21 Day FitBoard Challenge: Week 3

Woot! I made it! I can see and feel results that are spurring me onto the next challenge!

Day 15:

Wow I can feel the workout. Will it ever be easy to lift the 8 pounders?

Day 16:

Everyday my baby steps are building up to something big. I remind myself of how bamboo shoots grow.

Day 17:

Protesting muscles make it difficult to move quickly!

Day 18:

I was very proud of myself for not overindulging into full fat-full-carb full-sugar chocolate cake and pizza for Mother’s Day!

Day 19:

It can be hard to stick to a regimen, but I’m almost through!

Day 20 :

Only did 1/2 of the total workout due to scheduling. I can definitely feel those 12 pounders!

Day 21!!!:

Am seeing the results and looking at how I can make changes to my diet. The 12# weights actually seem like an attainable goal.

– Naya

21 Day FitBoard Challenge: Week 2

Wow! 2 weeks in and I’m feeling great! And actually seeing the results!

Today was my weekly weigh in…….drumroll please….. and I lost 3#!!!

Day 8:

Modified workout, cracked FitBoard by accident (maybe some gorilla glue might help?) The workout goes by very quickly.

Day 9:

Modified workout with weights and didn’t use FitBoard as much -I didn’t want it to crack even more.

Day 10:

Modified workout. So thankful for my tailbone hardly hurting after sitting in one position for long periods of time! Am I really almost 2 weeks into the challenge? Time flies!

Day 11:

Still modified work out, I’m definitely ready for heavier weights! The physical changes are so nice and I ordered a new FitBoard 🙂 Hopefully this one won’t crack so quickly!

Day 12:

I’m actually looking forward to using heavier weights!

Day 13:

So glad I got my 8# weights! Working those triceps really makes me rethink how heavy 8 pounds is! I had to slow down and not do every rep.

Day 14:

Two weeks in! I’m getting thinner because I can actually button my jeans. And, despite a slight internal grimace (with a prayer of hope) I weighed myself and I lost 3#!! Woot!!! All of my work is paying off!

Onto the next week!

-Naya

21 Day FitBoard Challenge: Week 1

I was inspired by one of my coworkers when they bragged about losing 6 pounds with the Noom app and doing low impact exercises.

Two days prior I found a FitBoard for $3 plus tax. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. After scrolling through different workouts online, I stumbled across the “FitBoard 21 Day Challenge.”

Day 1:

It feels good to exercise (and I’m definitely not partial to it!) and I feel accomplished afterwards. And not as sore as previously thought. 🙂

Day 2:

I definitely feel the workout when squatting to sit down!

Day 3:

Still feeling sore, but energized, healthy and loving the feeling of taking care of myself 🙂 Almost halfway through my first week!

Day 4:

Feeling less sore (yay!) and ready for a more intense workout. Halfway through my first week!

Day 5:

Hardly sore at all and I modified the workout to make it more challenging. Also, my posture is significantly better!

Day 6:

Feeling healthier and more confident about sticking with the 21 Day Challenge. I’m already starting to see results! (And I noticed when getting up from sitting in one position for an extended period of time, my tailbone is 50% less sore!)

Day 7:

Woot! Completed my first week! It is both rewarding and encouraging to actually see the results of my hard work:)

I continually modified my workout (I think I need heavier weights!) and am feeling great!

Also, I bravely stepped on the scale to track my weekly progress and was pleasantly surprised. 🙂

And, I couldn’t resist rewarding myself with a little treat – Almond Flour Carrot Cake (Thank you Joy Filled Eats!) :

-Naya

Donuts, Decaf And D.E.A.R Day

It was one of those days. I did not want to be an adult. I just wanted to veg and chill with decaf in my nice warm bed. And then I received an email from Half Price Books, announcing it was D.E.A.R Day.

Boo yeah!

So there I was sipping decaf, munching on a guilt free sweet and immersing myself in the world of Grandma Dowdel.

