October Intentions: Mapping my Zones of Comfort, Growth, and Overwhelm
What are you doing when you have the most energy?
Happy October! I hope your Q4 (or whichever quarter it is for you) is off to a good start.
There is something about the leaves changing and the move into fall I find appealing. I also like the idea of easing into winter and have many happy Halloween memories.
Last month I looked at managing my energy and stress using a tracking sheet and a log. It was helpful for me to notice my energy level and define it. The more I tracked my energy the more time I spent in higher energy levels. I’ve read that the first step to making change is noticing and tracking has helped me.
Building on last month, I am going to see how noticing can help me in other areas.
My goal for this month is to notice where I am in my zones of Comfort, Growth, and Overwhelm.
I’ve noticed that my Energy Level (see September Intentions and Mapping Feelings to the Energetic Self-Perception Chart for more on Energy Levels) is usually very low when I am overwhelmed.
I’ve also noticed that my Energy Level is often high when I’m learning something. I’m curious about what I will find if I track the zone I’m in along with my Energy Level. My thought is that I will begin to notice how comfortable I am with what I’m learning and also when comfort turns into boredom.
What I liked about tracking last month: Having a chart and a log, having to think about where my energy was in terms of defined feelings, questioning the root of the feelings, noticing how my energy could change by noticing it.
What I didn’t like: Having two sheets of paper. Some guilt when I didn’t track every day.
Changes for this month: Chart and log on the same page. Only enough space for 21 entries, not 31.
Below is my Comfort, Growth, and Overwhelm Tracking Sheet along with a few examples.
The version above is the fourth one I’ve made and seems to meet my needs. I am putting dots on the chart to note things that happen throughout the day and then noting from high to low energy below. So far I’ve been enjoying it.
On October 2 I had a challenging meeting and realized I was in my Zone of Overwhelm. I didn’t feel I was at my best and I wasn’t able to communicate the way I wanted to. As I reflected on it, I realized it could be described as an Amygdala Hijack. I felt threatened and wasn’t able to think clearly.
On October 3 I went for the most amazing run by the ocean at sunrise. The weather was perfect. and I was clearly in my Comfort Zone. I felt powerful, grounded, and connected. I was listening to an audiobook and my brain was processing the content as I watched the world wake up around me. I ran cross country for a few years in high school but didn’t like it. In college, I tore my ACL and have had several knee surgeries. Being able to run now is a gift. I felt that gift.
For me, noticing my moods, feelings, beliefs, and actions is helping me on my journey of personal growth.
Let me know what you realize this month.
