Step outside comfort zone/Change your habits

Inspired by a podcast (Huberman Lab - How to Grow From Doing Hard Things) to do things that challenge the limits I have imposed upon yourself.  Without fear of being judged, I want to do the fun activities I see others are enjoying as I have previously stood on the sideline. 

I am choosing to not address the origin of my fears but will dive headfirst in creating a list that I can start working from today.  Sometimes it is not fear, but rather pure laziness or a lackadaisical approach to daily living.  So, to the reader of this post it might not appear that some activities are all that challenging.  

Don't misunderstand, I perceive myself to be very driven and in constant pursuit of learning something new.  I hold myself to a higher standard and appreciate that life is truly short.  Regret is the worst feeling I can imagine.   You cannot buy time back.  I will make the moments count.

Here is an ever growing and changing list that I will tackle in random order of importance:

• Kayak/canoe completed 6-20-2025
• Cold plunge
• Limit screen time (phone) - 
• Play golf in the summer heat
• No tv or Netflix for one week - started 11 am 6-25-2025
• Escape room with friends - 7-12-2025

June 23, 2025

I completed my first self-guided tandem kayak adventure over the weekend.  
It was so much fun with perfect weather.   I am ready to go back!

June 25, 2025

• Exploring AI - finding online courses and training/experimenting with chatGPT/implementing into my personal life as a learning exercise.  Utilize AI as a creative sounding board and embrace the change.  

Today I completed the LinkedIn learning course "Uncertainty to Action: Starting Your AI Learning Journey".  My goal for today is to use chatGPT to brainstorm the best way to tackle the job search.  I will practice iterative prompting. I also completed the LinkedIn learning course "Boosting Your Time Managment with AI Tools". Using chatGPT, an Excel spreadsheet was created to track applications.  Suggestions were also provided to address being overqualified for positions.

June 28, 2025

No tv watching is hard as I like to watch the evening news, but I have been very productive the past couple of days.  

July 14, 2025

I have been on vacation for over a week.  I completed my 7 days of no tv or netflix and want to do this again. 

The escape room was so much fun and I didn't feel claustrophobic at all. Granted the door was unlocked at all times, but in the past it would have bothered me to be in small room for an hour.  We didn't escape, but we did choose the most challenging room!

This blog will now be a combination of doing challenge things and changing daily habits and routine.  I am going to be meeting with two friends this weekend to share ideas and goals. It will be beneficial to hold us all accountable.  

July 19, 2025

I am preparing for a meeting with friends tomorrow to put together a list of challenging activities and ways to change up my daily routine and habits.  

July 21, 2025  Day 1

• List of habits and routines - 30-day challenge:
• Walk every day - just get outside and move
• Increase water intake
• 50 abmat situps
• Meditation - minimum 10 minutes
• Plank
• Wake every day at 5:30 am or earlier

July 25, 2025

This is day 5 of implementing the above daily habits/routines. I have been super productive getting up early.  I tackled a major closet decluttering project.  I ended up with at least 16 bags of clothing to donate to a friend who has a non-profit.  After losing so much weight this past year, the time had come to let some of my favorite clothes go knowing I will never return to that weight again.  I am interested in exploring a capsule closet.  I have researched in previous years but being a clothes lover didn't think it would be possible.  Perhaps a "capsule wardrobe plus" is a possibility.  I am targeting remote work positions, so I won't need "work clothes".  

In the very near future, I plan to add onto the list above adding more exercise (squats, weightlifting...).  There is a new gym being built close to my house. I currently belong to Planet Fitness, but this new gym will have group classes.  I would love to do zumba again.  My Orange Theory fitness days came to an end years ago.  However, I do need to increase the frequency and intensity of my workouts.  

July 29, 2025

Having fun with ChatGPT as I explore ways to optimize my LinkedIn profile and communicate with prospective employers.  I am fascinated with AI as I can quickly research companies and prepare for interviews.  I am looking to reposition myself in the workforce, not reinvent myself.  This critical distinction is something I must communicate with recruiters and hiring managers.  I already have a solid skill set to exceed expectations for an account manager role.  Some will embrace me and recognize immediately how I can be an asset to their team while others will dismiss me without skipping a beat.  I don't need to be the right fit 100% of the time.  So today I am continuing with a LinkedIn course "The Rule of 100 - Personal Development with Generative AI".  I love learning and will forever be curious.

August 3, 2025

Today I am adding an additional exercise to do at home.  This is day 14 and I am feeling great. Yesterday I was up at 3am to volunteer for a rescue produce organization.  Great cause and workout to start the day.

• List of habits and routines - 30-day challenge:
• Walk every day - just get outside and move
• Increase water intake
• 50 abmat situps
• Meditation - minimum 10 minutes
• Plank
• Wake every day at 5:30 am or earlier
• 25 (any exercise - squats.....)