#trying to build atomic habits

[thepolyamorouspolymath]

Ok so I am a very messy person by nature. It is interesting to me hoe many people think this is laziness or moral failing. I'm comfortable with mess bc I grew up in squalor, and yet was expected to be neat and being mess was a way to say fuck you when I didn't have the words. Cleaning to me brings up a ping in my brain about my mom shipping me to an abusive extended family for a week, bc id enjoy them certainly, so she could gut my room and throw out shit left and right having no idea of what things had value. This was a Power play, bc she never felt the urge to wash my blanket, which I would not release for laundry, while gone, just get rid of my things.

So yeah. Got baggage around cleaning.

However, I need to clean my room. Every bit of research says a net and clean environment would improve my outlook.

So I'm asking y'all to help give me tips to motivate me to actually do it, and to hold me accountability on whether I have. Don't just tag, reblog or reply, bc that shit is useful for anyone and more like to be seen my mean.

Please help me get this done.

[kyri45]

✨ShadowPeach Bio Parents Bio AU Q&A! 17/11✨

Welcome to the Q&A! A space where I can answer related or similar question about the Shadowpeach Bio Parents AU! If you submitted your ask anonimously, then you’ll have to check the whole post if it’s answered here, if it’s not, worry not! Your asks might have been used for a future comic or just in the queue~

Anonimo ha chiesto: (Baby Mk trying to wake up macaque) Macaque: Wukong your son's awake Wukong: Before sunrise he's your son. Lol lion King reference

Aaaaaaahhh I love it! I was thinking the same!

Anonimo ha chiesto: I wonder if MK is experiencing any other Yaoguai urges? Besides his crush instincts and fun Monkey habits and behaviors.

mmmmm I think he mostly sometimes starts a tantrum in monkey style, where he starts to move a lot and jumps around

Anonimo ha chiesto: So like do macaque and wukong have rings or anything like now I think it would be cute if they renewed their vow.

I think I need to go study traditional chinese weddings traditions

l@ovingshadowpeaches ha chiesto: Ohhh my gosh i finally have the balls to send you this ask!! I adore your shadowpeach bio parents AU SO SO SO MUCH, your art style is so satisfying and mesmerising to look at, the plot is chefs kiss and I hope you know I LOVE all the soysauce duo content i am being fed and our Macaque introject adores it because the MK he knows is his son and your comic makes him feel a lot more valid and closer to his boy, your comic is so comforting to both him and me. I can't wait to see how it all plays out and I can't express enough how much we love love this comic!! All the love!!! GAH!!!

awww tysm for your ask!!!! :')

Anonimo ha chiesto: I think that is hilarious that macaque yoinked the great sage. Also other demons jealous Mac?!?! I need more jealous mac. I can only imagine it went like, Here is a basket of delicious peaches for your enjoyment. Excuse me while I go beat the shit out this demon for trying to take you away (Not that they could even if they got past Macaque).

hehe meanwhile Wukong's ego grows tenfold

Anonimo ha chiesto: SHADOWPEACH BIO PARENT AU The last question had me saying: what was Pigsy's and Tang's reaction to Mk's l̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ crush on Red Son? And also the court napping thing?

I think at first they didn't believe it, then they realized what happened, and didn't know wheter being shocked or not since they should have absolutely saw it coming.

@vex--lynn ha chiesto: Do you find it crazy how much you've affected the Fandom, like you've taken it by storm! It's kinda like when "Garden across our collarbone" took over the Fandom. In the end, we're left crying happy tears. I'm so happy to have found this comic while it was still being made cause I feel like I'm part of the adventure of these crazy monkies! I wish you nothing but the best for you!! <3

BRO u CAN'T JUST PULL OUT THAT NAME AND MINE IN THE SAME CONTEXT. That fic is like an atomic bomb I'm just a humble artist drawing gay monkies.

Anonimo ha chiesto: I just want you to know that your LMK comic is getting me through a really hard time in my life right now. It really helps to have something to smile about and look forward to. Thank you so much for all the recent fluff. It brings me a lot of joy. 💕 Awwww tysm!!

Aww that's so nice to hear!

Anonimo ha chiesto: Okay since mac has 6 sensitive ears... wouldn't be sometimes hard for him...? l mean what if there was very strong noises like fireworks or smt around!? U know what is the best solution for this!! Mac lying down between wukong's arms and put his head on chest and listen to his heartbeat!!! This will absolutely will calm him down right? I WANNA SEE THIS IN YOUR COMICS PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAASS

askjcbaicbasc that's sooooo cute! Maybe, perhaps, in the future, who knows....

Anonimo ha chiesto: Is it slowly building back up to shadowpeach getting back together or? 🤔 idk their relationship status rn

situationship so bad these 2 are sleeping together and have a kid but still are allergic to flirt like normal people.

Anonimo ha chiesto: Got a question about Sun Wukong being trans. I know he probably uses glamour to hide his ✨✨boobies✨✨. But like, is he also using tape or are they kinda just... Out Cause now I'm thinking about the times we've seen him shirtless so like... ???

before he learned to shapeshift he mostly used bandages since that's all he could do at the time. Now MK is teaching him what binders are and he couldn't be more grateful.

@ayrza ha chiesto: I know you may not share it, or even read it, but I need to get it out of me. Do you realize that MK has only had father figures and no mother figures? Which means that the simple word "MAMA" carries too much sentimental weight and that's... 🥹 THIS COULD NOT BE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU ALREADY MADE IT!!! MY BABY SAID MAMA!!!! 😭✨💖

o my gAAAAHHD I THINK THAT WAS UNINTENTIONAL OF ME BUT THIS CHANGES EVERYTHINGGG

@s-p-r-i-n-g-t-i-m-e ha chiesto: question: what does MK call Pigsy and Tang? Anonimo ha chiesto: I love the new post i am crying 😢 😭 But I do have a question is mac mama and wukong Baba, or is wukong Mama and mac baba this is an important question I have for you???

Pigsy is "Dad" and Tang is "Papa". Mac is "Mama" and Wukong is "Baba"

Anonimo ha chiesto: I’ve seen many many drawings and intereptations of Mac being all piecered, especially on his ears cause if you have six, you gotta use em. Does macaque have any piercings in your au or is his ears too sensitive for that in your mind? Does he like to fidigit with them or any body else?

mmmm he can perfectly have it. I think he would have a few, but only rings and like each of them is far from the others in the lobe area because I can imagine someone with sensitive Hearing wouldn't like to hear the sounds of metal or earrings tingeling every time he moves around.

@alchemical-spill-on-aisle-three ha chiesto: In your shadowpeach comic, is Mei going to help MK with his crush? I just think it would be really funny if they got into hijinks while trying to get MK and Redson together lol

Mei is the one who organized their sparring meetings in the first place. She was Spicynoodle number 1 fan since the beginning.

