Weekly Therapy

Weekly Therapy: And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should

- Mel

the week:
That subject quote came up in a Timehop post from, like, 7 years ago — and it’s still ever-applicable. Although I don’t know what the universe is trying to tell me with all this insomnia and stress.

I’ve been having an opposite sleeplessness problem as of late. In the past, I’ve struggled with falling asleep; now, I can crash pretty quickly, but find myself WIDE AWAKE only after an hour or two… and completely unable to fall back asleep. Sometimes I’ll stir in the dark just staring at the ceiling; others, I’ll flip-flop mindlessly for hours and then finally grab my phone or iPad. Yeah, I know, no devices in the bedroom. I tried that for a while. I’ve removed the TV. I’ve removed my boyfriend. It didn’t work (nor do drugs or ear plugs or cold bedrooms or going to bed every day at 8:30 and waking up at my first alarm or sleeping with a sweatshirt tied around my face to block any light). Ironically, I find myself falling asleep easier when I’m reading or playing a word puzzle on my phone, or petting the cat. But I just. cannot. stay. asleep.

I stopped drinking coffee in the afternoon, but I am definitely drinking more in the morning. I haven’t tried a full coffee stop because that just sounds like a terrible, no-good idea. So, I’m frustrated and I feel like crap to boot basically for two weeks straight and now I’m PMS’ing. YAY. #sorryforcrabby

weekend:
Hey, I’m playing in a mixed scrimmage this Sunday! (I’m a Hero!)

seven things, seven days:
1. I missed the initial memo about changes in our office dress code… but, YAY more casual days!
2. I finished “The Girl on the Train” this week (my first and only book of 2016! Big difference from last year). If you’ve read it, did you like the ending? I did NOT.
3. THIS IS SO FASCINATING!!! 8 things that practicers do differently {via Bulletproof Musician}
4. From the perspective of elite achievers: If you’re busy, you’re doing something wrong. {via Cal Newport}
5. The Pi Day 5K is back! I’ll likely register for this virtual race taking place on 3.14(16), since I don’t have anything currently on my March calendar.
6. Since I’m currently (half-assed) training for a challenge race, I came across this helpful post for Training Tips for Challenge Races. My motivation is nil right now.
7. What you can learn from William Hung about perseverance. {via Pacific-Standard}

Weekly Therapy: Jetting forward and lagging behind

- Mel

the week:
Well, I am positively exhausted. And I missed out on both Sunday Lately posts with my Blogger Tribe and am holding off on my Accountability Monday post until next week because… well, because last week’s training blog didn’t deserve its own post.

I’m catching up but now saddled with some extra, stressful shit on the homefront. SIGH. Also, I think I still have jet lag pretty bad or residual physiological exhaustion from my travel anxiety.

weekend:
This Sunday is the 5th Annual Yoga Expo at Pittsburgh Opera in the Strip District. I honestly don’t remember how I found out about this event (or remember even paying for it), but I did! My participation depends on the weather/driving conditions and if I can get a long run in on Saturday instead.

We’re also visiting A BABY – and dropping off some homemade food to friends (parents of said newborn). Pending the seriousness of this incoming storm, we’ll likely enjoy some beverages with some neighbor friends.

seven things, seven days:
1. Not a lot about myself this week, but the rest of the Internet made up for it!
2. That said, I’m having lunch at Smallman Galley today and OH LOOK AT ALL THOSE GF OPTIONS! What an awesome project this is, btw.
3. Well, here’s a different perspective on procrastination. {via NYT}
4. Oooooh “hunger [as] a motivated state of mind”. What say you? {via Aeon}
5. Research on boredom – I want to read more about its effect on performance. Boredom as related to performance psychology (and its counterparts, apathy and burnout) are particularly interesting to me, and what I hope to study when I go back to pursue my graduate degree. {via Nature}
6. Got stress? You should be paying attention to your body. Includes interesting research, too, about resilience. {via NYT}
7. Have you ever ghosted your therapist? {via Psychology Today}

Weekly Therapy: Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow

- Mel

the week:
Well, the BIG news of the week is that I MADE TRAVEL TEAM! I’ll be playing for our A/varsity team, The Steel Hurtin’. So excited, you guys!

steel hurtin pittsburgh 2016
My Team!

weekend:
If you’re in Pittsburgh, this weekend the orchid and tropical bonsai show opens at Phipps’ Conservatory. Visitors can experience this tropical escape starting Saturday through February 28. (Hours 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. on Fridays.) More details can be found at phipps.conservatory.org.

