Solving the Monday Problem

“Sometimes it pays to stay in bed in Monday, rather than spending the rest of the week debugging Monday's code” - Dan Salomon

A recent facebook discussion on the difficulty everyone seems to be having with Mondays has got me thinking...and I thought that this would be a great post for this week's Mental Health Monday blog.

A few random facts about Monday...

1. We get one every week, 4-5 every month and 52-53 per year....whether we like it or not. 
2. Mondays are reportedly the least productive work day of any given week. 
3. Monday is the most popular day to commit suicide, call in sick, and surf the web in the Netherlands
4. The name "monday" means "day of the moon"
5. Your probability of having a heart attack in the United States is higher on Monday than any other day of the week.

With such a notorious reputation, it is really no wonder why Monday is so poorly received.   You are probably wondering -as I am- how I could even begin to address this issue.

A few ideas I had about changing Mondays ...and the reason it may not work...

1.  Lead a movement to boycott Mondays.   Of course this will take a lot of money and maybe even some serious lobbying whereby we will need to convince congress to write and pass a bill (come to think of it this sounds like something that may be right in line with the type of bill congress favors.)  A change to the U.S. Constitution will have no benefit whatsoever for our Canadian friend, Wanda.
2. Ignore Mondays.  We do run the risk that Tuesday will become the new Monday, but maybe if we don't give Monday any more of our energy we will have even more energy when Tuesday comes to deal with it.
3. Make Mondays more pleasant by developing routines that you can enact throughout the day that make you happy.   Make Monday your triple shot, full fat, extra chocolatey, extra tall mocha with whip day....add sprinkles if you must.    Don't you dare pass up that delicious pan au chocolat pastry or nice maple bar with slice of bacon on top either.   On Monday we eat for our souls and not for our bodies.    No one is expecting Monday to be productive either, so get up and stretch more, spend a little more time at the water cooler.   I think Monday will soon be your favorite day.

Ladies and Gentleman (I have one guy who follows this post), I think we have our winner.....#3?

Wanda- this is the best I could do...what do you think?

***Artwork of Coupon for Monday off is from http://www.savagechickens.com/images/chickencoupon.jpg   (Yes it is expired - sort of typical for Monday isn't it?)

Count The Steps and Not The Pounds

“I think of my body as a side effect of my mind.” -Carrie Fisher

Yesterday, Mr Self Care and I got out of bed early to take a 6 mile walk in the park.   I got my exercise clothes on, washed my face and quickly jumped on the scale.  

Much to may dismay...the scale did not budge.   I expected that after walking 42 miles over the last week,  I would see a loss of at least 2lbs.  This seemed like a conservative estimate too.  I took a moment and composed myself, but for the first lap of our walk I was troubled: What do I have to do to lose 2lbs?  (For crying out loud??????)

My answer came- like most answers do- while walking it out.  

This walking program I started two weeks ago has been so good for me in so many ways.   I took a moment to think about the benefits I was already enjoying...

• I am proud to say that I have walked approximately 90 miles in two weeks.   This is -based on my previous sendentary lifestyle- a whopping 500% increase in activity for me.  
• Mr Self Care and I are spending quality time together for at least 2 hours every evening.  Talking, holding hands, and just plain enjoying each other's company.
• My body aches all over, but it is a "good pain" - the kind that comes when you know you have had a good work out!
• I am in the park, breathing fresh air, enjoying sunshine (when it shows itself) and nature.
• I have been spending extra time sorting out thoughts and feelings and coming up with some very good solutions and ideas in the process.
• We have become a bit more aware of our community.   Early weekend mornings, there are several fishing guide companies that launch from the boat launch behind our home (didn't know that!).  Also, I am so to touched by the family time spent in the park.

All this and it seems pretty silly to get worked up over two pounds.  Weight loss is a horrible measure of physical self care.   Too many factors come into play that affect our physical make up.   You cannot rely on the scale; you can only control your activities.   Count the steps you take and not the pounds you lose!  My body feels different - more muscular in places and a little less fat in others- so I know that something in me is shifting.

Perhaps the most important shift, however, is the one I am making in my way of thinking:   Do not get so focused on a particular destination that you overlook the other benefits your journey is providing.

Take Good Care!

Just Doin' It - (WK 1, Day 1 Couch to 5K)

“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.” -John C, Maxwell

This is my 3rd attempt at the Couch Potato to 5K training program- a 9 week running regime that takes you from Point A (sedentary chair sitter) to Point B (powerful 5K running queen).   The first time I did this, I made it to week 7 and decided that running is not for me.    The second time I only got to week 5.   My goal this time is to finish (but I have a secret goal to just not keep moving backwards- must get past week 5!)

I feel like I have an awful decision to make each day: Exercise, or don't exercise.   Followed by another really terrible decision:  morning or evening.    In the morning I am too tired.    In the evening I am too tired.  But if a workout is going to happen, it will happen in the evening.   I cannot be coaxed out of bed in the morning to do a workout.   I wish I was that dedicated.   I am not.

Forgive my negativity here- I am usually a very positive person, but running on a treadmill is ranked right up there under toilet cleaning on my list of "tasks that put me in a foul mood". (at least until the endorphines kick in- which btw has never happened to me while wielding a toilet brush.)

So in the evening, when I get home from work, I immediately put on my exercise clothing and get started with the Couch to 5K training before I have too much time to think about it.   There is definately enough thinking that is going on when I am in the middle of it.

Thoughts going through my head when I am on the treadmill:

• Ugh. Lets get this over with.
• Good music
• Why am I doing this again? it is obvious that I am not a runner.
• OMG! I hate this!
• How about a little positive attitude? (followed by a few minutes of trying to find something immediately positive about it)
• maybe if I focus on something else
• maybe if I just focus on the movement itself
• my feet hurt
• I wonder at what point people who run decide that they love running.
• I wonder if I will ever love running
• I need to get a hold of Dr Doug and get some new orthotics.  
• Something in my shoe doesn't feel right
• Can't run to this song...need to update MP3
• Halfway there
• You can do this.  (do I detect a few enforphins here?)
• How am I going to be ready for 5k by end of July - not enough weeks to complete the C25K - will have to do this every other day rather than 3 times a week.
• Maybe I would like this better if I did it outide.
• I doubt it.
• I am hungry
• My feet hurt
• The first week of this is not so hard...it just isn't fun.
• a little bit more
• I need better music...and something interesting to look at.
• and STOP!  (Thank you, Jesus!)

Week 1, Day 1 Stats.

Time: 25.00
Walk pace: 3.0
Run pace: 3.5
Incline: 0
Distance: 1.297 milesk
kcalories burned: 123