New Beginnings and Self Care Habits

posted 1st June 2011    Written by: Laura    CATEGORY: All Posts, Laura, Season 4, Tips & Tools

Today is June 1st. Today is a line in the sand. Today is when I begin to shape what the rest of 2011 will look like. Today is about new beginnings and self-care habits.

Today I make a commitment to myself. For the next 60 days, I’ll be following a new workout program. An over-the-top workout program called Insanity…all because an informercial intercepted my afternoon of couch-lazing and sugar-hazing about four Sundays ago. I never watch infomercials, but I watched this one. Today I open my mind to the possibility that maybe a completely different, hard core, gimmicky workout program is exactly the “cold shower” I need to come to my senses. Maybe, just maybe, this is exactly what I need to kick-start a new body-loving routine.

Today I treat myself to some joy. I sign up for Molly’s Joy Juice prompts and I commit to reflecting for 30 minutes a day. On joy prompt days, I’ll write. If on the other days I don’t feel like writing, I’ll read. I’ll sit, enjoy my coffee and toast, and focus on myself before I start focusing on the clients, emails, and to do lists that await. Today I break free from the habit of waking up my brain before I wake up my soul. Today, I acknowledge that what I really want is for that wake-up process to happen in reverse!

Today I celebrate 11 years with my love, my Hunny. Eleven years ago today, we laid on my bed talking and basically had a “So?” “So?” “Do you wanna?” “Do you wanna?” type conversation. Except, we weren’t talking about sex. We were talking about becoming official. It felt like a big leap for us at the time, but we’ve never looked back. What’s so unique about today is that it’s kind of our last June 1st together. Because after our wedding on November 12, that’ll be our day. Today, we bid farewell to one relationship status and starting counting down to another.

Today, I have a new business plan. After weeks of plotting, wondering and musing, my business partners and I have a plan to take us through the next seven months. We’re more clear on who we are and what we want to achieve than we have been all year. Today, we truly, once and for all, commit to owning it! Our vision for the work we want to do and how we want to do it becomes a non-negotiable. Today, I read that business plan to myself, and mark in my calendar to do the same thing next Wednesday. Because it’s time to live it, breath it and know it, inside and out.

Today, I dive into a new family budget. Today, I start keeping gas receipts and grocery receipts. Today, my pay cheques go into the same bank account that Hunny’s pay cheques go into. Today, I start a monthly debt pay-off plan and a wedding savings plan. Today, Hunny and I start getting a weekly allowance. Today, I remove the mental and emotional barrier of “my money” versus “his money”. Today I leap, with nothing but trust and good faith, that together we can make more progress and more conscious spending decisions.

Today, I commit these things to you. Today, I ask for your support. I so desperately need these things, yet I’m so desperately afraid I won’t be able to stick to them.

Today, I reach out to you like never before, Tribe. Please help by sharing your tips, tricks and advice for how you hold yourself accountable. Because right now, my heart and soul really needs today to stick.

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Comments (18)

18 Responses to “New Beginnings and Self Care Habits”

  • Molly_Mahar Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 8:10 am

    You know I've got your back. Read out as often and as desperately as you need to Big L. But know that YOU have the strength and grace and love of yourself to do this. Love you. Love this.

  • amandafarough Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 8:29 am

    You. Are. Amazing.

  • Juliana Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 8:51 am

    My biggest tip is an Accountability Buddy – find someone on a similar journey, or someone who you trust to kick your butt when you need it (compassionately.) Just someone to call and say "Hey I'm doing my workout now!" and then "Hey I did my workout!" and they'll cheer you on. It's a tiny thing but works wonders.

    And congrats on all these changes!

  • Kelly Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Somehow everything you write ends up speaking to me in some way. I'm totally with you – June 1st is a good time to start fresh. Personally, my friends and I just created a google doc to track our workouts so that, although we live in different parts of the country, we can still hold each other accountable. Committing to these things is the first and biggest step. Good luck! And don't forget we're right here with you!

