Join me in ending the year on an upnote

[newdeer]

If you've had a bit of a bad year, do you fancy joining me in a challenge to end it well?

We have 46 days left.

I want to :
Declutter a bag of unneeded stuff a day
Exercise every day
Self care every day - a bit of pampering in the run up to Christmas
Have five a day and 2 litres of water
Chase up any medical appointments: eyes, teeth, check-ups etc
Cut back on sugar and alcohol until Christmas week

Making plans for next year (holidays, home improvements, new jobs etc also welcome on this thread.

Anyone fancy joining me and posting daily tab of what they are up to?

Today I will:
Declutter the hall and spare room
Have a hill walk in the sunshine
Do my nails
Make a big pot of veggie soup
Have a day off the booze, having been out two nights in a row.

What are you up to?

Today, I will have a walk in the park, after dropping off dd2. I have some paperwork and filing to do. I have a refresher driving lesson and some washing.

I have already started a productivity pack on Headspace and done some yoga. I will try to fit in some weights too.

I made double quantities of shepherd's pie yesterday, with organic lamb, broth and tons of veggies, so that's dinner sorted.

Sounds like a productive and fun day @quirkychick. I'm impressed by your shepherd's pie. I love it when I have cooked in advance (rarely happens.) It makes me feel like I've been given an extra hour in the day and like a competent supermum instead of the usual paddling wildly to keep afloat.

Is Headspace worth joining? A friend did it and liked it. I've always been a bit dubious. (And does the productivity pack work?)

Lovely thread! Today I will make sure I do my physio exercises, go for a walk de clutter one cupboard. I will also reduce my mobile phone 'surfing' time.

Hi @pontiouspilates. (Great name ) Reducing surfing online is a big one for me too. I haven't even thought to tackle it yet but I must.

newdeer, shepherd's pie is quite a faff, I used celeriac and swede mash which is lots of chopping, so I only feel it's worth it if it's for more than 1 days food. Also, dd2 has a late club on a Monday and I'm trying to have something that's ready to go.

I've done Headspace for ages, but I think the starter ones are free. I particularly like the sleep pack to get sleeping on track.

Went for a lovely frosty walk in the hills this morning.
Almost finished a work project I'd stalled on.
Chased some important admin.
Long hot bath and thickening treatment for my hair.

I’ve had a good day today too. I’ve had a haircut and eyebrow shape. I’ve been food shopping and done a fair bit of work for my course. I’ve also sent some emails and WhatsApp messages that were long overdue.

I decided to dress nicely today instead of my oversized jumper dress which really helped my mood.

Hi @PurpleDaisies - glad you've had a good day.

Kickstarted today by doing some admin I'd put off for ages, been to GP and now off to finally choose new carpets - long overdue. Would love ot have them in by Christmas, but new year is fine too.

I've no idea if the productivity pack is working, as I've only just started. But I chose it because it's something I'm focusing on already.

I'm feeling tired today, as it's been a busy week. I managed to get off a big piece of paperwork yesterday. I've done my daily yoga, had a walk around the park, reduced my pile of filing that I'm reorganising and booked some medical appointments for dc's. I'm planning to have a restful afternoon before picking up dd2 from school.

I've been to the GP this morning, done a small amount of important admin, been talked into the ground by two different carpet shops' salesmen and booked an appointment for an estimate. Been to the supermarket too. Am now wiped out. Going to have a rest and then finish off a work project before DC get in at about 5pm.

@quirkychick I admire you keeping going with yoga and park walks.

newdeer, I've been doing daily yoga for about 5yrs. The great thing is if I feel really tired I can always do something gentle. I've found the dark mornings challenging, so I've been doing shorter practices, as that feels more doable. The park is very small, but allows a bit of outside time and peace on mornings where I don't have to rush off.

It's been very cold and dark here today, which doesn't help. Trying to take it easy, as I'm tired now.

We're finally redecorating the living room and hall. They were very shabby and got me down. Looking forward to having a brighter home this Christmas and New Year.

Lovely thread.

I’m somewhat perplexed how people are fitting things in during the week. I’m busted on week nights and always seem to leave an impossible list of to dos for the weekend.

Today I want to declutter something - anything!

I love this idea. Am currently pg- 1st trimester so feeling absolutely awful but will get some ideas to do what I can!

Good thread! Well done to everyone who has already started!

Have had an ok year but have got into a slump, put on all the weight I previously lost and feel meh. Always tired and have no energy.

Told a friend I would rejoin the gym with her tomorrow. Am not looking forward to it but we have come up with a way we can do a few short morning sessions in there a week without too much impact on work.

Need to start taking my spatone again (anaemic all my life) and a general vitamin that I bought ages ago and need to dig out of the cupboard!

And drink more water (and therefore less sugary tea).

That’s it for now, there are many more things I need to do but don’t want to overdo the pressure but need to get started.

I'm in. Will update later. Thanks for starting this thread. Just what I need.

3 bin bags out the door!

I need this too!
Today I am baking Christmas cake.
Also decluttering stuff from any room, tomorrow it all has to go as my boot is full of charity shop donations and the car is being MOT'd Tuesday so needs to be emptied.
Plus I need to get the piles of papers down. They are everywhere!

@SlatternisTrying - we're just spending the weekend decorating. The weekday stuff is more a bit of decluttering and self-care/pampering that is long overdue.

@Teensruletheroost - thank you for reminding me about iron supplements. I'd forgotten to take them for a while. They make a difference.

@Pegase - congratulations. Hope you add lots of self care while you have a bit more time to yourself.

I'm feeling completely overwhelmed with everything I want to do. So I'm going to set myself 2 things to do the following day, then report back. So on Monday I will:

*research blood sugar diet as I need to lose a lot of weight and hope this will kick start

• research retinol, retin A etc with a view to actually having a skin care regime

Good idea for a thread. Thanks OP

Well, I hit my first hurdle and caught a nasty fluey bug on Friday. Luckily, I seem much better now, so slowly increasing my activity levels.

Today has been very gentle stretching yoga
Walking dd2 to school
Trying to eat very nutritious food as my appetite returns
I have a driving lesson later
Stuff to get ready for a family birthday tomorrow
Dd2 has a hospital appt
We have chilli left from yesterday, I just need to add some bits to it for dinner

Today has been a good day. DH away for a long weekend, so once DD2 left for school I've had the whole house to myself. I got to my pilates class, I've baked some cookies and ordered some Christmas presents. Lovely!

5 bags to the charity shop.
Started shopping around for house insurance, to be continued this evening.
Tonight I need to tidy before the cleaners come!

Oh, can I join? I've had an abysmal 5 years to be honest. But although some shit things are still rumbling on, some good things are beginning to happen too.

I could do with:

• Finishing my declutter
• Seeing more of the park
• Taking some more exercise
• Taking more rest
• Doing more things I enjoy

I'd love to say some much-needed house maintenance and decorating would get done but I'm not sure whether to commit.

Plus: applying for a new job I'd really like, that would provide some financial stability for a couple of years.

Well done to everyone for taking the small steps, I am impressed how a thread can get us all motivated.

For me, so far it is going well, I have taken my spatone yesterday and today. Went looking through a cupboard yesterday for my multivits, couldn’t find them but cleared out a whole shelf!

I went and signed back up for the gym today! Sadly plans to go with a friend tomorrow have fallen through so will have to brave it on my own. I also went and bought some healthier snacks and new multivits. Also got loads of work done and a couple of big projects finished off

Drinking more squash and less tea, on my second cup only so far today (would usually be on cup 7 or 8 by now).

Fingers crossed I don’t kill myself in the gym tomorrow morning