I am constantly thinking about how I can make my life easier and my days more productive and enjoyable. I’ve come up with a list of things I need to work on or improve.
1. Getting up before the girls.
I go to bed very late and only get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, so I tend to stay in bed until the very last minute or until Dalila wakes up (usually after 10 am). Waking up has always been the worst part of my day because I’ve never been a good sleeper. I love being up early and never regret getting out of bed, but those first few minutes after waking up are always very hard. Still, I should make an effort because I would definitely benefit from a couple of hours head start. Ideally, I’d get up at about 6-7 am.
2. Going to bed earlier.
I spend a good portion of my day wishing I could go to bed, but when the time comes, I procrastinate. There’s always something else that needs to be done, I want to stay on the couch and do nothing, or my book is too good to put down. I need to eliminate distractions and focus on going to bed early.
3. Moving my body.
Besides walking around the house doing chores and taking care of the girls, I don’t really move much.
4. Meal planning and cooking.
Definitely the most disorganized area of my life. Both my husband and I are good cooks, but we often end up eating out or getting takeout because we don’t plan our meals in advance. With two young kids and a very busy life, planning ahead is essential.
5. Writing book reviews.
I’m a very lazy writer. I love writing but it takes work and I can’t always be bothered, to be honest. I read 78 books last year and I have so many opinions but didn’t write a single review.
6. Eating.
I need to start eating sit-down meals (impossible if I’m alone with both babies but otherwise), eat better, homemade food, and definitely cut back on the sugar. I tried to quit sugar a couple of weeks ago but then got sick, and things didn’t really work out (I really needed that hot milk with honey). I might have to go cold turkey on it as I think I might be a little addicted to it. I crave sweet things constantly and have a very hard time controlling myself, so I end up eating all kinds of sugary stuff that is not good for me. Am I compensating for something emotionally? Probably. Am I just used to eating like crap? Could be. All I know is that after two back-to-back pregnancies with gestational diabetes, I need to either quit sugar altogether or cut way back.
7. Drinking more water.
I actually like drinking water; I just like coffee more. Maybe I need to cut back on my caffeine intake too. Is 2-3 lattes a day too much? Probably too much milk, I guess. I wish green tea hit the same as a cup of coffee.
8. Taking time for myself.
I have a really hard time taking time for myself, even when my husband is available to take care of the girls. I’m a bit of a type A control freak, so I tend to think I need to do everything myself and never ask for help, which is not healthy at all. Also, I don’t know where it comes from, but there’s always some mom guilt that makes me think that I should be the one taking care of the girls. I don’t rationally think that, obviously. The responsibility of childcare belongs to both of us equally, and the girls are as much mine as they are his. Still, I don’t know if it’s the way I was raised or the patriarchy or whatever, but the truth is deep down I feel like I’m failing if I’m not taking care of the kids myself. Any other moms out there who might feel like this?
9. Scheduling therapy sessions.
I’ve been to a few therapists over the years, and I feel like I haven’t found the one. A therapist is like a partner; there needs to be chemistry, trust, and mutual respect. I’ve had really good therapists, but I have yet to find someone who I feel can really help me move forward and work on the right things.
10. Not using the dryer so much.
We live in a country where it’s sunny most days of the year, so we take advantage of that, and most people dry their clothes outside. I’d say the majority of the population doesn’t even own a dryer. We didn’t have one until just before Dalila was born, and now that we do, I feel like I use it too much. Sure, in this season of life, it’s easier to throw a load of laundry in the dryer instead of hanging everything out individually, but it’s not environmentally conscious nor budget-friendly. I’ll keep using the dryer for the girls’ laundry and when it’s raining, but I should really make an effort to use our clothesline for everything else.
11. Grocery budget.
We have a budget, but I haven’t been paying attention to it for the last couple of months. I need to pay more attention because groceries are getting so expensive, and I need to make sure we’re spending our grocery budget wisely.
12. Getting dressed and ready first thing
Lastly, I need to make an effort to get dressed (in sweatpants or leggings and a sweater, not actual going out clothes) as soon as I wake up.
What about you? Is there something you should be working on?
Are there any habits that bother you and that you’d like to change? I’d love to know if we share any.
I’ll be back tomorrow.
Love,
Cheila
Pink for Days 