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.
I think I start off every one of these 12 Months to a Healthier You posts with some sort of surprise that a new month has begun. I was going to start this post the same way. Time passes by so quicky.
Now that the chagim are over, I want to spend this month taking a step back. I want to stop rushing all the time. I want to have more patience. I want to be thankful for what I have, which ties in perfectly for this month’s challenge.
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
November Goal: Keep a Gratitude Journal
Honestly, I’ve never kept a journal before. This should be interesting. My goal is the write down one thing I’m grateful for each day.
Here’s a free printable for those of you who prefer pen and paper: November Gratitude Journal
For me though, pen and paper just won’t cut it. I figured this would be the perfect thing to do on my way home from work after along day. So, I created a new note in Evernote. All I did was add a title, then I pressed “numbered list”. Everyday, I will just add another item. The great thing about this is that I can update it from anywhere- phone, iPad, or computer.
Past Months In Review
October Goal: Cut Back on Caffeine- well, considering that I don’t usually drink a lot of caffeine, I did pretty well this month! Remember, the tea I got?
Well, I haven’t had any yet. My office is just too hot, but I hope to try making some iced tea pretty soon. I think that will be better for the climate in my office. It will also help me with March’s goal to drink more water. I should just drink more in general.
September Goal: De-clutter Your Home- Well, I’ve been keeping up my paperless kitchen counter. I’ve also begun working on de-cluttering my bathroom counters. More on that to come- once I finish it all.
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- I got some rest over Succos. The kids have been sleeping a bit better in their own beds, but it doesn’t help that I go to sleep too late!
April: Cut Back on Sugar- I plead the 5th on this one. Again.
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 fruit to work with me and have resumed making my roasted veggies.
January: Exercise Regularly- I wish! Does running up and down the stairs count?
I’m going to keep plugging away. I have to work on de-cluttering my bathroom counter. All the toothbrushes, toothpastes, and brushes are getting out of hand! I have a plan in place, just need time to implement it.
Have you ever kept a journal? What do you like about it? What do you write about? (I’m not being nosy, just curious)
Until next time,
Shaindy
