17 Dec 2015

#My21DayChallenge - Week 1 Update

This comes pretty quickly, close on the heels of the previous post, but today marks the 8th day of #my21daychallenge. Here are some details on what has transpired in the last 7 days:

6 activities are part of the challenge, or experiment, or rather adventure, as friends mentioned in comments of the previous post. Here is how they went:

  1. Meet friends - 6 hours: I met Purvesh, Rakesh (technically, he is not a friend but someone far more knowledgeable) and Amit, a remarkably talented painter. Each experience was refreshing. Purvesh asked me uncomfortable questions, the answers of which have helped me set a goal for the next two years. Rakesh gave me tips to progress in an area where I was stuck. And Amit… well… his paintings floored me. I must meet more people this week.
    With Purvesh

  2. Exercise - 5 hours: Mission accomplished.


  3. Read - 7 hours: I think I have exceeded the preset time here. I completed reading Success Sutra and have started reading The Power of Habit again. Trust me, if you want to write a non-fiction book, use The Power of Habit as a benchmark.


  4. New Experiences - 4 hours: I have been lagging here. I heard some music from Winery Dogs and saw Amit's paintings. His portrayal of Gaya when the world ended is breathtaking (the painting in the centre of the image). I must spend more time in this. I will be at the Comic Con this Saturday. If you are around, come say hi.
    Some of Amit's paintings

  5. Waste Time - 14 hours: This is a goal which I feel I have exceeded. Social media again sucked me into its trap - I simply couldn’t find the guts to activate the SelfControl app. I also tend to switch on the idiot box during meals, because of which my meals get extended and time gets wasted… time that could be invested elsewhere. I think focus (or the lack, thereof) is the biggest problem here.

  6. Sleep - 50 hours: I need no motivation here. Probably have exceeded this target too (sorry, no photo of me sleeping).

Some challenges I am facing are:
  1. Not being able to document my activities well. I currently write in my diary, which is not an efficient way to go about it. Sometimes I forget, sometimes I don’t carry the diary along… I must look for an app which helps me keep a tab of my tasks in a simpler way. Do you have any suggestions?

  2. Some of my tasks coincide. For instance, watching TV while eating meals is a combination of wasting time and time for eating food. When I met a friend at The Li’l Flea, it was a combination of meeting friends and new experiences. Need to figure that out.

  3. Motivation is not high.
I don’t feel a conspicuous difference in me. Then again, I have not done things too differently from what I did previously. Let us see how this week progresses.

12 comments :

  1. Hey you didn't do bad! Thing is, even when you thought you were wasting time, unconsciously you were keeping track of it! Did you think of enrolling for any new workshops...short ones, maybe a couple hours a week....say in photography? I was at L'il Flea too and hope we can meet at ComicCon :) Dont worry about keeping track of ever minute of the day.....that will take the fun out of the whole exercise. Bus lage raho :)

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    1. I didn't enroll for any course, Kala. But yes, now that you said it, I should think about it. Looking forward to meeting you at Comic Con.

      Thanks for the encouragement :)

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  2. I think you are doing pretty well. Though it is all about time management, but it is also about you making room for all the goals you have for yourself. So as far you are able to fit in all you are aiming for, micro-management of time shouldn't be allowed to steal all the fun.
    Keep going!!

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    1. Agreed, ME. Micro-management will take out the fun, won't it. Just have to reduce wasting time and expose myself to new experiences - don't know what they are though...

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  3. Good going! I haven't read those books and if I lived in Mumbai, I would have borrowed them from you. I think it is a good beginning. Maybe you can tweak your goals a little. About the App, let me check if I can find something. Eating and TV is a non-no at my home. You just don't do that! So just don't switch on. Watch your food and eat it. That's the mom in me lecturing you. :) Now don't look for instant gratification. Give it time to show results. Also have you considered 15 minutes of meditation every day? That will help too. Keep at it.

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    1. You don't need to live in Mumbai to borrow the books Rachna. Simply message me your address and send the books back once you're done reading them.

      Okay, I'll switch the TV off while eating and watch my food from now on. Thanks for the tip. And yes, meditation is what my day ends with.

      Thanks for the encouragement :)

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  4. I love those art illustrations - intriguing, and it's nice that you enjoyed reading the books and meeting new people. Great start! I don't see overlapping of activities as any problem really, it's like a slight detour in the plans that you make when on an adventure. Part of the fun! About apps, I am an out and out pen-paper-diary person and like to keep it that way on the road as well, so I wouldn't be able to help you on apps.

    And why depend on selfcontrol apps? when the power to control is within you. :-) I use it too - for no TV while eating meals and social media - nothing works better and long-term.

    It's already a great achievement to set up this challenge for yourself and make an honest effort towards making it happen. Not everyone's cup of tea and so many people would rather discard the idea completely. Results are secondary and they don't really matter as long as you are putting your best foot forward, that is enough. Pat yourself for that, Vishal. And then, have patience. Best to you!

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    1. Thanks Arti. Those paintings are amazing indeed. He's a remarkably talented bloke.

      Points noted - nothing works better in the long run than self control, and a pen and paper are the best options. Will implement these from now on.

      It's so nice to read your comments as always, Arti :)

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  5. That's awesome. For someone who is laid back and indolent, the post is inspiring. Frankly, I need a kick on my back to take up any challenge. Love reading and listening to Devdutt Patnaik.

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    1. Thanks Alka. Devdutt Pattanaik is inspirational indeed!

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