#screenless saturdays

[streamacademe]

Week 99, Day 686.

“Things are looking up, oh finally” 🎵 - Paramore. I know that the last few weeks (almost months) I have been a bit of a downer on here. And as much as I feel a little meh about it, I will not apologise. I refuse to be anything but honest with myself and my readers. This is my journey and as with any odyssey it’s not always smooth sailing. ⛵ Furthermore, I’m a realist, a cautious optimist at best, and I choose to feel every emotion wholeheartedly. After all, you cannot grow within your comfort zone. 🌿

Anyhow, things are indeed looking up! My conference presentations are done, albeit needing a few tweaks here and there and a couple hours of practice. My to do list has gone down from 36 to 20 items in the last few weeks. And I am off on a much needed holiday this week! I have also outlined my biggest tasks over the next few months and am consciously trying to say ‘no’ to as many non-essential things as possible; both at work and in my personal life. So I feel a little lighter. 🌟

One of the best things I’ve done this week was finally turning off my phone for 24 hours following an essay I read by ‘The Minimalists’ on ‘Screenless Saturdays’. One day without my phone made me feel calmer, more focused, more in-tune with my emotions, and, honestly, I felt free. It might sound dramatic, but I urge you to do the same and see how it changes your perspective on life. I am certainly going to disconnect more often. 📴

It is almost the end of my second academic year as a PhD student! As I am funded for 4 years, this means that I am basically half-way through. Instead, I am going to try and complete my PhD journey in 3 years, mainly to cheat the clock and abstain from slacking. Thus, there are some serious challenges ahead and although it makes me tired just thinking about them I think I’m prepared. 📚

For now, here’s a video Panton McLeod put together of me talking about service reservoirs, and why what I do is so important: https://vimeo.com/348396667 Have an awesome week! Photo: Print screen from the above video link. Source: Panton McLeod. 

[mondayminimalism-blog]

So I presented the kids with my year of less challenge yesterday. It was met, at first, with rejection... until I mentioned the $1,000 reward. Although, even this wasn't a selling point for all of them. It wasn't until I informed my daughter that even she would have to participate in Screenless Saturdays (a great idea from Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, The Minimalists, even if you're not pursuing a minimalist lifestyle) that she jumped on board.

Not surprisingly, over dinner they discussed what they would each do with their money. True to our culture of consumerism the conversation was, more accurately, three people bragging about the stuff they didn't even have yet but intended on buying.I am hoping that, when the challenge is completed, they will all have very different thoughts concerning things and happiness.

Their challenge was to adopt what I'm calling the MIM (Mindful Intentional Minimalism) Lifestyle. Their guidelines are simple: (1) reduce the amount of stuff they have to the essentials and those things which add true value and meaning to their lives; (2) start living with more intention and shape their lives rather than letting life shape them; (3) incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily lives; and (4) maintain this lifestyle until my tax returns come in 2020—or a little over a year.

They are excited for their chance at $1,000. I am excited for them to experience a life other than mass consumerism. Will they make it? I'll keep you posted here.