Anyone want to join me for a February reset?

[prettygirlincrimsonrose]

Been struggling a bit the last few weeks - tired (nearly 8 months pregnant so understandable but not helped by staying awake on my phone when it would be sensible to get more sleep) and generally being a bit lazy with everything (including work and doing interesting things with DS) but not really enjoying my free time either (spending too much of it getting over invested in arguments on AIBU or playing the same game on my phone and not even properly watching TV programmes I've put on). Basically could do with being physically and mentally healthier and being in a better place for when DD arrives in March.

New month seemed like a reasonable time to start, but I'm not sure about realistic goals. I know there's no point trying to change everything and a couple of good habits would be a start. But tempted to try and do loads of things differently. Anyone want to join me, make a plan and keep each other company?

@prettygirlincrimsonrose I think getting a Kindle is a good idea! I think DH has one somewhere so I might dig it out now to get myself used to it. Definitely makes me feel less rubbish about my reading inertia at the moment - it's like my concentration is completely shot. I love the batch cooking and audio book idea though. I've got a load of veg there that I've been putting off cooking up, so I might do that this afternoon!

I know what you mean about it all suddenly feeling real - it's definitely hit me over the last week or so. I'm really excited but also quite nervous, probably because it's all happening in lockdown so I've got more time to worry about what ifs. I'm having a homebirth and spent last night frantically googling what would happen with that if I go overdue. I'm not usually a worrier, so DH is confused by my sudden personality change! 😂 How are you feeling about it?

Which bedside cot did you buy? We got the Shnuggle, and it seems so much bigger than I imagined! There's a huge oak dresser on my side of the bed, so that's the next job to do here too.

Well done on managing a night sans phone. It's hard isn't it? It's such an easy go to when you're getting ready to drift off, and then suddenly it's an hour later. It sounds so silly but warm milk with honey has been helping me get sleepy late on. Herbal tea is great but it feels like a day time drink, so wasn't working!

When my daughter was a baby a bedside cot was the best thing we got, made the second night feed bearable. She's 13 now! I also read a lot when she was newborn, I used the kindle app on my phone. She was mostly attached to my boobs in the first few months, there was a dip in our sofa by the time I went back to work where I'd been mostly sat feeding her!

I got my essay in, I think it's a pass, not my best ever writing but it's in and might just scrape a merit score. Definitely questioning why I'm doing this. I did get up and take my meds and that made such a difference. I've now run out and so need to go to the chemist, which I've been putting off because it's such a palava. I've celebrated with wine tonight so tomorrow might not be terribly productive.

Today was a big day for me! I started my adhd meds. Struggled as they wore off (the same thing happened with the other type) but hopefully soon I’ll start noticing signs of better focus etc. I’m trying not to expect much of myself anyway, lockdown atm is just so hard, my eldest (autistic) is getting obsessed with particular topics and wants big discussions all the time and we’ve had to set some boundaries on her and DS’ phone use and ours because we just all retreat to our screens all the time. DD1 was pretty upset at first but she does understand why we need to do this and once they’d come off the phones we had some nice chilled time before they went up to bed. Still not asleep but still more relaxed and chatty than normal.

I have managed to keep up the drawing and the housework challenge for all 7 days so far. Chuffed with that.

Good luck with your meds @SingToTheSky I've got mind down me today but am now out so need to get to the chemist.

Somehow despite getting up at a reasonable time I'm only now eating breakfast. Think I need to start prepping before bed, I'm so unproductive in the evening. Again some alcohol free evenings might help there.

@FolkyFoxFace Last time we borrowed a handmade cot from a friend - screwed onto our bed and kept DS at the same level as our mattress, so once I'd got the hang of feeding on my side I could stay half asleep! This time it's on loan to someone else, so my parents have offered to treat us to something - looking at a Chicco Next2me. Need to do more rearranging (swapping round of bookshelves etc) but it's nice having more space to move around our bedroom.

Feeling okay, mainly worrying about DS - arrangements for labour, how he'll cope with it all etc. I think the combination of uncertainty about when/how quickly things will happen, and COVID restrictions/limited options for help are making it more stressful in some ways - in terms of the birth I know DD will come out somehow so while I'm not necessarily looking forward to labour, I've got a sort of, 'what will be, will be' attitude to the whole thing.

@wonderstuff well done for getting your essay in, and celebrating sounds completely reasonable. Are you giving yourself a bit of a chance to relax today?

@SingToTheSky congratulations on drawing and housework, that's brilliant. And good luck with the ADHD meds, hope they make a difference.

Don't feel like I'm doing particularly well so far. Stayed up getting some work done and tired and distracted today.

Had a fairly chilled morning, but had an extension for the essay and the next module has started so need to catch up, so difficult with the kids home. Also need to prep for work tomorrow, I teach 3 days a week. Probably should get off MN!

Exciting times @prettygirlincrimsonrose a baby in the house is so lovely. How old is your ds? Dd was two and a half when ds arrived and totally fascinated with him, had to keep him in a sling while I was doing things because if I took my eyes off him she tried to pick him up by his head! All my other friends reported that their pfb ignored #2 completely! Dd was high maintenance baby but very laid back and independent now.

