We all have an idea about how we want to live, and some times that idea is so far from where we are, we are never quite sure how to bridge the gap. We take on new courses, diets and start several other routines all at once. Which in the end culminates in a lot of things being ditched, dropped and confidence crashing too.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Starting slowly, introducing one thing at a time and sticking with it means it is much more likely going to become part of your everyday life.
Mornings
Many people are just not morning people. But that is usually because they are tired, from lack of sleep. So mornings are then difficult to deal with. And while we aren’t going to tell you to ditch your morning coffee, you might like to consider having something like a glass of warm lemon water before you glug back that caffeine.
Waking up slightly earlier than you usually do will also mean that you are less likely to need to rush around and start the morning behind.
While brushing your teeth, begin to stretch your muscles out and make a mental note of everything that you need to do for that day. List the things that are essential and list one thing that you want to achieve.
As you sit with your coffee, write these things down. Try not to pick a really long list when you start this one. Three items are usually enough until you begin to master your list making. For each thing, you achieve, be sure to tick it off – so that you can enjoy that sense of gratitude to yourself and gratification at completing your list.
Evenings
It is very important that you learn to wind down in the evenings. Rather than bombarding your brain and senses with social media, movies and other overstimulating things, think about implementing a cutoff time.
Evenings can be hectic times for parents. Cooking, cleaning, bath time, bedtime it all costs a lot of time an energy. And the temptation to stay away long after the kids have gone to bed can be pretty huge. But really, that is setting you up to be even more tired the next day. Once you have taken care of everything, give yourself a more leisurely morning by prepping the breakfast things – overnight oats, lay the table ready, look out your own clothing, and then do something that is relaxing. Hot bath, shower, reading, and decompression after the rumble that bedtime can be.
If you set a time that you want to begin to wind down, 8pm tends to be a good starting point. And implement a routine. Over time, from the start of that routine, your mind will get the signal, it is time to start settling down, ready to sleep. Meaning you are more likely to be relaxed and ready when you arrive at your bed.
Sleeping
Stop bringing your phone to bed. It is the number one sleep interrupter. When we wake up in the morning, we are more likely to grab it and start scrolling. Which sets your morning off focusing on others. Once you have implemented the evening routine, you will find that you begin to get sleepy as you go through your typical routine.
If you still need extra help falling asleep, you can use the aid of essential oils, apps like Calm and reading a book.
Sleep specialists like Dr Steve Orma believe that the reason we struggle to fall asleep is often that we are trying so hard to fall asleep. We are actively monitoring if we are asleep or not – meaning our brains are still working.
If you are the type of person who can spend hours awake thinking, it might be time to start emptying your brain onto paper. When you get into bed, write down everything that is bothering you. Decide in the morning if it needs more attention.
Movement
Our bodies are designed to move. They are designed to stay active, and you can do this; however you want. Swimming, running, walking, using personal trainer apps, or simply dancing around your kitchen or living room to your favorite music.
It isn’t important how you do it, just that it gets done.
Yoga is a great starter exercise too. It is relaxing and can help with things like backache and headaches – often caused by tension and bad posture.
If there has ever been something active that you’ve wanted to try then go ahead and do it. There is nothing to lose.
Eating
The luxury of modern life is quick bags of food that go directly to the over, or microwave meals, or take-out. But that luxury has meant that many people are really sure how to cook anymore. And how long it takes.
There are, however, many cookbooks that talk about the speed at which healthy, almost luxurious foods can be created. Even for the very busy of us.
If you eat well, generally you feel well. All of those vitamins and minerals that we need begin to build stores when we change to a more wholesome style of eating. Vegetables and lean meats are a great start, vegetarianism or veganism are excellent options too.
Any dietary changes you make should be discussed with your doctor. In most cases, they will be supportive of any positive changes.
Positivity
Your mindset matters. It is easy to be cynical about what is going on around you. To pick out the things that you don’t like and complain about them. It is harder to put a positive spin on everything consistently.
This takes practice. When you are upset by something or angry, it doesn’t mean you should bottle that up, or not let yourself feel it. It simply means that you should look for the good in any situation.
Negative emotions take a lot out of us, we carry them around, and they are pretty draining. But, it takes some work to get out of that mindset and be more positive. It helps if you list a few things every day that you are thankful for. Be it your morning coffee, or a roof over your head at night. Just practice being mindful of what you have, and the positivity grow.
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