  • Meredith Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Take each day as its own. Sometimes thinking "I have to do this for 60 days" can be overwhelming. Instead, I think to myself, "what do I want to accomplish today?" Awhile ago I wanted to have a more consistent working out habit, but anytime I thought (habits are formed after doing something for 21 days), I'd always find an excuse. Re-focusing on what I want to get done each day, I got excited at planning things out, looking forward to them and reviewing everything I'd done at the end of the day before going to sleep with a nice sense of accomplishment. It worked two-fold because that sense of accomplishment at the end of the day was equal part motivation for beginning the new day the next morning. You can do it! Find your path and rock it :)

  • Bri - Habbala Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    My birthday is June 7th, so I've ALWAYS used June as a sort of do-over New Year Resolution thing. I love having the mid-way check point. Your goals are incredible and amazing and you're wonderful.

  • Mom Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    Why not try something that worked really well when you were little (it also worked for me, when I was quitting smoking…remember…on your 12th Birthday)
    Go out and buy yourself a bunch of fun stickers. Stickers that will reflect your accomplishments. You Go Girl! Great Job! Well Done! Yay! And lots of Happy Faces! Every time you struggle, and every time you overcome the challenge (because you WILL overcome the challenges) give yourself a sticker. Stick them on your fridge, on your calendar, on your mirror, on your hand :-) They will be constant reminders of how far you have come and what you have accomplished.
    Keep a little journal by your bed, and before you go to sleep every night, jot down what you did that day…you kept a receipt, you exercised, you read your business plan. Don't focus on what you didn't do. Always end your day with a pat on the back.
    And by the way, I am super proud of you! The Family Budget must have been a tough one! But what I love even more is your decision to "wake up your soul before you wake up your brain". That is a tough thing to do but so worth the effort!
    xxoo

  • Caz Says:
    June 1st, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    You can so do this! I missed June 1st but I think the 6th when I start a new job, will be my "start over" bit. The 1st 6 months of 2011 haven't been awesome so I need to make the next 6 amazing.

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:00 am

    Thanks Molly. I hope you're right! Onward and upward! xxoo

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:00 am

    Aww, thanks girl :-)

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:01 am

    You're right, that does help. I do have my business partners and Hunny to check in with on some things, and my cousin and I are thinking of being work out buddies…even though we don't live in the same city.

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:02 am

    The google calendar is a great idea, thanks! And yes, you guys are right here with me, which feels so, so awesome!! xo

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:04 am

    You're right. ONE DAY AT A TIME! Seriously important! I love the end of day reflection, too….starting that tonight!
    Thank you SO MUCH for all of the encouragement!

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:05 am

    Agreed, the mid-way check point is a good one. Especially because we get pretty antsy between spring & summer anyway…or at least I do! And with summer being short where I live, I always feel a bit of added push to pull myself together so I can really enjoy it. Thanks Bri…I think you're wonderful too :)

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:08 am

    Yes, I do LOVE reward stickers! In fact, I already have some. Starting today, i'm going to keep a little notebook and the stickers on my night table, and at the end of every day, jot down what I accomplished and give myself a sticker! One day at a time!

    And thanks – these commitments are definitely big ones, you're right! But I'm feeling really relieved to have made them and hopeful that I'll stick to them! xxoo

  • Big L Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 5:09 am

    A new job is a GREAT opportunity for a new routine and a fresh start, good for you! And I'm right there with you…the first half of the year, not totally stellar, but here's to a more amazing second half!

  • Angela C. Says:
    June 2nd, 2011 at 6:22 am

    It's always motivating to see other motivated! :) I could "hear" your commitment as I read your post and it is incredibly inspiring!

  • Big L Says:
    June 8th, 2011 at 4:51 am

    Thanks Angela! I'm happy to spread the motivation around, for sure ;)

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