A while back I shared with you my Happiness Project intentions and outlined my end-of-April plan:
"What will I be doing between now and May? I'll continue to receive the Happiness Project blog posts into my reader, I'll use the Happiness Project Toolbox, I'll re-read the book, maybe read one of the countless books recommended in the book, put some plans in motion and who knows, maybe I'll get a head start on Boost Energy by purchasing a pair of sneakers and get a pedometer that actually works!"As it turns out, I had good intentions but in the last few weeks I have been very occupied simply living my life (read: chauffeuring children, taking a silly number of sport photos and participating in A Week in the Life!), but my intention of starting in May remain - and I did. Just a bit late!
After reading The Happiness Project once through, and bits and pieces over again, I agree with Gretchen Rubin that the best place to start is with VITALITY. Without energy you cannot possibly be happy with anything. My kids are very active and it's a wonder since they don't get much modelling done by their parents! That has to be the first thing to change.
I've re-read the first chapter and have made a few observations: I have to make some definite changes! The issues at the forefront that I have to address are Exercise, Sleep and Order. Even if I make a small dent, it will be an accomplishment.
EXERCISE:On the days Cole has football practice I'm going to walk the new track at Loyola Secondary School, (which has now moved over to Blakelock Secondary School). The Loyola track is 650 paces per lap and I will make 10 laps. This will be done on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I've done it once and stopped only because my partner got tired. From now on I'll be putting on my iPod, tuning into one of my many Ted podcasts, and getting smart while I'm getting fit and ignoring the needs of my partner, this is (after all) about MY health and not about his complaints. Already, on the days I am unable to make it, I'm spending my "must watch" hour of television - The View - from 11AM to noon, on my recumbent bike.
This may sound like a very small step, but I have been in the habit of trying to implement HUGE changes that I don't stick with for very long. It's not that there is no intent or desire, it's just that the change is too drastic or dynamic for my life. This is a very small step.
I have realized a few of my reasons/excuses over my lack of dedication to exercise:
- I hate sweating, really, I do
- Cole borrowed my sneakers and his huge feet stretched them out
- I'm too cheap to buy new runners to replace them until I'm actually wearing them regularly
- Ugh, I frustrate myself, too!
- I fail before I start with self-sabotaging thoughts that I've tried this before and failed, why would it be different this time around?
- I need to do this with Louis since he needs it more than I do (well, I quit smoking without him, so this will be no different)
- It's raining, it's too hot, you know, if the temperature is not 15C to 19C with a breeze, I'll sweat
- Or, it's snowing or there's too much ice, so it's unsafe
I'm really hoping the Nietzsche quote found in the book is right: "All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking". It's been my experience that they actually happen in the shower, with no means of recording them, but I'll embrace the walking nonetheless!
SLEEP:Generally, I head upstairs to bed around 10PM. More often than not, I fall asleep while watching one of the dramas. I realize one of the no-no's is to have a television in your bedroom. I got into the habit when the kids were babies. Louis was almost always working out of town and I was always a bit freaked out in a dark, quiet house with new babies nursing. I put a small 13" television in my room and became quickly addicted to Columbo, Quincy and McMillan & Wife re-runs on A&E.
Since then, I've always had a TV in the room, one that remains on all.night.long. since I've not mastered the concept of hitting the sleep button. Almost every night I wake up to Dr. Ho hawking some massage device in his heavy Asian accent. Whether the television is on or not, I'm at the age where I will wake up in the middle of the night anyway. Do I turn the television off when I return to bed? No, I switch it over to the 24-hour news station!
I've added to the chaos by placing in the Master Bedroom mix: my desktop Mac, many stacks of books to read and pieces of overly-large and easily-ignored exercise equipment. Definitely an area requiring some focus!
ORDER:Last month I fired my cleaning service for a variety of reasons. It was amicable, and they might be called back, but I really don't want to have to have someone clean up after us. It annoys my frugal nature. The kids are old enough now to manage some chores.
Messes completely freak me out. I always feel like I'm playing catch-up. I'm exhausted by some of the bad habits practised by my family! I really need things to be in order so that I can tackle some of the big things that need to be done around the house. I cannot stand the chaos of it all. Makes me crazy.
Each child has been given an area of responsibility and a few all-around chores. Instead of providing them an incentive to clean, I'm implementing a deduction approach. Not my preferred method, but hey, if they know they can't play Wii or go out with their friends maybe they might clean their rooms, right?
I'm working on the theory that some outer order will bring me some inner peace. And, I seriously need to find my favourite brush obviously "borrowed" but alas no one will claim to have it. Argh. For me, the idea of order is not to go out and buy pretty baskets, or just get things put away: the idea of order is that everything have it's rightful place and it can be found when needed. Oh to be able to locate the things in my house! I'm so tired of re-buying little things. I must have a dozen sets of nail clippers - and can never locate any.
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So, I'm going to spend the month of May and probably all of June embracing this quote by Walt Disney:
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
Right he is!
