Forming Good Habits

[W2R]

As I was lying in bed this morning at 6 AM, wishing I could sleep more, I thought about this. To avoid having to wake to an alarm, all you have to do is enforce your bedtime. If you get in the habit of being in bed with lights out at 2 AM, your problem is solved, right? Maybe an alarm at 1:30 AM is what you need.

I expect your body will adapt to the new schedule and not sleep until noon. Get lots of light when you wake up.

That might work and I'll try it. I tried to use the end of a particular TV show as a trigger to go to bed, but no luck so far. I''ll start turning on the bright lights when I get up; now that you mention it, light levels have often helped me to wake up more completely in the past.

Last night I went to bed at about 3, and awakened at 10 AM, missing virtually the entire morning again. Amazingly, the birds were chirping softly despite no rain. They weren't loud enough to awaken me this morning, even though usually they are. Luckily I can adjust the volume on the clock. I'll let you know how that works.

Seems like people with cats, like Marita40, have no problem getting up early because their cats awaken them. I even thought of getting a cat for that purpose, but decided that's not a good enough reason for me to take on the responsibilities of pet ownership.

 

[Nords]

Seems like people with cats, like Marita40, have no problem getting up early because their cats awaken them. I even thought of getting a cat for that purpose, but decided that's not a good enough reason for me to take on the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Maybe you could train Frank for that role. And unlike a cat, he can already feed himself...

 

[W2R]

Maybe you could train Frank for that role. And unlike a cat, he can already feed himself...

So true, but most days he awakens about 3-5 hours later than I do. He used to work swing shift whenever he could, and feels those hours are great for his natural biorhythms.

 

[Sirka]

Bed needs to "air out"...

I also like to make the bed first thing in the morning. Since DH retired he sleeps later than me and he feels that beds should be left unmade for a block of time after you get up, he says it needs to "air out".

+1
I think it's a European thing. We always uncover the bed and open window for 20 minutes to air things out. DW wanted to make the bad 1st thing in the morning, so she did. I did not know how important the airing was, until it was time to move the old water bed. Without the usual airing, pad got moldy. So now we follow my routine even though we got rid of the flotation device years ago.

 

[TromboneAl]

DW wanted to make the bad 1st thing in the morning...

Yes, that's the best time for it.

 

[haha]

Well, I made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

I also went to a little park in the next block. It's quiet spot, and gets good sun. I did a bit of sunbathing, and two or three young women were doing the same. I think I will do this any day with decent sun, though I expect only the weekend with have other sunners.

Tomorrow I will proceed at my normal rowing pace, then take Memorial Day off. Going forward, my plan is to row almost every day, whether I feel strong or not so strong, for an hour or so. Not making it a big deal, just something like doing the dishes or taking care of my teeth.

Ha

 

[Lsbcal]

Well, I made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

I also went to a little park in the next block. It's quiet spot, and gets good sun. I did a bit of sunbathing, and two or three young women were doing the same. I think I will do this any day with decent sun, though I expect only the weekend with have other sunners.

Tomorrow I will proceed at my normal rowing pace, then take Memorial Day off. Going forward, my plan is to row almost every day, whether I feel strong or not so strong, for an hour or so. Not making it a big deal, just something like doing the dishes or taking care of my teeth.

Ha

I was wondering what a C2 was -- now I'm guessing it is either a home exercise machine or a row boat?

Good luck on your exercise routine Ha!

P.S. I'm on vacation so logging in irregularly.

 

[W2R]

Well, I made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

WOW! Congratulations on an absolutely marvelous accomplishment.

 

[Marathoner]

Well, I made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

Congratulations! Do you have another distance goal now that you've reached this one?

 

[audreyh1]

Well, I made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

Woo Hoo! Congratulations!

 

[Zero]

I think the habit of sunning in the park with 2-3 young ladies beats rowing by a million miles.

 

[Khufu]

We have a resident robin who's been sitting on the sculpture right outside our front door singing her fool head off almost like clockwork at 4am every day.

His song. It's mating behavior. Females don't sing.

 

[haha]

Thanks everyone. Your good wishes feel good.

About other distance goals, I think I have to see what combination of distance and perhaps some speed work, or even getting back to lifting weights two days/wk.

