Being real with ourselves isn’t as easy as we all wished it were. I have this really bad ability to talk myself into believing things that aren’t real. I’ll elaborate. So during the semester, if it is really late at night and I am super tired but I have a test the next morning, I will literally talk myself into believing that I studied enough and I do not need to study anymore…even if I haven’t even looked at the material. I have actually gotten better at this because I don’t wait until the last minute to study for tests anymore, but I’ll do it for assignments too. Even if the assignment isn’t complete, I can make my mind believe it is, so I can go to sleep. I’m not really sure if that makes sense but it is the best way I can explain it.
But I’ve come to a conclusion that I need to start doing the things that I say I want to do. I have no idea what I am waiting for, a miracle? I am the only person that can change myself; no one else has the power to change me. Therefore I need to face the fact that I am not doing my best. I can’t keep putting off that thought. If you have been putting off things (which I am sure you have, I feel like it might be human nature), you need to face the cold hard truth. You could be doing better. Well, why don’t we be better then?
So I’d say it is about time we start being real with ourselves and start making changes so we can see the results we want to see. I want you to make a list of 10 things you are putting off doing/finishing and write why you are putting them off and how it will benefit you to get around to doing them.
10 things I am putting off:
1. Daily stretching
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I have been telling myself I am going to stretch more for months now…it might even be years. Lately, I have gotten a little better at it but now that I want to learn how to do more yoga poses and what not, I really need to get into a better habit of stretching. There really is no excuse here.
2. De-cluttering my room
Well my room is usually fairly clean in general, but in like the drawers and what not, there is some hidden junk. The junk is most likely stuff I haven’t used in I can’t tell you how long, but for some reason I keep it. Getting rid of the stuff I have no use for would definitely be a way to reduce small amounts of anxiety that I don’t realize builds up.
3. Drinking a gallon of water a day
I used to do this steadily but for some reason I stopped and my body has taken a toll from it. I have no idea why I don’t do it, but I really need to start again. With the amount that I sweat when I work out, I am definitely not replacing enough water back into my diet.
4. Daily cardio
Cardio makes my stress level go down like crazy and I always feel super good after doing it but unfortunately, sometimes I find the easy way out and skip it. That was hard to admit. Even just walking for 40 minutes is better than nothing. The past few days I have done a lot better and it helps that I have a strong support system helping me push through but just like everything else, they can’t do this for me; I have to do this for me. I am actually typing this post on my lunch break at work, while walking on the treadmill. Our lunch break is long today due to a patient cancellation so I am going to walk for 40 minutes today to get some energy out, pick my spirits up today, and feel good!
5. Keeping my car clean
HAHA, man this one is kind of funny. I am such an anal neat freak with so much in my life…except when it comes to my car. One of my quirks is that I am very impatient and always in a rush, so I would rather just leave things in my car and come back and get them later so I can get done what I have to do at that moment. Which let’s be honest, is never truly THAT important! But, right now I am on a clean streak! Justin gets on my case and lectures me every time he sees it dirty, but I guess the lectures have worked because I am on a roll right now!
6. Learning to not take naps
Granted, I might have 2 jobs, go to school full time, and not skip my daily workouts… but there is no way that I can be SO tired that I cannot go on without taking a nap. But for some reason, I always think it is necessary because Bubba is so cuddly and I have an hour to kill, so why not? I always make the mistake to lie down in my bed and at that point I realize how comfortable it is and just want to stay there. But taking naps has no effect on how I sleep at night; I still sleep like a baby at night! Maybe I am just overwhelming myself with being busy, especially during the semester. Whatever the reason is, I definitely want to try to stop them!
7. Be more productive during the day
This sort of goes along with number 6, when I take naps I am far less productive during the day. I like to makes “to-do” lists, and they are easy lists! I have PLENTY of time during the day to finish the tasks that I wrote down, but sometimes I get lazy and never end up finishing the list and things get pushed off a few days until I get swamped and regret it. So really, I just need to do things when I say I am going to do them!
8. Finish my laundry when I START it
This one is kind of funny but it’s totally a problem of mine. I will start my laundry and forget about it until nearly 24 hours later… so really, laundry is a huge ordeal for me that is dragged out HOURS longer than it should be. There is totally no excuse for this one either.
9. Daily yoga
Yoga is something that I totally enjoy doing and I think it is amazing when I see my own progress. I always say I am going to start doing it more, but then I never end up listening. Lately, I have totally been getting better at doing something everyday and it helps that I am starting to get more surrounded by it. Rachel is starting to get into it more, which helps keep me accountable. I have been seeing so much progress in myself lately so that is also propelling me forward. Not to mention that it helps my stress and anxiety levels! It took me years to be able to learn how to clear my mind completely and meditate but I finally learned it so I need to use it now.
10. Starting to eat more intuitively
Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn’t. To eat intuitively means to listen to your body. Asking yourself questions like: “Am I hungry?” “Am I full yet?” and so on. It takes some time to getting used to, but I am slowly learning. It is a process just like everything else.
