We have all overindulged through the Christmas holidays and now have great hopes for a healthy 2014. I certainly have been putting things in place to make my life better this year. I have even started a new blog documenting this process. It’s very bare at the moment but this is is it if you want to have a look: https://www.the-changing.com/
These are not New Year resolutions as such because I feel they set us up for failure. These below are the small and some big things I have put into place to change my life.
1. The first and the biggest change is that I have left my job. While on holiday, I really realised the damage the stress was doing to my health. In the short 8 months that I was in that particular job, my occasional tension headaches morphed into almost daily migraines, I developed RSI in my right shoulder and arm, and my neck almost stopped working. In other words, I was a wreck. I have documented all this on my new blog – Changing.
2. The second change is to vary my exercise more. I have always used my Exercycle 5 nights a week for 20 minutes but now I also walk to the beach every day and have even swum a couple of times. This gives me a break from my computer and I get some fresh air and see life outside of an office/my study. I am also determined to do my specific neck and back exercises in a more routine way. I do them but in sporadic bursts.
3. I have begun decluttering my home, room by room and it is amazing how much stuff I have already thrown away. Stuff that clutters up our lives and our minds. I have found some great blogs I now follow on minimalism and it really rings a bell with me. I have always liked to have less rather than more but we accumulate through our lives without realising the weight we carry because of it. I will be documenting my progress in my other blog. Here are a couple of links to blogs I love on minimalism. https://www.theminimalists.com/ and https://www.missminimalist.com/. Those two will lead you to others.
4. I am determined to get my sleep patterns under control. Sleeping between 7-8 hours is essential for so many functions in your body to work well. I sleep brilliantly when I go to bed but I tend to go late and wake up too early. There is a definite correlation between how much I have slept and how I feel. I need to get to bed before 11pm and I will be aiming for that. By the way, last night I went to bed at 1am. As you can see, it is a work in progress.
5. The last and perhaps the most important one is to get out of my study more often and vary my activities. To go to the movies, visit people, get out in society. As an introvert, I am happiest alone or with close friends and family. But this is limiting and I will make an effort to do more.
Now I am going to give you a gift of sorts to inspire you for the new year. I am promoting a bundle of 52 e-books on health and lots of other goodies all included for only $39. It is called the Harvest your Health bundle and is incredible value with 95% off the total value of the individual items – $850. See everything that is included here: https://hyhealth.info/strands By the way, I do make a small commission on any I sell. But my gift to you is I will include my Paleo Treats cookbook for free if you buy the bundle. All you have to do is email me the bundle electronic receipt and I will send you the book.
For all you low FODMAPPERS, Paleo eating (which I used to do) is a help with our diet because it eliminates grains but do be careful to use normal table sugar instead of the sweeteners they often use – honey and dried fruit. Also substitute any vegetables or fruit that you know are high FODMAP. I still use my Paleo Treats cookbook all the time but make substitutions.
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Wow, some big moves. Congrats on leaving the job. It sounds like it was rewarding, but not if it’s ruining your healthy. That must have been difficult to do, but good for you! I’m guilty on getting to bed too late, too. There’s always so much I want to do, and I find evenings a good time to do it. But sleep is more important!
Suzanne says
Big moves, indeed. And it feels great so far. Yes, getting to bed at a good hour is a real challenge.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Suzanne, you are such an inspiration. I too need to get out of my office. I want to walk the dog every single morning for more than a piddle or two and I want to cook for fun more often.
You hit the nail on decluttering. I spent all day Saturday and I have a mountain of crap to take to the Salvos and the tip. I don’t need this stuff clagging up my life any more. 🙂
Good luck to us both.
Suzanne says
Thank you, Maureen. Since you already have to go out with the dog, it’s a great excuse to keep going. But, oh, how hard that self-discipline can be. The angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. The devil has such a lot of power!
Don’t you feel great about getting rid of all that crap? I sure do. My next post on my new blog is exactly about that – how I am tackling the de-cluttering. The devil and the angel thing again.
Hotly Spiced says
It sounds like your New Year is off to a great start. I’m relieved you have left your job. It did sound like it was giving you a lot of grief. It’s just not worth it, especially when your health is affected. I need to de-clutter too. I’m tidy but I’m the only one in this house who is so as hard as I try, I don’t seem to win any battles. I’m going to try and be more varied with my exercise this year too xx
Suzanne says
Thanks, Charlie. Grief is the right word – in so many ways. It must be hard to keep de-cluttered with 3 children. Fortunately my son is a neat freak and Adriano has been easy to re-train. LOL. They encourage me to de-clutter.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These are wonderful tips for the new year. I’ve been in declutter mode and it feels so freeing. I’m an introvert too, and I need to push myself to get out more!
Suzanne says
We introverts do have a disadvantage in that we don’t get out there enough and so don’t grow a large circle of friends, which is how we want it, but not always good for business connections etc. We do make friends online though. It’s a good compromise for us.
Jackie Patti says
I’m an introvert also. It’s become a lot worse with the chronic fatigue as some days even phone calls are exhausting. Online has kept me from going absolutely mad – that and 2 cats!
Suzanne says
I am sorry to hear about the chronic fatigue, Jackie. What can be done about that? Yes, online friendships are a great compromise for us introverts.