Right now, I plan to do 10 km on most days.

Ha

 

[audreyh1]

His song. It's mating behavior. Females don't sing.

It's true for robins, but there are a few bird species where the female also sings. Northern Cardinal for one. And others where the female joins in as a "duet" with a singing male. Carolina wren is an example of the latter.

This "dictionary" looked cool: American Robin Dictionary of Songs and Sounds

There is a lot to learn with bird sounds.

 

[W2R]

Thanks everyone. Your good wishes feel good.

About other distance goals, I think I have to see what combination of distance and perhaps some speed work, or even getting back to lifting weights two days/wk.

Right now, I plan to do 10 km on most days.

Ha

That's a lot. You'll be up to 2 million meters before you know it, at that rate.

The lifting will be fun, too. Glad to see you haven't completely forgotten about lifting.

 

[Zero]

How is rowing on the knee joints, does it produce any soreness? I've got a rowing machine in the gym and may give it a try. Just start slow.

 

[eytonxav]

Well, I made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

You da man

Keep it up and do try to add in some lifting to compliment. I know you used to enjoy that.

 

[TromboneAl]

well, i made my million meters. 1,001,165. Today is a hot day, it was a bit harder to row.

​

 

[haha]

View attachment 14409​

That is so cool, thank you for making it! Those men and women who row across the Atlantic are clearly made of very stern stuff. Distance, seas, keeping up food and water- wow!

@Zero-I think rowing is maybe the easiest high volume thing you can do for the joints. I have an arthritic hip that really gets going if I run, but as long as I pay atention to good form, it never hurts from rowing, either during or after the workout. I can't say for sure, but I would guess that knees are the same. Concept 2 recently outfitted a rower with an extra long rail for Shaq, who has been having some wear and tear problems in his lower body, and needs to lose weight and gain fitness. I think you can see Shaq rowing on it if you go to Concept2 website and look for the Spring 2012 Update Magazine.

@DFW- you have a good memory. I notice two different feelings I get from a rowing session, vs.a lifting session. Rowing gives me a kind of soft feeling of well-being, while lifting makes me feel like I could tear apart a lynx. At the time, I am just barely clever enough to know that this is only a feeling.

@Yakers- this is nothing like as hard as going out and Kayaking in weather and non-stop. This is just a moderate degree of stick-to-it by an old man with moderate willpower who is trying to make some lasting good habits to take some of the strain off his limited willpower.

Ha

 

[yakers]

AS a kayaker I have to say; wow, holy $hit, amazing.... I am always amazed with the younger paddlers who paddle well beyond my ability & energy but to have one of 'our' folks do it is inspiring.

 

[Midpack]

His song. It's mating behavior. Females don't sing.

Thanks, I was indeed assuming (incorrectly)...

 

[Amethyst]

I notice that after I get through a workout, I feel like I can take on the world, for about 5 minutes. Then again, it may only be the sense of relief that the $%@!ing workout is over

Amethyst

lifting makes me feel like I could tear apart a lynx. At the time, I am just barely clever enough to know that this is only a feeling.

Ha

 

[MBAustin]

.

Back on topic, another habit that I need to work on is to finish my grocery shopping during the week, instead of finding out on a Saturday that I have nothing.

This is one of my ER joys - not fighting the weekend crowds at the grocery store (or just about any other store for that matter). I love shopping in the middle of the week!!! However, the downside is that since I tend to do more complex cooking on the weekends, I need to plan a bit better to make sure I have enough on hand. Like this weekend I have found myself low on produce, so will need to rely on the frozen veggies tonight. I have to be pretty desperate to go to the store on the weekends now.

 

[Lisa99]

Suggestion for those who have the ability to schedule/manage tasks via a computer.

Pick the habit you want to work on. Set up a task to occur daily/weekly/monthly (whatever your preferred frequency). Set the task to send you a reminder.

I just set up a task for mystelf to spend 15 minutes/day cleaning out clutter/downsizing. By the time we're ready to retire the chore will be done. The reminder will be sent to me daily @ 5pm.

I got the idea from a web-based service you can use to set up and send reminders, but they charge $9.95...why not do it yourself for free!