@straightally2001 ha chiesto: Hmm... if Kai is gonna be MK and Red Son's son does that mean that Nya is gonna be Mei's daughter?

Omg yes. But guys don't tempt me or I might make a "Spicynoodle 50 years later/ninjago crossover" comic the size of the shadowpeach one if we go down this path

Anonimo ha chiesto: If mk is a trans does he still get period?

yes

Anonimo ha chiesto: what is MK’s favorite thing about red boy?

The fact that he tries to hide his emotions but his fire powers reflects them out of his control. MK thinks it's very cute.

Anonimo ha chiesto: So, are you ever going to make a sick episode for the bio dads? I am asking because I am sick, and it would be interesting to see what they are like when sick.

nope sorry. donesn't fit in the current schedule. But MK will go at the hospital at some point if that's of any reassuring.

@sokda-lal-ashes ha chiesto: Do you have why doodles that aren't exactly in the stories but that fits your bio parents au? I love your art so much!! Especially your redson design!!!

Yes but they are spoilers. Sorryyy

Anonimo ha chiesto: Wukong: hay don't forget to eat breakfast. Macaque: what are you talking about I just ate Wukong: you had espresso & anit depressants that is not a meal. Macaque (repeats mocking Wukong) I don't need your judgement I feel like the whole being revived thinks makes macaque sometimes not realize he's hungry or thirsty

ahah how much I relate (I don't take antidepressant but a lot of magnesium bc of mood swings)

@astro-lmk-enjoyer ha chiesto: Wait… if macaque gets his power from a lunar eclipse, does that mean that wukong gets his power from a solar eclipse? Bye <3

Anonimo ha chiesto: Oh so I just had a thought! Since the light hair streaks are being caused by a lunar eclipse because Macaque draws his powers from the moon, is the opposite true for Wukong? Are any of his powers from the sun and would something happen if there was a solar eclipse? Love all the world building in your comics its all so good!!!

mmm I don't think that's how it works.

Anonimo ha chiesto: wait, so since the brotherhood knew about Macaque courtnapping Wukong, did they ever have to witness the monstrosity of cuddles and affection you describe Shadowpeach when they’re together? I could only imagine the awkwardness. Or many they’re totally cool with them being open with each other right in front of them. I know th3 brotherhood won’t show up in your comic as you’ve said before but a fan can only dream.

Oh yeah. O yeah they did.

@shamelesschopshopwasteland ha chiesto: How are Macaque and Wukong? Do they spend time with each other outside of sleeping? (Also I love you AU!!! <3)

Macaque still works from time to time to the Dojo in weekdays, and also likes his alone time, but has been spendind more time with Wukong to help the other monkeys and telling stories about what happened in all those years they missed when they were still enemies.

Anonimo ha chiesto: (I LOVE YOUR ART SM IFDJKEWVJHA, make sure to take breaks!!) Considering Macaque doesn't like the cold. (I love that HC so much, especially because I like to HC that he's freezing 24/7 can only warm up with hot springs and touch but not actual heat/the sun) How would Macaque react in a snowstorm/winter. Would he just bundle up a lot or lock himself in a room or something similar?

3 layers of jackets and self-heating socks when he's going around, otherwise Hot springs every evening.

Anonimo ha chiesto: what other nicknames/pet names does SWK and Macaque have for one another beside peaches and plum?

mmm I think Sun and Moon

@patienceandpokemon ha chiesto: Okay, rip my heart out with happiness in P7 of Monkie trio with the moonlight reveal why don't you?! THANK YOU! But in seriousness, in the latest bit . . Are Mac and MK recharging their shadow powers under the moonlight? Is that why Mac never really attacked in season 1-3 in your AU of LMK, unless there had been a full moon prior? Or am I snowballing into unrelated territory? Anywho, love the comic! He's so fucking fluffy and white like a pearl! And MK, baby fluff!!!!!

Wait he actually did it in the series?? I never noticed!

Anonimo ha chiesto: Soooooo we know Macaque did the courtnapping for shadowpeach so who did the courtnapping for the demon bull family? PIF or DBK👀

I think PIF did?

@boonalina ha chiesto: Question: In your AU, when exactly did Mac and PIF become sworn siblings? Cuz we know Wuk and Mac were sworn bros with DBK, and then DBK "betrayed" them by getting together with PIF. So when exactly would Mac have become sworn siblings with her? Was it like during the time Wukong was under the mountain or smth? Cuz it does seem like Mac drifted apart from the Brotherhood when Wukong was imprisoned.

this is a fandom headcanon, but I believe it was a little after Wukong was imprisoned, and a little after Macaque was revived

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁?

have you ever noticed how quick we are to minimize our accomplishments or hesitate to act on our abilities? this phenomenon is not uncommon and may even have a psychological basis. according to research, fear of our own success is often linked to what psychologists call self-sabotage.

the psychology behind talent-related fear

studies suggest that fear of success stems from deep-rooted insecurities, perfectionism, and societal expectations.

dr. valerie young, an expert on imposter syndrome, explains that highly competent individuals often internalize self-doubt, leading them to feel unworthy of their achievements. instead of viewing success as an opportunity, they see it as a risk — a chance to be judged or exposed.

additionally, behavioral scientists highlight how comfort zones act as psychological safety nets. breaking out of this zone to pursue one’s potential often triggers the brain’s fight-or-flight response, fueling anxiety and hesitation.

a study published in the « journal of personality and social psychology » found that people often underperform or shy away from their potential to avoid the perceived threats of failure or criticism associated with high expectations.

the cost of playing small

constantly shrinking yourself can lead to a diminished sense of agency, reduced life satisfaction, and even burnout, according to findings in the field of positive psychology. martin seligman’s theory of learned helplessness suggests that repeated self-limitation can reinforce the belief that you are incapable, which ultimately restricts personal growth.

what science says about overcoming this fear

1. reframe your beliefs

imposter syndrome often thrives on fixed mindsets — the belief that our abilities are static and failure is a sign of incompetence. to combat this, psychologists recommend adopting a growth mindset, as outlined by dr. carol dweck. a growth mindset sees mistakes as opportunities for learning rather than proof of inadequacy.

actionable tip: when self-doubt creeps in, question it. ror instance, instead of thinking, “i don’t belong here,” reframe it as, “what can i learn from this experience?” over time, these subtle shifts can transform self-perception.

challenge begative self-talk: replace “i was lucky” with “i prepared well,” or “anyone could do this” with “i worked hard to make this happen.”

2. incremental action

imposter syndrome often paralyzes us because the expectations we set for ourselves feel overwhelming. research shows that breaking large goals into smaller, actionable steps reduces anxiety and builds confidence.

james clear, author of atomic habits, explains that small, consistent actions create a compound effect over time, leading to lasting change.

sart small: take manageable risks in your work or personal life. for example, share one idea in a meeting or take on a small challenge outside your comfort zone.

build evidence of success: each completed task — no matter how small — creates a track record of achievements. over time, this undermines the belief that your accomplishments are accidental.

