Project Rawvitalize: The Basics

I’ve been getting stuck in a rut the past few weeks.  I was getting really frustrated with my thesis, feeling lonely, starting to get depressed (a warning sign for me) and overall not feeling productive and happy. No matter how many weeks I’ve gone without eating disorder symptoms, relapse is always a possibility.  The key is to plan ahead to nip warning signs in the bud and use some opposite action in order to keep on track.  I needed a plan and last night I decided that I was going to start a new project, which I have named Project Rawvitalize.  It’s going to be a way for me to create some goals and move forward in my journey.  These won’t just be emotional goals.  I’m going to include organizational goals, school goals, work goals (possibly finding a part time job as well as a job search for post-graduation), possibly adopting a dog, getting into a healthy exercise routine, yoga goals, creative goals, etc.  This is my version of a healthy life makeover.

The way this will work is that each week I’m going to pick 2-3 goals of different kinds and create a plan to make those goals a reality.  This is an effort to revitalize my life, to get out of the almost-done-with-winter blues and spring into spring with a healthy and happier attitude.  You are welcome to join my efforts or just read along as you wish. I will devote a few posts a week to the project but I’ll still have my normal mix of musings. If you would like to join the project, please link your own posts in the comment sections of any of the Project Rawvitalize posts so the rest of us can learn your tips and tricks You are also welcome to use the blog button I’ve created for the project, I just ask that you please link it back to my blog (thank you!).

My goals for this week are:

1. Organizing

2. Create and stick to a daily schedule

3. Make time for DBT work 

So, let’s start with organizing.  Even though I have OCD, my rituals aren’t around cleaning.  It doesn’t mean that I’m a slob, but I do tend to have a lot of clutter around.  I’ve just moved into a one bedroom apartment and my goal is to keep things in drawers and in their place.  A clean space helps me breathe a little easier and I less clutter means less anxiety, whether I’m aware of it or not.  I also have a new dining table to work at because I had to use my coffee table in my old apartment (not ideal).  I plan to achieve this goal by putting things back in their place as soon as I bring them into the apartment or take something out of its home.  I think part of the reason I was getting so frustrated with my thesis was that I had books and papers and articles all over my work area and didn’t know what to focus on.  That has to change.

My second goal is to create a schedule and stick to it.  I find that I get a lot more accomplished when I plan out my days and make mini-deadlines for myself.  To keep myself accountable I plan on posting my schedules on the blog so that way I can talk about my progress with it.  I’m even considering doing more work at the libraries at school to minimize distraction and just be out of the apartment.  Even sitting here there is a lot of cacophony going on in the apartment above me and I need pure silence when I study.  My schedule needs to include a variety of things; meditation, yoga, exercise, studying, cleaning, cooking meals, and for this week preparing for my trip to Tennessee and Georgia to visit family.

My final goal is to be more diligent about DBT work.  I plan to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes a day going through my workbooks and doing exercises in them.  They were so helpful to me when I was in treatment but I haven’t kept up with them as much as I have wanted to.  By working through the various sections, I’ll be able to learn more skills and put them into practice, which will hopefully help boost my mood and help me manage some of the hard emotions that have come up.

Alright, well here’s to some new good energy for us all as spring approaches!

Tagged as: DBT, emotional goals, healthy-living, life makeover, organizing, recovery