And, the day before I was excited to try out my new donut pan – (now I know why silicon is so popular! )

3 out of 6 isn’t a total loss:

-Naya

Friday Night Dinner And A Book Cover

I re-read the first chapter of a story written a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Wanting to get the creativity flowing, I updated the book cover and wow – it turned out really good. It really helps if I can see a mock-up cover of the story I want it to represent.

Wanting to do something a little different for Friday night dinner, I tweaked a recipe I had been eyeing to make my favorite – Hawaiian with a stuffed crust:

-Naya

Unexpected Bragging Rights

So there I was… ready to make the best low carb Chicken Pot Pie…I did all of the prep work including chopping the onions (love my Ninja kitchen system!) mixing up the sauce and adding all of the vegetables and finally put the crust on top -(it looked SO professional!).

It wasn’t until it was done baking that I realized I didn’t sauté the onions before baking. My trusty test pilot wouldn’t stop raving about it even with the onions still a bit crunchy.

Over the next few days, I was surprised at how well those less-than-ideal onions enhanced the flavor of the overall pot pie.

So all in all it was a success with unexpected bragging rights.

Note: The picture does not do the pot pie justice:

-Naya

A Guilt Free Celebration

For those celebratory moments, sticking to your diet can be challenging. Being torn between taking a break from your diet and yet wanting to maintain the progress you’ve been making can be quite the quandary.

So, instead of going all-out-glorious-full-carb full-sugar-artery-clogging-goodness-bad-girl, I opted for a loaded salad and then treated myself to a healthier (and cheaper!) dessert at home:

But I still look forward to that shrimp alfredo with extra shrimp and extra sauce!

-Naya

“A Good Dinner”

So when someone wants to spoil you and says “I’m going to make you a good dinner” (I’ve always wanted to be a “good dinner” – haha) your curiosity gets piqued.

This looked so good I had to share it:

And it tasted even better – better than any restaurant! I haven’t stopped raving about it, despite having it 2 nights in a row. Yup. It’s that good 🙂

My favorite thing about this dish, though, is that it was made with love – the most important ingredient in anything you do. 🙂

-Naya

Options And A Sweet Treat

In looking for the right direction to go, legally speaking regarding my book, I posted a question on a message board and got several responses. Most of the answers were MOS, stuff that was already figured out, but there are a couple of options to think about.

Meanwhile I used a special brownie pan to make a keto chocolate cake and it turned out very cute! (I couldn’t capture the cuteness, so I chose the next best thing- the deliciousness. :)).

Adding some whipped topping, sprinkles and of course my favorite caramel drizzle made it the perfectly portioned mid-afternoon sweet treat.

-Naya

Ever Have Those Crazy Dreams?

Not too long ago, I had this dream that answered a question that had been in the back of my mind for some time:

In the dream someone or something told me a category to put my book in on Amazon: business leadership. Which was a bit puzzling because the book isn’t about business leadership, but it has a major contributing factor into what makes or breaks a business leader.

So I’m taking that as a sign that I’m on the right track with my book and will use that category among others.

It’s a relief to have a direction to go because in my case, due to the content fitting into different categories, it can be overwhelming to choose. One more step closer to my dream of publishing and being a unprecedented record breaking best selling Amazon author!

And this BBQ Chicken Salad looked good enough to post:

-Naya

When Things Don’t Go According To Plan

So there I was ready to make huge progress and implement the weekly plan for my book. I had extra vacation days and had the to do list all organized and detailed.

And then it hit me. I was trying to do too much. How did I know this?

I was burnt out. On my vacation days of all days.

When it’s that bad, something’s gotta change. So after taking a few days off from my book I was mentally refreshed. During that time I lost count how many times I mindlessly watched cartoons – it felt great to be a kid again 🙂

Craving a sweet and healthy treat, I opted for my favorite low carb ice cream, sugar free caramel syrup and frozen berries:

-Naya

A New Year Is A New Start

It’s amazing to me how fast this whole year has gone. It doesn’t seem like the end of the year. In reflection, this has been one of the most challenging years of my life.

