February Recap | Winter 2024

March 7, 2024March 7, 2024Leave a comment

Where have I been, you might ask? I have been busy during the month of February because I have been working out and reading books instead of writing blog posts and reviews. It seems odd, but I actually read 2 self-help books and have just started reading my third book. This is even surprising to me, considering that I haven’t picked up a book to read since I was in University.

You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero was just okay. The author comes across as overly happy, full of sunshine, rainbows, and feel-good vibes. While I used to resonate with her book, I find it less appealing now. Some readers may not mind the use of made-up words like “Source Energy” instead of God and “The Big Snooze” instead of ego, but to me, it dilutes the concepts and major points she is trying to convey.
“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo was a better book overall, but it took me a total of four attempts to read the whole thing. Instilling the habit of reading 10 pages a day forced me to finish her book, which turned out to be a good thing. I believe she introduces many fresh ideas to an otherwise mundane topic, but there were a few aspects that bothered me. Not everyone can clean their homes in one go as she suggests. I later discovered that she has an online shop selling storage items and trinkets, which seems hypocritical to me, given that the goal is to declutter and eliminate excess items that do not spark joy.

＊˚•̩̩͙ Who I Want to Become •̩̩͙˚＊

I have been focusing on my word this year, which is discipline, but it has grown to be much more than that. I am working on cultivating healthier habits that need to stick long-term. This isn’t just for vanity reasons, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. This is for overall health and well-being, and more importantly, to hopefully slow down the progression of my health issues. I started going to physiotherapy as an adult and was told that it is very rare to see someone as young as me seeking therapy for vestibular/balance issues. Also, my eyesight is absolutely terrible and I just recently had to get even stronger prescription glasses. I have astigmatism and a few other issues that had the eye doctors stumped for weeks.

During the month of February, my main focus was health and fitness, which unfortunately led to neglecting my blog. Moving forward, I believe I should return to using a “Power List” instead of a task list solely focused on mental toughness. I felt burnt out from completing tasks, which affected my motivation for blogging, my sticker side hustle, and exploring other avenues to earn money. Additionally, my work shifts were reduced, resulting in inconsistent work hours compared to before. Anyways, here is a recap of how February 2024 went down:

February Recap 2024

Career Goals:

Try to aim for 9-12 shifts this month I thought I had enough shifts but a couple of them were cancelled. I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t get nearly as many shifts as I would have liked.
Catch up on emails if there are any I often I check my emails even if it takes a long time to reply to them.
Bid on shifts for February as they become available There haven’t really been shifts to bid on and any shifts that are available don’t work with my schedule.
Add 1-2 new designs on #Redbubble Redbubble just increased their prices without telling me and I am not happy about it. It has killed my motivation to upload new designs. Prices now start around $2.00 CAD but it seems to change on a daily basis depending on how the Canadian dollar is doing….

🌸 **Follow me on Redbubble:** @sereneluna 🌸

Personal Goals:

Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly goals/recap blog posts Like I said above, I have been busy focusing on working out and other life commitments that I haven’t had time to blog. I hope to blog more next month.
Figure out a posting schedule for #Medium I actually want to start uploading articles to Medium again, especially since work is so slow and I need to find other ways to earn money.
Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments I have been doing surprisingly well at this despite not using a planner. I track all appointments on my phone, which I know isn’t a good idea but it’s what I’m using for now.
Read 10 pages of a personal development book each day Yes! I have stuck with this habit and am really enjoying it so far.

