Slow and Steady

I am going to try a new stunt. I am going to try and trick myself into doing all the things I know are good for me. I am going to take a gradual,measured approach in the hope that this will make my new life improvements stick. i read somewhere that you have to do something every day for a month for it to become habit. So I am going to try something new for October. I am going to remember to take my anti-depressant meds as soon as I wake up every day. Because I forget a lot. And that is not good for me or my kids or anyone around me. I am going to make a big, bright sign for next to my bed and leave my pills and a water botlle there. And hopefully after a month it will just be habit and I won't even have to try anymore. Future challenges will include:


I will "Findy Thirty" minutes of physical activity every day- playing with the kids, walking, dancing etc.
I will drink 8 glasses of water every day- I read somewhere that being even 5% dehydrated causes your cognition to fall by over 20%!
I will do 4 pleasures every day.

any other suggestions would be appreciated. If this works I'll be perfect by this time next year!

Quality family time :)

We've just had a lovely (half) day at the miniature tain rides in vasto place, Balcatta.http://www.ndmes.net/about.html

Run by the Northern Suburbs Model Engineering Society on the last Sunday of each month, there is only one rule- everyone must wear fully closed in shoes- even if you don't intend on taking a ride.

It costs $6 entry for everyone over the age of two, and includes unlimited rides for the kids AND adults. You can get a family of 2 adults and up to 4 children in for $24. There are a couple gas bbq's (free to use) in a fenced off kiddie safe area, a big gazebo that can be reserved for parties and plenty of picnic tables on the lawn area. There is a small kiosk selling cans of soft drink, teas and coffees and icypoles for the kids and a clean toilet block.

The model engines are true replicas running on coal powered steam, and take kids, parents, grandparents and others for unlimited rides between the opening hours of 10am til 2pm. Pack the esky with a picnic lunch and a blanket and spend a relaxed, low-cost day with the kids. I took a newspaper and the kids just went round and round and round making the most of the unlimited rides.

This is not a fancy, plastic theme park with perfect gardens and inflated prices and lots of rules. That's what I like about it. Just some model engine enthusiasts opening their gates to the public once a month to share their passion :)

See you there next month!

Monkey Business

So we were playing around today, dancing and imitating animals and stuff and we were doing the Monkey- you know where you put your hands in your armpits and screech and make monkey noises- and Miss 6 (Miss 5 had a birthday) says to me "Maybe that's why monkeys are always giggling! Because they are always tickling themselves!"

Now that's a revelation.

xxx

The Happiness Institute

Hey I just stumbled on this accidentally-looks great!

www.thehappinessinstitute.com

Have a look!

Happy Days.

Just a quick one to say I had a lovely afternoon. Planting seeds and playing totem tennis with the girls.

:D :D :D :D :D :D

The Simple Pleasures Part II

So where was I? Oh Yeah- make your pleasures count! Don't try to 'multi-task' pleasures and don't allow distractions. Coz then they're not pleasures any more.

I used to follow the 4 pleasures a day rule very well with the support of a friend and a handy list on the fridge. Then life got in the way and it dwindled. And then I forgot about it. Now I need it again and I'm trying to remember what was on that list??? A cup of Tea, sure. But the others I can remember aren't really the same for me any more. So, to make a new list! It should be fun, making a list of all the things I love doing, but it's not, it's daunting. And I'm procrastinating because the making of the list means I have to ask myself awkward questions and stuff. Like- "I know! Eating chocolate-I love eating chocolate. I think. Do I? I mean I do it a lot, but do I really get pleasure from it? No, not really, any amount of pleasure I might feel is always overwhelmed by the inevitable guilt. So why do I do it? Habit? I don't know. This is too hard!"

And then I realise I have no real hobbies or interests. I do stuff, like crafts and knitting and netsurfing, but I realy only do it to fill in time. So what makes me happy? Eww, another awkward question. I'm even questioning whether or not I'll post this now, because I feel like a tool! How hard can it be? So my list so far is:

Weeding (no laughing)
Watering the lawn
cup of tea (in peace!)
Bath 'n' book combo
internet

Now I'm no mathmetician, but at 4 a day I'm gonna need more than that. Or I am going to have to start weeding and watering the whole suburbs gardens. Time to look inside myself (Gulp) and ask the hard questions. Tomorrow - I am a procrastinator after all ;)

If you would like to share the little pleasures that help you get through your day, please comment!

The Simple Pleasures

So a couple years ago I was involved in a little self-help, support type group for new mums with depression and/or anxiety issues. We learnt a lot of really useful stuff. Oneof the things we learnt was to take time out for a personal 'pleasure' (not rude!) at least 4 times a day. I know what you're thinking- 4?!?! A day!?!? How am I going to find time for that? I know that's your reaction because that was our (loud) reaction.

So we were calmed down and it was explained that the pleasures needn't be 'big' things and they actully don't necessarily take any more time out of your day. For example, when I was asked, I said one of the things I liked to do was just to have a cup of tea in peace and quiet- I had a 6month old and 21month old at the time. If I did actually find time to make a cup of tea, I usually got distracted and didn't end up drinking it, because the wshing machine stopped or the phone rang or a baby cried. And thn when I found the cold, undrunk? tea I felt even worse - I'm so useless I can't even drink a cup of tea before it goes cold I'm so unorganised!

After a bit of probing it was discovered that get out of bed at 7am every day, put on some washing and do some other stuff before the baby wakes (between 7 and 7:30am). So it was put to me- what if the first thing I do when I get up isn't washing but to enjoy a cup of tea? The washing will still get done and I get one of my pleasures in. And it a nice way to start the day.

Another scenario- I like a cup of coffee,but now I just drink it in between getting the kids ready for school and making lunches etc. So wht if you sat down and enjoyed your coffee first? Then you could savour it and relax and then you would feel happy and refreshed and better able to deal with the morning rush.

Doing the chores during the ads of your favourite show is also a no-no. You come back one minute too late and miss a crucial part. Just give yourself permission to do nothing but enjoy the program for half an hour. Much better.

On that note, my show has just come on, so I will take my own advice and post the est of this thought later : )