When going through the specific hard times, I didn’t know how I was going to make it through. I only focused on what I had to do next. There was no time or energy to think about anything else. And now, those challenging times seem so small. I think that is a sign of growth -my change in perspective.

With 2022, I have a lot of big goals and dreams. Some of which have been in the making for literally years. A new year is a new start, and I’m thankful to have another huge opportunity to make positive changes in my life and in the lives of others.

Wishing you all a very safe and happy new year!

-Naya

Progress Should Be Celebrated

So one way to not be guilty about all of those wonderful carbs I’ve had over Christmas is to know that with all of the progress made with healthy eating and exercising, that progress should be celebrated. And enjoyed! 😉

This was added to some Mac N Cheese and I felt good eating something that had way more healthy stuff than carbs:

But I will admit I’m so glad to be going back on my low carb/keto diet very soon:)

Meanwhile, it feels so good to be so close – I’m almost ready to send my book to the editor after a loooooooooong period of writing and rewriting!

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-Naya

The Moments For Which You Truly Live

Entrepreneur Ryan Blair once posted a picture of a billboard that said “You haven’t truly lived until you’ve done something for someone that can’t ever be repaid.”

Wow. Just wow. I had an amazing start to my weekend.

One of my coworkers has some serious health problems. I noticed something was wrong and asked her “Is there anything I can do for you?”

You know what she said?

“Just you being here is enough.”

Oh my heart!

I walked her to the entrance, and noticing two managers were there, who were somewhat aware something was wrong, figured I wasn’t needed. Just for extra support I stood by my friend for a little bit and then squeezed her shoulder and said “I hope you feel better soon.”

I figured that was the end of it and I could go back to my job.

Instead, she reaches up and grips my hand.

I got the message loud and clear. Nope. Not going back to work.

So I held her hand in both of mine and even after I had to switch from my bent over position to a more comfortable place, her grip never wavered.

I stood with her until her husband came and picked her up.

That night, as I was reflecting on my day, I was just blown away with how fulfilled I felt in being there for her. It’s a deep soul thing. I couldn’t stop talking about it. And then I figured out why:

We both did something for each other for which we could never be repaid. (Nor would we want to be.)

Moments like that are the ones for which you truly live.

And on a bakers note, the pumpkin muffins turned out great, as did the frosting :

-Naya

A Not As Guilty Thanksgiving

It was great. I cooked the turkey breast in the foodie, and the homemade cranberry sauce turned out great 😊. The stuffing was perfect and I tried the fireball eggnog for the first time – yummy!

I’ve been doing really well on my diet, but the day before Thanksgiving, I had close to half of a cherry pie. And then there was a 1/4 of that pumpkin pie that disappeared before dinner.

And when dinner was finally ready, I made myself proud:

1/4 cup mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup stuffing and a little bit of Turkey and I was full.

All in all, a not-as-guilty Thanksgiving it was 🙂

-Naya

When Breaking Your Keto Diet Feels Great

Even with the holidays starting, I was determined to stay on track…until my mom pointed out all the reasons why I should take a short break from my diet, while being tortured by the wonderful looking cherry pie with the ooey-gooey filling and flaky pie crust…SOLD!

So yup, I did have too much of that carb and sugar loaded goodness, (a day before Thanksgiving no less) as well as 3 Kings Hawaiian rolls. I felt a little better after doing 2k reverse crunches and making up for my “being bad” by having a very nice stir fry dinner:

We’ll see how bad I’ll be tomorrow….

-Naya

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Little did I know when I walked into work one day that I would get a surprise:

I found out I lost 2 pounds! And I dropped a pant size as well! No way! All of my hard work is paying off – the healthy eating, the exercising—- Yes! Yes!Yes! I can actually see progress being made and so can others – people keep saying “you’re looking really good!”

I was telling my mom how nice it is to see the scale go down instead of up (however slowly) and she said “Well, what goes up, must come down!”

