#unless you just want them to risk killing over or overworking themselves so you can be happy

[elleonmybeloved]

For the city of song, wind, and wine, it was a regular occurrence every other month to hold a music competition. Onlookers would gather around the large open space surrounding the statue of Barbatos and anybody above the age of thirteen could compete as follows: perform three songs, one of which had to be an original composition, solo in front of the audience. There was no limit to the number of instruments one could use, but since the rule was for solo performance only, it was unusual to see the use of more than one instrument.

The prize was 10,000 mora, 3 free meals from Good Hunter, and a commemorative feather artifact meant to honor the wind archon. There was of course, clout associated with the victory however, so naturally all the bards in the city of Mondstadt competed fiercely for the victory.

Lumine had the pleasure of finding out about the competition as a result of trying to buy some mint and honey and being told by Blanche that she would likely be out of stock by eight a.m. every day for the next week and a half. Mint tea with honey was one of the best ways to soothe the throat, so the city’s bards were snatching it off the shelves and shutting themselves in to compose and practice their songs without risking anybody hearing and ruining the impact of their performance.

For the young woman, it meant no sticky honey roast, radish veggie soup, calla lily seafood soup... unless she felt like picking it herself or going to Liyue just to buy some. And she sure as hell wasn’t about to attempt finding and messing with a bee hive in the wild. Unintentionally acquired powers of wind or not.

At the moment though, Amber was taking it harder than she was.

“Ugh I totally forgot that the Good Hunter doesn’t sell sticky honey roast this week because of the competition... I was totally looking forward to a nice hot plate of sweet ham after all the hilichurls I had to chase off the roads today too.”

“Why not have a sweet madame instead?” Lumine suggested. “It’s basically the same thing.”

Amber gawks at her. “How can you say that? See, this is what makes it so obvious you’re not from around here. Everybody knows the taste of those two dishes are not even remotely similar to each other.”

She’s teasing, it’s obvious from the exaggerated shock and pout of her lip, but something about what she said makes the neutral smile slip from Lumine’s face.

“Hey, if you think about it, she’s right you know!” Paimon comes to Lumine’s defense. “One ingredient is sugar, and the other is meat!”

“You eat slimes.” Amber says. “On purpose. Sorry but that automatically disqualifies you from giving culinary advice.”

“Wait a minute. On purpose? That implies a story I think I’d very much like to hear.” She turns to see Kaeya walking up behind them, a bag of something in his hands. It seems he had been shopping. And eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Oh no, there’s nothing like that.” Amber waves her hand in a nonchalant motion that would be convincing if she could lie with her face as well.

“Mmhm, sure.” He says with that smirk that never seems to leave his face.

“I should get going.” Lumine says, cutting off Amber’s reply before she can open her mouth. Once these two get started they can really argue, and she doesn’t have the time or energy to stick around for that. Especially when Charles made a deal with her to probe customers for info on her brother if she could find and bring back all of the lost business records that had been spewed from the tavern during the storm.

“Okay, see ya later!” Amber says with a salute.

“Yes, run along now.” Kaeya makes a shooing gesture.

The sun is setting by the time she is looking for the last one, hasty now that the natural light is fading. She had found some on the roof of all places, and she had all but scoured the ground, so here she was looking down dusty chimneys and clinging to the roof tiles like a squirrel every time the wind made her spook.

“Gotta be around here somewhere.” She mumbles to herself. Paimon had since gotten hungry and was presumably out eating, or looking for something to eat.

It’s a bit of a habit to use her elemental sight when searching for something, even though there wouldn’t be any traces she knows of on the documents. That’s how she ends up seeing it. At the top of the windmill, bright teal anemo energy, leaking out from the door and window in a slow trickle. Above the window, papers, caught in the gear that connects the wooden support to the spinning white blades of the mill.

“Aha.” Those must be the documents. Lumine gets a running start off the roof of the house and launches herself in the air. Thank the stars for the wind crystal Venti gave her- with a whoosh it pushes her up and gives her the altitude necessary to skip what would’ve been a sketchy climb up the curved wooden wall of the mill. Below her, she sees a young woman at the base of the mill reading and writing something in a notebook, and prays she doesn’t look up. Sure she has her license but it would still be embarrassing to be seen. Or asked questions of.

Landing with a modicum of grace, she very carefully steps across the roof tiles over to where the papers are stuck. It takes a bit of gentle wiggling but they come loose, and she puts them in her pack.

No sooner had she buttoned the flap than had the door to the balcony below her slammed open, and a “Who’s there?!” startle the absolute daylights out of her.

Lumine looses her footing.

She doesn’t hear the “oh crap” someone says because she is falling with a panicked shout, but before she can even open her glider wings, she’s being gently floated through the air. Wind carries her back up and places her gently down on the floor of the balcony. Standing above her with a distressed look on his face, Venti abandons his lyre to rush over and pat her in several places, checking for injuries.

“Oh no, are you okay? I swear I didn’t mean to make you fall!”

“I’m fine.” She says breathlessly. Behind them the door is open and there’s a small room filled with straw, crates, and some random items strewn about.