Also, you can cheer for the Steelers again… if that’s your thing.

seven things, seven days:
1. Unfortunately dropped off the Dry January wagon, when we were invited to a neighbor’s Steelers party last weekend (back on as of Monday — dry weekdays instead for this month, maybe). Eh.
2. I’m (finally) through season 2 of The Leftovers, and all I can comment is WTF?!
3. Got my first Wantable Fitness Edit this week and I have… conflicted feelings about it. Is this something you guys would like to see reviewed?
4. Celebrated our department’s post-holiday holiday party this week, complete with a “regift” exchange. Good fun to break up the work week.
5. Therapy Wars: The revenge of Freud (long read, but really interesting look at CBT) {via The Guardian}
6. The top 5 fitness trends for 2016 looks a lot like last year (and the year before that). {via Runtastic}
7. You can’t trust what you read about nutrition. This is a fun one about correlations. {via FiveThirtyEight Science}

Weekly Therapy: Kickoffs and Tryouts and Health and Training

- Mel

the week:
Well, we made it through the first week of 2016 — and there’s a LOT going on! It finally snowed in Pittsburgh for real, which makes me so happy.

snow Pittsburgh 2016 new year
SNOW! This is the park in my neighborhood and it always looks so lovely in every season — but especially in winter.

I am positively excited and exhausted from my first full week back at roller derby — practices for both my home team AND two nights of tryouts for the travel teams. I was also immediately reminded how expensive this sport is when doing a needs assessment of equipment and such (especially considering that I needed to change my number and needed new scrimmage tanks, armbands, etc.). I got a call-back from the first round, so I have another round next week!

Also, THE BACHELOR STARTED THIS WEEK! The boyfriend and I watched it later in the week, and it’s always a fun source of entertainment and dating roles banter between us.

weekend:
It’s Pittsburgh Marathon Training Kick-off time! Can you believe it’s already here?! I feel like I was just training for the half. My “official” full training starts after Gasparilla, which is at an almost-halfway point of my training cycle. I also renewed my annual membership with Steel City Road Runners, which I hope to use a lot more this season. There is a lot of FUN running madness that happens in conjunction with this kick-off, so maybe I’ll see some of you there. 😀

ALSO, if playing roller derby was ever something you considered, Saturday is the LAST pre-tryout boot camp for joining Steel City Roller Derby in 2016. You need to attend a boot camp in order to try out, so this is a great opportunity to come out and see what we’re looking for and talk to some vets about your skill level, training, gameplay, etc. etc. And it’s especially helpful in meeting some of your Fresh Meat teammates who you will be progressing alongside on this new fun adventure. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

For your resolutions/health: Pittsburgh area Sam’s Clubs will be hosting free health screenings, open to the public, from 11-4pm this Saturday, Jan. 9. These health screenings are free, confidential and available to the public at all Sam’s Club locations with a pharmacy. Additional details on each one will be made available at SamsClub.com. Two of the free tests being offered – blood pressure and blood glucose – are two key markers of overall health. Participants will get an idea of where they stand healthwise, and what they can to do for a healthier 2016.

seven things, seven days:
1. Have you heard of/used Sweat Cosmetics? I learned of this brand over the weekend when watching the GRID league championships. And as someone who wears makeup during workouts (don’t judge!), I need to test these products out!
2. In doing additional research on “workout makeup,” I found FITGLOW BEAUTY. BONUS: they’re a natural beauty brand.
3. Somehow, with all of my current beauty choices, I have taken to shopping Ulta over Sephora. I’m definitely not a VIB anymore!
4. Every day at lunch, I’m eating at least two sticks of PLAIN veggie. Gotta start somewhere, right?
5. For a few years (not last year), I would do a dry January; the boyfriend and I are doing this again — though this year, we didn’t start on January 1 (but the 4th). Basically, it’s a sober 30 days reset. This year is already kind of wonky, so like most things… we’re adapting a bit. The importance of doing this, however, remains. {link via Huffington Post}
6. Oh, hey, fellow Browns fan: The psychological reasons why Fans stand behind perennial losers {via NYT}
7. Here’s your weekly dose of science — appropriately, for keeping your resolutions {via Greatist}