3. self-compassion

people with imposter syndrome often hold themselves to unrealistic standards. kristin neff’s research on self-compassion shows that treating yourself with kindness during moments of failure or doubt can reduce stress and enhance resilience.

self-compassion involves acknowledging your struggles, understanding that imperfection is human, and responding to yourself as you would to a friend.

practice self-kindness: when you make a mistake, instead of saying, “i’m so incompetent,” try saying, “everyone makes mistakes, and i can learn from this.”

normalize imperfection: remind yourself that even the most successful people have moments of doubt and failure.

self-care as a tool: engage in activities that recharge your mental and emotional energy, whether that’s journaling, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.

by reframing your beliefs, taking small steps, and showing yourself compassion, you can gradually dismantle imposter syndrome. remember: confidence is not the absence of doubt but the decision to move forward despite it.

[goddessinnerglow]

Become Your Best Version Before 2025 - Day 26

Personal Development Tools and Resources

Yesterday we talked about creating accountability plans, and today I want to build on that momentum by sharing some amazing tools and resources that have genuinely transformed my personal growth journey.

Think about the last time you scrolled through your phone, looking at all those self-improvement apps you downloaded but never really used. We've all been there! Today, I want to share what's actually worked for me.

The Simple Tools That Work Wonders

First up, journaling! But wait, before you roll your eyes, hear me out. I'm not talking about writing novels every morning. Sometimes it's just a quick brain dump while having coffee, or a few grateful thoughts before bed. (Quick tip: if you're new to journaling and self-reflection, you might want to check out my free Self-Worth Mini Workbook, it's got some really gentle prompts to get you started!)

Digital tools have been game-changers too. I absolutely love:

Notion for organizing my entire life (seriously, it's like having a second brain)

Insight Timer for meditation (the free version is amazing!)

Goodnotes for digital journaling.

Creating Your Sacred Space

Something that's really helped me is creating a dedicated space for personal development. It doesn't have to be fancy, mine's just a cozy corner with:

A comfortable cushion

My favorite journal and pens

A small plant (because why not?)

A few inspiring books

Speaking of books, these have been life-changing:

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear

"The Mountain Is You" by Brianna Wiest

"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero

View the full list here

Making It Work For You

The key is finding what naturally fits into your life. Maybe you:

Start with just 5 minutes of morning reflection

Use your commute time for personal development podcasts

Set up a simple evening routine for goal review

(By the way, if you're ready to dive deeper into creating sustainable personal growth practices, my Inner Glow Bundle has some amazing tools for this, but let's focus on getting those basics down first!)

The Power of Community

Never underestimate the power of connecting with others on the same journey. Some great ways to do this:

Join online communities (like this one!)

Find an accountability partner

Share your journey on social media

Participate in group challenges

Remember This, the most powerful tools are often the simplest ones. Don't get caught up in thinking you need the fanciest apps or most expensive programs. Start with what you have, where you are.

What's one tool or practice you're excited to try? Let me know in the comments below! I love hearing about your journeys and learning from your experiences too!

See you tomorrow for Day 27!

♡ ☆:.｡ Keep glowing, babes! ♡ ☆:.｡ With love, Goddess Inner Glow.

[threecheersforsuccess]

I've been yapping for too many years, so I need a living masterpost of the guides and blogs from my Tumblr and Instagram. I plan to create more long-form content in the upcoming months, and I will re-do some of the prompts listed. I feel some of my old work might be outdated, so please take my wording with a chunk of salt.

I'll update my with my content as I go.

Stuff from 2024

♡ What's in my bag? (2024)

My Motivation Education Video Series (2022-2023)

♡ Part 0: Something Much Needed Among Students: Motivation ♡ Part 1: Bare Bones Definition of Motivation ♡ Part 2: Self-efficacy, I think ♡ Part 3: Where is the control? ♡ Part 4: Reward or Autopilot ♡ Part 5: Determination to Continue ♡ Part 6: Personal Interest ♡ Part 7: Outside The Model ♡ Part 8: Where is the willpower? ♡ Part 9: Is stress even a bad thing? Note: I stopped because I did not like the short video format. I'm not sure if I may pick this up again, but I do think the lessons I learned from my readings are pretty neat :)

5am.Raining's Studying Challenge (2022)

Note: A challenge led by my cool mutual 5am.raining on Instagram. I slowly figure out how to make videos. It's a little wonky at the beginning, but I find my style! I made these posts in 2022 ♡ Poorly Filmed Day in My Life! ♡ My Studying Role Model... Haruhi from Ouran... ♡ Fave Leader in My Field: Carol Dweck ♡ What gets me in the mood to study? ♡ What I want to do with my degree... ♡ My Fave Reading Assignment ♡ Study Tunes ♡ How to get back into reading books ♡ Favorite study supplies ♡ Planning Routine (2022 version) ♡ Organizing My Desk ♡ What's in my backpack? ♡ Inspiring Film or Doc on My Field ♡ Imposter Syndrome ♡ "Study Buddy" ♡ Coping with Long Study Sessions

Flipd Productivity and Motivation Challenge Blogs

Note: I yapped so hard I won the productivity challenge. I wrote these around junior year of college (2021). ♡ Long-Term Destination, Short-Term Motivation: Living in The Moment ♡ Embedding Self-forgiveness in Your Self-Care ♡ Study Essentials ♡ The Importance of Play and Breaks ♡ Quote of Week Analysis: Self-Acceptance ♡ How I Plan My Everyday ♡ The Biggest Time Management Misconception I'm Trying to Get Over ♡ Recognizing Burnout (and Listening to Yourself) ♡ Building an Academic Support System ♡ Ways to Make Yourself Take Breaks ♡ The Challenges of a Positive Mindset ♡ How I Build Habits (based on James Clear's Atomic Habits)

Diana's Studying Challenge (2021)

Note: A challenge lead by my cool mutual dianas.desk on Instagram. I made these posts in 2021. Day 1: Challenge Introduction Day 2: What Gets Me Motivated Day 3: Cleaning My Desk Day 4: Study Tunes/Songs I Listen and Avoid Day 5: Current Books I'm Reading Day 6: Relaxation! Arknights Projekt Red Bullet Journal Spread Day 7: My Happy Place Day 8: Week Reflection Day 9: How I Plan Day 10: My Summer 2021 Work Routine Day 11: My Desk Essentials Day 12: Study Snack (Natto) Day 13: Digital or Paper Notes? Which is Better? Day 14: How I Self-Care Day 15: My School Bag Day 16: Proudest Achievement Day 17: Most Favorite Productivity App/Website Blocker Day 18: Work Buddies Day 19: Inspirational Quotes Day 20: My Favorite Place to Work Day 21: #MessyDesk Day 22: Guilty Pleasure Day 23: My Favorite Study Accounts Day 24: Study Methods I Do Not Like Day 25: Trying out a new place to work? Day 26: Part 2 of My Unconventional Study Tips (same as above) Day 27: My Outfit Day 28: Making a Gratitude List Day 29: My Aspirations Day 30: Today I learned… Day 31: September Goals