Thank you both, hope you get your meds today wonder or will it mean a day or two without? My psychiatrist takes so bloody long writing scripts (and getting them right... last time I had to get it redone so many times!) I’ll have to order the next month’s worth in about a fortnight 🙄

Trying to remember to drink lots of water today. Lost just over a pound which is good but I’m not too excited as I’m still heavier than at the start of the year. Too cold to go out - I love the idea of a snowy walk but the joint pain just isn’t worth it generally, I could possibly manage a bit later if I don’t stop (standing around in the cold seems to have a worse effect than walking if that makes sense... I need to experiment a bit and have a hot bath when I get in).

Feeling a bit less anxious today but still very unmotivated

Hello, posting under a new username as realised my old name was too outing.

Seems we’re all up and down at the moment. Great that we’re hanging on though.

The vitamins are becoming a habit. I signed up to an app called Due and it has so many beeps and alarms it’s impossible to forget to take them, so that’s great. If they do nothing more than help me kill the peri menopause insomnia - which they seem to be doing - I’m sticking with them. I keep forgetting to add flossing to my task list though, so must do that when I come off here. I have a dental appointment in 6 weeks and am terrified a year of neglect is going to catch up with me.

The kitchen table and kitchen island have been kept clear, but everything else in the house is a nightmare as ever.

I feel low and overwhelmed despite all the extra sleep, though. DD is an only child and definitely struggling now - her behaviour has really deteriorated and she’s very disengaged with the homeschool zooms. Supporting her and working only intermittently and therefore badly means I’m on a constant negative feedback loop.

In other news, I cut off six inches of my hair with pinking shears and it doesn’t look too bad. Thank heavens for curly hair.

Well done on the clear surfaces, impressive hair cut too. Mine couldn't be straighter, I look a complete mess.
I had a couple of hours free today, but rather than head to the chemist I dicked about and got nothing done. Then cheered myself up this evening with a few glasses of rosé, so tomorrow is unlikely to be productive either.
It's always a faff, they can never find my drugs, because they're kept in the safe, no idea why they're clearly far less addictive than wine!
I can stand in front of 200 teens and demand they do as I ask, but worry about feeling a but awkward at the chemist! What a twat.

Just joined the kindle unlimited to try and do some more reading, less news / media. I need to try and tackle my emotional eating / binge eating and drinking now. Small steps, maybe can save money at the same time. Some of my habits have got worse during the last year and have out on two stone. But instead of beating myself up over it, going to stop weighing and just try and eat healthy. No dieting. And walk more.

@Orangeblossom1977 I got myself back into reading a few years ago. I started with re-reading favourite novels of my childhood and early adulthood - for me, lots of Agatha Christie and Jilly Cooper - just to ease myself back into the habit. Then progressing to reading biographies and gentle non-fiction like Bill Bryson. Now I’m back reading the dense history books and epic novels I’d pretty much abandoned as soon as Instagram launched .

Hugs on the eating issues. I have friends who have lived with this, and I know how hard it can be. Be gentle with your expectations of yourself.

@wonderstuff I know it’s not the same but I think Dry January worked for me because it’s not about reduction but total exclusion. Once I have an open bottle I finish the bottle, and I’m not even a big drinker. If you’re struggling, I wonder if you could stop buying 75cl bottles and start buying those mini bottles of 37cl or even smaller? It’s expensive but good portion control and you could use it as a chance to try out fancier wines?

I started posting on this thread having not washed my hair for a week, and I can report having six inches less hair is considerably less onerous a responsibility. Washed in the shower, air-dried, looking human again. This must be how normals live . Now I can’t really just tie it back and forget it, hopefully I’ll take better care of it.

How are you all doing?

Today, DH took DD to the park for their daily exercise, and as it was freezing the park was deserted so they stayed there all afternoon. I should have done some more work on the house, but instead I just enjoyed a day off. Bliss!

Very conscious I still haven’t started exercising though. Stepping onto the scales confirmed what my bulging bra and uncomfortable jeans already suggested - I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been, except when pregnant and post partum. So what did I do? Ate the last of the banana bread because I couldn’t be bothered to cook just for myself.

Dh picked up my meds this morning so that will help my week. I did some reading and sorted my study out. Not a bad day.

I went out for a decent walk yesterday and did a bit of housework today, so some exercise, but probably not enough. I've had a couple of reasonable nights sleep. Wish I knew what helped with that, seems random.

I have also got a date for the week after next for some minor gyne surgery, been waiting about 18 months, tried to do it under local and that was a disaster, so I'm really glad that's finally getting sorted and maybe that will help me feel a bit better too.

@wonderstuff You poor thing, it sounds like you’ve really had a time of it recently on the medical front. Hopefully things will be back on track soon.

We’re more than halfway through the February reset today! How is it going for everyone?

It may only be a placebo effect but I really think the additional vitamins are doing what they should, as I am definitely sleeping better and my moods are steadier. In the last couple of days my cheeks seem a bit rosier. I’m taking Vitamin B Complex, D3, K2, magnesium and iron.