Weekly Therapy: Ringing in 2016

- Mel

the week:
Happy New Year, everyone! I’m still working on my goals sheet and resolutions for 2016, so stay tuned. My 30 days of posts kind of took a dump there after Christmas, given my primary goal of completing 52 books before the end of the year. I did it!!!

a 30-something New Year's Eve: cheese plate, wine, cat kisses, and giant sparklers.
a 30-something New Year’s Eve: cheese plate, wine, cat kisses, and giant sparklers.

That said, I’m really enjoying reading from my fellow runners about their yearly “bucket lists,” and I think my 2016 goals will likewise reflect that approach. As for personal and professional goals, that’s where I’m feeling mighty stagnant and lost — and I need to take some journaling time for reflection. I might not make the January 1 deadline, but I think it will work out better that way. There’s some news that could happen by Month 2 that could definitely change the course of my goal-setting anyway.

weekend:
I’ll be enjoying the last of my days off from work — and also enjoying a facial and massage appointment!

52 books in 52 weeks:
YOU GUYS! I completed 52 books this year!

#51 My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock — I want to read this book immediately again; I sincerely loved it, and it’s probably my favorite book of the whole year! Much of the lessons about fear and anxiety and not really having a purpose really resonated with me. A great book to absorb as I ponder the focus of my goals for 2016.

#52 The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz — an obvious choice/topic for my final book of the year, no? Fascinating research-based book on how more choices can actually have the reverse effect on life satisfaction — and possibly even correlate to an increase in rates of depression! I like that the book is straight-forward and doesn’t get too science heavy for the layman reader. Highly recommend this one!

seven things, seven days:
1. I finally used coconut oil for the first time as a make-up remover. And holy shit, it took off the waterproof mascara that I wear during the rainiest and sweatiest of runs that won’t. come. off. with regular cleanser alone.
2. WHY ARE THERE STILL SO MANY COOKIES IN THIS HOUSE?
3. The boyfriend repainted the kitchen walls and doors back to white, and I feel so much better about this room.
4. I also completely cleared all of the clutter and decor from on top of the cabinets that’s been bothering me for nearly two years. I’m sure it will all sit in a box until we move again.
5. Got to hang with some of my coworkers from my old job (celebrating a going away, resignation party). Many of us have moved on from the organization, and I miss everyone immensely.
6. In addition to my personal, professional, and running resolutions for 2016, I am making a list of blogging goals — this post from The Wonder Forest has a great resource for tips on taking your blog to the next level.
7. The six most interesting Psychology papers in 2015 — the most interesting, personally, is the study about nonpharm solutions to insomnia (mine has been pretty bad the last few months) {via NY Times}

Weekly Therapy: Merry Christmas, everyone!

- Mel

the week:
It was a two-day work week for me, and I cannot explain to you how exciting it is that I don’t have to return to the office until January 4. After the last couple years of working most holidays and/or their surrounding days (including NYE AND New Year’s Day, the day after Christmas, Easter, etc.), this is a special treat this year. I don’t have to rush through Christmas celebrations and travel because of worrying about work the next day.

Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

weekend:
Duh, I’ll be playing with all of my new toys!

52 books in 52 weeks:
#50: American Savage by Dan Savage — I received this book as a Christmas gift last year and it’s been sitting on my nightstand… well, for about a year. I probably would have enjoyed it more last year when I was eager to read it. Overall, I felt the message was pretty redundant, especially if you already read the Savage Love column and listen to his podcast (which I don’t even do either anymore).

