lostintellectual

[lostintellectual]

Organization, Self-discipline, Distractability, and a Rant

A friend of mine re-posted this tweet. I am quite certain that because of this friend’s (VERY REAL) struggles there was a feeling of being seen and validated. And that’s a valid point of view. If something comforts you in your struggles, that’s valid, no kidding. And this article might annoy you. Scroll on by. I’m not wanting to dump on what keeps you going. Times are rough enough. Seriously…

My initial reaction before logic kicked in was nearly incandescent rage. Which led to this rabbit hole as I tried to deal with it.

Why did a little meme make me so mad?

So, remember how it took me thirty years to vacuum a closet? I could have as easily said it took me thirty years to pay my bills or cook a meal or several other things.

Oh sure, I’m organized now. I’m talking “color-coded boxes when it is time to move” level of organization, ‘kay? But even though other people don’t see it, I still remember being shamed in fourth grade because of the desk cubby crammed full of books and papers, and being asked, “You’re so smart, how come you can’t–” about So. Many. Things.

I didn’t become organized by ignoring reality

I am not naturally organized. I am not naturally industrious, and I am not naturally all that productive. I’d call myself lazy, but that invites a lecture from anyone who loves me about being too hard on myself.

I did, at some point, need to accept certain realities. Not paying bills can land one in court. Disorganization can be a big problem in one’s professional life. In my own case, I also have a big problem with depression, so I cannot count day to day being on the ball and thinking clearly. (I mean, really, this rant was because of an initial reaction of NOT thinking clearly)

So, shooting for some damn Platonic Form of “Organized and Disciplined” in my case is a recipe for failure. I’m going to bet it is for you, too.

If your plan has no way to account for delays and failure points, it’s a wish, not a plan. There used to be a fashion in self-development on YouTube to have The Perfect Morning Routine. You know, get up, do twenty minutes of yoga, make yourself the perfect nutritionally-balanced breakfast, read some Improving Literature, and bike to work… that kind of thing. To tell on myself, yeah, I’m trying to get in more stretching and yeah, I use a yoga app for that. My general idea is that I’ll get up and do twenty minutes of yoga (stop laughing at me) and then do my day. I did not, in fact, get right up and do that. It’s almost ten in the morning, I’ve been up since six, and I’m here writing this incredibly detailed rant and not getting in that stretching. So I’m failing, right? Wrong.

“Imperfectly Perfect” has a lot going for it My goal for the month is to get in ten minutes of yoga a day as an average measured over a month. I’ll throw in a few minutes today at some point. Probably after I write this. While an organized person looks like they’re doing things in a strict way and in a specific order, that may not be entirely the case. Sure, you have to show up at the dentist at a specific time, or take your meds before you eat or something. But what time you do your writing or wash your dishes has a lot more wiggle room. Let it have that wiggle room and let goals that don’t need to be exact be inexact.

“Good Enough” and “Perfect” are two different things. Good enough is better than Perfect. Bed making… I’ve heard people say that bed-making is too much trouble. When I hear that, I almost always presume another choke point — bed against the wall makes making it a pain in the ass, depression makes it hard to get OUT of bed, never mind making it, things like that. But… If the only time you make your bed is when you have the energy to make it neatly enough you won’t be yelled at on Parris Island, you have absolutely confused “Perfect” and “Good Enough.”

I took that picture thirty seconds before I wrote this. I did no adjustments on the bed. It’s just how I made it this morning. I woke up this morning cranky and wanting to punch Humanity in the mouth. So, not motivated. This meets my personal definition for good enough. It’s made. I’m dressed and doing my day.

Good. Enough.

Defining Good Enough will help you. What is “Good Enough” in your life?Ignoring real issues of executive function will set you up for failure.

Are you distractable? I am. In fact, this article is a prime example of distractability for me. I haven’t written what I plan to do for the day in my Bullet Journal and haven’t done most of my Wednesday morning chores. I got ranty and just had to sit down and write this. That yoga I was going to do? That planning out the day I (usually) do? Obviously not happening right now as I ranty, ranty, rant.

But my life is set up to account for things like this. I accept and plan for the fact that stuff like this happens! I have a means to track what needs to be done that won’t let the genuinely important and urgent things fall through the cracks. Even though I am currently caught up in the glorious dopamine hit of ranting, those things that need to be done are quietly sitting in their places, waiting for my attention.

Thing is, it’s more than just a to-do list. It’s setting up your life to account for how your brain works.