One of the best encouragements ever.

And of course I couldn’t resist posting one of my all time favorite meals: keto quesadilla with grilled onions 😊

-Naya

A Great Start To A New Week

So I was determined to finish expanding the outline of my fairy story no matter how long it took me, even if I went to bed late.

And I did it!

The pride of overcoming that obstacle and seeing my story come together as a whole gave me a great start to my week! Now it’s a matter of breaking the expansion into chapters.

It was really interesting that as I wrote, scenes, characters and dialogue that I wasn’t planning on writing flowed so easily. It was a nice surprise 🙂

And of course I had to make more tortilla soup – an easy recipe and very freezer friendly when I don’t want to cook anything from scratch:

-Naya

Good Ideas And Inopportune Times

You know when good ideas come at the most inopportune times? Like right before you turn out the lights for some much needed sleep, after a long hard day.

A name for a character literally popped into my mind – I wasn’t even remotely interested in creating a character for a children’s book. Like, yes, eventually I want to have my own children’s book series but I had absolutely no idea what it would be about…until that night.

Not knowing where that name would take me, I brainstormed with my mom for 45 seconds everything that came to mind when thinking of the species of this character, and from that came more notes which turned into an outline I am 100% proud of…and of myself!! Like wow! I see the actual story! No way!

It felt so easy as I organized my brain dump into an outline.

I am excited for the other books in the series, but I don’t want to get too ahead of myself.

So for now, I’m noshing on the keto lasagna I made while expanding my outline:

-Naya

When The Dumping Period Is Over

I took a writing prompt from Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic and that has snowballed into a trilogy idea. Woot! Woot!

I wanted to give myself a challenge after re -skimming through Chris Fox’s 5000 Words Per Hour, just to see what happened.

It was great at first – starting with just a paragraph and then going up to 1500 words in a 20 minute period. I would skim over what I had written and then something would prompt me to expand on a certain portion of it.

I was excited and motivated to write more and more as the ideas wouldn’t stop flowing – and then suddenly, one day, when I sat down to write, my mind was literally blank. Like blank.

I honestly couldn’t write anymore. Nothing flowed. I just sat staring at the computer. It was then that I realized the “dumping” period was over, and outlining was the next step.

Ugh. The dreaded “O” word. 😩

It’s going surprisingly well and I’m excited to see all of the dots connecting in my story😊.

Meanwhile, a nice bowl of Turkey Chili is keeping me in good spirits as I overcome this challenge 😊

-Naya

“I’m A Big Kid Now”

After walking by the Nostalgia ice cream maker at Walmart countless times and debating with myself for far too long, I finally decided it was time to get one. (Especially considering it was only $20 and that Keto Butter Pecan ice cream recipe wouldn’t, under any circumstance, stop torturing me 😉.)

So, fingers crossed the machine wouldn’t break down during its first use, (don’t we all know you get what you pay for) I took it home and made my recipe the next morning.

Having never had the luxury of an ice cream maker growing up (our homemade ice cream was only made on the freezer) this was an entirely new experience for me.

After stirring the ice and salt layers twice, much to my pleasant surprise, this is what it looked like after 30 minutes:

No way?! Could it really be that easy?!

And so, I added toasted pecans and sugar free caramel syrup:

And the final result:

*drumroll please*

🎶 I’m a big kid now!🎶

This could easily become my obsession.

The next batch is going to be my version of “Java Chip.”

Coffee flavored ice cream is where it’s at. 😉

-Naya

A Cup Of Tea And A Favorite Book

With as crazy as things have been around here, I stumbled upon a most unusual surprise:

There is something really relaxing about sitting down with a cup of tea and a favorite book. No cell phones, no gadgets, no distractions. Having never had the luxury of a porch/ balcony this was an epiphany. And now it’s my favorite way to spend “quiet time.”