So really, when I looked back at everything I just wrote, I realized that I said, “I am getting better” or “lately I have been better at this” pretty often! That means that I am starting to show signs of reaching my goals. It is easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed when trying to form new habits but it takes 21 days to form a habit. You need to give yourself just 21 days of full effort. Realizing there are things you need to work on is the first step, so if you can learn to be real with yourself and admit you need change, you are already on your way!
What are your ten?
But I’ve come to a conclusion that I need to start doing the things that I say I want to do. I have no idea what I am waiting for, a miracle? I am the only person that can change myself; no one else has the power to change me. Therefore I need to face the fact that I am not doing my best. I can’t keep putting off that thought. If you have been putting off things (which I am sure you have, I feel like it might be human nature), you need to face the cold hard truth. You could be doing better. Well, why don’t we be better then?
So I’d say it is about time we start being real with ourselves and start making changes so we can see the results we want to see. I want you to make a list of 10 things you are putting off doing/finishing and write why you are putting them off and how it will benefit you to get around to doing them.
10 things I am putting off:
1. Daily stretching
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I have been telling myself I am going to stretch more for months now…it might even be years. Lately, I have gotten a little better at it but now that I want to learn how to do more yoga poses and what not, I really need to get into a better habit of stretching. There really is no excuse here.
2. De-cluttering my room
Well my room is usually fairly clean in general, but in like the drawers and what not, there is some hidden junk. The junk is most likely stuff I haven’t used in I can’t tell you how long, but for some reason I keep it. Getting rid of the stuff I have no use for would definitely be a way to reduce small amounts of anxiety that I don’t realize builds up.
3. Drinking a gallon of water a day
I used to do this steadily but for some reason I stopped and my body has taken a toll from it. I have no idea why I don’t do it, but I really need to start again. With the amount that I sweat when I work out, I am definitely not replacing enough water back into my diet.
4. Daily cardio
Cardio makes my stress level go down like crazy and I always feel super good after doing it but unfortunately, sometimes I find the easy way out and skip it. That was hard to admit. Even just walking for 40 minutes is better than nothing. The past few days I have done a lot better and it helps that I have a strong support system helping me push through but just like everything else, they can’t do this for me; I have to do this for me. I am actually typing this post on my lunch break at work, while walking on the treadmill. Our lunch break is long today due to a patient cancellation so I am going to walk for 40 minutes today to get some energy out, pick my spirits up today, and feel good!
5. Keeping my car clean
HAHA, man this one is kind of funny. I am such an anal neat freak with so much in my life…except when it comes to my car. One of my quirks is that I am very impatient and always in a rush, so I would rather just leave things in my car and come back and get them later so I can get done what I have to do at that moment. Which let’s be honest, is never truly THAT important! But, right now I am on a clean streak! Justin gets on my case and lectures me every time he sees it dirty, but I guess the lectures have worked because I am on a roll right now!
6. Learning to not take naps
Granted, I might have 2 jobs, go to school full time, and not skip my daily workouts… but there is no way that I can be SO tired that I cannot go on without taking a nap. But for some reason, I always think it is necessary because Bubba is so cuddly and I have an hour to kill, so why not? I always make the mistake to lie down in my bed and at that point I realize how comfortable it is and just want to stay there. But taking naps has no effect on how I sleep at night; I still sleep like a baby at night! Maybe I am just overwhelming myself with being busy, especially during the semester. Whatever the reason is, I definitely want to try to stop them!
7. Be more productive during the day
This sort of goes along with number 6, when I take naps I am far less productive during the day. I like to makes “to-do” lists, and they are easy lists! I have PLENTY of time during the day to finish the tasks that I wrote down, but sometimes I get lazy and never end up finishing the list and things get pushed off a few days until I get swamped and regret it. So really, I just need to do things when I say I am going to do them!
8. Finish my laundry when I START it
This one is kind of funny but it’s totally a problem of mine. I will start my laundry and forget about it until nearly 24 hours later… so really, laundry is a huge ordeal for me that is dragged out HOURS longer than it should be. There is totally no excuse for this one either.
9. Daily yoga
Yoga is something that I totally enjoy doing and I think it is amazing when I see my own progress. I always say I am going to start doing it more, but then I never end up listening. Lately, I have totally been getting better at doing something everyday and it helps that I am starting to get more surrounded by it. Rachel is starting to get into it more, which helps keep me accountable. I have been seeing so much progress in myself lately so that is also propelling me forward. Not to mention that it helps my stress and anxiety levels! It took me years to be able to learn how to clear my mind completely and meditate but I finally learned it so I need to use it now.
10. Starting to eat more intuitively
Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn’t. To eat intuitively means to listen to your body. Asking yourself questions like: “Am I hungry?” “Am I full yet?” and so on. It takes some time to getting used to, but I am slowly learning. It is a process just like everything else.
So really, when I looked back at everything I just wrote, I realized that I said, “I am getting better” or “lately I have been better at this” pretty often! That means that I am starting to show signs of reaching my goals. It is easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed when trying to form new habits but it takes 21 days to form a habit. You need to give yourself just 21 days of full effort. Realizing there are things you need to work on is the first step, so if you can learn to be real with yourself and admit you need change, you are already on your way!
What are your ten?