That might mean storing your extra sheets under your mattress so you will immediately re-make the bed when you wash your sheets, or hanging a mask on the back of your door so you don’t forget to put then thing on before you leave your apartment. (Yeah, I know, that looked oddly specific, didn’t it?)Being organized and disciplined is a skill. Mastering skills take time.

Think of anything you know how to do — playing an instrument, cooking a meal, writing fiction, driving, whatever.You might have wanted to master it overnight. But if you actually developed the skill instead of stopping the activity, you probably put in a lot of time and effort. You probably had failures that made you wince at yourself.

Learning the skill of organization is no different.

I know that saying it took me thirty years of solid work to get organized seems like hyperbole. It’s not. It was really that difficult for me.

Which is, I know, why images like the above set me off a little. I know the intention is to make people feel better about a mutual struggle.

But it also makes me feel like in the common cultural mind, my life’s work was mostly a waste of time.

[lostintellectual]

Rules

Monday - Friday Morning Walk - 1.5 miles @ 3.5mph Morning PO Strength Training - Warm up with core activator - Push/Pull Isolation days (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body) - Push/Pull Compound Days (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body exercises) - Miscellany Day (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body) - Week One of 4 heavy sets Morning Cardio - 60 min elliptical Evening Cardio, 1 hour - Monday, Ballet - Tuesday, Swimming - Wednesday, Running - Thursday, Boxing - Friday, Cycling Evening Stretching, After Cardio - Toes to top (calves, hamstrings, quads, hips, splits, back, shoulders, chest and neck) - Add in oversplit stretching - Foam Roll Meal Plan, 10-14 Intermittent Fasting Wear Back Brace to bed for waist shaping

Saturday Morning Walk Morning Cardio + Stretching Sweet Breakfast, Fat Lunch (purge) Drink

Sunday Morning Walk Morning Cardio + Stretching Tea and Coffee

[lostintellectual]

Meal Plan - Monday through Friday

865 Cals- 104g protein, 96g Carbs, 11g Fat, 24g Fiber

1000mL water with morning workout + cardio 500mL water with fruit/herb infusions with lunch + dinner 200mL water + ACV before breakfast + lunch + dinner 200mL green tea after dinner 200mL peppermint tea before bed

5:30am – Preworkout, French toast and Fruit (134 cals, 8g protein, 27g carbs) - 2 slices Sarah Lee 45cal bread - 1 egg white - 60mL Unsweet almond milk - 1 tsp monkfruit sweetner - 1tsp Fiber powder - ½ tsp cinnamon - 1oz raspberries - 1oz blueberries Beat egg white, almond milk, fiber, sweetener and cinnamon together. Dip bread in, coating both sides and cook in a skillet on medium low heat until crispy and brown. Flip and do the same to the other side. Microwave the fruit until hot, top the toast and sprinkle with optional powdered sugar or low cal whipped topping.

8:30am – Postworkout, Mocha Smoothie (172 cals, 28g protein, 14g carbs) - 8oz Black Drip Coffee - 1tsp fiber powder - 30g Collagen Peptide Protein Powder - 120mL Chocolate Almond Milk Shake together the coffee, fiber and protein powder (don’t be weirded out by the smell) before stirring in the almond milk.

12:00pm – Chicken Vegeta-Christian Bale Salad (352 cals, 40g protein, 39g carbs) - 5oz Raw Chicken Breast - Half a Bell Pep - 30g Frozen Peas - 45g Dry whole Wheat Spaghetti Dice up the chicken breast and sautee with S&P and a bit of garlic in a pan coated with nonstick spray. Slice up lightly sautee the bell pep. Boil some water and throw in the pasta to cook for about 8 minutes. Nuke the peas and top the pasta with all veggies and chicken and an 8th teaspoon of white truffle oil.

4:00pm – Dinner, Salmon Salad (207 cals, 28g protein, 18g carbs) - 4oz Raw Salmon - 1oz Grape Tomatoes - 2oz Cucumber - Lemon Juice - Vinegar - 75g Low Sodium Canned Chickpeas - 1oz Raw Kale (stems stripped) - 2oz Raw Spinach Roast the slammin’ with a little S&P until browned and tender with an internal temp of 180. Finely dice the tomatoes and cucumber, then mix with the chickpeas, lemon juice and vinegar to form a simple slaw and set aside. Rough chop the kale and and spinach leaves, then top with salmon and slaw with an optional dash of balsamic vinegar.

