Pathetic effort.

So, I thought I could use Pinterest to boost my effort to write more frequently. Epic fail. It amazed me, though, how thoroughly linking something I liked, Pinterest, to something I procrastinated, writing, sucked the fun and attention right out of the thing I liked. I can't tell you the last time I logged on to pinterest. Aversion therapy at its finest. I remember the Lung Association coming to a place I worked to do a workshop on smoking cessation. This was about 20 years ago and although I went to the class I really had no intention of quitting smoking. Aversion therapy was one of their methods. They referred to it as negative association. The idea was that you wear a rubber band around your wrist and every time you thought of smoking you would SNAP the crap out of your own arm. Therefore, creating the negative association of pain and smoking. Yeah, I didn't try it. In fact, I'm pretty sure I mocked the people who did try it. I wonder if I could use aversion therapy to sever ties with Facebook the way I cut off pinterest. Hmmmm.

I think I must try.

I will write commentary on things people post on Facebook. My goal is to write once a week. Seems easy enough, right? Well, it hasn't been. How can I love to write and yet when I try to write consistently it becomes something I avoid like cleaning the toilets!?

Hopefully one of two things will happen here. Either I will begin to write more consistently or I will begin to avoid Facebook. I would consider either outcome a win.


Good luck.

Situp thou hast felled me.

Why can I not create a habit of exercise?

This has been my prevailing thought since. . . . well, since . . . .I was going to say since my first child was born...but the truth is since I put on my swimsuit for the first time this year. I have talked to a few people about their exercise habits and, no surprise, no one really has a consistent exercise regime. In the past week I have even been considering joining a gym thinking that would increase my motivation.

Today I decided to search how to create an effective daily habit. I did get results for websites on how to create a daily habit of exercise but I also got websites for reflection, prayer, positive affirmations, breakfast, smoothies, gratitude, vitamins and the list goes on. It's good to know I'm not the only person struggling with creating habits!

A habit is by definition a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition. Therein lies my problem. Frequent repetition hasn't been in the cards where exercise is concerned. It's not that I can't achieve frequent repetition. I have no problem with these habits:

• swimming pool
• television
  
• blogger
• facebook
  
• snacking at 10pm

I wonder if I create a reward system if I could start doing those hated situps each day because clearly a possible thinner midsection is not an impetus. And gosh, if I succeed at situps who knows what I can achieve...positive affirmations, a cleaner house, daily reflection, world peace!

Pfft. If you have any suggestions.....