Summer of self improvement. Anyone else in?

[OohAThunderstorm]

OK. I know these threads come up fairly often. I haven't seen one for a while but I'm looking for inspiration to make some positive changes to my life and wondered if anyone was up for joining me! For motivation and inspiration.

I'm a teacher and we're entering the last 5 weeks of term which is a slog of report writing, assessments, data, parents evening, end of year productions and tired, hot, emotionally disregulated children 😁😵

I need something to plan for and look forward to!

Mentally, my year runs from September to September rather than January to January and I have the 6 weeks holiday to implement real change. I'm using what little headspace I have over the next 5 weeks to think, plan and prepare!

Every year, I promise myself I'm going to do this and every year I don't!

I'm determined this year will be different!

I'm 48. As of this morning's weekly weigh in, I've lost 19lb. My goal is 22lb at which point, I'll review losing another half stone.

For the past few weeks, I've been diligent about my Saturday morning pedicure - Saturday kitchen, a rosemary and rock salt foot spa, nails clipped and painted. My feet are now ready for anything!

I eat well, don't exercise at all 🙈, drink water. Lots of 'self care' stuff i guess, personal grooming ok but could maybe be better. I need to get better organised in the kitchen - batch cooking in half term holidays for the upcoming half term is a goal I never quite meet!

My biggest thing is that I need to improve my self confidence. I just want to feel a bit more in control of myself and my life and not riddled with the self doubt that has held me back for years.

Anyone fancy joining me? Or sharing things they've done that made all the difference tp them. Thanks.

Placemarking. I have been trying to level up lately. Sounds very old fashioned but trying to improve my posture, grooming and manner. Also how I treat people. I’m a moody bitch and would love to be graceful and kind 😂. Oh and slim too - not overweight but would look better if I lost a stone.

Yes to posture! That's something I became really aware of a few months ago so I've been more mindful of how I stand, walk and carry myself generally.

I'm no longer overweight but at the top end of healthy bmi. I've got a bikini that I bought 10 years ago. I didn't have the confidence to wear it then but now I think I would. It fits me now but I'd look better with a few more lbs off. That's my aim. To wear it this summer.

Good luck with the being kind! 😁

Thank you! I’m trying to be more patient with people but it’s hard 🙄. I’m also higher end bmi but dint want to keep creeping up. It might not be your thing but on YouTube there are lots of femininity videos, amusing and entertaining if nothing else but you can take from them the bits you want.

Me too. I also want to be more knowledgeable about things. I waste hours on internet (mumsnet amongst others), and don’t have hobbies. I want to spend a bit of time each day actually reading a book, or learning to crochet or a language or doing some yoga etc. I don’t really do any of it and am probably a bit peri or a bit depressed but worry years continue to pass me by and I’ll be a shadow of my youth. I find it hard not to just work, sort out dc and then flop. I also have a husband that pulls his weight massively so I don’t have any reason…

I think if you want to work on confidence then you need to focus on internal stuff. All the external changes won't fundamentally alter your self confidence in the long term.

Do you have a hobby? That could be a good thing to start/research/try out over the summer.

Arranging to spend some time with people you have good relationships with who value you for who you are is also a good confidence boost.

That's exactly how I felt about my weight. I was comfortable but not happy and thought its now or never because I've been saying I'll lose the weight for about 3 years now! 🤣 Saying it wasn't making any difference though. Sadly!

I've done yoga on and off over the years. The longest I did it for consistently was 2 years. I don't have the discipline to do it at home and it's always the first thing to go when work ramps up..

It's one of the things I was looking at starting up again over the summer and treating it as protected time. I always feel the benefit from it.

I'm with you with wasting time on the Internet too. Reading is something I should do more of. Definitely.

Me please! I love these posts but never commit!

I already have a good morning and night routine and go to the gym 3/4 times a week but I will:

*Take my vitamins every day
*do 10,000 steps a day

• c25k (I’ve done day one) *Drink 2 litres of water *have a pamper day once a week (face mask, hair mask, finger and toe nails.
• read a chapter of my book each day
• Duolingo every day
• aim to loose 7lb

Yeah, I know you're right. I'm hoping that if I get the external stuff sorted it'll be one less thing to feel crap about though 🤷🏻‍♀️

Like I'm no longer embarrassed when my boyfriend touches my feet! 🤣

I do have a main hobby. It's performance based. We get together one night a week to practice and a couple of weekends a month to perform. I've got a lot more confident doing that. I used to get terrible stage fright but I've got that under control now. I know I've progressed and I constantly strive to be better at it.

I've got a small number of friends. I only keep company with people who have a positive impact on my life (and I hope I do to theirs).