(っ◔◡◔)っ Want to buy me a coffee? Now you can! 👉 https://ko-fi.com/sereneluna

Health Goals:

Two 45-min workouts per day + upload progress on Twitter Yes! I have been exercising on a daily basis. It is exhausting and I might cut back on the 90min workouts or just aim for 10,000 steps/day since two 45-min workouts isn’t really sustainable long-term.
Limit drinks to water, tea, and coffee Yes! I have been really diligent about this. Also, I finally used up those Nuun tablets btw.
Track hydration on Water Llama app Yes! I have been doing this consistently and I’m happy with my progress so far. I seem to forget to track my water intake if I’m not sticking to a routine, so I need to remember this for next month.
Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app Yes! I use the app everyday and have finally moved up to Level 45 (insert blog post)
Healthy/clean eating 90% of the time Um, more like 80%. Even though I cut out take-out food and processed snacks, Tim Horton’s donuts, and all food from MCDs, I still eat Asian processed snacks which I know makes no sense. I really like the Pineapple tarts and White Rabbit Candy and Lucky Strawberry Candy, m’kay? My husband is Singaporean and buys the snacks, and then I eat the snacks.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I know I am not perfect, nor am I trying to be perfect. I am doing my best. I am aware that I still have a sugar addiction that may be hindering my weight loss goals. I’ll know that I have reached my goals when my clothes fit comfortably again. This journey can be frustrating, so I am focusing on how I feel internally and making decisions based on that, rather than living by strict rules.

Sadly, my infinity hoop keeps breaking so I am afraid to use it now. Once the last remaining piece breaks, I can’t replace my hoop. I have decided to get a weighted hula hoop but not sure where to get one. My husband wants me to buy one from the store rather than purchase one from Amazon, but I can’t find one anywhere. So if anyone happens to know where I can get a weighted hula hoop or an adult-sized hula hoop that I can use for workouts, please let me know.

Finally, I am curious to know what your goals were for the month of February and whether or not you accomplished what you were hoping to. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. It is harder than ever to grow on that platform but I really do enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

S.L.E.E.P.S. 7-Day Challenge | Day 2

May 19, 2018November 28, 2019

Today is Day 2 of the 7-Day S.L.E.E.P.S. challenge! Like the acronym suggests, I am actually feeling exhausted today. My iron deficiency anemia has caught up with me yet again and I crashed on the couch this afternoon. A trip to campus and local mall this morning was exhausting for me and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take the bus to find the clinical placement today. I wanted to go there and had good intentions, but battling anemia is another challenge. I think I need to start taking my iron supplements in order to be a somewhat-functioning human.

If you would like to read about the S.L.E.E.P.S. 7-day challenge, you can find my first posting here. This challenge was originally mentioned on a podcast called Operation Self Reset. The purpose of this challenge is to document personal progress, crush goals, and conquer fears for a week. Here is the breakdown from Day 1:

The acronym is S.L.E.E.P.S.

S – Smile: what made you smile yesterday?
L – Learn: what did you learn today?
E – Exercise: how did you exercise?
E – Execute (x4): what are your goals and what are you doing to achieve them?
P – Phone call: who did you call/text today? Show them gratitude.
S – Smile: what made you smile today?

Day 2 ~ May 19, 2018

S – I did something spontaneous today and got my eyebrows waxed and tinted. They were unmanageable and I finally decided to pamper myself. I also got a second pair of scrubs for clinical and found some nursing shoes. 👠These shoes are funky and I was unsure about the pattern. However, I think that these shoes will help me stand out from the other students! These Alegria Debra Water Baby shoes are super comfortable to walk in because they have cork soles.

I shouldn’t be a Debbie downer but I lost my tracking mouse, which is inconvenient to replace. Ironically, I still have the marble and the piece that connects to the laptop, but it’s useless without the mouse. 😭 Everyone disliked my mouse because they couldn’t figure out how to use it. I am sad to have lost it during the lecture yesterday but my husband is relieved that I have to use a “modern mouse” now.

L – I learned that I need to start treating my iron deficiency anemia because it’s affecting my productivity. I also learned where the lost and found is on campus. I will check it out next week but I doubt that the mouse will be there. I pray that some kind soul returns it to its rightful owner.

E – I walked to the bookstore and wandered around campus today. I then took the bus to the mall and spent 3 hours there. This mall is kinda lame, however, they had everything I was looking for. By the time I got home, I took a nap and didn’t have the energy to leave the house again. I also realized that I need to get groceries or I will be living off of Kraft Dinner next week.

