Hi comrades and welcome to the fourth improvement megathread of March!
As usual, some discussion ideas:
- Do you want to share something you've done in the previous week? Everything counts, nothing is too small.
- What would you like to do next week?
- Which aspect are you currently focused on improving?
- Do you have any streaks? For example, "sober for one day." Feel free to post your streak every day in this thread.
- If you don't have a continuous streak, did you manage to abstain from something for a day or more?
- Did you come across some useful information or resource that might help others?
Poster caption: "Love books - the source of knowledge" 
This week I accomplished my goal of going running on two days. My secondary goal was to eat enough calories so that I have enough energy for running. I also practiced meditation on 4 days. Next week I would like to go running at least once but ideally twice
I ran two miles in 22 minutes, when i was young it was 14 minutes but that was a long time ago.
Im practicing again, it feels good. Havent hit a jam session in weeks, gonna start hitting sessions soon
Im overworked at the moment though and Im stressed out.
Dating continues to go pretty good, having conversations with friends and coming to terms w previously very negative beliefs about myself regarding undateability. It's partially money, partially trauma, but I have kind of made life hell for myself for like the past 7 years. It makes me think of life changes I want to make to no longer feel so left out of life.
roll call:
@SeventyTwoTrillion@hexbear.net
If anybody else wants to be added to the roll call, just let me know
What's messing up your sleep schedule? The Sleep Foundation has good advice for improving your sleep
i made a lot of progress with my depression and anxiety. i would not believe it if you told me a month ago i'd be here making phone calls and taking public transit alone and shit instead of sleeping all day. didn't apply for a job but i'm in training now for something i enjoy
Congratulations on your progress comrade.
What are you in training for?
all the walking is making me hurt like hell so my next goal is to eat better so i will not be tired and achy all the time
I think that the easiest way to eat better is to add some fruit, vegetables and legumes to your diet. Lentils are super healthy and easy to cook. I also like chickpeas
Thank you! I just made lentil & vegetable soups since Friday and it was a hit with everyone, truly easy even though I don't cook ever. And I'm learning code (vaguely)
Whenever I make progress in one area, I backslide on others. There are too many things on my plate.
I've been caring for my relative for 8 months now. Giving my dad increasingly strong messages that I need somebody else to take over because I need more time for my own life and goals. This is quite literally my prime.
I made great progress on the gigging front this week. Met a gig contact, met a director type that wants to help me develop a cabaret set (gonna have dinner with him), sang at two open mics, learned about another open mic at a great venue.
I let fitness slip a bit, didn't sleep enough, and I've been sick for 2 weeks (not covid). Finally went to urgent care (the kind where they don't fuck around and they give you antibiotics and/or steroids) but that was $200 out of pocket.
But I couldn't fucking take it anymore with this (non covid) cough. I had 3 negative covid tests. Wore a mask when around people.
Reached out to a publisher who I have a shared contact with. Fingers crossed. I think my product is really nice with a little polish.
Had a check in with another old contact with great connections. I did volunteer work for her years ago. Lovely person and she freely offered support which is great.
Also started writing a youtube video that I can definitely cut up into insta/tiktok content.
Didn't do any sex stuff because I don't want my sex partners to get sick. Have a date planned for this week tho.
Had an idea for a show I could put on the piano bar circuit. Stay tuned.
If I had this caregiving off my plate, nothing in the world could fucking stop me.
Reading this back. I did so God damned much this week. I am proud of myself.
Hopping on the self-improvement train. Slightly longer than a week of things but hey
Had a rental inspection and had to clean, but I'm going to try better to keep things clean this time. Eating.. Not healthier, but betterish. Noticing benefits already so that's nice. Alcohol consumption down from a problem to sometimes I grab a drink that seems tasty, but generally avoid it. Starting on antidepressants next week when I get paid, and actually going to take them this time. Signed up for volunteer work at an RSPCA op-shop and start that next week. That gets me out of the house, fulfills my mutual obligation requirements to keep getting a disability pension(which previously I had to job hunt for because that makes sense), and means practice with people, which I need.
Next steps: Repair sleep schedule, save money for psychiatrist so I can get ADHD meds again, try not to burn out horribly. Probably should try to make some friends that exist in the same city as me too.
Good to have you with us, I'm always glad to see comrades from other instances!
For sleep tips, I recommend the Sleep Foundation
Getting of the computer more and taking care of some administrative tasks I'd been putting off because I was depressed. Hoping to bike to work and go to the gym two times each this week!
Arm technique:
[v] German grip, 16th note grid. One motion get two strokes for three beats and then one motion get three strokes for three beats. RRLLRRLLRRLL RRRLLLRRRLLL: 60-100 BPM.
[v] German grip, sextuplet -> 16th note grid. One motion get three strokes each hand for three measures and then one measure of slower doubles. RRRLLL RRRLLL RRRLLL RRRLLL ...etc RRLL RRLL RRLL RRLL:
[v] German grip, One motion, three strokes for long time. 90BPM RRRLLL RRRLLL RRRLLL RRRLLL
[v] Traditional grip. Ratamacues in 9. 3 minutes @ 50, 3 minutes @ 55.
[v] Traditional Grip. Single Stroke Exercise 60 bpm. 32nd notes RLRL R L RLRL R L RLRL R L RLRL R R LRLR L R ...and so on.
Foot technique:
[v] Ankle on ground. Practice motion of ankle technique on ground.
[v] Ankle off ground. Same but off ground.
[v] Use only big toe on pedal to get better at controlling rebound.
[v] Heel down on ground 60, 10 clean
Groove Studies:
[v] Rhythm Scale Benny Greb app. 50 bpm 10 mins. 2 sets for 20 mins total.
[v] Benny Greb Gap Click app. 16th Note Grid, just come up with shit and shed stuff you can't do, creative. 60 BPM
[v] Gap Click swing @80bpm. Creative.
[v] Gap Click 16th note funk @70. Creative.
Listening/Ride Cymbal:
Paul Chambers: "No Blues", "Unit 7" "Four on Six" from Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly "Smokin' at the Halfnote"
[v] Listen to Recordings, play with recordings, take notes.