“I’m so sorry.” He says, hands still patting at her, blue eyes wide. “I didn’t even know it was you, traveler.”

“I’m okay.” She gets to her feet. In the room there is paper strewn about everywhere like a tornado hit. “...What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” He casts a glance down and behind her. “But not out here.”

He scoots back inside the room and motions at her to come in. Curious, she does so. He closes and locks the door behind him.

“So...” She prompts.

“So,” He says, “You found me! Good job. How’d you do it?”

“Uh, what do you mean found you? I wasn’t looking for you.”

“You weren’t?” He looks genuinely surprised to hear this.

“I was looking for some tavern documents blown away in the storm, I found them on the roof.” She explains. “Why would I be looking for you?”

“Heheh.” Venti laughs nervously instead of answering. “Oh! I see!”

“What’s with all the papers?” They are seriously everywhere. Lumine knows him well enough to know he’s not the scholarly type.

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

“... Okay. Never mind then.”

“Just kidding!” He’s quick to quip when she doesn’t get the joke. “But it is a secret so if you want to know you have to swear you won’t tell a soul!”

“I swear.” She says curiously. “Aren’t I already keeping one of your secrets well?”

“That you are.” He nods. “Very well. I’m in the middle of composing a new song. And practicing my other one.”

He announces it with a lot of weight, like it’s something super important and not exactly the type of thing she would expect a bard to say.

“And that’s a secret because?”

“A new song to use in the upcoming music competition. Surely you’ve heard of it? It’s a new tradition most people in Mondstadt know about.”

“Oh, that. Yeah I have heard. It’s why I can’t buy any mint or honey for the next week or so.”

“That’s right! I have some though, do you want some?”

“No, it’s okay.” Seemed like he needed it more anyways. “Is it going okay though?” She refers to the papers strewn willy nilly.

“Sort of.” He says, absentmindedly plucking at his lyre. “I’ve got my first song down, it’s one of the old ones from a few hundred years ago called Lion Heart, a ballad about the bravery of the great hero Venessa.”

“Who?”

Venti’s eyes go wide. “Who’s Venessa? You mean you haven’t heard of her? She’s the most famous hero in Mondstadt’s history.”

“... Not from around here.” She says. “Not really familiar with history yet.”

“Wanna hear the story? I have several songs you can choose from that tell it.”

“Hmm. Will it cost me?”

“Ahahaha! Of course not. For you Lumine, my performances are always free.”

“Okay then.” His enthusiastic smile is contagious, and although Lumine has no interest in Teyvat’s history beyond what could be relevant in finding Aether, she can’t help returning it with one of her own as she takes a seat on the floor.

The next hour is spent regaling her of the tales of a young woman whom she could not forget was a redhead even if she tried. Venti’s voice is beautiful, and he sings with such reverence and fervent adoration of this hero that she almost suspects a deeper relationship existed than that of the sung supporting role of Barbatos in this historic rebellion.

“You must really admire Venessa.” She says after clapping and giving a small smile at his formal bow.

“Everybody does.” He says with a shrug. “She was something special.”

Something squeezes hollowly in her chest.

“Now that I think of it, she’s the one Jean mentioned when she got sick from overworking and I had to help out.” Lumine pulls forward the relevant memory, blocking out the strange aching feeling. “She must have been a force to be reckoned with to make Jean feel inferior.”

“I could sing her praises forever.” A rare seriousness passes over Venti’s face. “So brave. Fiery hair like a flame that would never die out.”

Lumine has never seen a woman with red hair. It must be rare in Teyvat. It must be considered very beautiful.

“What about the other song?”

“Ehe, right, the other song. That is, the one that I’m composing. Well I’m not having much luck. But I think you could help me.”

“Me?” She asks. “What can I do?”

“Tell me about your most recent adventures.” He replies. “For inspiration.”

Lumine is flattered. “Wait, you’re writing a song about me- my adventures?” It’s kind of embarrassing to say from the pure self importance it assumes but she is sure she hasn’t misunderstood him.

“Heheh. Would you like that?” He’s rubbing the back of his neck. Lumine forgets about redheads.

“It’s a little embarrassing.” She claps her hands together in her lap, feeling warm. “What are you going to say?”

“Nothing weird, don’t worry!” He’s quick to say. “Nothing private either.” He’s probably talking about the unknown god and the loss of her powers.

“It’s fine with me.” Lumine acquiesces. “Just don’t get carried away. I don’t want a bad reputation.”

“It’s not that kind of song.” Venti is quick to assure her. “It’s uhhh... well, you’ll find out.”

“You’re not going to tell me?”

“And ruin the surprise? Heheh, nah, you’re just going to have to wait and hear it when everybody else does.”

Before she can say anything in response, she covers a yawn. It must be well into the night by now.

“Oh, you must be getting tired. Sorry for keeping you so long. Didn’t you need to go do something? I totally forgot about that.”

So had she.

“It’s okay. I do need to get going now though.” She says it with a sigh, getting up to leave. “Good night... and good luck with your song.”

Venti beams like the sun. “Thanks! I have a feeling it’s going to go just swimmingly now. Good night!”