Sorry MLP lovers but I am not a fan of ponies or cartoons featuring ponies. I don’t get what this GIF means. I like D.W. even though she loves ponies so she is an exception.

E – Here are my plans for the rest of the weekend:
(1) Take the bus and find the clinical placement
(2) Need groceries for next week or get creative with pantry food
(3) Let the landlord know that the stove is broken
(4) ~~Clean the apartment~~. Make some overnight oats for tomorrow morning.

P – I called my mom today and also chatted with my husband on the phone for a while. I miss my husband and 18-month old daughter terribly and I wish they lived here. I didn’t talk to any friends today and I’m not in the mood to text people or check social media. I am feeling antisocial this weekend which is usually a sign that another depression wave is looming. Isolation usually makes the situation worse so I try to leave the house once a day.

S – Well, at least I left the house today even though it’s the only productive thing I did all day as well as writing this blog post. I always feel better after publishing a new post and will try to keep up with blogging during the summer semester. Right now, I feel like a bus ran me over because I am so drained of energy. Here is another thing to smile about: thank goodness for autosave. I accidentally closed the tab which is another sign that I desperately need caffeine!

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Will you join me on this 7-day challenge? Please leave a comment below ↓ and feel free to leave a link to your blog if you decide to join me. I would love to read about your S.L.E.E.P.S. Let’s spread some love while crushing our goals!

S.L.E.E.P.S. 7-Day Challenge

May 18, 2018November 28, 201911 Comments

Today, I was searching for new podcasts to listen to and I stumbled upon a podcast called Operation Self Reset. Immediately, I was hooked because this highly-engaging podcast focusses on personal growth and development which happens to be my favorite genre! There was a specific episode that made me think deeply about finding the motivation to gain more balance and happiness in my life.

By embarking on a 7-day challenge, this challenge will help me reflect on my daily activities and pinpoint areas that need improving. I want to do this challenge because I need to make positive changes in my life, and most importantly, maintain long-term positive vibes. I feel like the main points of the acronym cover all of the areas that I need to focus on. NOW is the time to start. Not tomorrow. Not next month. No matter how many excuses I have, I need to start this challenge today.

The acronym is S.L.E.E.P.S.

Day 1 ~ May 18, 2018

S – I don’t remember what made me smile yesterday because I had a bad day. I was so tired and lethargic and I slept for 12 hours last night. I was worried about my clinical next week. I was worried about my husband and daughter flying on the plane. I was praying that they would arrive safely at their destination. I was full of worry.

L – I learned about Family Assessment Models and Intervention Models in lecture today. The material is dry but I managed to get my readings done for the week. I was able to follow the lecture because I read ahead earlier this week. It is rare for me to work ahead so I guess that is something to smile about. ☺️

E – I walked to school and wandered around campus today. I think that the campus is big and my classes are spaced relatively far apart. Ever since moving to this new city, I started engaging in a great deal of walking. There is no need for me to join a gym because I get adequate exercise when I’m outside.

E – Here are my goals for the weekend:
(1) Need nursing shoes for May 31
(2) Need another pair of scrubs
(3) Take the bus and find the clinical placement
(4) Finish cleaning the apartment

P – I tried calling my husband but he seemed busy. I texted a friend and she seemed annoyed that I sent her an article to read. I don’t like texting because it is difficult to read body language. Usually, I don’t call people unless it’s my husband or my mother. It will be hard to reach out to people through phone calls but I understand the impact of a phone call vs. a bland text message. At this time, I don’t see myself executing phone calls to friends yet.

S – I broke my Tim Hortons steeped tea fast today after my 21-day ban. Society’s belief system suggests that it takes 21 days to break a habit. However, I was miserable without my steeped tea and the caffeine withdrawal headaches were unbearable. It is not worth being miserable so I will allow myself 3 large steeped teas per week and the occasional iced coffee at MCDs as long as I walk there and back (3 km total distance).

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