I can’t wait to conquer that stack of books I’m so good at accumulating 😊

– Naya

Dewey Readmore Books

I am way more of a cat person than a dog person. Hence my interest was piqued when I picked up Dewey at a local bookstore.

Intrigued by the story of that very photogenic cat on the cover, it was read cover to cover in an hour. I didn’t want to put it down.

As I was reading, I was reminded that there’s something special about a local hotspot having a resident pet. There just is. Usually it’s a combination of the pets’ character and backstory.

(I remember walking into a crafting shop and there was a very friendly cat who lived for the attention of any and all customers. (I could have cuddled that cat all day!) And just when that cat melted my heart, he completely won me over when the owner said he was adopted from a shelter.)

My conclusion after finishing the book (while sniffling):

“I want a Dewey!”

The Queen of Making Lemon Pie

“When life gives you lemons…make lemonade.”

Or so the saying goes.

I’m reminded of a conversation I once had with a friend:

Him: How are you?

Me: (after some thought on how best to articulate my feelings of being overwhelmed, but not dump on said friend)

I am so totally the queen of making lemonade lol

Him: I know.

Those two words, spoken a few years have meant so much to me as I reflect on the circumstances of my life at the time and what they are now.

As I continue to live my life despite storms that inevitably come my way, I’ve realized something:

With each storm being bigger than the last, I’m not the queen of making lemonade – I am the queen of making lemon pie. Why? Because lemon pie is a LOT harder to make than lemonade.

The past almost two months have been a major ground of testing for me – physically, mentally and emotionally.

The best way I can sum it up is it has given me an opportunity to step up my game and grow in ways I didn’t anticipate.

I see a light at the end of the tunnel which has given me a glimmer of realized hope as well as a little bit of breathing room.

After any big change, things become a little easier once a new routine is established. And I’m reminded that life goes on.

-Naya

A Breath Of Fresh Air

When things don’t go your way and haven’t for some time, when it seems life has been a series of unending brick walls and no matter how hard you’ve tried and nothing seems to be working, it can be really difficult to keep a bigger perspective. This past month has been quite interesting with a couple of curveballs thrown from life.

As I was feeling overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle, I was told something that stopped me in my tracks and even made me shed a little tear:

Nothing great was ever accomplished in shallow waters.

That gave me a much needed perspective, a breath of fresh air and hope that what I was doing wasn’t going to just be a means to an end.

-Naya

New Years Traditions and Challenges

So the carb indulging season is finally over (goodbye Swiss Rolls!) and the season of resolutions begins.

It has been quite a year, both personally and professionally. I’m ending this year and starting next year on a high note:

Some time ago, my family began a New Year’s  tradition of toasting all good things past, present and future – we stayed up until after 2 am! A lot has happened since that day. I’m thankful for who I am now, and where I am now.

Throughout seasons of challenge, Im always reminded of one of the most valuable truths ever told to me:

Just take it one day at a time.

When I was first told this, I thought, Who do you think you are?! You have no idea what it’s like to be in my situation. Have you never exerienced hardship? Pain? Uh…..something called….REALITY???!!!

Thinking about it, that is all I can do. Regardless of how much there is to do. As I grew over the years, it struck me how much wisdom was in that one sentence.

So with the upcoming challenges of the new year, I will be taking it one day at a time. (And indulging in those Swiss Rolls once in a while. ;))

See you next year!

-Naya

Seasons of Change

I finally recovered from my Thanksgiving food coma just in time for Christmas. Carbs don’t count during the holidays….right?

Reflecting on this past year, a LOT has happened. Many changes. Some expected (by reason of time) and some unexpected.

When constantly taking baby steps because of inevitable changes, it can be easy to lose focus of the bigger picture. You think, Am I actually making any progress? Will all of my hard work pay off? Or am I just going in circles?

Looking back on this past year, all of my baby steps were mini seasons of change, which became bigger seasons of change and I’m more easily able to not just see the bigger picture, but my own personal growth as well.