My Study Tips

Note: I wrote many of these either in 2020 or very early on (2017-2018). Super old stuff. ♡ Unconventional Study Tips Part 1 + Part 2 ♡ One Effective Memorization Tip ♡ Dealing with Bad Grades: What I Do ♡ How to get 800 on the SAT in Math and Full Points on Grammar ♡ Causes of Procrastination + Methods for Each ♡ How to Study When Unmotivated ♡ Making Your Discord Study Space ♡ Ways to Go to Bed Early ♡ My Super Ultimate Guide to AP Calc AB and BC ♡ Using Your Phone Productively (2018)

Journaling

♡ How I Journal (2017) ♡ How I Use My Notebooks (2018) ♡ How to Keep a Daily Journal (2020) ♡ How to Get into Creative Journaling (2022)

Dividers by @fairytopea

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Can Life Exist on an Icy Moon? NASA’s Europa Clipper Aims to Find Out

With a spacecraft launching soon, the mission will try to answer the question of whether there are ingredients suitable for life in the ocean below Europa’s icy crust.

Deep down, in an ocean beneath its ice shell, Jupiter’s moon Europa might be temperate and nutrient-rich, an ideal environment for some form of life — what scientists would call “habitable.” NASA’s Europa Clipper mission aims to find out.

NASA now is targeting launch no earlier than Monday, Oct. 14, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Europa Clipper’s elongated, looping orbit around Jupiter will minimize the spacecraft’s exposure to intense radiation while allowing it to dive in for close passes by Europa. Using a formidable array of instruments for each of the mission’s 49 flybys, scientists will be able to “see” how thick the moon’s icy shell is and gain a deeper understanding of the vast ocean beneath. They’ll inventory material on the surface that might have come up from below, search for the fingerprints of organic compounds that form life’s building blocks, and sample any gases ejected from the moon for evidence of habitability.

Mission scientists will analyze the results, probing beneath the moon’s frozen shell for signs of a water world capable of supporting life.

“It’s important to us to paint a picture of what that alien ocean is like — the kind of chemistry or even biochemistry that could be happening there,” said Morgan Cable, an astrobiologist and member of the Europa Clipper science team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which manages the mission.

Ice Investigation

Central to that work is hunting for the types of salts, ices, and organic material that make up the key ingredients of a habitable world. That’s where an imager called MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) comes in. Operating in the infrared, the spacecraft’s MISE divides reflected light into various wavelengths to identify the corresponding atoms and molecules.

The mission will also try to locate potential hot spots near Europa’s surface, where plumes could bring deep ocean material closer to the surface, using an instrument called E-THEMIS (Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System), which also operates in the infrared.

Capturing sharply detailed pictures of Europa’s surface with both a narrow and a wide-image camera is the task of the EIS (Europa Imaging System). “The EIS imagers will give us incredibly high-resolution images to understand how Europa’s surface evolved and is continuing to change,” Cable said.

Gases and Grains

NASA’s Cassini mission spotted a giant plume of water vapor erupting from multiple jets near the south pole of Saturn’s ice-covered moon Enceladus. Europa may also emit misty plumes of water, pulled from its ocean or reservoirs in its shell. Europa Clipper’s instrument called Europa-UVS (Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph) will search for plumes and can study any material that might be venting into space.

Whether or not Europa has plumes, the spacecraft carries two instruments to analyze the small amount of gas and dust particles ejected from the moon’s surface by impacts with micrometeorites and high-energy particles: MASPEX (MAss SPectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa) and SUDA (SUrface Dust Analyzer) will capture the tiny pieces of material ejected from the surface, turning them into charged particles to reveal their composition.

“The spacecraft will study gas and grains coming off Europa by sticking out its tongue and tasting those grains, breathing in those gases,” said Cable.

Inside and Out

The mission will look at Europa’s external and internal structure in various ways, too, because both have far-reaching implications for the moon’s habitability.

To gain insights into the ice shell’s thickness and the ocean’s existence, along with its depth and salinity, the mission will measure the moon’s induced magnetic field with the ECM (Europa Clipper Magnetometer) and combine that data with measurements of electrical currents from charged particles flowing around Europa — data provided by PIMS (Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding).

In addition, scientists will look for details on everything from the presence of the ocean to the structure and topography of the ice using REASON (Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding to Near-surface), which will peer up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) into the shell — itself a potentially habitable environment. Measuring the changes that Europa’s gravity causes in radio signals should help nail down ice thickness and ocean depth.

“Non-icy materials on the surface could get moved into deep interior pockets of briny water within the icy shell,” said Steve Vance, an astrobiologist and geophysicist who also is a member of the Europa Clipper science team at JPL. “Some might be large enough to be considered lakes, or at least ponds.”

Using the data gathered to inform extensive computer modeling of Europa’s interior structure also could reveal the ocean’s composition and allow estimates of its temperature profile, Vance said.

Whatever conditions are discovered, the findings will open a new chapter in the search for life beyond Earth. “It’s almost certain Europa Clipper will raise as many questions or more than it answers — a whole different class than the ones we’ve been thinking of for the last 25 years,” Vance said.

TOP IMAGE: This artist’s concept (not to scale) depicts what Europa’s internal structure could look like: an outer shell of ice, perhaps with plumes of material venting from beneath the surface; a deep, global layer of liquid water; and a rocky interior, potentially with hydrothermal vents on the seafloor. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

LOWER IMAGE: The puzzling surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa looms large in this reprocessed color view made from images taken by NASA’s Galileo spacecraft in the late 1990s. The images were assembled into a realistic color view of the surface that approximates how Europa would appear to the human eye. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute

[nenelonomh]

how to create routines (and the benefit of good routines)

let's start with this: what is a routine?

a routine is a set of behaviors that are regularly followed, without much thought or planning. it is a habitual way of doing things that becomes ingrained over time. routines are less structured and more adaptable since they focus on the order in which tasks are done, rather than the specific timing.

routines are consistently mistaken to be the same thing as a schedule, except a schedule is a planned outline of tasks/events that are completed at specific times. essentially, routines focus on establishing consistency and habit whereas schedules are about precise time management and task prioritisation. both have their purposes and benefits--routines are typically better for an effective wake-up or bedtime.

here's some steps to help create better routines:

set clear goals define what you would like to achieve with your routine. maximising productivity? improving health? learning more?

start small begin with small, manageable habits that you can consistently perform and add to these over time.

focus on consistency try to perform your routine at the same time every day and establish it as a habit.

plan for obstacles just because routines require significantly less planning than schedules does not mean that all planning is ignored. think about what may derail your routine and plan ways to overcome these challenges.

track your progress tracking your progress can provide accountability and motivation. for me, once a month i sit down and write my current routine (morning; night) and compare it to my desired routine (morning; night). then i try to close the gaps. other ways to track your progress include keeping a journal or tracking in an app.

be flexible life is unpredictable. be prepared to adjust your routine as needed while staying focused on your goals.

reward yourself celebrate your successes, no matter if they seem small. this is essential as it helps to maintain motivation, and cement your identity as someone who values their routine.

but joanne, what are some good habits to start with?

don't worry! i got you.