Leaving the room feels like re-entering the world as the lights and sounds of the city surround her once more. Funny, despite the music, it had felt so quiet in there. Like they were the only two people for miles.

Weird.

[zuffer-weird-girl]

Overhaul / Chisaki Kai sfw alphabet

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Yeah... not very as you all may have expected. Chisaki is very reserved and his mysophobia doesn't help at all. Although, years of not touching nobody can do so much to a person and he MIGHT be willing to touch you after a few months... maybe years.

At the first few times he will only show his affection by giving you things. That's it.

But well, the wait is worth it. Chisaki is a gentleman by nature. Kisses on the hand whenever you pass by, forcing/invinting you to sit on his lap.

His forms of affection are from actions, not from words. He sucks with words, Im sorry.

B = Beginning (How would the relationship start?)

Something tells me that Chisaki would start a relationship only when the person gives him some type of interest. Personality, knowledge.... QUIRKLESS.

Really, he does care more about how intellugent or what they could be to him as a partner, appearance comes just as a bonus to him.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

AHA!

Jokes apart, Chisaki is just as a stone when cuddling... if he is willing to honestly because this man is such a tsundere brat it huRTS-

He would slowly learn how to do it, but please give him time and espace, he never done this before God help him.

He is much more comfortable with you laying on his chest as he continues on with his paperwork, it gives hkm a sense that he is not alone and that he can spend time with you while doing something so tedious as paperwork.

BUT! On harsh days, as example got into a argument with pops or a bad day in general, he likes to lay his head on your lap and just forget the world exists as hugging you close and inhaling your clean scent.

Also well, enjoy when he is sleepy.

Also, cuddling only after a shower. No buts.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Well, he does want to settle down but as long as he can continue gis work on the Hassaikai then its nore than fine to him (if we're talking about after the raid THEN HE NEEDS TO SETTLE DOWN AND SOME THERAPY)

Cleaning master. Sucks at cooking.

Okay, he is not that bad he can make a toast, but he just really doesn't like to do it, since is just so messy. Really enjoys your cooking though if you know how to...

If not his poor childhood friend will become the chef of you two. Seriously Hari need a break-

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

Fuck. If HE had to break up he would be straight to the point. Cold and uncaring. Not even the whole "is not you, its me" no no. Chisaki will make sure to tell that he is breaking up because of you and thats final, being on his good intentions or not.

Kai would break up with his partner if they did something like cheat on him or something... and he is from the mafia you rreally want to take the risk?!

Or he would break up due to his fear of you getting hurt. But this will only happen when his paranoia would take over him.

He doesn't want to lose you soon, affirmative.

F = Fiancé(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

He feels unnecessary before he mets someone he feels really in love with. He doesn't believed in love when younger so its a tragic change.

And no. Chisaki wants to make sure he knows the person very well before he goes to get down on one knee for them. And surprisingly, if he feels like he is safe and can be vulnetable around his partner? Then he is on the cloud nine internally.

Only time will tell when you can get engaged with this plague man.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

TSUNDERE BASTARD-

Is that enough? No? Ok.

He is always scoffing and rolling his eyes when you are affectionate with him but ny god dont stop or else he will discount his rage and frustation on poor Rappa.

Although, when he gets a bit drunk or just overworked he is so gentle. Like, sweet words and all, it even shocks you sometimesm

For him, you are the light of his dark life, his angel. So he doesn't mind speaking behind closed doors on how much he loves you and cherish you being here with him. Likes to carres your cheeks with the back of his gloved hand or plant sweet kisses on your forehead, hands and most of all: lips.

Appreaciate it because his behaviour can change on how you take his words.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Nope. Only when he feels the urge to it, when he is tired or when you are down.

He is not much of a hugger. But is willing to give some to you since... you're special to him.

Although Chisaki hugs are like 👌😤. His arms caging you to gis chest and how warm it feels its just heavenly. He hugs you close and likes to give you little squezze that does not hurt to make you sure he is not letting go for a while.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Long. Long time until he says this.

Saying those three words means to him only one thing: vulnerability.

Its going to take a lot of time for Kai to let out those words, mostly sure that his partner will be the one to say it first, but Kai would jjst stay there and not reply.

One: embarrassed as heck; Two: he is sure that he loves you back but... he needs time.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He is more overprotective than jealous. Yet he does feel it. A lot.

He doesn't trust OTHERS, he knows you love him. But the world around him failed so many times when he was young that this man has doubts even on his most considerate coomurate. He fears that they might take advantege of you.

A tiny part of him fears that you will leave him because he is not the mostproper partner, but his pride takes over that very easily.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Soft, passionate and hot.

As spoken before Kai loves to kiss your hand, forehead, cheeks and lips. Those are the cleanest and softest places he found to make you embarrassed and all soft.

He isn't much to being kissed... but he does love it when he is there working and then you rub his shoulder a bit before kissing his temple than pecking his lips softly.

Leaves him a blushing mess all the time.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

*laughs* ERI-CHAN-!

I have a few scenatios of him actually being a good dad so... I will just skip this one and let you all see it for yourselfs.

