Lifestyle Goals - Monthly Review
January has been a busy month but with most of my energy directed to putting the house back in order rather than focusing on my lifestyle goals. Some progress has been made so it's not completely hopeless but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that February brings bigger changes.
Health and Fitness. I've made the decision to try Slimming World (SW) following the successes of my friends L and Joy. I've done it before, years ago, but have decided against joining one of the local groups and will opt to follow the plan online; I'll sign up towards the end of February. I still have some meals in the freezer that need to be eaten before I start properly but in the meantime I have joined a Facebook support group, a SW recipe group and have been looking at SW meal plans online. I've sort of made a start by improving my choice of foods for breakfast (following online meal suggestions) and am now eating more at the start of the day. I no longer feel hungry during the morning but it does mean that I don't really want another meal until my evening meal, opting for a small snack at lunchtime. I don't know if in SW terms this is acceptable as I don't have all the details until I join so I may have to tweak this when I find out.
Exercise needs to happen but isn't! I have been more active because of moving furniture around and sorting boxes etc., but I haven't been doing anywhere near enough walking. Now that it is frosty, and potentially slippery, first thing I'll have to rethink when to go for a walk or if that isn't an option, decide what to do instead.
Exercise needs to happen but isn't! I have been more active because of moving furniture around and sorting boxes etc., but I haven't been doing anywhere near enough walking. Now that it is frosty, and potentially slippery, first thing I'll have to rethink when to go for a walk or if that isn't an option, decide what to do instead.
Socialising. No additions as yet to daytime socialising but the evening arrangements are going according to plan, so for the time being I am content with how things are and will not push too hard for change. I either have the time to sort and clear the rest of the boxes or to meet with friends, and for now the sorting has to take priority. It's quite an easy decision when it is so cold out!
Time Management/Organising. Life, with very little conscious effort on my part, is changing for the better. I’m not talking about the home improvements or the garden or even my social plans, but am thinking about my daily life in retirement. I am starting to see a rhythm to my days with several small regular happenings occurring throughout the day.
I'm not quite in the routine and on top of things as I'd like because procrastination is my friend, but I'm getting there!
On most days I'm getting up at the same time and am sticking to a regular bedtime. All meals are eaten at the table with the table laid properly and meals are no longer a hurried affair. Laying the table adds an element of ceremony and I’m making an effort to enjoy the moment and eat slowly. I stop for coffee around 11 o’clock and sit with a puzzle book to pass away thirty minutes or so. This is repeated at 5:15 pm but at this time I turn on the TV to watch Pointless.
Mornings are when I’m fitting in my daily tasks, some housework and some sorting, so by the afternoon my time is my own to do what I want without feeling guilty! I have to get back into the routine of walking every day but I am making time to play an instrument daily. It’s been working out that by 11 am on a couple of days I’m ready to do whatever needs to be done in the way of shopping and/or errands.
I always think that it's the little things in life that lead to contentment and that's what I'm feeling right now. I have the sort of personality that responds well to having some sort of routine and I'm feeling rather pleased that I can see it all coming together - imagine a massive grin on my face! The best part is that nothing I'm doing stops me from making plans for days out or responding to requests from friends to meet for coffee or lunch, but it does mean that I'm not drifting through the day on the days I spend at home alone, unless I want to of course, and on those occasions I seem to be good at suppressing the guilt!
I'm not quite in the routine and on top of things as I'd like because procrastination is my friend, but I'm getting there!
My five tasks for January were:
- Review budgets, personal and band, and submit my tax return. TAX RETURN DONE, PERSONAL BUDGET DONE AND BEING MONITORED, BAND BUDGET STARTED
- Advertise at least 10 more items for sale FAILED!
- Plan meals for 4 weeks DONE
- A trip to IKEA Bristol to buy shelving & picture frames for living room DIDN'T GO TO IKEA BUT HAVE SOURCED SHELVING LOCALLY
- Make a list of places to visit in 2019, booking tickets and accommodation as necessary DONE
My five tasks for February are:
- Update Band finance records
- Advertise at least 10 more items for sale
- Buy new towels and bedding
- Arrange quotes for garden overhaul
- Clear at least half of the boxes in the music room
I believe you could reach the goals.
ReplyDeletehave a great day
Thank you.
DeleteGreat goals and I love your satisfaction with how things are going.
ReplyDeleteRegarding SW, how you organise your meals is really up to you and a snack type lunch is fine as long as it falls into the structure of free foods (with lots of 'speed'), healthy extras and syns. The big thing is to make it work for you in the way that best suits you.
I think you'll like it.
xx
My problem is always that I can't always have the HEA, because of food allergies. It's something I have to manage and though occasionally I can substitute soya for dairy, that too is limited by how I'm feeling. I gave up last time because I was tired of being berated in front of the group by the consultant for not using my HEA - she simply couldn't understand food allergies!
DeleteI retired 18 months ago, and found I also needed routine in my days, my alarm goes off at 8, Monday to Friday, I don't have to jump out of bed, Mornings are for jobs around the house, afternoons are for me. Rules are made to be broken or missed, but having the framework works well. I too make goals around my lifestyle, but I am a list maker which always helps.
ReplyDeleteI'm a list maker too. It sounds like we have pretty much the same approach to daily routine. Hope you're enjoying your retirement as much as I'm enjoying mine.
DeleteI can imagine your smile, you have accomplished quite a lot in January. As a fellow list maker, goals & lists help to keep the flow of life moving forward. My biggest 2019 challenge is not to spend so much time online which ties to my goal of getting a new job. :)
ReplyDeleteI too struggle with the amount of time I waste online and although it's on the list to be dealt with, I've decided it isn't too much of an issue provided everything else on the 'must do' list is ticked off first. Good luck with your 2019 challenges.
DeleteI think you did well, over all, on your January goals. Socializing during the day time is difficult if your friends are working, etc., but, as you say, you can use that time to get other things done. I'm glad you are finding a rhythm to your days. I am still drifting, a little, but, that's OK, I think.
ReplyDelete