☆ wake up early. this helps prevent stressors of time, and gives you the ability to add more things to your morning routine.

☆ exercise. i will forever preach exercise. a quick session can boost your metabolism, focus and mood.

☆ positive affirmations positive affirmations boost your mindset and confidence and will help so much in the long run.

☆ make your bed in the morning so many people don't make their bed in the morning, and i seriously don't understand why. it makes you feel more put together and is a small task that accomplishing can set you up for a day of wins (compounding).

☆ healthy eating opt for nutritious, healthy meals over quick and easy foods that lack to improve daily performance and focus. if you're looking to be more healthy through routine, this is huge change to make-- even if you just start with one homemade meal a day.

☆ spend some time in the sunlight spending time outside (and in the sun, if the weather allows) is a massive mood booster and will improve your entire day. lots of us need the break from screens, so having a mindful sit or walk outside is the perfect habit (morning, throughout the day or in the afternoon).

further reading:

firstly, atomic habits by james clear is THE BEST habit book out there. it provides a step by step on how to create new, good habits and maintain them and also instruction on how to stop bad habits.

the seven habits of highly effective people, by stephen r. covey is another AMAZING nonfiction work that focuses on changing your mindset and views to change your habits.

here's a website link with more of the best books about building habits and structures: click here

i hope today's post is helpful,, if you know any more resources, let me know so that i can create a giant post of self-education on routines, habits and structures.

(images are from pinterest)

[adviceformefromme]

Hi,

I live in a subtropical country, and have a struggle that is, my immunity is low in general and i keep getting colds and fevers often. This, coupled with monthly Aunty Flo completely disrupts any good habit I am trying to build, tossing me off the wagon physically, mentally and in spirit and motivation. Like, any good change lasts just 15-20 days before i am back to square one. This has been happening repeatedly across 2023 - 24.

I have a business to build and goals to achieve and debt to clear

How do I get better if every system or interevntion I try is not able to beat the low days? Any suggestions?

Hey sweetie, yes I can totally relate and would suggest really looking at what is happening with your rhythm. Are you going to hard for 15 - 20 days and then burning yourself out? If you see your progress as a swinging pendulum you are going from one extreme to another. Which needs middle ground. Here are some tips:

Read Atomic habits. Get the physical copy. Highlight, read. Stay close to this book. Every time i read this it helps me get back on track.

Keep a very close diary of how you are feeling month by month. What foods and allergies are triggering you? Why is your immune system low? Have you had blood works done? Are you prioritising your sleep? Drinking enough water? Educating yourself about immunity foods, and gut health? I would recommend you get hold of some kefir cultures and start making your own kefir at home, also transform your diet so you are only consuming gut / immunity supporting foods and drinks. Kefir has healed my gut and every time i stop making it, I can feel the difference. I highly recommend this.

You need to reflect on whats happening with the low days, I suffer with them also, its usually when i get stressed. I stop doing all the good things that help me manage stress, exercise, eating clean, staying away from over consuming. I do the complete opposite and start to spiral. So then it comes a case of better stress management. Who can you call in your phone that can shift you? What is something loving you can do for yourself when you start to stress that will stop you from slipping? When you are feeling good have your toolbox ready. Know the coping mechanisms, the healthy ones. Mentally prepare for when you start to slip. When x happens, this is what i am going to do. For me, if i take myself for a massage even a 30 mins at the thai place, this loving act usually catches me before its too late. If i can go for a run before the voice of no return starts telling me 'skip the run today - you deserve to rest' I can usually escape the slippery slope and some months its literally just trying to stay above water. And thats what you do, you keep your head up no matter what is going on. You practise loving yourself when it feels good, and you try your best.

I hope this helps, DMs are open if you want / need extra support xoxoxoox

[oceane4loveu]

maintain a habit and have the trigger to make your dreams come true

I just finished the atomic habit book and I really learned a lot of things that I have incorporated into my routine and it works! Well I really had to force myself to maintain discipline but now I really like it. I went through several stages before really keeping my routine ☘︎

✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹

1- why do I procrastinate?

I really asked myself the question and realized that it was because I didn't really have a goal and I was afraid to step out of my comfort zone. So I took a sheet, I put on my good vibe playlist and I started to make a list of objectives and I chose 2 objectives from this list that I will try to complete in 1 month the brain has It takes 21 days, or 3 weeks of application, for a habit to become automatic. So I chose the simplest goals to achieve like doing 1 hour of pilates every morning and listening to a podcast every day.

2-Build good habits

according to the book atomic habit to build a good habit you must:

☆ Make it obvious: an example I want to start pilate, to really get started I put my sports clothes right in front of my bed so when I wake up I know I have to do pilate and I also put on a reminder on my phone

★ Make it attractive: when I start my pilates I put on my most beautiful pilates outfit, I put on some relaxing music, I make this moment a moment of well-being.

☆ Make it easy: I started with 5 min of pilate first for my body to get used to it and started increasing the minutes on other days.

★ Make it satisfying: when I finish my pilates I make myself my favorite drink to reward myself even if I don't see the results yet and I reward myself for the effort.

3-how to maintain a habit

the big technique to get there is to stick the new habit to an old habit an example you want to read in the morning, every time you take the bus you read or every time you finish your sport you read for people who don't No self-discipline will be effective but you have to force yourself to stick to it. Also, you have to have goals that resonate with you, goals that you really want to do, not because others are doing it. start your day with the tasks that are the most complicated and don't try to postpone them until the end of the day, try to accomplish all your objectives for the day in the morning.

4-how to have the trigger to make this dream life come true

Well this step is really good It’s thanks to her that I started to improve my daily life.