Unfortunately my exercise levels are still non-existent. In the last two weeks I exercised just twice and my eating habits still aren’t great, although I have done a few 16:8 days. Food has become a form of entertainment in our house, which has been good for the spirits but not the waistline.

My house remains a shit pit of clutter and I’m beginning to think it’s only going to be back on track when DD returns to school.

The only time I've ever exercised consistently has been when I've been training with friends for an event, we did a couple of long walks, a 26 mile and a 52 mile walk. I wonder if I'll ever be able to self motivate myself to regularly exercise. I got to week 4 on couch to 5k once. I need to do something, but I don't know how at the moment.

How we all doing today? I've moved my meds to my bedroom and actually took them this morning. I've done a tiny bit of housework and mostly dicked about on my phone this morning, but I'm up and in my study now with good intentions.

I think I will look at cans of wine rather than bottles for the next couple of weeks, an open bottle is no good because I don't want to waste it and so a smaller amount available is probably the way to go. I've always thought them expensive, but in the long run cutting back a bit could be invaluable.

MiL funeral yesterday, she was a bit of a bitch and had had dementia for years, so a bit of an odd one. Dh family are mostly lovely though and was so nice to see people! Outdoor service and there were about a dozen of us. Sun even came out.

Going to work until lunch and then force myself to do housework today, windows need cleaning and I always feel better when I've done that.

I’m so sorry about your bereavement @wonderstuff. I understand the mixed feelings but it’s still a huge shock, especially for your DH.

I am in awe of your fitness challenges, even if they’ve lapsed for now. I’ve never been fit, and now in peri menopause it’s really catching up with me - both in weight gain and reduction in movement. I have an endocrine disorder and yet enough that isn’t enough to motivate me. I think lockdown is casting a psychological long shadow over many mentally strong people, and we’re just not used to coping with relentless negativity.

So a focus only on the positive for me: I’m still sleeping so soundly. I’ve halved my caffeine consumption. I’ve kept my two big kitchen surfaces clear of clutter. I’ve made a decision for my hallway floor after over a year of procrastination, and am inching closer to choosing a paint colour for the walls.

Great work @Unfucked! Sleeping well is fantastic.

I dragged the kids for a walk around the village, was lovely with the sun out.

Still haven't done those darn windows and I'm on this bloody phone too much.

I am taking my tablets and vitamins though.

I think those couple of years were the fittest I've ever been, I was in my late 30s. I wish I could motivate myself to keep it up.

Wow, hard to believe we’re now 3/4 through February.

I’m so glad I did this February reset, although I think @wonderstuff and I are the last two standing.

I’m still dry from Dry January.

Still sticking to the vitamins and they do seem to be helping - I feel more cheerful in the day and I am sleeping so much better at night.

Still doing really well on the caffeine reduction front.

Making progress on the laundry and clutter front, although this is still a two steps forward one step back daily frustration.

I am cross with myself for the lack of exercise though - not helped by driving DD to the park when we really ought to have walked. She deserves a better role model.

Sounds like you're smashing it @Unfucked. Well done.
I think I've slightly reduced my phone use, but I'm not doing great, might have to start again in March with less going on. I've got a minor op on Wednesday and I've got to strictly isolate until then. I've totally lost my focus, I'm supposed to rest Thursday and Friday. I haven't taken meds for two days because I've been getting up late. I'm just overwhelmed. Dh is being amazing, considering he's just lost his mum, we're keeping the house ticking over, but not doing enough to get the kids out the house or focus on them.

I'm going for getting through next week and I'll try again after that. Exercise, a couple of weeks of the booze, try to reset a bit.

Come spring, when this whole nightmare starts to end I'm definitely going to get fit. I feel I'm wishing life away a bit, but for the moment I think that's okay.

Xx

@Wonderstuff I’ve never been a “smashing it” sort of person at any time of my life unfortunately, and I certainly don’t think I’m managing it now . So lovely having that encouragement from you though, so thank you.

I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow - hopefully it will all go your way this time, and there will be better days ahead.

You've set some goals, that aren't particularly easy, and consistently achieved them. You should be proud of yourself.

OP went well. I'm refusing to get out of bed today. Hospital advice is that I shouldn't work or be in charge of children for 48 hours, so I'm feeling no guilt at ignoring my kids and not looking at work emails. After a bit of a shouty morning everyone seems to be getting on with it downstairs. Feel okay but a bit washed out.

Just checking to see if you were posting after your op, and you are! Such good news that all went well, @wonderstuff. Now you’re on the up! Take it really easy, zero guilt, so you repair faster.

Thanks. Dh crawling the walls, can he go for a walk with his mate, well yeah but i can't be in charge of the kids, so.. apparently I said it would be fine yesterday. Well today I feel crap so.. he's normally quite good at doing his bit. I read that women do worse than men after surgery because they continue to do domestic chores. I am not going to be one of those statistics!

This is all normal as far as I know. When you leave hospital there’s a natural high - you’re alive and well and you’re home! Then the reality of a slow and frustrating recovery hits a few days later, as all the anaesthetic and pain relief leaves your system. Tell DH it’s going to be shitty for a while and milk it for as long as you can .

good advice!