Although, one word. Strict dad. You guessed right.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

My HEART THEY ARE THE BEST

Especially when he doesn't go to work because its only there that you can see his resting face on the pillows. Usually when he goes to work he gets up, dress himself and carres your check softly before leaving a kiss on your temple and leaving.

When he is free you're trapped. Cant get out of the bed until he does.

Sweet scraches and petting coming from him. TAKE THOSE.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Soft. Watching him, tired as always getting out of his clothes to put his nightwear. If neither of you feel like crashing down onto the dreamland, Chisaki will pick one book you may like, let you rest your head on his chest, shoulder or lap as he reads it out loud while scracthing your head.

If he is on the mood he might even sing you a lullaby... only if you're feeling down though.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

After a very long time on the relationship.

If he does have a mentalbreakfown he is blurting everything out like he is about to die and just needs to tell you everything. Although it would be almost impossible.

I feel like Chisaki would slowly reveal things of himself to you. Is the most like to happen.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

Easy peasy little squeaky.

This man gets angry easily but he does know how to control himself over this situations... although when he loses his patience he does get pissed off (we saw him already guys with pops and the heroes)

In discussions he woudl rather distance himself then to just shout at you though.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

STALKER

He knows everything and more about you. Every little detail he will remember

Seriously, he might still have that annoyed face of his when you're talming but he is listening and paying attention.

Might as well surprise you with your favorite sweets or flowers.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

First kiss.

He never kissed someone besides you so all the memroy is very well guarded on his mind and he does cherish it everyday.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Overprotective. Will kill for you, overhaul and then kill again for you.

Chisaki is powerful, not only by his quirk but his status as well so only one look of his is enough to scare the others away.

Or his threatenings like... slipping his glove out and showing his victim his bare hand as a signal to not speak or dont come any closer unless they want to die.

Will fell weirded out if you protect him since like... he is a boss of the mafia? He doesn't need protection? He is your knight in shinning armor not the other way around.

... although it makes him a bit embarrassed.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

So much money that the Hassaimai is stealing from other gangs because of this asshole expending shit tones of moneh in your guys dates.

Everything you once thought or mentiomed for him is there. He is not afraid to spend money when it comes to you.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Brush off something that its important to you bit seems unimportant for him.

Gets rude sometimes.

Always demanding on cleaning duty.

Wanting to keep his personal espace due to his mysophobia.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks? Do your looks bother them?)

Not much. He only gives care to his cleaning habbits and his smell. Definitely not because you find his scent amusing and devine. Nope. Definitely not.

He doesn't care about looks. Really, do not give a shit. Is just a bonus to him. You're divine and angelic to him.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Many thumbs up.

He feels extra annoyed and bothered when you're not around. Pls stay with this plague man.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Cant sleep without you on his side. Really, he just cant. He tried many times already but just ended up scoffing and going after you just because he needed to sleep says him.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

He calls you brat as a affectionate nickname but seriously, he doesn't want a child as his partner, so dont be too childish. It irritates him a lot.

BEING ORGANIZED IS NOT A OPTION IS A MUST. or else it will feel like he is more occupied scolding you then loving you for that matter.

Hates. HATES. when his plans doesn't work well and when suddenly you cancel a date of you two or any plans in general.

Hates.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs? Does it change around a partner?)

Cling to you for dear life when he gets comfortable with you. And I would suggest you to stay awake for a bit longer than him since he mumbles in his sleep.

Might be nightmares of rombas chasing him with knifes or words of how much he truly loves you? You might as well find out.

[heartslogos]

mafia!verse: hunting season [12]

Tim wakes up and there's a measure of surprise here.

On one hand, he’s astounded he woke up. Unless this is hell or some other version of the afterlife in which one just wakes up in pain, groggy, and in a less than comforting atmosphere of an incredibly overworked hospital. Odds were trending heavily towards him not waking up and honestly Tim can’t even bring himself to feel vindicated in the fact that he did survive the latest in a long series of bad, terrible, incredibly stupid decisions. If Tim’s life were a movie and people were taking bets while watching it, Tim would have bet heavy on not surviving. In fact, Tim would’ve bet on not surviving the first time he got a major injury. And every single time after that. The surprise at waking up again has just never faded after that first time. Odd, considering you should, in theory, get some kind of — immunity? Tolerance?

Are major injuries and near-death experiences anything like the flu? Chicken pox? Measles?

Or is he just the weird one who’s always surprised?

And on the other hand — every single blood cell in Tim’s body burns with a savage glee. If he’s alive that means he made it through. And since his brain is providing him with a helpful highlight reel of the details he made sure to do his damned best to keep ingrained into his skull,  it looks like he hasn’t suffered any brain damage. Hopefully. But Tim’s alive. And he can remember the face and name and license plate of every single person present at his botched execution.

Tim’s brain lurches forward, driving itself in a hundred directions towards a thousand different branching paths and plans, seeking out the ones that will end in the most brutally and viscerally satisfying ways.

And then Tim’s eyes connect to his brain and shout, oh shit.