࣪𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊ Visualization: to start, lie down in your bed and put on some meditation music or music that relaxes you, take the time to really relax. then you will close your eyes and imagine a heavenly place where you feel good, it can be a garden, an island or even your room whatever you want and you will imagine several little lights. These lights there are some that are close to you and others that are far from you, there are small ones, some medium ones and further away there is the biggest light. what I want you to know understand is that all these lights represent all your desires and your goals. at the beginning I know that you are going to try to catch all his desires because you want to try to realize them all at the same time when that's not it. we think that if we don't do it now we will never do it which is not true. If you really want something, not because you saw it in someone else or out of jealousy, just know that it's already yours. Now what to do when we are used to all these lights from now on you will start to enter the lights which are closest to you All these lights are connected together so simple example: Imagine you are in a game and there has flags when you go past flag A to reach flag B and the Monster attacks you and you lose your life you will not necessarily return to flag A but to flag B because you arrived there so when you choose a light which is closest to you it will help you project yourself towards light B which will project you towards your dream life which is the very great light that is why we say that you have to be patient and what you have to understand is that all the light is yours and no one else's.

࣪𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊ how to choose choose the right light: it's simply the light closest to you. This light for example can represent making your bed every morning. When I say that I know that you are telling yourself that making your bed every morning is too simple but making your bed every morning requires discipline, the fact of maintaining this action will Allow you to learn to trust yourself like that when you are faced with a greater objective you will tell yourself if I have succeeded in an objective like making my bed every morning well it is because I can succeed in this new objective.

࣪𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊ learn to do with the means you have: you are going to take a paper and write down everything you want to accomplish in your life and you are going to look in your notes and choose 1 or 2 things that can be achievable now. you are not you don't have to have everything now to start the things that make you dream, learn to do it with the means you have, for example I wanted to get back into pilates but I found as an excuse the fact that I didn't yet have my computer so I couldn't start yet, I continued like that for weeks then I got fed up so I took my phone I went into YouTube I looked for a pilate video and I started, I did it with the means I had. Everything doesn't have to be perfect just do it.

So these are all the things that I have learned and applied in my life. I still continue to learn new things every day and I really try to see what works for me. I hope you enjoyed. 🐾

༝༚༝༚océane

[mia-studyhaus]

Book Review #4 - Atomic Habits

🕯📚📜🍂🎧 Many of us want to be better. We want to enjoy the finer things in life. We want to uncover our full potential. Yet, we often quit our efforts to attain these desires. Either that, or we do not know how to continuously make improvements to them in order to fully maximize our abilities. Is there any cure to this seemingly endless loop of making ambitious plans to just to fail at them? While there is no guaranteed solution, this book by James Clear offers evidence-based strategies to harness the power of habits to achieve your goals. In a 319-page journey, the author takes us on a step-by-step journey explaining the anatomy of a habit and how to use it to follow good practices while avoiding those that hinder our progress. This is done using many every-day examples and references to popular culture in order to leave readers with actionable take-aways from the knowledge gained in each chapter.

This book is well-organized into parts and chapters that lead smoothly from start to end, and this reinforced the understanding of how each component of a habit can be taken advantage of to our needs. The wide variety of analogies, histories and studies show how the concepts taught in the book can be applied flexibly, making them a relevant read for those serious about improving themselves. Many interesting ideas were broken down into palatable definitions supported by simple situations that they could be used in. The author using his personal experiences to explain the relevance of his content also made the book more credible, since he had some honest insights that showed the realistic side of habit-building. It was also nice to see the use of visual aids and exercises to solidify readers’ understanding. Still, I feel that there was content overload at times and some repetition (perhaps intentional, given the nature of the book?). It also felt like there were too many examples in some chapters.

I think anyone interested in habit building towards a healthy life transformation should definitely try this book. The guidance is great if you are trying to get your basics right without feeling guilty — something that is super important in self-improvement. I also think that athletes will be inspired by this book as there are many points relevant to their improvement. You can read this book in one sitting (5-6 hours) or choose to go part by part — there are ways to apply its content whichever way you choose to do so. Enjoy reading this book :)

Rating: 3.5/5

Edition: Paperback, Avery, 2018

Target audience: Anybody interested in self-improvement through habits

Let me know if this book interests you in the comments below!

Signing off till next time~

🕯📚📜🍂🎧

Follow @mia-studyhaus for more book reviews!

[atombonniebaby]

Atom Bonnie Baby's Rat Man Starter Pack

MacCadooldles:

The Playlist.

A mix of songs that I listen to when writing! Some remind me of Mac, some are songs I think he'd listen to, and some are HC and Fic specific!

Rat-Man Garbs:

DadCready Screens Masterlist:

Swings - Happy Tears - Bedtime Stories - Pulling Faces - Happy Tears 2 - Sleepy - Sanctuary - Protective - Duckie Boots - Sleepy 2 - New Dwellings - Off to the Beach - Mr Huggy

A MacCrady Profile

Name: Robert Joseph MacCready

Occupation: Gun for Hire

Experience: Gunner (don't hold it against him) Mayor (from 10-16) self proclaimed 'ruthless little bastard' (still applicable)

Nickname(s): RJ, Bobby-Joe, Mac, Sasshole, Mac n Cheesy, MacGreedy, MacSneezy, MacSleepy, MacWeepy, MacEaty, SnarkCready

Age: 22 years old (no really)

Height: 5'8'' (Short King)

Build: Scrawny (130 lbs.)

Eyes: Bright Blue (pwetty)

Hair: Light Brown, choppy (hella cute)

Features: All sharp edges and angles, rat-like (but in a sexy kinda way)

The best ways to annoy/piss him off:

-Trying to make him carry your junk.

-Leaving him in the dark about what is going on and not letting him have a say in important decisions

-Being irresponsible and not taking the situation seriously.

-Using chems in front of him, knowing he disapproves of them.

-Not taking proper care of yourself (i.e., not wearing armor, getting enough food and water, etc.)

Molerats (anything that looks, walks, or sounds like one)

Murdering Innocents and sadistic behavior.

Abuse of Power (this is probably the thing he hates the most)

What he likes:

Wit, sarcasm, and smart-assness (loves it!).

Making MacCready smile and laugh.

Playfulness (MacCready can't resist).

Cuddling and being held (He'd never admit it).

A good listener.

Surprising facts about MacCready:

His guilty pleasure is Sugar Bombs and Nuka Cola.

He started drinking when he was six years old.

He has a high level of intelligence and enjoys learning new things (he likes to spout out random facts)

Named all the dogs in Little Lamplight: Muttface, Pete, Hooligan, Ginger, Bandit, and Rex.

Headcanons!:

If there were one word he'd use to describe himself, it would be hardy. He's used to pushing himself to do whatever it takes to survive, even when doing things that others consider crazy. MacCready is sarcastic, stubborn, and guarded—he doesn't trust easily.

He affectionately refers to his rifle as 'Baby' (but only in private).

He is surprisingly insightful and observant, noticing details that others overlook.

MacCready's past has left scars on him emotionally and physically, and some days are worse than others.

When MacCready is ill, it the more clingy and needy he becomes.

