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Original poster

Week 1 of the 52 small changes challenge - all welcome

423 replies

OddSocksHighHeels · 27/12/2015 01:42

So the aim is to make one small change a week over a year to keep it manageable based on a book called 52 Small Changes. I'll post each week with the new challenge and people can adapt to however it suits them.

Week 1 starting tomorrow (or today I guess as it's now after midnight) is to drink more water.

The book advises this method for working out how much you should drink: take your body weight in pounds and divide by two, that number is the amount of water you should drink in ounces eg you weigh 150lb so you should drink 75oz water per day. I can't quite follow this so I'm sticking with 1.5 litres a day as an aim.

Feel free to add fruit or veg or whatever if you don't like the taste of water by itself. I currently have a jug that I've added some raspberries and mint to waiting for me to drink tomorrow.

I will check in at the end of each day to update on my progress and keep myself accountable. I hope you all find it helpful too!

Here's to a healthier year Wine

OP posts:
minnymoobear · 29/12/2015 22:44

Started out well and had a glass of water at 7am - wd normally have been tea and biccies :0
Didn't drink much more through the day, been to theatre and friends house and had around a litre today - better than a 'normal' day!
Taking a glass up to bed with me
Have ordered an 800ml infuser bottle and will be carrying my bottle with me when it gets here tomorrow! Git lemons and limes to add to it - quite excited!

Original poster
OddSocksHighHeels · 29/12/2015 22:44

Oh yeah get yourself a fancy looking water bottle as a treat Smile I have no life and would genuinely see that as a treat. Much like my new notebook that has the sole purpose of logging these achievements.

No need for anybody to ask to join - everybody is welcome. I promise not to declitter anybody!

And, yep, if the sleep stuff isn't helpful to any of you then you can have a splinter group for week 2 with whatever works for you.

OP posts:
Allgunsblazing · 29/12/2015 22:49

Declitter!!!! Just got that one and now I am laughing with tears!!!

DrDiva · 29/12/2015 22:52

Oh, don't ask your toddler to join in in the sleep one. I did that and the little bugger darling promptly dropped his daytime nap and started waking for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night Shock

I wanted to drink 2l per day but am only managing 1.5. Still, I am happy with that.

vvviola · 29/12/2015 23:16

Calling it a night with 1.5L done. Which is about 1.4L more than usual Grin

GeordieJeannie · 30/12/2015 00:13

Brilliant! This thread will be just what I need. I have felt so thirsty today and already drunk most of a 1.5 litre bottle of water.
Thank you for starting.

Sirona · 30/12/2015 00:44

Genuinely Grin at declittering.

I'll be absolutely useless at the sleep one, as you can probably guess at the posting time. Can't even blame the 3yo as she has really settled down now. So don't lose hope for your non-sleeping toddlers yet Can I cheat and take nytol Grin?

Another 2l done today. Finding it's really cut down my coffee intake which is a good thing and I definitely don't feel as tired and sluggish mid afternoon.

Original poster
OddSocksHighHeels · 30/12/2015 00:45

I'm properly bad at sleep so I'm not going to be the one leading the way on that Grin I'll do my best though.

OP posts:
ICJump · 30/12/2015 06:21

Oh sleep will be interesting as most of next week I'll be in a tent :)
We are making some big changes around sleep in our house at the moment so a weeks focus will
Be great

Ememem84 · 30/12/2015 07:03

Was back at work yesterday. Managed 2l of water from my water bottle. Maybe I need one for home.

Sleep is a struggle for me sometimes. I've been trying to get it on track now for ages. Dh bought me a tracker wristband for my birthday it records how much I sleep and sleep quality. So I can look at stats and work out why I've had a rubbish night

Allgunsblazing · 30/12/2015 07:08

This works!!! First time ever, I made my morning coffee and had a pint of water next to me. Lo and behold, I drunk it!!!

Shirkingfromhome · 30/12/2015 08:47

There's some really good sleep apps you can download (sleepbot being one of them). It works out your bed times and alarms based on the optimum amount of sleep you need.

I've been managing the water mostly and feel better for it. Not sure I'll be up for the declittering one though Shock

Shirkingfromhome · 30/12/2015 08:51

There's also some good tips here on sleep hygiene.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 30/12/2015 08:57

Am I too late?

Story of my life Grin

Will catch up with the thread, am off to find a big bottle!

targaryen · 30/12/2015 09:02

Can I join in too?
Not read all of the thread but was just thinking yesterday I need to drink more water and chose a glass of water instead of Pepsi...go me!

I am a huge water resister so this is a challenge!

CishAndFips · 30/12/2015 10:13

I finally managed 1.5l yesterday I'm really pleased with that. Aiming for the same again today.

Original poster
OddSocksHighHeels · 30/12/2015 10:32

Don't worry about being late to the thread, join in!

I can really recommend cucumber added to water for flavour. Really nice.

OP posts:
GeordieJeannie · 30/12/2015 10:36

Checked the water bottle this morning and it's a 2l one so I drank more than I thought yesterday. However this morning so far all I've had is one small cup of tea.
I love the school holidays as I can sleep late. Normally I'm very bad at going to bed and then sleep and have to get up early for school runs. Then I fade late afternoons, struggle through that and am wide awake again come midnight.

PurpleDaisies · 30/12/2015 11:12

I agree with the cucumber tip oddsocks-cucumber is also rather nice in gin and tonic!

I'm also doing better since buying a big water bottle. Well done to everyone so far.

targaryen · 30/12/2015 12:26

Task for today is to buy a water bottle...or is this just me procrastinating to acid drinking water ?
I bought dd one for Christmas from Primark so may see if she'll let me borrow it!
I was at friends last night and had a few proseccos and having Pepsi now ConfusedConfused

targaryen · 30/12/2015 12:26

Avoid not acid!

BoomChickenSoup · 30/12/2015 12:37

I'm in. I'm pretty good already with water intake but will up it a little and replace tea with herbal teas more often.

I'm looking forward to the future weeks will you carry on with one thread or start a new one each week OddSocksHighHeels?

minnymoobear · 30/12/2015 13:48

On mumsnet with a cup of green tea in my hand :) eurrrgghhh

KanyesVest · 30/12/2015 14:24

Yep, cucumber is great in water even better in gin . i also put a squeeze of lime in my water today and it's going down well, abiut a litre in by now. I'm going to get some mint later when I'm shopping. I think if I freeze it into ice cubes it should keep fresh and I can just chuck it into my jug in the morning!

I have the house all to myself tonight, so I'm not sure if I'll be on water or wine after I drop dh to the pub Xmas Blush

Original poster
OddSocksHighHeels · 30/12/2015 15:22

That sounds like procrastinating to me targaryen

I might start a new thread each week so people can see the individual weeks more easily and then put a link on this thread for the new one when it starts? If that makes any sense to anybody?

OP posts: