5 Changes in 3 Months That Improved My Life
Sometime late last fall, I made a couple changes that started me on a better path and led to other changes, which have definitely improved my quality of life. Some were simple, and others more difficult, but I've had zero regrets. If you find yourself in stuck in a rut of negativity like I was, perhaps there are a couple ideas here (or other changes) that might work for you. I didn't do this all at once, it worked like a small cascade over time. So with no further ado, below is my list, in the order in which it unfolded.
1. I deleted the Facebook app from my phone. It was a compulsion for me to check my phone, in particular, Facebook, every morning after I woke up. It was a post that I read while still in bed, and don't even remember anymore, that set off an epic rant which continued through our morning walk and through breakfast, and probably made my husband glad he had to leave for work, that made me realize the negative impact on my life. For me, Facebook had become a time waster, and negative mood trigger, so I decided to take a break. I didn't post any announcements about my decision because I was pretty sure I would cave in shortly and then would feel dumb about making a big announcement about it (plus I would have felt it necessary to read the responses). After less than a week, I noticed how much more positive I felt, especially in the morning. But it was really tempting to check in, so I decided to just delete the app from my phone. The surprising result for me, was the extra time I had, as apparently it was much more of a time-suck for me than I had realized. And that is how I found time after work for the next change.
2. We signed for a gym membership, hired a personal trainer, and have been working out together after work 4+ times a week, including weight training (which I used to really dislike). Wow! What a difference! Modern Lumberjack and I have both gained muscle, our clothes fit better, and we have more energy! And because I work in research and was curious about tracking data, this led to the next change.
3. I bought a Fitbit and have used it to track my exercise and enter my daily food intake. It's easier than I thought to do this, and the primary result has been that I consistently make better choices from how much and what I eat, to what activities we choose. We tend to be more active and get outside more, even in the winter. And that's been good for my body, mind, & soul. And speaking of spirit...
4. During my commute, I started listening only to music I love and uplifting radio stations . This has resulted in a better start to my workday, better attitude sitting in traffic, and better transition to home. The mental break and attitude changes, led to one more change:
5. I created this website and started a blog, to share all this, with more to follow! My hope is that I can use this space to share my ideas, recipes, and adventures, and that good things come from this. Thank you for stopping in!
