As I have mentioned, I spend a considerable amount of time on self improvement. It’s super important to me for a number of reasons and everyone is totally individual as to what works best for them. I wanted to outline the key areas that I feel are so beneficial to focus on as part of the reason behind starting this blog is because the idea of being able to help people even slightly would mean the world!
Do you genuinely not have time (valid sometimes) or are you just choosing to spend your time in other (less helpful) ways? The case with all of these points of getting the best start to your tear is the same – you need to be realistic and honest with yourself because tough self love is so important.
In reality, the hard truth of it is that life is about balance. Being strict with yourself comes in to it a lot more than we like to think. We often make excuses as to how we know what we need to do to improve but X Y Z reasons (often excuses) mean we can’t just yet. This is obviously speaking generally as I’m not talking about the many valid reasons that life can have. Life can be incredibly tough and it isn’t fair at all. I’m talking about people (like me) that can make up a list of reasons as to why I don’t/can’t/won’t exercise – but honestly – I just can’t be arsed. (Lol) I’m actually very good at being honest with myself but that is only half of the battle because you need to 1. Realise the weakness and then 2. Actually overcome it and just cut the sh*t – you will feel so much better for it!
PODCASTS/ READING – LEARNING AND ESCAPING:
I will be writing Podcast & Book recommendations on this blog regularly so watch this space! I think podcasts are perfect as a background TV while you are working, commuting or making dinner etc. In terms of books, they require more focus and can be difficult to squeeze in to your schedule but even the few minutes tv or phone scrolling in bed before you go to sleep, they are an ideal way to wind down. Both books & podcasts – can range from a funnier chatty one or a more serious tone for learning. I try to use both to learn or improve myself but do mix it up every now and then. There are SO many to fit every mood so they’re so worth investing in for a little time out away from stress and hectic life. I feel they are so much more beneficial to your mental health than social media and negative news but also random TV programmes that can end up taking up many hours of your day without even realising.
I have written several blogs on book recommendations. CLICK HERE to visit my Top 5: Self Improvement Books
MUSIC:
Music is life. I absolutely love it. It is one of the best mood boosters in my opinion and so important to me. Similar to podcasts, they are ideal for commuting, background noise or to get you lively for exercise. Putting on some nice music (whether you’d prefer chilled soothing or happy lively vibes) while you’re getting ready to start the day is a great morning boost and just throughout the day in general. Some people aren’t as bothered but I genuinely couldn’t be without my iTunes! – are you team iTunes or Spotify? Either way – You can source mood themed playlists if you’re unsure where to start. Give it a go!
MEAL PLAN – NUTRITION & VITAMINS:
I’ve grouped food + vitamins together with the aim of focusing on wellness benefits as a whole. I enjoy food far too much to cut out the best parts (they are usually the most unhealthy) so that is not my intention or message at all. The main point is to ensure that you are overall consuming more ‘good’ than ‘bad’. I try my best to eat well Monday to Friday and genuinely want to because I know it makes me better overall and I only ever eat meals I enjoy rather than eating ‘boring’ foods just because it’s meant to be healthy. Weekends I am more likely to eat out or have a take away and to honest this is largely an attempt at cost efficiency rather than anything to do with calorie intake – at one point when I realised how much I was spending on regular take aways I was mortified! It adds up very quickly! Imagine 2 take aways a week £25 each = £50 PW = £2,600 a year! mental.
This being said, my week days are not overly strict at all. If I feel bad on a Wednesday and want a Dominos – that’s absolutely what I’m doing. I am no pillar of health and will not sing the same tune that personal trainers will because that isn’t me. My main focus is the balance between health and happiness. You need the ‘bad’ for happiness (chocolate cake, burgers, pizza, alcohol etc I LOVE IT ALL) but you also need to primarily have the ‘good’ because this is not just about weight -it is so much more than that. Your general health and mental wellbeing are influenced heavily by the food we consume. This varies per person as some people are not as bothered on food brightening their day but it genuinely does with me!