Hates being cold, so bundling him in warm blankets helps make him feel better. Will accept hot soup (but NOT cave fungus)

Self-consciously hates how his knees knock together and his ribs poke under his shirt. (due to having rickets as a kid)

When genuinely happy, he's all toothy smiles until he thinks someone might notice, and then he reverts back to his usual stoic self. (doesn't like his teeth)

MacCready is always smoking, his cigarettes resting between his lips as he goes through one pack after another.

His guilty pleasures are Sugar Bombs and Nuka Cola. He loves sweet things but doesn't have time for much food.

His mind is full of cuss words.

He also has a habit of tapping his fingers against the side of his rifle whenever he's nervous.

MacCready and intimacy:

He misses physical intimacy and closeness and longs for that connection again but struggles to communicate it. Insecurity eats at MacCready; he feels guilty about moving on with his life and letting go of Lucy.

When MacCready does allow himself to get close to someone, the things that draw him to you aren't lost on him. How your presence brings him a sense of peace and makes him forget about all the problems in his life, if only for a while, how you make him smile when he wants nothing more than to cry, and how you somehow always manage to look at him with such kindness, even when he feels he doesn't deserve it.

MacCready finds sleep with a new partner extremely difficult. After losing Lucy the way he did, having trouble falling asleep is now a side effect of his traumatic experiences. He often wakes up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep, and if his companion stirs, he's instantly wide awake, unable to keep his eyes off them.

He tells himself it's because he's trying to protect them, but he knows deep down that part of him can't stop wondering what it would be like to lose another loved one in a heartbeat. To find himself alone yet again... and being alone scares the heck out of him.

MacCready can be very vulnerable at night, especially after a nightmare. When he comes back to his senses, it takes a moment for the memories to fade away. Once they do, he gets flustered and tries to push his nightmares out of his head. He doesn't want his partner to see him as weak and break down.

As MacCready starts trusting you, he eventually reveals his troubles. He's more willing to seek support rather than deal with everything alone. He may still shy away from physical contact or withdraw after the initial breakdown. Once MacCready starts opening up, he slowly becomes more comfortable, allowing you to show affection and comfort him.

An ongoing conflict with himself is his attraction to men, which he has repressed for many years, believing that acknowledging it would question his marriage to Lucy. In MacCready's eyes, you either like women or men and not both. So, the fact that he harbors these feelings of attraction to men makes him feel guilty, ashamed, and, most of all, confused about his identity.

[rainyfestivalsweets]

10/20/23 Things I did to help myself.... what did I have to change? Seems like everything some days.

Healthy Tips

Realistically evaluated my eating habits. It was either not enough or too much, no in-between. That was part of my problem.

Most restaurant meals are too much, even if you think you are ordering the 'healthy option'

It is not normal to gorge yourself on appetizers, drinks, & a giant entree. Choose a moderation mindset: Pick one or 2. Share an app. One drink. Pack half your entree 'to go'.

Our society is driven by consumerism. I had to take steps to stop that. Meet people to do activities, not to consume things.

Water- I shoot for 200 oz of water a day.

I take low cal beverages with me... nearly everywhere. Tea, coffee, sparkling water.

Try all kinds of different tea.

Meals focus on protein and produce. If you are still hungry- eat another portion of meat and produce.

Try to eat as unprocessed as possible. They add stuff to our food to make our brains light the F up. It isn't natural and devastating to people like me who are especially susceptible. Often when I have issues (yesterday!) It is because I had a processed item.

Sometimes I add a fiber supplement to my drink. Adds calories yes but I don't worry about it.

Try to only have 1 sweet thing a day. The later in the day, the better. I will actually be shooting for every 3 days or so.

Some of my craving issues were blood sugar related because I was pre-diabetic and had PCOS- which has an insulin problem.

If you haven't eaten, plan and eat a healthy meal that has a substantial amount of protein.

If you have eaten already, try to distract yourself with a task. If you are still truly hungry 20 minutes later- have another bit of protein & veggies.

Walk daily. But don't count it as your cardio.

If you work at a desk, get a standing desk and try to work up to standing daily.

Cardio 3x a week. Whatever you enjoy. Yes, you have to enjoy it. If you don't, you haven't found your activity yet.

Weight training 3x a week. Lift all the weights you can, as often as you can manage. You are now in training. For life!

Supplements- figure out what works for you. I am currently on: Sam-E, NAC, Nomorbidity, Alkemi, allergy stuff, and some other stuff I rotate in.

Read books that help your mindset. Atomic habits, mindset books. 10 mins a day, make it a habit to improve yourself.

Watch YouTube videos that build your motivation and determination.

Things can get better. I also utilize therapy! There is no shame in needing help!

I am becoming a healthier person and every choice reflects that.

[m-i-c-drop-doodles]

One piece AU notes - ASL brothers

Ace

Favorite food - jalapeno peppers with Yao Guai ribs

Forgets to emote when talking to people. Not as bad when he was a kid (had a bad habit to talking a bit monotone before meeting Sabo and Luffy)

accidentally caused a glitch in Dadan's programing causing her laser to go off suddenly, nearly hitting ace in the process. Has been banned from messing with their programs since (he doesn't try to hack any bots, bandit or not ever again. Thinks its too similar to brainwashing as it hurt Dadan)

Is the best with robotics and scraping/salvage

Still hates Roger (Roger was considered to be the Raider "King" of the Commonwealth by the NCR but in reality was the General of the Minutemen)

Was born in New Vegas - brought to the Commonwealth by Garp

Sabo

Favorite food - Noodle cups with Mirelurk cakes (essentially ramen)

is the most emotive out of the three, but picked up Ace's habit of monotone

Is the best with code and hacking, had Ace's help in building himself a personal terminal

Meets Ace in a scrap yard he was hiding in.

tried to help Luffy with his eyebot but accidentally programed it to only play music.

Was born in DC - ran away to the Commonwealth with the help of a caravan (they died shortly after leaving Sabo due to raiders)

Luffy

Favorite food - meat (deathclaw).

even with Makino's help, he still has trouble discerning some facial expressions - but is scarily good as discerning peoples true intentions and telling when someone lies.

would almost be eaten by Mirelurks on the daily.

whilst staying with the bandits, learnt how to avoid their sensors so he could steal food.

tried to build a eyebot once, ended up with a very explosive radio instead.

Was born in the Commonwealth

may change this later

(suggestion by @kuro8566 ) Luffy gains his abilities from eating a rat (that was infected with the Gomu Gomu no Mi geno) raw as a dare from his brothers , Ace gains his abilities later when he accidently drinks a beer infected with the Mera Mera no Mi geno when drinking with Masked Deuce (or Marco?)

(currently trying to make their designs - steam punk/atom punk? + post apocolapce ASL brothers)

[sueperfluous]

Bleak House

I've just made a massive career shift. It is perhaps the biggest mistake I've ever made (barring that one person I dated that one time).

