Monthly Archives: February 2012

ABC’s of Selfishness

Posted by ksteede in Rambling

Taking care of yourself requires a certain level of selfishness.  Many of us find this difficult.  Most likely we were raised to be thoughtful, kind, sharing and considerate.  At some point in our adulthood we take these personality traits and put them on steroids.  Next thing you know the needs of everyone and everything around you become more important that your own.

How many times have you skipped lunch at work, came in early or left late.  Made different plans or canceled a personal appointment because you had to finish up that project or cover that shift.

Who eats first at your house?  Kids, partner, dog, cat, hamster then you?  How many nights are you standing in the kitchen alone doing dishes while everyone else in the house has their face buried in some electronic device or video game?

There are times when we give so much of ourselves to everyone around us that we forget to leave some for ourselves.  The problem with being selfish is that some people have a problem with it and some have NO PROBLEM AT ALL!  By being overly unselfish we in return make the ones around us more selfish.

We all know how hard it is to “say no” to tempting foods.  I think it is just as hard to “say no” to the loved ones around us so we have time to take care of ourselves.  So you may be asking yourself…how does an unselfish person become slightly selfish?  Practice using what I like to call the “ABC’s of Selfishness”.

A – Analyze your patterns or routines that are causing you stress and taking up to much time.

B – Break the cycle with a plan to overcome the obstacles that you have identified in the analysis phase.

C – Communicate with the ones around you about the changes you are going to be making and why you need to make them.

I am telling you, this works!  This can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.  Using this process I have been able to find more time to play with my son, execute a regular exercise routine and maintain a high level of productivity at work while using my break time for personal errands or tasks. Amazingly, my slightly elevated level of selfishness appears to have a VERY POSITIVE impact on the ones I love….including myself!

“The Plan”

Posted by ksteede in Exercise

It is amazing how productive I suddenly get when I know I should be working out.  Last night was a perfect example.  The moment I open my eyes in the morning I feel like I am moving 100 miles per hour.  The balancing act of getting Ethan and myself ready for the day and out the door on time can often be a challenge.  As soon as I drop him off at daycare my mind switches to work mode.  Once I step into the door at work it feels like someone presses a fast forward button.  The day goes by so fast and next thing you    know 13 hours has passed from the  moment you woke up and there is still no end in sight.

When I get home at the end of the day I feel like the relief pitcher in a baseball game.  As soon as I drop my bags I feel like I pick up the ball and someone tells me to close this one out.  Thus the nighttime routine begins.  Dinner, bath & bed for Ethan, dishes, bills, etc.  All the while I am hunted by my conscience telling me I should go workout.  Next thing you know…something very interesting happens.  As soon as my conscience tells me I should be working out my subconscious kicks in.  Next thing you know all of these other priories become more important.  The basket of clean laundry that has been sitting there for days, the pile of mail sitting on the counter, the toilet bowls suddenly must get cleaned NOW!

I am sure you very familiar with the cliché “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.  If you are anything like me I am sure you have actually made a few plans in the past but still managed to fail!  I guess the point of what I am trying to say here is…never stop planning!  Your conscience and your subconscious works in a mysterious way.  By creating the expectation for yourself, otherwise known as “The Plan”,  chances are your subconscious is going to kick in and make you a more productive human being.  In my case last night, I never got my workout in BUT I can tell you that the moment my eyes popped open this morning I made sure that I got a few miles in before going a 100 miles per hour.