Lonnie Machin stands at the other end of the room, arms crossed, radiating hostile energy. Tim isn’t sure what he was expecting aside from expecting to not wake up, but Lonnie isn’t it. In a weird way he’s relieved it isn’t someone in his family, who would, no doubt, chew him up and spit him out, before turning into mother hen mode so fast you’d think they were the ones with the possible head injury. Lonnie isn’t the type to coddle.

“The only reason I haven’t killed you myself is because of principle,” Lonnie says flatly.

Tim wants to point out that isn’t how the saying goes. It’s the other way around. But Tim’s mouth, unfortunately, hasn’t caught up to his brain, so he can only make a weird garbled grumble. His mouth is dry and his lips feel tacky.

Lonnie turns sharply on his heel, wrenches the door open, “He’s awake. I’m leaving. These good doctors worked so very hard to make sure he stays alive, I feel like it would be a disservice to them to undo their work before he’s even left the building.”

Lonnie walks out of Tim’s hospital room and in walks Jason.

Tim’s fairly certain his stomach figures out a way to drop through his spine, through the bed, past the floor, and proceed to shoot its way down to the center of the earth out of dread.

It’s not like he wouldn’t feel terrible if it was anyone else. Tim’s entirely certain that no matter who came in after Lonnie Tim would feel like garbage. There isn’t one who’s worse to encounter than the other. Personally, as someone who’s also been on the other end of this — but rarely, very, very rarely — there definitely is a kind of bitter joy in being the first one in to let loose the first verbal shot.

And Jason is so very, very good at that.

“Like Machin said,” Jason says, standing at the foot of Tim’s bed, arms crossed. He doesn’t look like he’s slept much, and his hair is a complete mess. “If this weren’t a fucking hospital, you’d be a dead man. Honestly? If they’d discharged you and took you back to the Manor and then you woke up? I’m pretty sure that Damian and I would be fighting on who gets to put the pillow over your face to smother you for good.”

Tim doesn’t say anything and, again, it’s less out of conscious will more because his mouth hasn’t figured out how it works yet. It’s a work in progress that’s not helped at all by the panic. He wonders if he can go back to sleep.

“Don’t you even think about it,” Jason snaps. “You’ve been in and out of it for the past three days and I want to make sure that it sticks when I rip you to shreds, Replacement. The others wasted their shot thinking you were lucid the last few times. I’m not.”

Tim wants to ask how Jason knows Tim’s lucid this time because Tim’s still trying to figure out how verbal communication works.

“I know you’re lucid because you only make that face when you’re thinking about ten or more things per second,” Jason says, picking up the clip board hanging at the end of Tim’s bed. “You had three gunshot wounds. Do you remember that part? Also your car fucking exploded, so way to go there. Talking shit at me for breaking things, you went and got your car riddled with so many bullets it exploded. That hasn’t happened to me before. Let’s see. What else. They had to stick a tube down your throat while you were in surgery. And then they had to hook you up to a ventilator. Right, they were also seriously concerned about a lung infection. You broke some ribs on a bullet.”

“You’re putting the blame on me and not the bullet?” Tim manages to say after a few false starts. Jason waits for him to get the words out, because if there’s anything Jason enjoys more than giving a good monologue, it’s getting into a debate. “Victim blaming.”

“Not if the so called victim hurls themselves onto the bullet,” Jason replies. “Shut up, I’m on a roll here.”

“You shut up, I’m on a hospital bed. You can lecture me after I’m disconnected from all of this.”

“And risk you bouncing never to be found again? Forget it. You’re a captive audience.”

[chaoschaoswriting]

Building a Routine That Works (and Sticking to It)

For freelancers like me, learning to build a routine is essential... but that doesn't mean that we’re always good at it! The urge to overwork, or the incurable urge to procrastinate, can be incredibly powerful. Build a sold routine is just one of the ways in which people who work for themselves can ensure that they maintain a solid work-life balance and stay healthy. 

If you want a brief overview of how a routine can benefit you and the first big mistake that most newbies make, you can find it here. Likewise, if you want some ideas as to how you can use a period of lockdown/self-isolation to your benefit, I have a previous post about that. What we’re covering today, however, are the nuts and bolts of building a routine that can co-exist with your ‘normal’ day to day life. 

The Basics 

So, at risk of making myself sound like a condescending arse; a routine is defined as a set of actions which are taken regularly. In terms of life, that means things like walking the dogs, making dinner, brushing your teeth, etc. Most of us have some rudimentary form of routine, even if we don’t know it. This can be as simple as brushing your teeth and showering as soon as you wake up, and reading before bed. The trick is building a routine that incorporates more than just these basics. 

We’ve all seen it at work; your grandparents probably had specific days on which they cleaned the house, did the laundry, or went shopping. Those from regimented households may even be used to having the same meals on a rotating weekly or monthly basis. Too much regimentation is a bastard, of course, but having a routine that keeps all the most important parts of your life running smoothly is actually key to creativity. 

Here are some basics to consider before we get into the real content:

Reconsider Bedtime

Yes, really. 

I know you’re not a child, and I don’t care. 