I thought that if I could handle the aggressively ambitious coworkers in one industry, it would be just as easy to handle them in another industry. I was wrong. I picked an industry where not only are the coworkers ambitious, but the business is ambitious too.

We want to earn MILLIONS in revenue this year, they said. We have this amazing product that helps other businesses save money. And by selling them this product, we'll make millions and millions.

Alright, I said. How hard can this be? My job involves doing the thing I've done for over ten years. Surely they will just give me broad instructions and let me do my thing – the thing they hired me to do.

I never typically account for the fact that people like to feel important at work. That they usually have motivations beyond making enough money to survive while pursuing their other passions. That kind of work-life balance is for morons like me.

I've always wondered why some people go out of their way to get a pat on the head from the boss, why they try to push their teams to the very limits. I've always assumed that everyone is on board with the status quo – we're pretending to hold up the illusion of "business" so we can use our Monopoly money to find ways to be happy.

I don't know about you, but I use my Monopoly money to buy books, have meals with friends, get a pretentious art film subscription, collect vinyls and so on and so forth. My Monopoly money reminds me that there is a life outside of the 40-hour construct of a work week.

During those 40 hours, I'm expected to say unintelligible things like ROI and CPC and learn frameworks someone made up to be able to sell their book. I'm expected to join meetings where we discuss outcomes, outcomes, outcomes.

How do we earn MILLIONS in revenue this year? How do we earn MILLIONS so we can give you a few HUNDREDS. And a little gift at Christmas for being so good all year. Capitalist Santa has kept a list.

Oh, Santa has a list. Did you think fast or slow? Did you build atomic habits? How did you measure PRODUCTIVITY? Did you help the founder earn MILLIONS in revenue this year?

As I try to learn how to fit into this construct, watch others show up at work in full clown mask and costume (just like me), as I accept that this is likely what the next 25 years of my life looks like, I'm often left humbled and digging into a bag of chips.

The profound realization that I'm a cog in the wheel of shareholder value has launched me into the gentle arms of therapy. Perhaps the only silver lining is that my employer is helping mitigate the problem they created – by paying for my therapy.

[calliopechild]

Your turn! >:D 3, 16, 25

Thank goodness I've been tracking my reading this year, or I'd be sunk, lol

3. What were your top five books of the year?

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan *The introvert book for me. The author details her efforts to try new things to push herself out of the introvert comfort zone, from going on friend dates to stand-up comedy, the latter of which I am wildly impressed by and would never do even at gunpoint. The writing is hilarious, and it really nudged at me in an elbow-in-the-side kind of way to try and try some more spontaneous or intimidating things in my own life.

Atomic Habits by James Clear *One thing about me is that I love "life hacks," especially with habits because I am just...garbage at picking up good habits on my own. This is a neat look at how habits can help (or hurt) in your life, a bit on the psychology of how and why our brains encode things as habit or instinct, and how starting incredibly small on a habit you're trying to add can give you something to build on. For example, one of his suggestions is the two-minute version of any habit. So if you want to start working out regularly, the two-minute version of that is literally just putting on workout clothes. That's it, that's your daily habit. Then once that's become second nature, you put on the clothes and lay out your yoga mat, or walk down the sidewalk, and so on. Makes it seem very approachable and less of a "you should be embarrassed you can't handle just Doing The Whole Thing" attitude and more of a "you're training yourself to show up, and building from there."

Book Lovers by Emily Henry *I read this one mainly because my sister really enjoyed it and aggressively recommended it so she'd have someone to talk about it with. It's not one I would have picked on my own--because 1. it's a rom-com, and 2. it's in first person--but I seriously enjoyed it. Basic premise is that the main character is a literary agent who is well aware she is the Uptight Businesswoman who gets dumped for the Down-to-Earth Local Lady in every Hallmark movie (and in fact, the book literally opens that way). Her sister drags her along on a sibling bonding trip, with a checklist of basically every wholesome small-town activity, in hopes of giving her her own Hallmark movie experience, complete with whirlwind romance--which does happen, but not quite as you'd expect.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is how self-aware it is. It's not quite like staring into the camera on The Office, but the main character thinks in tropes and talks like an editor and there's this very well-done sly wink-nudge kind of undertone, not quite a fourth wall break but almost like the author is tapping on it throughout going 'we all know where this is going, right?' It's not overdone or heavy-handed, but it's kind of...I don't even know how to describe it. Matryoshka doll-ass story; a literary agent unable to stop seeing the tropes in her own life, in a book about rom-com tropes vs real life. It's a fun read, and one of the few books I've read lately that made me want to buy it, which I never do with books unless I know I'll reread them. (I also saw a hell of a lot of myself in the main character, in a very 'I came out here to have a good time and I'm feeling so attacked right now,' so that was a bit of a trip, lol.)

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith *This one has one of the most interesting premises I've come across in a while, which is that there is a library in Hell of all the manuscripts that writers have started and never finished (I know, I'm wondering how many books would be in there from me too, lol). But the character in one book escapes, and the librarian has to go to the real world to chase him down.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree *Very entertaining D&D-esque novel. Found family vibes, some skullduggery, and building a new life through spite, friendship, and a bit of magic; it's a fun read.

16. What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

I think it'd have to be The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, with the caveat that the only "hype" I had for it was the review blurbs I read on the back cover, lol. As an introvert and someone who does not like leaving my comfort zone/routine where I know exactly what to do/expect, I was hoping to enjoy this one like I did Sorry I'm Late, but I just didn't. I didn't vibe with the writing style at all, to the point that it probably should have been a DNF because now that I think about it, I can't remember any specific takeaways. Still going to try and apply the general concept this coming year of saying yes to more opportunities, but yeah, it wasn't quite the 'tour de force, etc etc' I was expecting from the reviews.

25. What reading goals do you have for next year?

Read more, lol. I know it's simple, but I've really fallen out of reading the past couple years thanks to various causes (depression nerfing my focus, work making me not want to brain at all in my free time) so I'm trying to get back to that. I read a total of 18* this year, so next year's goal is bare minimum of 20, ideally 24 for a nice two books a month. Oh, and to work through some of my bought-to-read-but-they're-still-unread stack, because I've hauled some of those through two moves and still haven't read them, and I'm getting annoyed with myself about it.

(*this number could still go up because I'm flying to my parents' for Christmas, so you know, airport reading time.)

[oopsiedaisymae]

trying to build healthy habits fucking sucks bc they make you feel so pathetic sometimes. i am feeling a bit neglected by my best friend/roommate lately and i know i need to talk to him about it, but every single unhealthy atom in my body is telling me to bottle it up and let it fester to not seem like a bitch about it. it's literally as simple as "hey, this is how i've been feeling, can we talk about it?" but it makes my fucking bones itch for sure!