Sarah

Sarah

Day 1 - I woke up at 8:10 am which is really early compared to my normal schedule. I had places to see, Roopa and I were headed for Decatur that day.

Day 2- I woke up at 9:10 am which is good for me. I did fall asleep shortly about 3 times that day two watching TV with Roopa, and one or two possibly at home. I still woke up early, I didn't say anything about naps did  I? 

Day 3- I tried to wake up early, but it didn't happen. I believe I was up around 10:45 am, before 11am. I am getting up later each day. I am trying not to stay in bed past 11am. 

Day 4- I woke up at 10:25 am. I got up a little earlier then yesterday which is what I wanted.I fell back asleep around 7pm and slept on and off till about 11:30pm. I must have been tired


Day 5- I had a hard time sleeping last night because I went to bed early and then woke up and didn't go back to bed till around 4am. I woke up at 10:30 am though today, probably shouldn't go to bed real early because I wake up around 12am. 

So far I am doing well. Sometimes I do take naps, but it is part of me adjusting to waking up early. I hope to get up early everyday of the challenge, I believe I can! This opens a window of possibility of what we all can do if we set our minds to it! Even just a little change makes a difference.