seven things, seven days:
1. My friend was kind enough to drop off some gluten-free pizzelles over the weekend, and… OMG I HAVE SO MANY COOKIES.
2. Cookies for breakfast, cookies for lunch, cookies for snack…
3. The party we went to last Friday was seriously one of the BEST parties I’ve been to since moving to Pittsburgh where I knew NOBODY, besides my boyfriend. Every single person that I mingled with was so interesting and friendly. And we all got turns to ride a hoverboard in the hallway.
4. Totally missed the boat on putting a selfie stick on my gift list this year! Dang it.
5. Listening to Christmas music in the shower in the morning has done wonders for my holiday spirit. 🙂
6. James Clear on mental toughness and the Marathon Monks If you commit to nothing, you’ll be distracted by everything. I’ve read about the Kaihogyo 1,000-day challenge before, and I particularly like James’ lessons from which to apply to our own lives and goal-setting.
7. There’s no excuse to be bored? Ehhhhh. How boredom is becoming anything but boring {via Dallas News}

Sunday Lately: Week 51

- Mel

I’m using this week’s Sunday Lately themes from Wild & Wanderful to prompt today’s post: Planning, Loving, Reading (which works in Sunday’s Bibliotherapy), Wishing, and Feeling.

Planning: A few months ago, I purchased a spark notebook, and after my run today I plan to start drawing out 2016’s calendar and filling in January’s space with some goals and resolutions and stuff.

Loving: While I know that we won’t have snow for Christmas, it was really fun to have a little accumulation this weekend. I think it helped immensely to get me in the spirit of the holidays.

Reading: {for this one, I just opened up to a random page and posted the first thing that I read}

Regret obviously plays a very big role in all our decisions, but how does choice, particularly an overabundance of choice, affect regret? We have seen that two of the factors affecting regret are 1) Personal responsibility for the result 2) How easily an individual can imagine a counterfactual better alternative. — from The Paradox of Choice

Wishing: Christmas is this week (!!!), so I wish you a Merry Christmas. 🙂

Feeling: I’m feeling pretty proud about making a final $240 payment to pay off one of my credit cards before Christmas. I have been chipping away extra payments each month to get down balances on three of my cards before an additional student loan payment comes due in early February. Two have zero balances now (and I canceled a card that wouldn’t remove the annual $60 fee; a card that I’ve had since my mid-20s), and the third I should be able to pay in full by the end of January.

Weekly Therapy: One week until Christmas!

- Mel

the week:
So many things have made me happy this week. Like, immensely, beaming, ridiculous goofy grin happy.

I haven’t baked cookies in FOR.EV.ER. And I finally had the chance for our office cookie swap this week (I made gluten-free butterscotch-and-dark-chocolate-chip cookies, bee tee dubs). Scrimmage practice was silly and exhausting fun. The giddy happiness of my run/yoga club buddies also rubbed off on me. I don’t know that anything was Christmas Spirit-specific, but it’s definitely a good lead in for the Santa’s Big Day next week.

PS: It started snowing this morning! Granted, I know it’s going to be 65 degrees on Christmas but it made me happy on my walk to work.

weekend:
Tonight is the last of the holiday parties until the actual holiday. We made reservations first at Marty’s Market, since we’re headed over to that side of the city. I’ve been to Marty’s for lunch and had a GREAT meal (and they were incredible about all my food restrictions/allergies), so I’m excited to see what they do for dinner.

As I mentioned above, my office is having its cookie swap today, and I have another tomorrow morning to coincide with the annual 12 Days of Christmas WOD at CrossFit. I haven’t been to CF since summer, so this will probably hurt real bad. But YAY, cookies!

52 books in 52 weeks:
#48 The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game by Mary Pilon — a long-winded history of the infamous board game (which the boyfriend and I played a couple weekends ago), with an interesting back story about the supposed inventor(s) of the game and Parker Brothers’ ploys at monopolizing (see what I did there?) the gaming industry.

#49 Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom by Ken Ilgunas — a memoir on one way to get out of debt. I hope that I never have to resort to “vandwelling” to pay off my student loans! But it’s certainly a cautionary tale about the emotional weight of debt — with a little adventuring thrown in.

seven things, seven days:
1. I had a sense that there were trade/sell groups on Facebook for people wanting to sell off their Stitch Fix clothes [affiliate link!]. And sure enough, there are several. I sold six pieces already!
2. …and that reminds me how much that I need to get rid of these donate bags in the basement.
3. I think I’m done Christmas shopping! Can’t wait to start wrapping.
4. Starting next week (Wednesday), I have the rest of the year off!
5. I LOVE the idea of making a personal annual report! (Though actually doing it is another story.) {via The Muse}
6. Doctor’s Orders: Prescribing exercise to patients — YES, THIS {via wbur}
7. “It takes me 15 minutes to make coffee using a simple pour-over technique: boil water, grind beans, position filter, add grounds, pour water. This process keeps me occupied during the low-willpower period when I would otherwise check email or look at Twitter—both of which are likely to send me into a reactive vortex of unproductivity.” [emphasis, mine, because this is also my experience] How I Became a Morning Person {via Medium}

Weekly Therapy: It feels nothing like Christmastime.