[lostintellectual]

Rules

Monday - Friday Morning Walk - 1.5 miles @ 3.5mph Morning PO Strength Training - Warm up with core activator - Push/Pull Isolation days (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body) - Push/Pull Compound Days (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body exercises) - Miscellany Day (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body) - Week One of 4 heavy sets Morning Cardio - 60 min elliptical Evening Cardio, 1 hour - Monday, Ballet - Tuesday, Swimming - Wednesday, Running - Thursday, Rowing - Friday, Cycling Evening Stretching - Toes to top (calves, hamstrings, quads, hips, splits, back, shoulders, chest and neck) - Add in oversplit stretching - Foam Roll Meal Plan, 16-8 intermittent fasting Wear Back Brace to bed for waist shaping

Saturday Morning Walk Morning Cardio + Stretching Sweet Breakfast, Fat Lunch (purge) Drink

Sunday Morning Walk Morning Cardio + Stretching Prep for week long fast Broth, Green Juice, Water, Tea and Coffee

[lostintellectual]

Meal Plan

Eating Day Instructions (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 750mL water with morning workout + evening cardio 250mL water with ACV and fiber before lunch + dinner 500mL water with fruit/herb infusions after each meal 200mL peppermint tea before bed 600 cals, 91g Protein, 28g Carbs, 13g Fat

6:00am – Breakfast, Fruit Salad (103 cals, 1g protein, 26g carbs) - Half Honey Crisp Apple - 1oz Green Grapes - 2oz Raspberries - Splash of lime Slice up the apples and grapes. Mix it all together with some freshly squeezed juice for a lil lip smackin’ niceness.

9:00am – Lunch, Chicken and Roasted Veggie Salad (223 cals, 36g protein, 10g carbs) - 5oz Raw Chicken Breast - 3 Leaves Green Lettuce - 2oz Fresh Spinach - 3oz Raw Zucchini - 2oz Raw Eggplant Cube eggplant, mix with nonstick spray and S&P then roast until roasty at 350. Chop chicken breast into small pieces, the sautee with S&P until cooked through and golden brown. Slice up the greens and the zucchini- top greens with veggies and chikkin- optional balsamic vinegar sprinkle for flavor.

2:00pm – Meatloaf (237 cals, 36g protein, 6g carbs) - 5oz 93/7 Ground Beef - 1 egg white - 5g Ground Oats - Half Slice Ultra Thin Sharp Cheddar - 1tbsp No Sugar Added Ketchup - Third of a Cucumber Slice up the cheddar into lil’ bits. Mix ground beef, egg white, oats and cheddar, then portion into a greased muffin tin. Spread tops with ketchup and bake at 350 until the internal temp measures 175- about 20 minutes. Slice up the cucumber and om nom nom.

2:00pm – Snack, Smoothie (168 cals, 29g protein, 12g carbs) - 30g Collagen Peptide Protein Powder - 5g Supergreens Powder - ½ teaspoon cinnamon - 90mL Unsweet Almond Milk - Third of a Banana, Frozen - 1tsp Fiber Supplement Blitz it all. Slurp away with the Meatloaf.

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Fasting Day Instructions (Tuesday + Thursday) Eat le Fruit Salad before morning workout 750mL water with morning workout + evening cardio 500mL fruit/herb infused water before/after each tea 200mL Peppermint tea before bed

9:00am – Dessert Tea 2:00pm – Green Tea 6:00pm – Fruit Tea

Soft Fast, can snack on a handful of frozen grapes, other fruit or a small piece of bittersweet chocolate if needed – either or, not all

[lostintellectual]

Meal Plan

Eating Day Instructions (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 500mL water with morning workout + evening cardio 200mL water with ACV and fiber before lunch + dinner 500mL water with fruit/herb infusions with each meal 200mL peppermint tea before bed Snack on Frozen Grapes or a small serving of bittersweet chocolate if needed

860 cals - 93g protein, 98g carbs

6:30am – Breakfast, Cereal (128 cals, 4g protein, 29g carbs) - 35g Grape Nuts Cereal - 90mL Unsweet Almond Milk - Teaspoon Monkfruit sweetener - Teaspoon Fiber supplement It’s cereal- eat it. Sweetener is so it doesn’t taste like cardboard. (cinnamon and nutmeg also help)

9:30am – Lunch, Chicken and Roasted Veggie Salad (221 cals, 36g protein, 10g carbs) - 5oz Raw Chicken Breast - 3 Leaves Green Lettuce - 2oz Fresh Spinach - 3oz Raw Beets (skinless) - 2oz Raw Eggplant Cube beets and eggplant, mix with nonstick spray and S&P then roast until roasty at 350. Chop chicken breast into small pieces, the sautee with S&P until cooked through and golden brown. Slice up the greens and top with veggies and chikkin- optional balsamic vinegar sprinkle for flavor.