Sleep deprivation is one of the most damaging states your body can exist in, and your alarm and ‘bedtime’ are some of the easiest things to set when creating a routine. First of all, be realistic. You’re not going to get up at 4am and go to bed at 7pm every day. Set something you can stick to more often than not, and be prepared for hiccups at first. 

What you’re doing is resetting your body clock, so it’s going to fight you at first. The most important thing is to push through; if you don’t get the right amount of sleep at first, keep getting up with your alarm and try not to nap. 

Obviously, this doesn't apply if you have medical conditions that mean you really need to take short naps often to be happy and functional. in this case, I would allow for naps. 

In fact, if you have the luxury of time, allow for naps anyway if that’s what you feel will help you best. Just set something you can stick to. 

Don’t Overschedule

Nothing kills a fledgeling routine quite like an overstuffed diary. Be realistic about what you can actually do on a daily basis. If you’re setting yourself up for 12-hour workdays... well, you’re going to lose some of the plates you’re spinning. 

Don’t Buy Into The Aesthetic

This site, in particular, is a fraught place when it comes to cultivating healthy habits. While it’s funny to recognise our own flaws, the idea that writers and artists are messy, disorganised, or incapable of working on demand is not true. Furthermore, sleep deprivation, poor diet, and untreated mental health problems are not ‘sexy’. I use that term in the early 2000s, Paris Hilton context of course. What I mean is that the image of the ‘starving artist’ or alcohol addled writer are by-products of cautionary tales, not career recommendations. 

There are plenty of things that can make it hard to work and stay organised. Executive dysfunction, depression, anxiety - these aren’t just buzzwords. They’re very real issues that many people cope with; if you’re fighting with things of this nature it’s important that you, first of all, know that you are not alone. Many of us are in the same boat. There is hope, however, if you focus on finding ways of working that suit you and help you to manage your personal situation as well as possible. 

Your routine should allow for things which help you to destress, decompress, and relax. In fact, it should centre around them in many ways. 

The Nitty-Gritty

Ok, so you’ve got the basics down. By this I mean, you know what time you have in any given day based on your desires wake-up and shut-down times.

1. Identify the Immediate Necessities;

Are there any things that must be done daily? By this I mean meds to take, dogs to walk and feed (any pets to take care of, actually), children to dress, etc? If so, they are your first priority. First thing in the morning is the only time when a one-size-fits-all approach can be applied to a routine. Every morning routine should include 5 key things. No matter who you are, these apply:

A) Go to the toilet. 

B) Brush your teeth. 

C) Groom/wash, e.g. wash your face, neck and hands, brush your hair, apply deodorant etc. 

D) Drink a glass of water (this is a good time to take your meds/vitamins etc)

E) Eat something (even if it’s just an apple or a slice of toast, give your body something to work with). 

What else you add here is based on your life and needs. You may need to feed and walk your dogs, clean out the cages of other pets, help family members. Whatever it is you need to do write it all down to get it straight in your head. 

Most people have fewer necessities to take care of at night unless they have children, pets, or other dependents. Sticking to these things is easy because they must be done daily. 

2. Spread the ‘Sometime’ Necessities; 

What am I talking about, here? 

Chores. Things like washing your clothes, washing your hair if that's a big job, sweeping, tidying, going to the gym. Things that you don’t need to do every day, but which should be done regularly for best effect. 

Try to set these things up on a weekly schedule, doing small amounts often. This may seem like a huge ask, but trust me it’s not. It’s funny how quickly washing clothes and dishes can be done when you’re dealing with a day or twos worth instead of three weeks worth. 

Here’s a handy break-down from a real live adult; 

Dishes; do them daily. I don’t care if it’s one mug, a single plate. The truth is that unless you make a huge meal for more than two people washing dishes takes ten minutes tops. If you do have a lot of cookware to clean and not a lot of time, compromise by washing your crockery immediately after use and letting pots/pans soak until evening. 

Laundry; do this once or twice a week depending on your drying arrangement. Fold it when it's dry trust me you’ll be glad you did later. 

Cleaning; once a week. Clean your bathroom, kitchen, and dust any other rooms regularly to make it a light job. 

Hoovering/Mopping; once a week, after you dust or clean. Do the floor in the room you've just cleaned. Some people like to do all their weekly cleaning on one day, while others prefer to do a room at a time throughout the week. It really depends on you, just do what works. 

Tidying; do it every day. All the time. Not to sound like your mother, but pick the fuck up after yourself. It’ll make your life so much easier. I speak as someone who has made the mistake of not doing it many times. 

3. The Good Stuff; 

Finally, we’re onto the bit you’re interested in. Once you have things like work, chores, and bodily needs handled, you can think about what you want to do regularly. Whether that means allowing an hour a day for painting, or two to three hours a night to write your book, there are hundreds of choices here. 

Once again don’t overschedule. 

As much as you may have a million things you want to do, your daily routine should consist of sustainable actions. Be honest about what matters most to you, and how much time you can devote to it. 

Sticking to Your Routine

The truth is that you probably won’t stick to the routine you decide on in theory. Why? Because life gets in the way, and we are prone to either over or underestimating what we can do. So, the most important thing is to be prepared to change your plan as needed and to persevere through the teething pains.  You can increase your chances of sticking to any routine by easing into it. 