- Mel

the week:
FRI-YAY! We made it! And I successfully made it through another work week of waking up with my first alarm. This morning, I actually woke up at 5:45 and got a three-mile run in before work.

weekend:
You guys, it’s going to be 70 degrees in Pittsburgh this weekend. So, I don’t know about you, but I’ll be spending some time outside (and definitely running every day).

52 books in 52 weeks:
Crunch time! I’ve got 5 more books to finish in three weeks — and one of my intended readings is a whopper 800+ pager. I’m looking forward to those admin days at the end of the month!

#47 Dataclysm by Christian Rudder (cofounder of OKCupid) — really interesting insight about stats in the online dating world and how those identities we portray online are the same (or not) on how we live in real world. Don’t feel like the scientific data will be over your head! Rudder does a great job of breaking down social research terms and explaining the biases and desires that exist in our personal data. Good stuff! I received this book from Blogging for Books for review.

seven things, seven days:
1. First time having brunch at The Porch at Schenley — so excellent!!!
2. At our annual holiday season Girls Night, we also do a fun gift exchange. This year, I ended up with all the fixings for boozy hot chocolate. AND AN ENTIRE BAG OF MINI MARSHMALLOWS!
3. UPS almost ruined Christmas though! Geesh.
4. Um… I broke my big toenail at practice this week in a very precarious location. And now it’s basically wrapped in medical tape until it grows out a little further (and to keep it from ripping off). o_O
5. My amazing friend brought me back a “Built With Chocolate Milk” towel from her race expo last weekend. YAY! #teamchocolatemilk
6. Does it matter if women soldiers can’t do pull-ups? {via Pacific Standard}
7. This NY Times opinion piece is pivotal to the “can you be addicted to distraction” conversation: Addicted to Distraction.

Weekly Therapy: I really want to complain about still being sick…

- Mel

the week:
I woke up with my first alarm every work day this week (which was only Tuesday through today, since I took a holiday on Monday). This is a HUGE step for me, and after having a conversation about how awful I feel about setting five (sometimes more) different snooze alarms, I decided to start taking action. This fits into a bigger picture of some of my New Year resolutions, and I’m happy about taking these little baby steps now (which hopefully equals more successful, eventual goals).

weekend:
I have a busy week coming up, with nearly every night scheduled with holiday parties and celebratory happy hours with corresponding gift exchanges, so I need to do a little Christmas shopping over the weekend.

Sunday afternoon is this awesome Girls Rock! CD release event and skating party at Romp n’ Roll. You should come!

52 books in 52 weeks:
#46 Lost at Sea — another excellent read from Jon Ronson! His storytelling keeps me intrigued and entertained, and I liked how this book is essentially a collection of randomness (though he calls them mysteries). This book has plenty of trivial pursuit/pop culture/jeopardy-answer material, spanning topics like James Bond (a chapter that had me laughing out loud several times), Insane Clown Posse (!!!), and (religious) cults.

seven things, seven days:
1. I popped a blood vessel in my eye from coughing so hard. OVER IT.
2. A bird pooped on my leg while I was walking to the yoga studio. I worked in a bird zoo for almost three years and never once got pooped on… so, irony?
3. Coffee has returned to my neighborhood!
4. The INTJ gift guide (you know, if you’re looking to buy me something) — links to other Myers Briggs personalities at the bottom of the article.
5. Just… WOAH. Mental Toughness with the Navy Seals. {via Lifehacker}
6. Does exercise slow the aging process? {via NY Times}
7. Head nodding in (almost) complete agreement with this writer. The difference being I do NOT like to cook. The Myth of Easy Cooking {via The Atlantic}