CHECK MY INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHT REELS ‘SHOP LINKS’ TO SEE THE SUPPLEMENTS I TAKE & LINKS FOR THEM
FOOD ORGANISATION:
I think this is super important for a number of reasons but primarily – it saves money and it ensures you are eating as healthily as possible as often as your aim is. Poor planning leads to take aways or poorer quality meals/ things you don’t enjoy as much. As I’ve said before, food is SUCH joy to me that I really enjoy planning meals but I appreciate this may not be the case for everyone! If that is you – it is even more important that you plan ahead. Prep meals ahead of the week if that makes life easier (and cheaper) If you enjoy it more and have extra time, pick out meals you will look forward to and plan the ingredients accordingly.
Try to pick several meals where a lot of the ingredients can overlap so you waste less. I like to save tabs on instagram for meal ideas/recipe books and do an online Tesco shop for click and collect. This means I have all the ingredients I need and don’t pick random other items that don’t even go with anything – we know we are all guilty of this from time to time! Even if you aren’t fussed on being super healthy, this just saves a lot of time and money so you can’t go wrong! You can then browse your purchase history and add to your cart so it is much more efficient for time saving as well instead of browsing all the aisles – you just drive up and collect the shopping!
GET A JOURNAL:
This is a good idea if you think you’ll stick to it. This doesn’t naturally come to me and I go in and out of it through phases but I purchased ‘The Diary’ by Steven Bartlett (I’m actually obsessed with him if you haven’t noticed already with how often I mention him)
The concept is amazing! It is essentially a journal and you do weekly tracking of where you are at with your key areas – money, relationships, career and spiritually. I’m only a few weeks in but I’m enjoying it. It doesn’t need to be long winded – if nothing else you could do bullet points of key aspects to the day. Reviewing your day and mood can be helpful and a sense of release to get things off your chest. It could also be nice to read back on special periods of your life.
*LATER EDIT TO BLOG – Another diary I have really enjoyed since finishing the above is by Rain x Bryony –
LISTS – ORGANISE AND SET GOALS
I like to buy a spiral lined notebook so I can make and rip out lists to my hearts content. Again, not everyone is as unhinged as I am but I massively believe a notebook would be handy to anyone! I use notes on my pone as well but sometimes a paper version is just much better.
Types of lists I find helpful:
- – Every outstanding general task e.g. do your accounts / book dentist check up
- – Daily to do list e.g. Take Toby to groomers at 3pm
(These two then slowly merge together depending on the urgency and what you complete each day etc)
- – Specific longer lists: If I have a lot of tasks that fall in to the same area then I would do a list just for those – e.g. if I wrote down the snag list for our house work
- – Gratitude lists: I also make a point of often writing a list in bullet point style on what I feel grateful for. This can get a bit samey and will come naturally to some people more than others. I think it is important to reflect and truly feel it rather than just reeling off a pointless list. The importance is to truly take a moment to realise it. Times can be hard and its tough to ‘feel’ grateful if you’re going through something testing but there are always little things to be thankful for even if it is the sun shining, reading a good book, having your children hug you goodnight etc give it a try and see how to get on!
- – Stress lists: Sometimes if I’m feeling very stressed or overwhelmed then I write out my stresses or what is bothering me. Sometimes it feels like a release simply to write it all down and work out what it is that is actually bothering you. Sometimes you can feel laggy and not fully realise why – this helps. I often do this on my phone notes but if you do it on paper, you can leave a column to the side and write down some sort of comfort.
For example :
Stress: Point A
Then write beside it why it isn’t that bad or will soon be solved etc.
- – Goals/ Affirmations: You could write a list of affirmation statements imagining that you are 1 year ahead of time and you finally have your ‘Wishlist’ – whatever they may be. I don’t want to waffle on too much but have a quick google if you’d like to know more! For example: If you have a dream promotion you are working towards , you would write a statement like ‘I am so proud I’ve finally achieved my promotion as X’ Again, this will appeal to some more than others. I prefer to think these things rather than write them down but I do write goals and aims down towards the back of my notepad. I think it helps reaffirm what I am working towards.
*I don’t do all of these lists every day! Just some that I float between and some ideas for you to see what suits!