I have confidence in my abilities (generally) and I'm confident in dealing with other people. In individual situations, I am confident. It's more fundamental than that. And, sadly, a lot of it is appearance based.

My morning routine is OKish.

Do you go to the gym in the mornings or evenings? One of colleagues swears by the gym before work. I'm not sure I could do that but I could maybe leave work earlier a couple of times a week and go then rather than coming home and spending an hour on MN with a cup of tea!

A pamper day sounds good. I usually do a face mask when I'm doing my feet - Greek yoghurt, raw honey and turmeric. I should do my fingernails at the same time.

That's the sort of thing I want to do routinely so I'm taking care of myself.

Another thing is getting work done well in advance of deadlines so I'm not pulling late nights the night before!

Buying and actually using a diary would probably help!

Hi. I'd love to join. Teacher 44, 2dc. Counting down until summer and I need to lose weight, take more care of myself- haircuts, paint nails, yoga etc. Eat better as a habit not just a stop and start thing. I definitely stress eat. I need a hobby- swim,jog, yoga for me and to get in that habit so it sticks into the new school year.

Bulk cook and general house organisation too.

I go to the personal trainer before work once a week and do classes after work two to three times a week. I do find before work better and it gives me lots of energy but I’m too lazy to get up at 5:30 more than once a week!

That face mask sounds good! I’ll try it. I like Sisley.

Structured is a good app for organising your time more productively. I had a student who has ADHD who recommended it and it works well for me. Also if (like me) you are into checking things off of lists the ‘done’ app is good.

I'm also a teacher and just got down to my goal weight so now I need to exercise more to keep it off.

I am on holidays in 2 weeks and going abroad so I want to whiten my teeth before I go, I have had the kit since January so I don't know why I haven't done it.

Weekly pedicure sounds like a great idea

I have my nails done every two weeks after work and that really helps me feel more polished.

I started using a 5 step skin care routine about a year ago and my skin glows now.

When I'm at work I easily get my 10k steps in but not on the days when I am home so I need to make sure that happens and drink more water too.

Weekly Pedicure
Daily Walk
Water
Teeth!

@Loafbeginsat60 what’s your skincare routine?

I'd be curious to know what your skin routine is too!

I've been doing the oil cleansing method for a few years now which has been working well.

I had a fitbit type thing a few years ago but I lost it 🙄 I might get another one and see if I'm doing 10k steps a day. I'd imagine so! But it would be good to know.

I'd like to join this, but not focus so much on appearance and weight.
I want to boost my (so low it's underground) self esteem, confidence and productivity.
I might aim to watch a Ted talk twice a week and I'm considering hypnosis.

I'd ypu find any good TED talks - please share!

I don't want to only focus on appearance stuff. For me, it's more about being in control of myself and my life generally.

What is the 5 step programme please?

wherestheheatwave

It’s called Wild Mint - cream cleanser, toner, serum oil and moisturiser

it’s all natural stuff and smells great and what a difference in my skin

Ooo, me too please. I think that literally everything needs a revive but I need to:

get back on my daily house projects/keep the house a bit cleaner
spend a bit of time in the garden each day (soooo much to sort out!)
lose weight/start batch cooking
Make some decisions about my career/plan for changes in the next 12/24 months
get my oldest ready for school
get my youngest better at sleeping on his own!

Of course, this includes getting my husband to pull together to achieve some of this.

I probably won't get further than adding this comment...
But I need to pull myself together!
This all went to shit after I went from part time to full time. I just don't seem to have the time or energy.
I used to batch cook, not a one day a week thing, but I'd make 4x the amount needed so there was always meals to hand. 6/7 days would be a home cooked meal.
Now its takeaways and chicken nuggets.
Which leads to the next problem, top of end of healthy bmi but feel sluggish. Sure half my weight is on my stomach and hips. Could do with losing a stone.
I need to exercise, this should include housework. I do the bare minimum through the week. Then spend the weekend scrubbing. That's not how I want to spend my spare time.

I'm going to follow but focusing more on the reviving hobbies/creative pursuits, reading and learning side. I've not had enough time in the last year and I need to get back into creating.

Oh, I'm soooo joining you!

We're having major renovations at home at the moment and the whole place is chaos. My life is now a chaotic reflection.

I think I need to give my diet and water intake some attention.

And spend less time online.

And reconnect with my DH emotionally.

I haven't worn make up since before covid - I keep wondering whether I should re-start in the hope it will help my self confidence.

I would love to join! Today is day one - run and yoga. Plus restarted on the I am sober app. I'm getting married on 22 July, a teacher and 50 years old. Happy life but oh my goodness the past few years have been exhausting and I am in need of some self care.