Transforming my life: you tell me what to do, and I'll do it

[spotcheck]

So, it's my birthday next week, and it's got me thinking. My life isn't where I want it to be. I've become a bit too fat, a bit too unhealthy, a bit too reclusive.
I want to challenge myself to creating some really positive habits, but beyond 'going to the gym' and 'eat less crap' I've drawn a blank. I don't really drink, don't smoke...
So- anyone want to give me some ideas to incorporate into a healthy year?

2L water a day
10k steps a day.
Add one hobby a week that takes you out your house. Doesn't matter if its rock climbing, life drawing, putting, community gardening, whatever. Try a few till one is for you and keep it.
If you are financially comfortable, choose a charity to donate to regularly.

I'd agree about adding some beginners yoga into your life - I like the 15/20 minute morning/wake up sessions with either Adrienne or Cassandra (both on YouTube). I did a whole month of walking anywhere less than a mile & cycling for trips less than 5 miles. It was tricky/annoying not to be able to hop in the cars some days but it was a great kick start to my overall fitness and I regularly cycle to town or walk to the shops - you have to learn to enjoy the journey and the time it gives you rather than resent than how long it takes.

All sounds good, but how about doing a wine tasting course, so the drinks you do have are fabulous and give you a balance to all the super healthy stuff. You do need to enjoy life as well.
I think the suggestions on this thread are lovely and enjoyable too, I think it's well balanced that way!!

Intermittent fasting
Eat your 5 portions of fruit and veg a day
Drink lots of water
Take vitamin d (and iron if you need it)
Go for regular walks in nature
Have one day out a month
Do one charitable thing a month
Read Books

Thank you everyone- this has made me very excited. There's a great combination of big changes and little changes.
Meditation- I used to do it all the time, but then stopped, so that is coming back.
I'm not well off, but I'm thinking of donating my time/ skills to certain groups of people.

I love the idea of face and hand cream every night.
And, I'm definitely going to create a board ( 💖 Pinterest).
Get a life coach. Changed my life
@Wisforwater do you mind if I asked how? Very interested!

5 a day
No snacking
Pilates
No alcohol
I’m trying to do these too

@spotcheck . Although I’d not given up work when DC came along it had definitely taken a back seat along with the rest of my life….I existed to keep the rest of the house ticking over. I took on too much, I wasn’t good at saying no and my needs didn’t even get into the to do list. Firstly my life coach taught me that it’s ok to say ‘no’ and the first time I did it was so empowering. I learned that I didn’t even have to give a reason! She also taught me how to prioritise……like really prioritise so there is time for me in the day or the week. I now regularly exercise, have changed how I eat, have lost 8kg and I don’t feel lost in a haze. I don’t think anything she suggested was rocket science, but I was just too knackered to be able to organise my own thoughts and life and she gave me those tools. I have a couple of other friends who have used life coaches and would say the same. It’s about identifying areas you want to change and actually making the change happen. I’ve started getting up much earlier also (and going to bed earlier) so I have some first thing head space (before the rest of the house gets up) which really helps the day go more smoothly . I feel amazing most of the time and I’m definitely a better mum and partner. My DH loves the new me, even though the saying ‘no’ and creating ‘me’ boundaries means that he’s been forced to step up (which he needed to anyway). It’s been the best thing I’ve ever done.

@Imtoooldforallthis

All sounds good, but how about doing a wine tasting course, so the drinks you do have are fabulous and give you a balance to all the super healthy stuff. You do need to enjoy life as well.

There are plenty of suggestions on this thread that are enjoyable. You can still have fun without drinking, maybe she doesn’t like the taste or has a personal reason for not drinking. Plenty of people enjoy life without alcohol.

OP I second the book The Happiness Project. I worked through this a few years ago and it was a lovely way to improve all aspects of my life

Thank you @Wisforwater
That's given me some food for thought..what you said about prioritising areas of your life which need changing has really resonated. I've gradually become unhealthy and my life has become small. I don't like what my life has become, so I want to change it.

I'm definitely going to buy myself the Happiness Project
Thanks all ,☺️

Another one for yoga and meditation. If you slow down your breathing and your thoughts you become more reflective and less reactive. Walking in nature is a form of meditation.

Must admit I really didn't rate The Happiness Project.

Little routines: face cream, handcream, nail oil morning and night. I've been really diligent about this for a couple of weeks and now I look forward to it.

Walks - just getting out of the house can serve as a tonic. Even better for me if it involves trees, water and a nice coffee somewhere.

Upgrading every day things: a nice pen for mundane things like shopping lists. Good tea and coffee. Lovely crockery and cutlery. It sounds nuts but even something simple like an omelette or mushrooms on toast seems better!

I really struggled with a gratitude journal. It felt like another pressure, rather than a pleasure. But I do try to say something nice to others every day, in person or by text/email.

I think a dog would add to my happiness levels, but I can't convince dp!

Ten minutes of yoga every day
No phone past 8pm
Read
Walk around the block before work (if you WFH)
Face oil - I've got a lovely Neom one
Turn off the TV one night a week and read/listen to the radio. We listen to Liza Tarbuck and the Johnny Walker rock show on a Saturday night

Hopefully you're not going to do absolutely everything listed on this thread...

I should heed my own advice and put the mobile phone down more!

@Hen2018

Hopefully you're not going to do absolutely everything listed on this thread...

Hehehe! Maybe not, but I'm going to implement some 'regular' changes, and then some 'guest' changes. I bought a special notebook and everything 😂

learn to tap dance.
it's so much fun

Can anyone recommend a yoga that isn’t smug? I cannot bear Adrienne.

This was me around 5 years ago! Stayed at home too much, no real hobbies, overweight. It took a health scare to change my outlook and I made a list of things that I personally found scary or intimidating but I thought would be fun if I gave them a go, and decided to work through it. It's a massive list and took me weeks to come up with! But here's what I've done so far:

0-5k
Joined a running club
Ran a marathon
Solo long distance hike over a week
Hot air ballooning
Indoor climbing
Ice skating
Visited a different National Trust property every month for a year
Local city tours
Clay shooting lessons

Next year I'm trying aerial classes, zip lining and a sky dive.

My rule was that everything in my list had to be enjoyable. If I didn't enjoy it then I wouldn't carry on with it. I tried things like yoga and spinning classes but I hated them so I stopped. This was all about finding joy and enrichment and not doing things just because they're "healthy".

Get more sleep. Everything is easier when you get enough sleep, so I’d put that at the top of your list!

@aSinisterPlot
That sounds like where I'm at. I've found myself in an awful slump. I've let go of so many of my friends, I'm a bit too flumpy , grumpy, and unhealthy, boring....
And @Crazzzycat I agree about the sleep!

@WakeUpLockie try Sarah Beth yoga on YouTube. She’s got an app which is paid (and really good) but there is plenty of free content on YouTube.

Go through your wardrobe. If you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months then either sell it, donate it or put it in the recycling bin.

@Sn0tnose

Go through your wardrobe. If you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months then either sell it, donate it or put it in the recycling bin.

Ooh, I've started doing this in my whole house. It's not in a state, but needs some minimising!

Also, please come back in a month or two, tell us which things you tried, which things you liked, which things you didn't. Which things you'd recommend to the rest of us :)

All the best

@LemonDrizzles

Also, please come back in a month or two, tell us which things you tried, which things you liked, which things you didn't. Which things you'd recommend to the rest of us :)

All the best

Thank you!! ( A bit of accountability too... probably do me good!)