HYDRATION:
I’m not really a tea drinker – shocking, I know. I drink water all day, every day so I’m quite lucky that I actually like it BUT even if you don’t its super important! Try spruce it up with ice and fruit to make it more appealing but I aim for 2 litres a day. People often say but but bloody hell, I already go for 127 wees a day with my child bladder (sorry too much information) I have a labelled bottle that has a tracker with the times and I think that is absolutely perfect! It works out to 2 litres a day when filled twice and I love it. Hydratem8 sell these and they have a really cute range of styles.
CLICK HERE to visit Hydratem8 – Enter ‘HOMELYBLOGGER’ at checkout for 10% discount!
SLEEP:
Sleep is SO important. Those with children or conflicting work hours will naturally struggle with this a little more. Try a calming sleep spray or relaxing ‘winding down’ night time routine as much as is possible. I’ll repeat the fact that reading before bed is far better for you than TV or phone scrolling. Apparently going asleep and waking up at the same times is really beneficial so maybe set reminders if you’re likely to lose track of time.
MOVEMENT:
This one is obvious and as I am nowhere near a personal trainer, I won’t preach on this one too much! I merely want to point out that any movement is better than none. You don’t have to go to the gym for an hour every day to let yourself feel accomplished. Going for a walk around the block is a perfect place to start if you don’t have much movement in your current routine. Maybe make a playlist that you’ll enjoy listening to or a Podcast as mentioned earlier – to pass the time better. Buy a take away coffee or take one with you. Hydratem8 also do PERSONALISED (cool hey) thermal cups. I have the pearlescent one with my initials and absolutely love it! Money saver instead of buying a coffee every time we go for a morning dog walk with our Chow Chow and for the winter mornings, it is a life saver. www.hydratem8.com – Enter ‘HOMELYBLOGGER’ at checkout for 10% discount!
MEDITATION:
Everyone raves on about this and I to be honest, I do struggle with it myself. My mind is constantly racing and meditation and clearing my thoughts does not come naturally to me at all. I think that probably means that I should make even more of an effort with it! Sometimes I focus on a deep breath in through my nose and out through my mouth, repeating this and counting slowly. This is to regulate my breathing whilst ensuring I am not thinking about anything stressful or overwhelming. If my mind wanders and I start of thinking of something, I simply bring it back to counting numbers. There are many meditation apps or videos on Youtube so you can access some free materials and give it a go before paying for any memberships etc. It is super important to be able to control your mind rather than letting any emotions take control of you. It’s actually extremely difficult but something everyone should take the time to work on because it could be so amazingly beneficial, especially if you are prone to feeling anxious/overwhelmed/stressed etc.
TALKING:
This totally depends on the person but just make sure you are talking – to someone! People close to you or a therapist as a total stranger. Deep conversations and your concerns, worries or fears can be a real weight lifter for your mental health. I have always been a serious advocate of going to therapy and just talking things out. I often hear people say – I don’t know what I’d talk about. I think it is beneficial to have a third party person to vent to and it doesn’t have to be a huge dark issue in your life, for it to be helpful. Additionally, if you have a partner/family members/friends that you feel comfortable with and have them as a great support system then – amazing! Definitely count them on your gratitude list!
I have given a bit of an information overload here and I would say the main aim is to start small and try not to set goals that are overwhelming. The more the ‘new routine’ differs to your usual, the less likely you will be to stick to it. Start off with gradual changes, pick out a few of these that sound most appealing to you and see how you get on. Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t stick to it and just get on with a new day. Feeling guilt over it will get you nowhere and you just need to give yourself a break.
Being kind to yourself is one of the most important aspects of self care and self improvement. It is rather cringe to say and you’ll have heard it before but genuinely – if you wouldn’t speak to a friend in the way that you speak to yourself, why do you think it’s ok? Or helpful?
We all make mistakes and no one is perfect. Everyone is on their own journey and life can often be unpredictable so I know that everything I have said here is not always possible. I hope it doesn’t sound patronising or overwhelming and instead, has simply give some handy tips and ideas for how to try to get yourself feeling the best that you possibly can.