7 May - 13 May 2018
There’s not much to report this week - it’s all a bit hectic and I don’t feel like I’ve achieved all that much. I’ve become the quintessential parental taxi driver. Getting in later from work and immediately having to ferry the kids to cubs and back and swimming lessons, finding somewhere to squeeze in essentials like food and sleep.
This week at work it’s also been pretty hectic, getting things straight before the new GDPR rules come into play and sorting out several projects that are due to go live next week so I’m feeling rather tired all round. This has had a bit of a knock-on effect with my routines so I have to admit that I’ve barely done any exercise. It’s easy to let this slip back into bad habits, which I’ve become very mindful of. Fortunately I think I have several defences in place to prevent this, which is what happened in the past.
I am pleased that even waking with a headache on Thursday I still managed to adjust and work on my writing instead of exercising.
Saturday was spent doing another set of Scout Leader training modules.
I deferred my usual Saturday kettlebell training session to Sunday and considering my minimal exercises over the last couple of weeks I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to do 50 swings with a 36kg bell though I did struggle with some heavier double bell presses at first. It was a good session that’s got me fired back up to train harder again this coming week. Since the weather was nicer than expected I got outside to give the car a much-needed wash as well as the bike after last weeks Long Mynd adventure. We had some friends over for an afternoon tea and catch up in the sunshine which was a nice end to the week.
Reading progress
I have started Willpower doesn’t work although I haven’t read nearly as much as
I’d planned. Next week I’ve set myself some targets to read more each day to get
back on track. Interestingly, although perhaps not too surprising, it appears that the book closely follows the Journal Mastery ideas he presents. In a nutshell it’s really your environment that shapes and causes us to become the people we are so we need to put things in place to ensure that our environment shapes us in the way we want.
A week in Stoicism
Another timely lesson this week in reflecting on our habits, both good and bad, although especially trying to pay attention to those habits that hold us back and how we must act correctly each day as a habit of greatness.
”Every habit and capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking, and running by running… therefore, if you want to do something make a habit of it, if you don’t want to do that, don’t, but make a habit of something else instead. The same principle is at work in our state of mind. When you get angry, you’ve not only experienced that evil, but you’ve also reinforced a bad habit, adding fuel to the fire.” Epictetus
”Let us also produce some bold act of our own — and join the ranks of the most emulated” Seneca
”Let us therefore set out whole-heartedly, leaving aside our many distractions and exert ourselves in this single purpose, before we realise too late the swift and unstoppable flight of time and are left behind. As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession. We must seize what flees” Seneca
weeknotes