2 Healthy Steps

Sixteen days ago I declared I was going to start being better to myself and reclaiming my life.

I think I’m making some progress.

Healthy Step I: from Declaration III (10/31)

Get up earlier:

I have been getting up earlier. Most mornings I’ve been in a position to begin writing by 6:30 am. I have not been WRITING every morning … but baby steps, right?

Now my goal is to get up another half-hour earlier so I can be in position to write by 6:00 am.

Go to bed earlier:

I’ve been trying to get to bed earlier on weeknights. Once again, I haven’t succeeded every single night, but I have been wrapping stuff up around 10:00 pm and heading that way. My goal is to be in bed by 9:30 pm – and have a half-hour to an hour for reading. Things with pages. And bindings. I know it sounds early – but I really need to consistently get a full 7 hours of sleep.

Stop finding ways to procrastinate:

I have drastically cut down my internet socializing for the last 15 days (maybe longer) and will continue to work on this. I am also going to avoid the allure of certain web sites and NOT VISIT them in the morning.

Healthy Step II:

Gas prices have once again had me thinking about my form of transportation. I paid my current vehicle off in March. Nine months early. My goal was to drive it for another eight years. What is the better decision? Sell this car and buy something used with better gas mileage, but higher actual MILES and take on more debt, or keep my car?

One of my co-workers drives a diesel. In passing he mentioned better fuel mileage off-setting higher diesel prices. I sat down with him and asked about diesel – which can be switched to bio-fuel. Surprisingly, his advice was not what I was expecting. Much like Dr. Esq, he encouraged me to weigh the cost of new debt, higher mileage, and unknown service problems over continuing to keep my vehicle which is paid for, low mileage, and no known service issues.

Then he surprised me. He said, “You know. There is another option. It will save you money AND miles.” ORLY?

“Sure. How many of your co-workers live close to you?”

Taking a moment to process his question, I realized there were two other co-workers that live close to me (a recent development). A light-bulb went off over my head.” You mean car pool??” I said with incredulity?

“Sure, not to sound like a liberal greenie-weenie, but we could get 2 cars off the road, if you’d consider it.”

“I LOVE car-pooling!” I exclaimed. “It was one of the best things I did in Arizona.” Then I thought of my crazy schedule. Each week during the cotton harvest I work a different schedule. It ranges anywhere from 8:30-5:30 ‘till 9:30 – 6:30 pm. When the harvest is over I work an 8:30 – 5:30 shift. I am unwilling to give up leaving work at 5:30. My two co-workers work 9:00 – 6:00 pm, because they are not support staff.

“Well, I guess we can do it for a few weeks when I work 9-6pm,” I said with sadness.

“I sure wish I could work 8:30 – 5:30 pm,” he said.

“Well, let me see what I can do,” I offered.

Then I wrote an e-mail to my boss, claiming my sanity would IMPROVE if said co-worker could have the earlier schedule allowing for car pooling, environmental rescue AND increased personal savings. (Unfortunately, the 3^rd co-worker is the receptionist – and she is STUCK with 9-6). My boss – willing to do anything to bring sanity to his life (although he did express doubt that car-pooling would make me sane) agreed to the scheme.

Then I started to organize the car pool. Figuring on the weeks I work 8:30-5:30 I’d car pool with the programmer, and weeks I work 9-6 I’d car pool with the receptionist.

BUT GUESS WHAT??? This programmer is SO COOL, he’s agreed to adjust his schedule to my crazy FLUCTUATING schedule!!

Starting Monday, we’ll begin the car-pool. My next goal is to get my boss to agree to the receptionist working an 8:30 – 5:30 schedule!! (shhh, don’t tell him. This is going to require some finesse!)

But yay me! No new debit, saving money, improving the environment … and two potential friends!