12 Months to a Healthier You is a monthly challenge I’ve decided to take on. By taking on small challenges every month I’m hoping to make lifelong changes in the way I live.

Another month is here!  Just yesterday I was looking at the calendar thinking that at least I have one more day in September.  I was wrong.  I thought it was Monday.  You can imagine how surprised I was this morning when I saw it was October already!

As a reminder, here are this year’s focus areas:

12 Months to a Healthier You

Focus Areas for 2014

January: Exercise Regularly
February: Eat More Fresh Fruits & Veggies
March: Drink More Water
April: Cut Back on Sugar
May: Get More Rest
June: Create a Morning Routine
July: Read More
August: Go to Bed Earlier
September: De-clutter Your Home
October: Cut Back on Caffeine
November: Keep a Gratitude Journal
December: Simplify & Say No

October Goal: Cut Back on Caffeine

Finally!  A challenge I can do!  I’m not really much of a coffee drinker and tend to only drink soda on the weekends, so I’m considering this challenge already completed!

DH on the other hand is a huge coffee drinker.  Even though DH isn’t officially part of this challenge, his grandfather wanted to help us out this month and sent us a huge box of tea.

I cannot wait for the weather to get a bit cooler so I can try out all the flavors.  I feel like I need to throw a tea party!  I plan on taking some to work too- each bag came with its own canister.  My office tends to be really warm, so I have to wait for the weather to change before I make hot beverages.

Thank you “Big” Grandpa!

Past Months In Review

September Goal: De-clutter Your Home- I didn’t get much done in terms of de-cluttering… does laundry count?  How about looking at piles and wishing they were gone?  One thing I did finally do is put together a post on how I keep my kitchen counter paperless.   Stay tuned!

August: Go to Bed Earlier-  did not happen.  Insert frowny face here.  I must try again this month.

July: Read More– no books… only my weekly Binah magazine.

June: Create a Morning Routine– Mornings have been going fairly well.  We don’t always leave the house as early as I would like, but so far, I haven’t missed the train!

May: Get More Rest- Lately each of my kids has been waking up in the middle of the night.  I hope to get some rest over Succos.

April: Cut Back on Sugar- I plead the 5th on this one.

March: Drink More Water- Still no water bottle, but paper cups are doing the job.  Just have to make sure to fill them up more often.

February: Eat More Fresh Fruits & Veggies- I’ve been taking 2 fruits to work with me every day.

January: Exercise Regularly- I wish!  Does running up and down the stairs count?

I’m going to keep plugging away.  I will have some time off during Succos, so I hope to work on some of these challenges when I have a bit more free time!

Do you rely on caffeine to keep you going each day?  Do you try to cut down in preparation for Yom Kippur?

Until next time,
Shaindy