Things are starting to look up. It’s nice to finally see many years of patience and effort paying off.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

– Naya

Today Was Productive

As much as I’ve accomplished with my book’s progress ( a couple more hours then it should be ready to send to the editor!), that darn subtitle is driving me nuts. Before, I thought I had one, but something about it didn’t quite sit well with me.

Between researching different action words that will give maximum impact in articulating the idea of my book, and of course, seeing how best selling authors choose to word their books, I created a list and feel so, so close to finding that perfect subtitle that really resonates with me.

I found the first 3 words, and we’ll see what the last few will be.

[Random thought: I still need to make those pumpkin pie twists that have been taunting me for over a month. It’s worse (or better?) when fall is here. 😉]

Anyways, a lot was accomplished today with one of my other projects and I’m so excited to see it come to life! Woot! Yes!

I notice I feel a lot better about going back to work when my off days are productive. Like today. 😊

-Naya

It’s Becoming More Real

Looking back on the shut down, I realize I invested pretty heavily in myself.

Without knowing it.

Every morning I got up at 4 am (seriously going against my night owl nature) completed the Miracle Morning routine and wrote  – for hours. (And then it dawned on me why my legs were so sore after sitting for so long lol)

As I was writing, my mind would wander and think  Does this make sense?

Am I repeating myself too much?

Is it ok to say the same things in different ways?

How do I say this in a different way?

Will people really want to apply this?

How do I articulate what’s in my head on paper?

I know this stuff works because I done it, but am I going into too much detail?

Not enough detail?

Or is the concept a little to far above the heads of most people?

I feel like the concept is too simplistic and I’m overcomplicating it by explaining it.

As writers we tend to overthink things because our projects are our babies. We’re choosing to put our hearts out there and hope people like what we have labored over for many hours.

And then there’s me that usually overthinks things (but I’m getting better at letting go.)

Going back to work, and getting in the routine of post shutdown, has really given me a chance to look at my book with fresh eyes.

Having ignored it for close to 2 months, I was blown away at how good it was. The excitement bubbled in my stomach and I knew within myself I was on the right track. It became more real and I can now see my success more easily.

Walking away after reading it not only gave me hope – but most importantly realized hope.

I feel so so blessed for the time away from my book and excited about its projected impact.

And my keto version of stir fry turned out pretty good. Not to mention the lasagna.

Woot! Woot!

-Naya

One Little Change

Yes!

I did it!

The organization of that second to the last chapter was quite tricky. Similar to something so simple and so obvious, it’s hard. I didn’t want to sacrifice the content quality, but I knew something wasn’t quite right.

I re-worded it, and it turned out much better than I thought. I was amazed at how changing one sentence in that paragraph gave me a shift in perspective. Yes! The book is looking good.

Slowly but surely, it’s coming together, and I’m getting one day closer to hitting that publish button 🙂

A Bad Day Is Not A Bad Life

Yesterday I received an email that literally made me freak out.

And for a good reason.

Very few things in life bother me. Unless it violates my principles and values, I feel what I need to feel and move on.

It took a little longer for me this time.

I had already spent numerous hours, too much postage, and several migraines in dealing with these people. I thought I was in the clear.

So after my freak out, I pulled myself together.
It’s always that way – after the initial shock, I go into problem-solving mode. One phone call alleviated 50% of the problem.

Although I was peeved because most of my weekend was spent compiling paperwork and figures, I’m thankful to be prepared for the next step.

I have an amazing family that knows just how to put a smile in my heart. I don’t know where I would be without them.

On the rare occasions I need reminding, they always say, “A bad day is not a bad life.”

A

Don’t Forget Your Accomplishments!

To-do lists are excellent in helping me keep on track with my goals. When the busyness sets in, it’s easy to forget just how much I’ve already done when the results I’m working towards are so close but have yet to make their appearance.

So, taking a step back, I made a list of what I have accomplished – which gave a much-needed mental boost:

Wow – I did that? Did I write all that? I did that! Me? WOW! Oh, wow – no wonder why I need a break!

