Happy New Year! How’s everyone doing? I am relieved the holidays are officially over and I can finally settle back into a routine, albeit a new and re-energized one.
Although I decided not to write out resolutions for the year, it’s been quite clear already within a week where my priorities are. Therefore, I want to share with you the tools I am using and finding most helpful as I begin anew.
DIET & EXERCISE:
1. This simple little color-by-number print-out:
My brother shared this with me a little while back. In case it isn’t obvious to you yet, I LOVE CHALLENGES. I am such a fan of being challenged by something with clear rules and defined start and end dates. Also, carrots at the end of sticks keep me motivated.
This print-out is on my fridge. The rules are simple: get a minimum of thirty minutes of activity 100 days in a row. Every day you do, color in the corresponding number. Who knew coloring could be so motivating! Forget long term goals of being thin, I want to exercise so I can go home and color in a shoe!! It’s the instant gratification; the equivalent of wearing a gold star! Needless to say, numbers 1 – 6 are all colored in and I’ll be damned if I finish 100 days with an incomplete shoe.
2. Biggest Loser:
My gym does a 10-week biggest loser weight loss challenge a few times a year. You pay to join and the prize pot is quite generous! I’ve signed up.
3. Books:
I’ve hit a road block with A Course in Weight Loss, but I have committed to tackling lesson 6 again (I wasn’t happy with my first try and didn’t feel I gave it the attention it deserved) and moving on with the 21 spiritual lessons.
I’m also working my way through the exercises in The Beck Diet Solution at the suggestion of my counselor. This book represents the cognitive therapy approach that is resonating with me so much. I’m already discovering new useful tools, like my advantages response card I had to write in lesson one. This is a written list of the reasons why I want to be thin that I read a few times a day. It’s been a helpful reinforcement.
I’m also using The 3-Day Reset as my chosen diet, which is based on the concept of giving up certain foods one at a time (like processed sugar, wheat, high quantities of salt) for three days and then incorporating them back into the diet at a much smaller percentage. The philosophy reminds me of Michael Pollan’s: Eat food, mostly vegetables, not too much.
ADVENTURE:
1. Day trip/outing grab bag:
Last year I had many new experiences as I took back my life. When I reflected on my favorite memories of 2015, many of those experiences were among the top: stand up paddleboarding, a trip to Vermont, bicycling Delaware Canal State Park, full moon kayaking…
These new experiences made me feel alive; they confirmed I’m not living the same day over and over and calling it a life. So I had been thinking I should aim to visit at least one new place or to do a new activity every month. Then that idea became even better after being inspired by my brother and sister-in-law’s basket of travel dreams. I decided that in order to ensure I see and do more new things this year, I’d create a basket full of day trip and outing ideas, as well as some activities I’d like to try. Although not as significant as traveling to other countries, I think this is a great start. I’ll pull an idea at the start of every month and make sure it happens. We all know how time gets away from us. This will be my way of making sure I at least have twelve new experiences this year.
FINANCES/MINIMALISM:
1. EatByApp:
This one is to help with my desire to spend less and waste less. This is a really cool app I’ve just discovered. Have you ever forgotten about vegetables in the crisper drawer or a half ball of mozzarella sitting in water in a Tupperware in the back of the fridge or a delicious healthy dinner you intentionally made extra of to freeze but it sat too long and got freezer burned? Well, if you load your food into the app with when you want to eat it by, it will sort the contents of your fridge/freezer/pantry by the eat by date. You’ll know what to eat next and also won’t forget about food anymore.
This app is already a game changer in my house. I detest wasting food (and money).
*I promise I’m not affiliated with the EatByApp in any way. Just a big fan.
2. #minsgame:
My minimalism challenge is in full swing with 33 participants from all over the world! I love starting the year by getting rid of crap and it’s so energizing to see so many people doing the same!
So there you have it. Six days into 2016 and this is what I’m up to. I’d love to hear about useful tools you’re using to keep motivated. With the proper tools, so much can be accomplished. A whole lot can happen in a year.
Thanks for the link — and the two shout-outs! 🙂 — I'm really glad that little coloring challenge is working its magic on you. When your hundred days are up, consider looking up the "Seinfeld Calendar" apps — they're basically the same thing. The idea is to keep the chain going. Apparently they became famous after he described his habit of X'ing every day on a 365 day wall calendar if he got some writing done. The idea is to not break the chain. Once you see you've got 20 or so X's in a row, you're not going to allow yourself to miss a day. Worked for me for a while, then my phone died.
You're welcome – thanks for the inspiration! You had told me about that calendar before and I tried it. I liked the reminders, but it didn't seem to work well and just wasn't the same for me. I think I'll just make my own color by numbers for various things. A book for writing, a dollar sign or something I'm saving for for saving, haha. 🙂 I think I could be on to something here!