Start by getting a handle on your sleeping arrangements. Keep going as you are for a week or two, but start adhering to your chosen bedtime and wake-up time. Feel it out - do you need to add a nap? Are you better in the morning - would it be better to wake up earlier, etc? 

As your sleep schedule starts to feel less like a chore and more like a habit, incorporate some necessary things like taking all of your meds (or those you can) with your first glass of water, or braiding long hair at night (another tidbit for you - doesn’t matter what kind of hair you have, braiding it at night is a good way to simplify your mornings). 

Once you have your daily routine under control start to work out how you want to deal with your chores and weekly responsibilities. This will be the hardest, but once you get into a rhythm you have to keep it for a few weeks before it becomes second-nature. Minimum.

Finally, look at what free time you have after all this is in place, and ask yourself how much of that you want to devote to things like music, painting, writing, martial arts, whatever it is that gives you joy. 

Et voila you have a routine!

[secretdazeartisan-blog]

The Benefits Of Complex Carbohydrates For Weight Training

The Benefits Of Complex Carbohydrates For Weight Training

 Are you attempting to increase your muscle mass? You can do many things to boost your muscle building results, and stop wasting workout time. If you want to be bigger and stronger, then this article can help you to attain those goals. Start using these tips to avoid wasting gym time.

 Building muscle will require you to eat more of a variety of foods. You need to eat the amount necessary TestFactor Testosterone Booster  to pack on one more pound each week. Look for more ways to take in more calories. After two weeks, increase your intake again if you notice no weight changes.

 You have to add protein to your diet so that your body does not cannibalize itself. Protein is the basic element for building muscles. When your body lacks the protein it needs to effectively build muscle, you will have much less success in achieving the muscle mass and physique you seek. In order to keep your muscles well-supplied, make sure that there are healthy sources of lean protein in most of your meals as well as your snacks over the course of the day.

 If you want to gain muscle in an efficient manner, you need to eat enough protein. A terrific method for ensuring proper protein intake is to use protein supplements and drinks. They work better after working out and before you go to sleep. In order to drop pounds while also building muscle, try to drink one of these on a daily basis. If your goal is to also increase your mass, consuming as many as three per day will be beneficial.

 Engage in many repetitions within many sets to increase muscle mass. Do at least fifteen lifts while taking a break of less than a minute in between. You want lactic acids flowing in your muscles, as this promotes muscle growth. Doing this consistently while you train will optimize the amount of muscle built over time.

 Stretch for a few minutes after working out in order to facilitate muscle repair. Someone who is under forty should hold each stretch at least thirty seconds. For those over 40, stretches should be held at a minimum of 60 seconds. This will work to prevent any injuries from happening after you have worked your muscles.

 You can cut corners a bit when you lift, although always be safe. Using just a little of your body in order to pump out an extra couple of reps is an excellent method of increasing the volume of your workout. Don't cheat all the time or overdo cheating. Control how quickly you complete each weight lifting cycle. Don't do an unreasonable number of reps in a short period of time. Be sure not to compromise your form.

 It is important to remember that certain groups of muscles are more difficult to build than others. Fill   TestFactor Testosterone Booster A sets are wise in order to focus on the slower muscles. Target the particular muscle group with 25-30 reps of a specific exercise a few days after you last exercised that group.

 Only exercise three or four times each week. That way, the body will have a chance to rejuvenate. When you workout too much, you can make your body overwork itself and not build muscles and get into shape properly, so you won't get the results you're seeking.

 Alter your diet to go with your training. You need to increase protein and carbohydrates while reducing your fat intake. This doesn't mean that you need to consume more food; this means that you need to have a balanced diet. You can bulk up quicker by taking supplements and vitamins.

 Set realistic goals when you create your bodybuilding program. The best results are gained over the time of doing hundreds of workouts. Cheating by using steroids, stimulants, and other substances can harm your body in both the short term and the long term, and may lead to chronic health problems.

 Perform your squats in a smart way. Lower the bar to near the middle of the traps. This balances out the concentration of muscle, and it allows you to squat additional weight that would be impossible otherwise.

 Take a good look at your body, and determine what is and isn't feasible when it comes to building muscle. This is a good place to start for establishing your regimen goals. When evaluating your body, consider both composition and weight.

 When you are working out to increase muscle mass, try to keep your diet full of fresh, whole foods. Avoid pre-packaged foods that come in boxes, which often contain chemicals, preservatives, and fillers that can hinder your body's ability to heal itself. Healthy foods improve the strength and endurance of both your body and your immune system.

 It may help to change up the grip you use for the back. Perform deadlifts and rack pulls with a mixed or staged grip, in order to achieve more strength. A staggered grip will help you twist the bar in one direction while the underhand drip will twist the bar in the opposite direction. Using these grips will prevent rolling of the bar in your hands.

 Resist the urge for powering through sets and cranking out reps! Performing the movements of each exercise slowly will provide better results, even if you have to switch to a lighter weight to do it. An admirable goal would be to use 20 seconds per rep, splitting that evenly for each half-movement.

