Benefits of being an Early Riser

Today’s Daily Prompt: How often do you get to (or have to) be awake for sunrise? Tell us about what happened the last time you were up so early (or late…).

Aside from people who are jet-lagged, work night shifts and those with medical conditions that disrupts their sleeping patterns, why would anyone not wake up early?

Lie-ins are synonymous with holidays and weekends for most people but not me. I want to start my day early. I want to be one of the first people in my time zone to welcome the new day, everyday. I feel that by waking up early, I have more time to accomplish my daily targets which consequently leads to more time to relax during the day.

I also like my daily routine which of course starts with me waking up at roughly the same time regardless of what day it is. This allows me to eat my meals at the same time, and thus avoiding over- or under-eating. It also allows my mind to warm-up before I undertake any heavy thinking.

Waking up early also gives me a daily psychological boost. I always think that if I’m awake earlier than others, I will have a more productive day than them. Deep inside I know that this is not true, but I like to convince myself that it is!

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Right to Brag – Fitness

Today’s Daily Prompt: 

Tell us something that you (or a person close to you) have done recently (or not so recently) that has made you really, unbashedly proud.

At the start of this year, I have sworn a personal oath to healthy living. I have neglected my fitness and health for a few years by eating anything and everything under the sun. I have let myself go and I regretted it. I gained a lot of weight, and I did not want to stop eating.

Despite not being obese or at risk, I realised that if I want to live long enough to have and raise children of my own, carry on with my career and retire happily with my family, I need to change my lifestyle. My fiancee and I decided to join Herbalife. Along with our health coach, we planned our food intake, exercise and rest. We enjoyed the process. It was tough in the beginning- going back to an active lifestyle after years of sitting on the couch is HARD!!! But we saw (and still see) the benefits. We lost body fat (including visceral fat) whilst gaining muscle mass.

We discovered amazing ways to eat properly – but not starve. We substituted unhealthy food with healthier ones – which is cheaper than we expected. Take a look at some of our meals:

Herbalife Formula 1 Shake – the best breakfast in the world!

Mung bean vermicelli with vegetables and chicken breast

Teriyaki Salmon with Salad

Grilled Aubergine stuffed with minced beef, boiled brocolli and quinoa

I know that we have only been doing this for half a year, but we are motivated. We have seen the results and we will carry on. We feel good inside and out. We are motivated. We both have never been this healthy, lean and fit. We eat clean but train dirty. Best of all, we are loving it!

I guess I want to brag about this to my old self. That person who always sat on the couch eating doughnuts at 11 o’clock at night. That guy who preferred all-you-can-eat buffets to healthier and cheaper home-cooked meals. That guy who always said that he wants to be ripped and laughed at the people who are unhealthy, but did not look within himself to actually notice that he is the one that he should be laughing at.

Up next: MARATHON!!!

 

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Peppa Pig’s ‘The Bing Bong Song’: My Theme Song For This Week

Those of you who have been following my blog for quite some time will know that I spend most of my time in schools with children and young people with Autsim Spectrum Conditions (ASC). This week is no exception. I have spent most of this week with a child who is obsessed with Peppa Pig. I figured that I have to utilise this obsession and use Peppa Pig games and videos as rewards for good work and good behaviour.

My plan worked fantastically! My new little friend has developed a liking for his one-to-one time with me because I was strict but fair. My expectations and rules did not change for the whole week, but my rewards were also consistent- one ‘decent’ piece of work equals 10 minutes of ‘choice time’. I gave my student a choice between playing an iPad game or watching any Peppa Pig Youtube clip. For the whole week, he always opted for the second option. In addition, he always chose the same video- Peppa Pig’s The Bing Bong Song. As a result, this song has been stuck in my head and I have been singing it on repeat since Wednesday afternoon.

Here it is:

Isn’t it catchy?

This is why I love my job. It keeps me young!

😉

Just Another Day: Autism (Daily Prompt)

Our days are organized around numerous actions we repeat over and over. What is your favourite daily ritual?

 

 

I spend a large amount of my time everyday with children and young people who have Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Autism is characterized by individuals’ difference in social interactions and repetitive and stereotypes interests. Most people with ASC, particularly my students, prefer visual representations, especially visual timetables. Visual timetables help make each school day predictable for people with ASC. By looking at their timetables, each pupil would know what activity they need to do next, and how long it is until home-time!

Putting up my each of my students’ visual timetables is the best daily ‘ritual’ that I have. I love starting the day by helping my students prepare for their day. ‘Timetable-time’ is also a great opportunity for me and my students to casually talk about what they did the night before, what they had for breakfast and what they would do after school. I also make sure that their mood is as positive as it could be by pointing out the exciting lessons and activities of each day.

I love this  ritual more than anything else.

Oh, have I mentioned that I love my job because of my students? Well, I do, and this seemingly simple morning routine is one of the ways that I can make their day better.

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In response to today’s Daily Prompt: Just Another Day

Other entries:

Parents are people too

Psychologist Mimi

Serendipity

Abozdar

The verbal hedge

Prairie views

Kate Murray

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