Another way of saying it is: It’s not just where you are – it’s how far you’ve come 🙂 This has always given me comfort and security when reflecting on who I am today as well as what I have had to do to get to where I am today.

So even though there is much to do, I remind myself: Don’t forget your accomplishments!

Competition Is A Good Thing

As I did more research today on similar books in my genre, I ran across something that kind of put a damper on my book. Here’s what ran through my mind:

But, what about my book? I’ve been working extremely hard on developing the content of my book for so long, and someone else has the exact same question as I do in their published book?! But it’s a general question that everyone has heard of….but I still want to publish it! But I don’t want to be accused of plagiarism. I feel that what I need to say needs to be heard by the world – what do I do?

The gears in my mind were working overtime as I dwelt on this. And then a thought came to me.

This obstacle gave me motivation to create something different, and I saw little sparks of ideas that can help my book to be even better than I anticipated.

I remember having similar thoughts awhile back, when I found a slightly similar book. I read the overview and got a little discouraged because I felt it negated my book. Here’s what I told my mom:

“It’s like that person’s book completely negates the idea of mine. Like it’s insignificant, unimportant, and a waste of time. But, judging by the successful results I’ve had with my technique, there has to be something to it. What if this is the book that changes everything?” Taking a cue from Russell Wilson I said, “Why not me?”

And you know what she said?

“You just go ahead and write that book, baby.”

So competition is a good thing. It makes your book yours.

The Carrot Cake Was Amazing…

As are the brownies and chocolate lasagna that I’m going to make as a reward for myself for accomplishing my goals today and tomorrow.

I had a great weekend and it was nice to have the luxury of sleeping in. 🙂 I like it waaaaaay too much, which is why I try to avoid doing it, unless I’m in burnt out mode. It’s too easy for me to fall into the trap of “Just 30 minutes more” which turns into “Just an hour more” which turns into my book not being published. And I don’t even want to go down that road.

I find that even though I greatly dislike getting up early (Any one else a night owl?) after doing it for a few days, it becomes bearable, and almost even enjoyable. I find I am more productive and feel like I accomplish more. My day goes by more slowly instead of thinking It’s almost 5:30? What did I actually do today? and gives me more time to do other things.

My mindset is: If I work now, I can play later. (But of course I take breaks and even a day or two off if my mind is in writing/research overload.) In the scheme of things, small sacrifices today (like sleeping in) will help me to be successful tomorrow by bringing me one day closer to my goal. 🙂

I’m getting back in the habit of writing my list of things I need to accomplish by hand, and not on my Workflowy app. And with this post, I already have crossed off an item on my list for today!

Woot! Let’s do this!

A Small Step, But A Big Step

Most of today was spent running errands. One of which was getting some business stuff taken care of…

Seeing my name on that piece of paper made it a little more real, but I’m still in awe. And I can’t stop saying wow. It was a small step, but a big step.

As I keep meeting my goals, my to do list changes, as was the case today. I remember saying (as I mentally hold my head in my hands) “Ugh! I’ve got so much to do! Oh my! How am I going to do all of this?!”

Well, after re-writing my list, it looks a lot less intimidating and stress-inducing. In fact, it looks…..doable. And that gave me an internal sigh of relief.

So as a celebration for my small-but-big step, I am making carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. This isn’t good for my Keto diet, but it’s good for my spirit. 🙂

The Next Stage

You know how when you labor over something, put your heart and soul into it, and then you take a break, come back and try to add more to your project, only to discover there really isn’t much you can add?

That’s when I realized my book was ready for the next stage. Several thoughts raced across my mind. Woot! Already?! How?!

Oh wait… And then I think back to the hours and days I spent trying to articulate my thoughts in a way others would find coherent. Doesn’t my book need something more? Can’t I add more? What if it isn’t long enough? What if I have to rewrite it? I just want to get this published ASAP!!!!

So good things are starting to happen as I prepare for this next stage.

-Naya

Research! Research! Research!

