A List of Don'ts

Things I've learned not to do during the 100 Day Challenge

Don't procrastinate the 100 minutes, or you will be riding the stationary bike until 1 in the morning, then can't go to sleep because you are wired from the exercise.

Don't procrastinate the 100 pages, or you will be up reading until 2 in the morning (possibly while riding the stationary bike), trying not to fall asleep.

Don't attempt 45 minutes of Pilates shortly after a large dinner and 2 beers. Trust me.

Don't hydrate with coffee instead of water, no amount of exercise will get rid of those jitters.

Don't try to read while running on the treadmill. Reading and walking - yes, reading and running - no!

Don't try to update your blog from your iPhone while walking outdoors, you will trip multiple times. Someone will witness it and shake their head and laugh.

Don't turn down free books. They might be the easiest, quickest and most entertaining things you read. (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series - thanks Jamie!)

Don't hit snooze, just get up dammit.

Don't sacrifice sleep to stay up late in your hotel room watching another episode of Intervention: Keeping Up With The Animal Hoarders Biggest Loser.  You will have terrible dreams (and will hit snooze in the morning).

Don't assume you know everything. Contrary to popular belief, you are not the smartest person in the world with the most advanced vocabulary, there are many words you do not actually know. The dictionary is your friend. (i.e. puerile: of or pertaining to a child or to childhood. maudlin: tearfully or weakly emotional.)

Don't over commit your time. There are 1440 minutes in a day. 480 of which should be spent sleeping, up to 720 are now spent working, 100 are for exercising, and anywhere from 60-120 will be spent reading depending on the book. That leaves approximately 20 minutes for everything else, unless you sacrifice sleep. You may not have time to go out to dinner, drinks, the store, etc. Plan accordingly.

Don't focus on what you can't do. Focus on what you can. As Henry Ford allegedly once said, "whether you think that you can or think that you can't, you are usually right."