2015: Well-being - Forming Habits
So, the first month of my year of well-being is up now... A while back I wrote about my New Year's theme for 2015, which I decided would be well-being. And I figured little by little I would make better choices and make those little changes to my everyday life in order to continue my journey towards well-being. As quite a few of you suggested it would be nice to have regular updates of my journey to well-being I figured I'll do monthly roundups - helps to keep me on track and focused on the goal as well.
This month I didn't have a specific theme, I just figured let's see what happens and what goes. Little by little I noticed that one thing kept cropping up and occupying my thoughts. Habits.
They say it takes about 21 days to form a new habit. Well, I don't quite believe it, I think it takes far more effort and consistency to make a change, but that is OK as I am committed to this for the whole year. In the first month I have made some changes I think are important, and that I should keep up, and have thought about a few more changes I should make to really make this year into about well-being.
My new well-being habits:
1. Lunch time yoga. Not a new thing this year as I started my lunch time yoga last October. It is on every Monday, and I absolutely refuse to schedule any meetings or other work stuff during my yoga hour.
2. Gym. I signed up to the work gym last year. This year I am making sure I use it twice a week - Wednesday and Friday - even if I am really busy at work. On a few occasions I have replaced my gym session with a long walk outside if I haven't felt like going to the gym.
3. Eating better at work.Terrible really, but quite often if I haven't taken lunch with me I go out and get Maccy D's, or maybe some sort of a mayonnaise-filled pasta salad from Tesco's, and grab a muffin for the afternoon tea time. So now I try to always make my own lunch (usually rye bread sandwiches), take fruits for snacks, and stay away from the communal snack jar at work.
4. Being more organised. This is something that I have started to do now to help me do the habits one to three - I get my lunch and breakfast ready the night before and prepare my fully-stocked gym bag for the week on Sundays.
New well-being habits for next month:
5. Getting to bed early. I have tried doing this, but not succeeding as well as I should. This I think is the key to really getting everything else in order - it is difficult to do anything well if you are tired.
6. Weekend mummy-daughter time. We had a lovely time in the park today just the two of us, and I thought this would be nice to do every weekend. Whether it is going to the park, going for a babyccino or shopping. Will be probably nice for daddy to have some down-time too...
7. Lunch time experiences. I used to do this in the past. Once a week I'd go for a "cultural experience" during the lunch hour, either a museum, a landmark, a popular sightseeing place, or maybe a concert. I figured since I have to commute to work, I might as well try to enjoy the local sights. I haven't done this in a while but I think it would be good to resurrect this habit and get to know my Monday to Friday surroundings again.
8. Being even more organised. It would help my busy mornings if I didn't have to desperately try to find something reasonably work-appropriate to wear amongst all my stuff... So I want to start getting my work outfits of the week ready on Sunday. Additionally doing a bit of planning for the week ahead on Sunday to see what I need to do and where to go would help smooth running of the week!
For February I think my theme should be de-cluttering... We are planning on purchasing a house and I guess you can't really start de-cluttering too early.
Have you formed any new habits through your New Year's Resolutions? Are there any amazing habits that help you get the most out of your days?
I have been trying to drink lots more water so I got myself a bottle to always carry with me and it has been helping. I have been trying a better exercise routine but I find I'm too tired in the evenings so I need to start doing it first thing in the morning - going to bed earlier will definitely help me too!
ReplyDeleteI think going to bed early enough makes all the difference - much easier to meet your goals and get doing stuff! Good luck with the exercise routine, I find getting my clothes ready and out the night before helps as well, just makes it a little bit easier :)
DeleteI am always trying to be more organised. I have systems in place and people tell me that I am organised but I never feel on top of it all. Guess that's just my reality with 6 kids :)
ReplyDeleteWow six kids! That is one respectable number :) I think if you have that many kids you have to be super-organised to manage anything, hats off to you :)
DeleteDrinking more water on my daily routine list too! Although it is easy to still forget about yourself especially when you have a busy lifestyle and home. Sounds like your on the right track though, keep it up!! Thanks for linking up with #MMWBH x
ReplyDeleteDrinking more water seems to be quite popular - supposedly it is really good for your skin too. I do notice that now with having kids and working my life is so much more busier than before, dunno what I filled my days with when I was young and single!
DeleteThanks for hosting!
These are great goals. I love how you're scheduling your yoga and gym time into your day. It's more than likely that you'll keep the appointments if they fit into your regular schedule. It's a brilliant idea; one I should start practicing myself. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYeah that's the thing, it does really help you plan things ahead, and you sort of feel worse if you are thinking of giving it a miss when you know it is in your diary.. I'd definitely recommend scheduling exercise, otherwise it is just too easy to keep putting it off.
DeleteThese look all great habits to form and love how you have them all planned out in writing!
ReplyDeleteI think they are pretty good, and am sure they will help me. It does help to put them in writing, makes me feel more accountable to myself. And to readers (and I guess hubby as he reads my blog too).
DeleteI had a little set back in January for fitness, but I am going to back at yoga next week! Hope your goals are going well!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that but glad you are back on the wagon so to speak - good luck with yoga! I do find it is excellent for your back and core muscles, definitely worth keeping up.
DeleteLove the idea of lunch time experiences! I used to do something similar when still at uni , but there aren't so many cultural places to visit around Canary Wharf... So now I spend all my breaks in library, ha. Keep us updated on your progress!
ReplyDeleteI have a crazy amount of stuff and places I could visit nearby me, would be a shame if I didn't. Canary Wharf - I think it is better in the summer and they used to do concerts in the park in the evenings. If I'd be still working there I think I'd spend far too much time at the shopping centre...
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