'cause i know the biggest crime is just to throw up your hands

[erika]

My 22 rules for Health Month this month:

• Wake up before 11am at least 5 days a week
  This may be the laziest "early wakeup time" ever, but if I didn't have this rule, I would be getting up at 1pm days where I didn't have class. Therapist approved rule.


• Eat breakfast at least 5 days a week
  Last month I totally rocked this rule! Which is a huge change from when I started, when I ate breakfast maybe 1 day a week. Dietician approved rule.


• List things you're grateful for 5 days a week
  I don't know that this is making me any more grateful, but it does provide a momentary mood boost. Therapist approved rule.


• Allow 100 cigarettes a week
  I actually went up on this rule a little bit. I want to keep track of how many cigarettes I smoke truthfully, not feel compelled to fudge even the tiniest bit. (If I can't remember exactly, that's one thing, but if I'm fudging so that I don't have only 1 cigarette to smoke on Saturday, that's another.) Nobody approves of this rule but me.


• Go out and be social at least 2 days a week
  Went great last month. Depending on what happens with H (who stood me up on Saturday)... this may not go so great this month. But I'm willing to give it a go. Therapist approved rule.


• Take my medication every day
  This happens to be an easy, established habit for me. I suppose I could make it harder by saying I have to take EVERY DOSE of my meds on time—maybe I'll switch it up next month by saying that. Everybody approves of this rule.


• Practice bassoon at least 4 days a week
  I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. Therapist approved rule.


• Study classwork at least 3 days a week
  I'm giving myself two weeks off from this rule during this month, actually, but I thought it was still important to have because finals are next week. Eek. Teacher approved rule.


• Meditate for 5 minutes at least 4 days a week
  This was a rule last month & I did okay. This week I'm going to interpret this to mean "not while in bed and falling asleep" which is mostly when I meditated before. I have to actually sit down and meditate. Therapist approved rule.


• Allow high-fructose corn syrup 2 days a week
  This is really an "allow non-diet soda 2 days a week" rule but I think I'm using my custom do rule for something else. Maybe. Or I just figured this one got close enough. This is a dietician approved rule.


• Walk your dog at least 1 day a week
  Did CRAPPY on this one last month—I think I did it once. But it's a new month and I'm going to do it! Dietician approved rule.


• Do household chores for 5 minutes at least 4 days a week
  Let me explain the five minutes thing: I have this deal with myself where I can do anything for five minutes, and then if I really hate it, I'll stop. This helps get rid of the "but I hate X" feeling and helps me feel more like "okay, I can do anything for five minutes."
  This is a bitesizedcleaning-approved rule.


• Write 1 page in a private journal at least 4 days a week
  I write on dreamwidth, not in a private journal, but eh, close enough.


• Do yoga at least 2 days a week
  Again, another rule I totally blew at last month, but damnit, I will succeed! Dietician approved rule.


• Read a book for at least 30 minutes 3 days a week
  This is a new one and should be totally easy.


• Allow 28 sodas a week
  That's 4 sodas a day—I think I can manage this. If not, I may have to have some "soda free" days.


• Drink at least 7 glasses of water a week
  Starting slow. I'll up this if I do well on it this month. (I'm counting crystal lite and water with lemon/lime as water.) Dietician approved rule.


• Allow seconds 2 days a week
  This is a No S Diet rule and dietician approved rule..


• Allow snacking 3 days a week
  This is a No S Diet rule and a dietician approved rule. I'm allowing it three days a week in case I screw up on a No S day. Next month, depending on how I do, it'll either be stricter or stay the same.


• Eat greens at least 2 days a week
  I'm always buying salad greens and then not eating them & they go bad in the fridge & it's just a mess & I feel super guilty because THERE ARE STARVING KIDS in the world—so this is an attempt to clean out my refrigerator, really. Dietician approved rule.


• Allow added sugar 5 days a week
  This is a No S Diet rule which I am modifying because I didn't want to start out only allowing it on S days and FAIL MISERABLY. Dietician approved rule, although she'd prefer less days. I told her next month maybe.


• Floss at least 3 days a week
  I don't floss. Ever. So ... yeah. Probably should start doing that. This would be a dentist approved rule if I ever went to the dentist, either. -hangs head in shame-

If I end this month with 1 or more life points, I will... get a massage, for realz.
If I end this month with less than 1 life point, I will... try again next month.