Oh. My. Gosh.

I’VE GOT SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUUUUUUUUUCH research to do! Aiyaiyaiyaiyai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok. I’m (hopefully) done with my internal freak out. At least for today.

So instead of adding more to my book, today seemed to dictate it was research day. I generally do like researching – I’ve always had a love for learning. I found some very valuable answers that are bringing me one day closer to my goal. Today wasn’t necessarily productive in the way I would have preferred, but it was still productive.

Like wow. It’s actually happening. It’s actually starting to come true!

-Naya

Each Small Step Is One Step Closer

So yesterday was a productive day: I hit my daily achievement on my book, I accomplished my other daily writing project and dinner was a hit!

Dessert too!

I have to remind myself (because I do tend to be a bit of an overachiever) that however small my steps are, they are still steps that bring me closer to my goal.

Small steps make my goals much more manageable and easier to cross off my list.

I’ve already accomplished two of my goals today. Yay!

And, the day is not over yet!

Off And Running

Yes! I’m back online! I’m a normal human being!

So our old computer finally gave out. That morning, I was expecting to write more on my book, but when I went to start the laptop, it wouldn’t.

Uh. Oh.

Internally, I was grimacing and thinking to myself “Will my book EVER be published? We’ve already been on a computer hunt for the past 4 months! I don’t need this book to be delayed anymore than it already has been! I need to publish it ASAP!“

Although frustrating, I took this as a sign that I needed to take a break. So I did my very best to not think about my book and instead spent a day getting caught up on one of my favorite shows. And I did feel rested afterwards.

Fast forward two days…..

Saturday became the official “computer hunting day.”

We ended up going back to the first store we visited and the computer was still there!

I spent several hours downloading programs, transferring subscriptions and setting up stuff, but the end result was that we were up and running!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

And now, I’m still editing and expanding the book chapter by chapter. It’s going sooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooooooooow. It seems like I’m not getting anything done, probably because I’m expecting too much of myself, and this is a whole new experience for me. I just have to keep in mind to take things one day at a time. And I can’t do it all in one day.

On one of my days off I created my launch list of people that can read and review my book when it’s done. I added people that would be specifically relevant to my book, and not just people I hope will say yes.

Organization, I’ve found, is a wonderful thing. But what do you do when you have so much to do, and even more you don’t/aren’t sure how to do? And it feels like you just don’t have enough hours in the day.

I’m compiling my checklist, and working on giving myself small achieveable tasks, that, however small, bring me closer to my dream.

On my edits today, I really love the way it’s turning out. I love the way I wrote it. I love the way it flows. Now I just need to make the rest of the book like that.

Rest Is A Good Thing

So instead of increasing my wordcount, or editing a chapter or two, I took a break. I tend to just go go go and then after awhile…I realize I’m tired.

Not just tired, but burnt out.

And then I feel (somewhat) guilty for taking a break and wondering why I’m feeling so worn out. During these times, I remember two things:

1. My book is like a rocket – 80% of it’s total energy is used on lift off.
2. Just because I’m not where I want to be, doesn’t mean I haven’t worked hard, or am not working hard.

In all honesty, this is my third or 4th day of sleeping in – and it. is. WONDERFUL!

It’s nice to let go and relax.

(But I may just look over a chapter or two just to say I’m being consistent.)

-Naya

This Is My First Post

Yup.

The whole “easy to set up” WordPress site isn’t working for me. It will be fixed at a later time when I don’t have the frustration that comes with fixing it. For now, this site is fine. At least it’s up.

Anywho I’m working on self publishing a non fiction book. I applied the system I talk about in my book at work and got some pretty amazing results.

That anyone can apply.

My book isn’t a lengthy book, nor is it meant to be. But, considering I’m FANTASTIC at writing half projects, my current word count is, I’m VERY proud to say, 12,200ish. But my main focus isn’t word count. It’s content quality.

Yay! I just wrote my first post! More tomorrow 🙂

-Naya