1:30pm – Eggroll Bowl (300 cals, 33g protein, 30g carbs) - 5oz Pork Tenderloin, minced or ground - 20g Brown Rice, dry - 2oz Carrot, raw - 2oz Green Cabbage, raw - 1 Tbsp Sky Hill Peanut Sauce Sautee pork with a bit of salt, pepper and garlic until thoroughly cooked. Boil brown rice until cooked and drain excess water. Shred carrot and finely slice cabbage, then sautee until tender. Mix it all together with the peanut sauce and chow down.

2:00pm – Snack, Smoothie and Fruit (204 cals, 21g protein, 29g carbs) - 20g Collagen Peptide Protein Powder - 5g Supergreens Powder - ½ teaspoon cinnamon - 90mL Unsweet Almond Milk - Third of a Banana, Frozen - 70g Frozen Mango - 1tsp Fiber Supplement - 3oz Cantaloupe Blitz it all minus melon. Slurp and/or fork away after the Eggroll Bowl.

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Fasting Day Instructions (Tuesday + Thursday)

500L water with morning workout + evening cardio 500mL fruit/herb infused water before/after each tea 200mL Peppermint tea before bed 10:00am – Dessert Tea 2:00pm – Green Tea 6:00pm – Fruit Tea

Soft Fast, can snack on a handful of frozen grapes, other fruit or a small piece of bittersweet chocolate if needed – either or, not all

[lostintellectual]

Cheat Day

Had some almond butter with raisins and honey with an ice cream bar, cookies after the gym, tacos and a churro in the evening and a vodka grand marnier cocktail before cardio.

[lostintellectual]

Meal Plan

Eating Day Instructions (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 500mL water with morning + evening workout 200mL water with ACV and fiber before lunch + dinner 500mL water with fruit/herb infusions with each meal

5:30am – Breakfast, Oatmeal Cookies (191 cals, 7g protein, 36g carbs) - Egg White - Banana - 1.5 Cups Quick Oats - ½ Teaspoon Cinnamon Mash banana, mix in cinnamon, oats and egg white. Scoop out cookies (12) and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

9:30am – Lunch, Spicy Chicken and Rice (265 cals, 35g protein, 20g carbs) - 5oz Raw Chicken Breast - 20g Uncooked Brown Rice - 1 medium tomato - ½ Teaspoon red pepper flakes - Boil rice until soft and drain excess water. Boil chicken breast until cooked and shred. Chop tomato and sautee with red pepper, garlic powder and S&P until thick. Mix in chicken and cook for a bit. Pour over rice and spoon into mouth.

1:30pm – Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich (330 cals, 40g protein, 25g carbs) - Half Green Bell Pepper - 1/3 Yellow Onion - 5oz Bottom Round Beef Steak Slices - ½ Slice Ultra Thin Provolone - 2 Slices Sarah Lee Delightful Bread - Wachachachahah Sauce Thinly slice onion and bell pep, and sautee until soft with S&P. Thinly slice beef, and throw in with a splash of Worchestershire sauce. Toast the bread until toasty, pile on meat and veggies and cheese and nom nom nom.

5:30pm – Snack, Smoothie (149 cals, 20g protein, 15g carbs) - 120mL Unsweet Almond Milk - 70g Frozen Peach - 2oz Sliced Honeydew - 20g Collagen Peptide Protein Powder - 5g Supergreens Powder - ½ teaspoon cinnamon Blitz it all minus melon. Slurp and/or fork away.

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Fasting Day Instructions (Tuesday + Thursday) 1L water with morning workout 700mL fruit/herb infused water before/after each tea Fiber powder in each tea 7:00am - Black Coffee 10:00am – Dessert Tea 2:00pm – Green Tea 6:00pm – Fruit Tea

[lostintellectual]

Stats

Height: 5'3" Weight: 125.3lbs Waist: 25.75"

[lostintellectual]

Meal Plan

910 cals - 102g protein, 100g carbs, 17g fat

Eating Day Instructions (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1L water with morning workout 200mL water with ACV and fiber supplement before each meal 500mL water with fruit/herb infusions with each meal

5:30am – Breakfast, Oatmeal Cookies (191 cals, 7g protein, 36g carbs) - Egg White - 1 Banana - 1.5 Cups Quick Oats - Teaspoon Cinnamon Mash banana, mix in cinnamon, oats and egg white. Scoop out cookies (12) and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

9:30am – Lunch, Roasted Turkey Garbage Bowl (277 cals, 36g protein, 25g carbs) - 5oz Raw Turkey Breast - 25g Uncooked Brown Rice - Half a Carrot Boil rice until soft and drain excess water, mix with 0cal butter spray and S&P. Roast turkey breast at 350 with S&P and garlic. Slice turkey breast, throw on top of rice and grate on carrot and nom nom.

