Monday, May 6, 2013

It's Time for Medical Mondays!

Hey so it's that time again. It's Medical Monday and I've linked up once again with some wonderful and entertaining bloggers.  If you are looking for some new blogs to check out I recommend that you check out the link.  I've got it posted on the side panel.

Gotta run.  We are wrapping up finals :)


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Are Personal Challenges Effective?

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Don't worry my people this post won't be long at all.   It'll be straight to the point! 

I'm sure personal challenges can be largely effective if you commit to following through with all the criteria that you've established.  I posed this question because I am thinking about doing a couple of challenges myself.  In the past I've done a few hair challenges and they produced some pretty good results.  Although, keeping up with rules were a pain.  For example, I participated in a "no heat" boot camp challenge for about 3-4 months during which you could only use a heat pass 1x/month.  It was a true pain in the butt because I was used to putting heat in my hair about every 2-2.5 weeks.  Nevertheless, I made it though the challenge (only breaking the no heat rule about 1 time), and my hair grew a lot for my wedding.  I was very pleased at the end of it and I learned a lot about my natural hair.  I'll post some pics later in the post.  

So, back to the present day, currently, I am thinking about doing a prayer challenge that will consist of me praying 2x/day.  This should be interesting because I fluctuate between praying before I wonder off to sleep, praying sporadically throughout the day, and not praying at all.  I want to be more consistent with my prayer and I most certainly know that I need to dedicate myself to more than just praying for 2-5 minutes before I pass out every night.  This challenge came about one day when I was driving in my car.  Not to be dramatic but a feeling came over me and I thought I should do a prayer challenge, which brings me to this post.  I haven't established any rules for the challenge and I don't think I'm going to set any specific times, although, now I'm thinking that setting specific times will ensure that I follow through.  What do you all think?  Should I be pretty rigid with the rules or no?  Oh, and this is a 30 day challenge by the way. 

Also, I am considering a "Girl, You Cute" challenge.  For this particular challenge I'd fix my hair in some sort of a style (not necessarily straightened) and dress in some nice clothes.  Being that I am a student, a busy one at that, I wear a lot of sweat pants and t-shirts.  They are so convenient and comfortable.  But there are times when I just want to look cute.  So, I think I'll do this challenge and hopefully some of the outcomes will be:
  1. I fulfill the desire to look nice
  2. Learn how to put together some cute outfits in a short amount of time
  3. Learn some creative hair styles that I can use indefinitely
  4. Feel good because I look good (hey...this is not shallow people LOL) 
  5. Incorporate some playful colors into my wardrobe

This is just in time for the spring and summer seasons! 

Last, I want to do an exercise and nutrition challenge.  30 days of consist exercising and making my own foods.  I'm not sure if I should be pretty lax with this one or have some pretty strict rules.  I feel as though I shouldn't be too rigid because the fact is I am a medical student LOL.  On the other hand, that just seems like an excuse.   Can't you all tell that I battle with the delusions that I can have a life and be a stellar student...ugh...when will I just throw in the white towel? Anyways, some of the primary outcomes I am looking for here are:
  1. Increased physical activity leading to a healthier (physically, mentally, and emotionally) me
  2. Increased flexibility 
  3. Increased endurance
  4. Tone and strength increases
  5. Finally reaching my weight and muscle goals
  6. Developing a healthy meal plan for my husband and me
  7. Learning to cook more diverse meals in a short amount of time
  8. Seeing that I can do these things with school and not STRESSING THE HECK OUT LOL

So that's it.  Those are some of the challenges that I have been thinking about.   Oh...there's one more...I want to do a YouTube video challenge.  I'd like to make more YouTube videos and increase my viewership there.  Now that I think of it I should probably do a blogging challenge as well.   Boy, these challenges sure are racking up, aren't they? LOL.         

Well, let me know what you think about my challenge ideas so far.  Also, share with me any challenges that you've either done in the past, are currently doing, or would like to do in the future.  I'd love to read all the ideas! 

Guess this post wasn't so short after all LOL. 
Love,