The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Let me start by saying that I think the fact that I read this book is a little embarrassing.  Self help books remind me of something that 40ish downward spiraling divorced people read while eating ben and jerry's and sipping on a little too much vino.  I, for one, am only 24, and though I sometimes feel like I'm in the middle of my own downward spiral (helllllllllo quarter life crisis drama queen), I'm not currently shoving ben and jerrys down my pie hole.  And perhaps talking about -admitting, in fact, that I have these sad and depressing moments - is a little too much airing of the ole dirty laundry..... Whatever.  It's not like it hasn't been done before around here right?  Right.  


Oh hi this is me - the creeper with the dirty eyebrows reading self help in the corner by my glitter wall.  

Now that I have written that little confession of sorts can I tell you how great this book has been?  I finished it last week, and I'll be honest it's not a real page turner, but it is interesting and I think within the pages lies the best advice I have ever been given.  Lot's of the advice sometimes seems super tricky to enact, but you know if you did what the author said that your life would be fricking fabulous and you'd smile more and you'd be prettier and skinnier and your husband and parents and siblings and children (future children in my case) and dog and cat and maybe even your gold fish - they would all like you more.  And if they didn't - well you'd be so damn pleased with your jolly EFFECTIVE self that you wouldn't really care all that much.  


I didn't start really trying to perform what I learned in this book as I went.  But once I finished it, I immediately went to the front and started reading it again.  This time I am going to try to use the book more as a tool, rather than a straight read.  Right now, I am 5 days into the author's recommended 30 days of Proactivity.  And let me tell you, it is going down a treat.  


So good in fact, that I question why I was ever embarrassed in the first place.  I mean, surely people who read these types of books are just looking to improve themselves - and what is more noble than that?  My 5 days of proactivity so far have provided me with multiple new friends, a better relationship with my husband, and issues at my job are now being addressed by my boss.  If all this can happen in 5 days, I am excited for what the next 25 more days will hold.  


I would highly recommend this book to anyone who ever talks to a person ever.  Even if the only person you talk to is yourself, actually ESPECIALLY if the only person you talk to is yourself.  

Friends, do you think you are effective?

I feel so effective right now.

ps.  Finishing this book was also on my Day Zero, 

which is back up and running fyi, so I can cross it off!  Woo hoo.

24 Hours Unplugged

The other day, Molly challenged me to go 24 hours unplugged.  

I'm game.  Bring it on.

I knew it would be challenging, but I seriously thought I could do it.

I think Molly tried to go totally gadget free, but I just wanted my computer turned off because that is my biggest problem.  I'm not addicted to my phone and don't really use it for anything but calling Nick, so I didn't have a no phone rule as part of the challenge.  

Here is a break down of my technology free day in response to Molly's breakdown....

7:00 - wake up.
8 - 10:00 receive delivery of new kitchen!!  Woooo hoooo!! 
10:00 - Notice they have provided us with the wrong piece of counter top.
10:13 - Call Nick to discuss this.  He sends me a file with our order on it that he his unable to open.  Asks me to open it for him.
10:14 - Shit.  OK well this is important I will turn the computer on for a minute.
10:15 - Computers on.  Check facebook. 
10:22 - Open email document Nick sent me. 
10:25 - Call Nick back and sort our little problem out.  Should be fine.  Turn computer off and tell myself it will be off for the rest of the day.  Yeah.  Sure.
11:00 - Kitchen fitter arrives.  Talk through plans.  He requests money and tea.  Seriously, the British can't do anything without tea.
11:26 - Take Heidi out for a walk. 
12:10 - Walk past a swing set.  Realize I have plenty of time on my hands since I have no computer and I sit down on the swing and watch Heidi stalk birds in the field.  Then I start to swing.  Like really swing.  Hell yeah!  This is as much fun as I remember it being 10 years ago. I'm FLYINGGGGGGGGGGGGG.  Why haven't I done this in ages!?
12:30 - Arrive home.  Go into new kitchen and it is already looking awesome.  Seriously brings a tear to my eye.
1:00 - Eat lunch.  
1:30 - Iron Nick's shirts.
 2:00 - Ummmm what am I supposed to do now?  Crawl into bed with Heidi and pass out despite lots of banging and drilling and construction noise.  Oh insomnia, I hate you, but you do provide me with the best day time naps.
3:30 - Nick calls and is on his way home. 
4:00 - Nick gets home.  Show him the kitchen and talk to the kitchen fitters.  He is pumped.  
4:30 - 5:45 - I talk to my husband.  Like actually talk to him.  Without any internet distractions. Amazing.
5:30 - Nick asks if I have looked for jobs today.  I tell him no - I am trying not to use my computer today.  This pisses him off.  He understands the point of not doing useless stuff on the computer, but he thinks I need to be looking for jobs.  
5:35 - I turn on the computer.  I check facebook, I read blogs.
5:45 - I look at a few jobs.
5:55 - I introduce Nick to Total Frat Move.  Hilarious.  But such a waste of time.  He thinks my internet addiction really is a problem.
6:00 - Nick gets ready to go to a work party.  He bought new shoes and a new suit and he looks hot.  I actually take the time to tell him this because I have closed down TFM.  I could tell how good it made him feel.  Must remember to tell him this more often.
6:30 - Nick's cab arrives and I make dinner.
6:30 - 7:00 - Eat dinner in front of computer.  Send Molly a message to tell her I failed on 24 hours unplugged.
7:00 - Turn off computer.  Begin painting wood work in hall way.
8:00 - Mom calls.  Cell phone dies mid conversation.  Ugh.  Must turn computer back on to return her call on Skype.
8:30 - Back to painting.  Computer is left on, meaning I sporadically check email and facebook mid paint, but I try not to do it as much as normal.  And I have a revelation.  More on this later.
10:30 - Finish painting.  Take a much needed bath since we still do not have a shower.  Thats OK though, I used Lush products and that makes life better.  
11:00 Nick comes home.  I check my email and facebook before bed and decide that I have royally FAILED at being unplugged for 24 hours.  


And that my friends is my day unplugged.  Really, I wasn't unplugged at all.  But the truth is, this made me more mindful of my internet usage.   While trying to avoid using the computer made me feel slightly anxious at first, I quickly figured out how much my productivity and enjoyment of the simple things in life would increase if I could manage use it less.  

Also noted, when my computer is turned on, I have the urge to check it more and get sucked in.  If it is turned off, that urge is much MUCH easier to resist.


The thing I think I've realized is this:  Using your computer is like eating.  Hear me out.  It's not a sin.  But if you eat too much, that is gluttony, and that IS a sin.  Likewise, using your (my) computer too often for mindless activity is wasting YOUR (my) potential.  From now on, I will make an effort to use my computer mindfully.  

Can you go 24 hours unplugged?