1:30pm – Dinner, Fish n’ Chips (292 cals, 39g protein, 22g carbs) - 3oz Sweet Potato - 5oz Raw Cod - Half Cucumber - 100g Plain Non-Fat Greek Yogurt - Dill - Dash of Flour - Lime Juice Chop sweet potato into sticks, spray with nonstick, toss with S&P and roast until soft on the inside. Season a bit of flour, toss the fish until coated and pan sear on medium low heat until tender and crisp. Chop cucumber into discs. Finely mince dill and mix with the yogurt and lime for a dipping sauce.

5:30pm – Snack, Smoothie Bowl (149 cals, 20g protein, 17g carbs) - 30mL Unsweet Almond Milk - Half a Frozen Peach - 2oz Frozen Raspberries - 20g Collagen Peptide Protein Powder - 5g Supergreens Powder Blitz it all. Slurp and/or spoon away. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fasting Day Instructions (Tuesday + Thursday) 1L water with morning workout 700mL fruit/herb infused water before/after each tea

10:00am – Dessert Tea 2:00pm – Green Tea 6:00pm – Fruit Tea

Each tea had a teaspoon of fiber powder

[lostintellectual]

Stats

Height: 5'3" Weight: 121.4lbs Waist: 25 1/4"

[lostintellectual]

Rules

Monday - Friday Morning Walk - 1.5 miles @ 3.5mph Morning PO Strength Training - Warm up with core activator - Push/Pull Isolation days (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body) - Push/Pull Compound Days (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body exercises) - Miscellany Day (2 upper body exercises + 2 lower body) - Week One of 4 heavy sets Morning Cardio - 60 min elliptical Evening Cardio, 1 hour - Monday, Ballet - Tuesday, Swimming - Wednesday, Running - Thursday, Boxing - Friday, Cycling Evening Stretching, After Cardio - Toes to top (calves, hamstrings, quads, hips, splits, back, shoulders, chest and neck) - Add in oversplit stretching - Foam Roll Meal Plan, 10-14 Intermittent Fasting Wear Back Brace to bed for waist shaping

Saturday Morning Walk Morning Cardio + Stretching Sweet Breakfast, Fat Lunch (purge) Drink

Sunday Morning Walk Morning Cardio + Stretching Tea and Coffee

[lostintellectual]

Meal Plan For The Week

935 cals - 100g protein, 100g carbs, 16g fat Eating Day Instructions (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 1L water with morning workout 200mL water with ACV and fiber before each meal 500mL water with fruit/herb infusions with each meal

5:30am – Pre Workout Snack, Multigrain Cheerios (167 cals, 3g protein, 33g carbs)

Half Cup Unsweet Almond Milk

40g Multigrain Cheerios

Uhm, it’s cereal. Measure and eat, my guy.

9:30am – Breakfast, Chicken Salad Sammich (308 cals, 38g protein, 25g carbs)

2 slices Sarah Lee Delightful Bread

Quarter of an Apple

5oz raw chicken breast

1t tsp light mayo

Finely chop and sautee chicken with S&P. Chop apple and mix with chicken and mayo. Distribute on toasty bread, and munch away.

1:30pm – Lunch, Salmon Quinoa Garbage Bowl (256 cals, 30g protein, 23g carbs)

5oz Salmon

30g dry quinoa

2oz broccoli

Pan sear salmon with S&P and a little lemon and honey. Boil quinoa and add a bit of balsamic vinegar and 0cal butter spray. Steam or blanch broccoli. Toss the fish and broccoli on top of the grain. Called a garbage bowl for a reason.

5:30pm – Dinner, Smoothie Bowl (204 cals, 30g protein, 20g carbs)

30mL Unsweet Almond Milk

Third of a Frozen Banana

3oz Frozen Watermelon

100g Plain Unsweet Greek Yogurt

20g Collagen Peptide Protein Powder

5g Supergreens Powder

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Fasting Day Instructions (Tuesday + Thursday) 1L water with morning workout 700mL fruit/herb infused water before/after each tea

10:00am – Dessert Tea 2:00pm – Green Tea 6:00pm – Fruit Tea