 You should maintain a cardio routine. Do not discount the necessity of cardio exercises. This may seem counter-productive, but heart health is important during muscle building. Doing twenty minute, moderate intensity cardiovascular workouts three times per week is enough to promote a healthy heart without impacting muscle building.

 As this article demonstrates, building muscle can be achieved through a number of different ways and some may work better for you than others. Take note of the tips you've read and think about how you can implement them into your routine. Stop wasting valuable time working out and not seeing the growth you are after; put this information to work.

Pack On More Muscle With This Muscle Building Advice

 Increasing muscle mass requires hard work and dedication. In addition, you won't receive any instant gratification because it's a process that takes some time to produce results. This is the reason why it is so important you use the right techniques and do all the right things so you can build and maximize your muscle mass. This article will introduce you to some solid basics that can help you to do just that.

 Always take in enough vegetables. Many muscle building diets tend to ignore vegetables and concern themselves almost exclusively with complex carbs and proteins. There are plenty of healthy nutrients in vegetables that are not included in foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, they are excellent sources of fiber. Fiber will allow your body to utilize protein more efficiently.

 When attempting to build muscle, it is a good idea to eat enough food overall. Up your caloric intake until you are gaining one pound each week. Try to find ways to increase your caloric intake. After a few weeks, if you do not notice a weight change you may want to start consuming more calories.

 Wwarming up is vital to your success in increasing muscle mass. When your muscles become stronger, they'll experience lots of additional stress making them susceptible to injury. Warming the muscles up prior to exerting them is a key factor in avoiding injury. Warm up with five or ten minutes of light exercise, then work into your heavier lifting with 3 to 4 warm-up sets.

 Meat is a protein-rich food that will help aid muscle growth. Try consuming approximately one gram of meat that is full of protein for each pound you weigh. Doing this allows your body to hold more protein for muscle growth and improves the chances that you get the muscles you want.

 Consuming a sufficient amount of protein is a significant factor in building muscle. A great way to get the proper amount of protein is by consuming supplements and protein shakes. The best times to consume these supplements is right after working out and before bed. To replace fat with muscle faster, consume at least one protein shake a day. However, if you want to gain weight as well as build muscle, you should consume as many as three protein shakes or supplements daily.

 Don't bother lifting for more than an hour at a time. Your body will begin to produce some cortisol, after the first hour of working out. Extra cortisol may block testosterone and your efforts at muscle building can be wasted. To get the best out of a workout, try limiting them to sixty minutes.

 Protein is a necessity for adding muscle mass to your body. Protein is a chief building block of muscle, and consuming not enough of it may cause you to have less muscles, which kills the reason of trying to bulk up. You might need about 1 gram of protein for every pound in your body each day.

 Staying hydrated is essential for the effective building of muscle. Unless your body is hydrated at all times, you run a higher risk of injury or muscle damage. Additionally, hydration has a role both in maintaining and increasing muscle mass, which is why it is vital for a lot of reasons.

 It's OK to cheat every now and then to get all you can out of your workouts. It is okay to cheat by not fully engaging your body in the name of pumping out some bonus reps. You just cannot constantly fudge and get the desired results. Control how quickly you complete each weight lifting cycle. Don't do an unreasonable number of reps in a short period of time. Never allow your form to be compromised.

 Building your muscles can provide many health benefits, and you do not have to get really bulky. Building muscle will make your joints healthier, improve your self-esteem, and also (if done in conjunction with moderate cardiovascular exercise) help you to breathe easier.

 When doing squats, be wise. Make sure you lower the bar down at the center point of the traps. This makes your glutes, hips and hamstrings work hard, allowing you to squat more weight than you would have been able to.

 Never forget a pre-workout stretch. It is important to stretch because stretching helps the muscles to warm up which can prevent injury. Stretching after a workout can help the muscles to relax. Another way to encourage muscle recovery is through gentle massage, which often incorporates gentle stretches.

 The first step is to make sure you know your body's limits. When you start from here, you can safely set targets for your workout. While you are doing this self assessment, your weight and muscle tone must be considered.

 Proper eating is an essential part of any muscle-building program. Your body requires certain vitamins and minerals to begin to repair muscle fibers. Protein shakes are a great way to supplement your diet but also ensure you're getting protein to rebuild your muscle fibers after a workout.

 To get best results from a muscle building program, alcohol consumption should be kept to a bare minimum. Even though one glass of wine once in awhile is okay, do not drink more than that. Alcohol, is not only unhealthy for you, it also affects your muscle building ability.

 A great way to stay motivated when working out in the gym is by going with your friends. They can encourage you and help give you the push you may need. You'll work out more often and with more intensity when you are with friends.

 Make sure that you eat some food before and after every workout. If you are new to working out, any snack that is high in protein will do. As you gain more experience in increasing muscle mass, you should be more picky over carefully measuring out how much protein you are consuming and planning out meals with more focus.

 Building muscles can be hard to do. It is easier to stay dedicated to your routine when you have built it on effective advice, though. You can rest assured that good results will come. Follow the tips given here to be sure you are doing everything