C25K for everything
May 6, 2016 12:46 PM Subscribe
I'm super in to programs like Couch to 5k and FlyLady right now. What are more (free or low cost, relatively self-contained) things like that?
Overplanning/researching can be paralyzing, so it's nice to blindly follow a step by step guide sometimes. Particularly when each step is relatively easy, so it feels like a not-too-painful path to self improvement or learning or whatever. I'm especially fond of things like FlyLady's daily babysteps, where I'm not sure what the next tiny step will be, so I'm kind of excited in the morning when I get to see. Like an advent calendar (of chores).
So, what else is like this? For anything!
Overplanning/researching can be paralyzing, so it's nice to blindly follow a step by step guide sometimes. Particularly when each step is relatively easy, so it feels like a not-too-painful path to self improvement or learning or whatever. I'm especially fond of things like FlyLady's daily babysteps, where I'm not sure what the next tiny step will be, so I'm kind of excited in the morning when I get to see. Like an advent calendar (of chores).
So, what else is like this? For anything!
Best answer: There are a lot of apps similar to C25K for other fitness things (pushups, situps, etc.). Search your particular app store for "100 pushups" or "200 situps" or the like.
posted by Etrigan at 1:00 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 1:00 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is a book but I think it would qualify: The Depression Cure.
posted by Brain Sturgeon at 1:07 PM on May 6, 2016
posted by Brain Sturgeon at 1:07 PM on May 6, 2016
I've been weightlifting based on 5/3/1 and it's great.
posted by griphus at 1:08 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by griphus at 1:08 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I failed 100 pushups. It's not a realistic plan for getting to 100 pushups. Pretty much everyone in our group failed it.
posted by advicepig at 1:12 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 1:12 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, about week three or four it's "wait... what.. how much?" and fail. The good thing about C25k is that you get to the 20 minute run and you don't think it's possible but it is, and suddenly you think you've got enhanced jogging powers and that encourages you.
posted by Grangousier at 1:22 PM on May 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 1:22 PM on May 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
The Rock Clock, if you want to set your own goal.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:34 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:34 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I completely disagree about the Whole30. The Whole30 involves no baby steps at all; it's just "one day, eat your regular diet; the next day, completely change your diet for 30 days."
Not quite the same, but YNAB (the budgeting tool at www.youneedabudget.com) forces you to think about your budget differently than usual (admittedly in an every-two-week timeframe vs. a monthly/daily timeframe). Rather than thinking about your budget in specific monthly increments, it encourages you to think about "what do I need to pay for before I get paid again" and to make small progress within that defined unit of time (usually 2 weeks for most people). Then when you get paid, you're forced to answer that question again, again focused on that one small unit of time. I think a lot of people get overwhelmed by the "big picture" of their budget needs and that makes it tough to make any progress; YNAB helps you focus on the day-to-day in order to improve your big picture. Definitely recommend, although it's not quite as iterative as FlyLady/etc.
If you have debt, Dave Ramsey also has a set of "baby steps" designed to help you pay them off one by one. Many people swear by it.
posted by samthemander at 1:36 PM on May 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Not quite the same, but YNAB (the budgeting tool at www.youneedabudget.com) forces you to think about your budget differently than usual (admittedly in an every-two-week timeframe vs. a monthly/daily timeframe). Rather than thinking about your budget in specific monthly increments, it encourages you to think about "what do I need to pay for before I get paid again" and to make small progress within that defined unit of time (usually 2 weeks for most people). Then when you get paid, you're forced to answer that question again, again focused on that one small unit of time. I think a lot of people get overwhelmed by the "big picture" of their budget needs and that makes it tough to make any progress; YNAB helps you focus on the day-to-day in order to improve your big picture. Definitely recommend, although it's not quite as iterative as FlyLady/etc.
If you have debt, Dave Ramsey also has a set of "baby steps" designed to help you pay them off one by one. Many people swear by it.
posted by samthemander at 1:36 PM on May 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I did Whole30 once or twice and I totally agree w/ the above.
posted by griphus at 1:43 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 1:43 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh! I thought of another one!
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman has 3 introductory chapters, then goes through each of his 7 principles. Each of his principles has a bunch of exercises you do with your spouse. They're fun, kind of more like games than anything else. You could do them over 14 weeks - do a chapter ever two weeks, with half the exercises from that chapter on week 1, and half on week 2. You could definitely break this up into a FlyLady type exercise. Relevant for couples at all stages of their relationship.
posted by samthemander at 1:48 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman has 3 introductory chapters, then goes through each of his 7 principles. Each of his principles has a bunch of exercises you do with your spouse. They're fun, kind of more like games than anything else. You could do them over 14 weeks - do a chapter ever two weeks, with half the exercises from that chapter on week 1, and half on week 2. You could definitely break this up into a FlyLady type exercise. Relevant for couples at all stages of their relationship.
posted by samthemander at 1:48 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Duolingo is another good example (I think, I used it for a little bit a while ago!)
the rock clock is now the best alarm I've ever had
posted by Baethan at 2:15 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
the rock clock is now the best alarm I've ever had
posted by Baethan at 2:15 PM on May 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Headspace is an app that gives you the foundations to learning mindfulness meditation in 10 minute intervals that you do daily with tracking. that part is free, Then you can subscribe after you're finished them for full library access.
I like it!
Duolingo is good, though if you can do without the digital tracking, pimsleur listening courses are better, also broken up into small daily chunks. I've been doing Portuguese using both, and pimsleur definitely teaches me more, but duolingo is good for repetition and spelling.
posted by euphoria066 at 3:21 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I like it!
Duolingo is good, though if you can do without the digital tracking, pimsleur listening courses are better, also broken up into small daily chunks. I've been doing Portuguese using both, and pimsleur definitely teaches me more, but duolingo is good for repetition and spelling.
posted by euphoria066 at 3:21 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Here's a very no-frills Zero to One Mile swimming program I've been using.
posted by thebots at 3:36 PM on May 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by thebots at 3:36 PM on May 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Get Your Shit Together helps tackle things like your will, living will, life insurance, etc.
posted by whoiam at 4:12 PM on May 6, 2016
posted by whoiam at 4:12 PM on May 6, 2016
Learn all kinds of things in just five minutes a day:
GoHighbrow.com
posted by missjenny at 5:31 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
GoHighbrow.com
posted by missjenny at 5:31 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe "4 hour body" by Tim Ferris
Or "Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod
posted by pyro979 at 7:51 PM on May 6, 2016
Or "Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod
posted by pyro979 at 7:51 PM on May 6, 2016
Best answer: Apartment Therapy has a Home Cure that takes 23 days.
posted by soelo at 8:29 AM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by soelo at 8:29 AM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I just came across this #Money30 Challenge from Time magazine that was published in April 2016 (financial literacy month!) and I think it's an EXCELLENT financial bootcamp!
posted by wannabecounselor at 1:54 PM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wannabecounselor at 1:54 PM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Headspace is basically a starter set for meditation, and the first ten days (10m each) are part of their free app.
I've wound up just repeating those ten days a few times.
posted by talldean at 6:23 PM on May 14, 2016
I've wound up just repeating those ten days a few times.
posted by talldean at 6:23 PM on May 14, 2016
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posted by erst at 12:56 PM on May 6, 2016 [6 favorites]