Week 6 of 52 small changes - it's easy!

[OddSocksHighHeels]

After last week being pretty huge for a small change we get a nice easy one this week!

Take a daily multivitamin. That's it

Some of you probably already do so feel free to add your own challenge instead this week. I don't and this is a quick and easy fix for me though I will need to buy some tomorrow.

Last week if you missed it: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2555507-Week-5-of-52-small-changes-a-focus-on-our-mental-health?pg=1&order=

And a reminder of previous weeks: drinking more water, aiming for better sleep, getting activity into each day, keeping a food diary and attempting to be more optimistic.

Everybody is welcome to join at any point and as Bewitched said previously: there is no failure. It's doing the best that you can personally do.

[quirkychick]

Well done, DrDiva I think some changes will be harder than others for different people. Some of these things I have already done before, so it's a case of restarting old habits. New changes are harder.

Sleep good last night, I am averaging 7 1/2hrs now. When we started it was under 6 hrs, due to dd2 and chest infection/coughing. So quite an improvement. I'm finding it hard to go to bed earlier, it just feels wrong. This is a long term goal...

The lots of walking and yoga, are picking up old habits after Christmas, as is drinking plenty, supplements and eating lc/paleo/primal: so much easier to restart. I do need to restart my weights but this week has been a bit frantic: guests, so busy weekend, dd2 unwell, dodgy sleep, today we have a plasterer in, tomorrow should be easier to try to catch up with exercise and Headspace.

The gratitude diary/happy book is just not going to be every day, I think I will fill it in when it is particularly appropriate.

[Sirona]

I don't have any problem going to bed early as I head to bed with the dc but then I faff on the tablet/read for hours. The kids seem to be getting later and later with their bedtime no matter how early I'm starting the bedtime routine, drives me up the wall. I end up sitting later just to catch those few precious hours to myself. As an introvert I desperately feel like I need those hours to myself to recharge.

Everything going ok today - water nearly done, gym class done, food good if I manage to stay away from the Ben and Jerrys later, MV taken.

Positive thinking has taken a hit. Rant alert, peeved off big time, would swear I had PMT only it's not that time. Feel like I'm drowning in housework constantly no matter how much I tidy, ex was hours late picking up dd yesterday (with no apology either which is the main thing that winds me up). Means I have to put off doing my long run until Saturday - takes hours and I wanted Saturday to go out and do other things. Trying to breathe and remind myself these things don't matter in the grand scheme of things but feeling stressed and narky. Will Headspace it tonight and see if that helps.

[Karcheer]

Nearly drank my 1.5, will definitely by the end of the day.
Slept much better last night, going to aim for a bath before bed tonight.
Took all my vitamins, when I've done this before I've tried to space them out over the day and ended up only taking some, have put this on bullet list, so hopefully will remember now!
Activity, walked the dogs, but I always do this, will try and eventually get to the gym, but this isn't going to happen for a bit :/
Count blessing et al, I'm feeling really positive generally having this thread and the bullet list one :)

[Pointlessfan]

I'm doing so badly this week, feel like shite. Even forgot my vitamins today. Will try again tomorrow.

[NightWanderer]

Water: I'm doing better and carrying my water bottle around.

Sleep: I didn't sleep much the day before yesterday but slept great last night. I find getting enough sleep makes such a huge difference in my energy levels for the day

Activity: I have quite an active job but this one I still need to work on.

Diet diary: I don't write it down but I've been more conscious of what I've been eating and sticking to set meal/snack times rather than mindless grazing.

Positivity: Good. I had some good news at work this week which helped

Vitamin: Oops, forgot yesterday but will take today's now.

Thanks so much for these threads. They've given me a lot to think about.

[RattieOfCatan]

Just checking in. I took my 3yo charge on an adventure today to find "greedy mints" for a potion she was making So that got me moving more in the glorious weather this afternoon!
I also actually wrote down everything I ate, depressingly not a single fruit or vegetable got consumed I should have gone shopping a week ago and have been on bare basics for a few days

I've turned my habitica list back on so my little character is losing health from me not doing various bits and pieces, but is also gaining health from my wins for the day!

BBB I had a nice sense of achievement paying by phone for the first time too

[OddSocksHighHeels]

pointless don't beat yourself up about it! If you haven't managed today then don't worry, just do what you can and be kind to yourself.

rattie greedy mints? If it wasn't for you mentioning a 3yo I'd assume you were taking something illegal

I haven't eaten any fruit or veg today either. I have logged my food though and that's all that week was about so I pass

[Sirona]

Tomorrow is a new day pointless. You're not well take it easy.

Everything done for today and feeling much bettertwo bowls of Ben and Jerry's helped. Amazing how reading something over and you think how inconsequential it sounds. Maybe I should start writing a rant diary rather than a gratitude one ? I've put it down to tiredness with dc being sick and the fact I'm beginning to stress with training now my event is only a month away.

Purposely went downstairs once dd went to sleep tonight so I'm away off to bed now and no kindle or tablet shall be turned on.

[quirkychick]

Not so great sleep last night : 6ish hrs (thanks dd2!), but I will try to get stuff done this morning and then nap this afternoon and an early night to try to make up. Will try to include Headspace and Yoga Camp too. Yesterday, I did some body weight exercises, which I haven't done for weeks, yesterday, including pull ups - yikes! Some sore shoulders. I need to start doing weights as well as yoga now.

I did some paperwork and decluttering yesterday, still loads to do but I have made some inroads. Also, I got my laptop working, which I thought I would have to arrange to be fixed, so I think these little steps will help my mental health and sense of accomplishment.

[RattieOfCatan]

oddsocks I was giggling away to myself and making her repeat it, it was quite amusing! She's at an age where she's saying some really funny things, just turned three a few weeks ago!

pointless Just take each day as it comes :) I had a few weeks in Jan where it all went to pot so I'm mainly concentrating on the basics again. Just pick one thing to get you back on track and build up again from that :)

I got an early night last night, well, early for me, and we reset the alarm at 6:30 as neither of us need to be up today

What is headspace? I'm on a site and it says it's a pay monthly thing? Is it worth it?
& yogacamp?

A generic question to everybody: what apps/things do you use to help with habit tracking and keeping on top of things?

I use Habitica for habit tracking and have a fitbit which is still missing which I use for steps but should use for sleep too. I used to use any.do for list making and it's a nice little to-do app but I found that I wasn't using it any more so deleted it.

[RattieOfCatan]

I also use Insight Timer on my phone for meditations at the moment, the paid for one as I bought it a few years ago and then never used it

[DrDiva]

pointless a very wise hcp, when we were sorting out my DS's intolerances and he wasn't eating much, said to me to look at trends over a week rather than stressing about the details of a day. I've used that as a broad application since and it's great! So don't worry about the bad days, remember it's all an upward trend in the end

rattie I love three year olds! Mine is 3.5 and makes me laugh all the time.

As for apps that help tracking, I am still looking so watching with interest. At the moment I just use Notes on my phone - I currently have 82 lists! It kind of works, but what I really want is an app that actually realises what needs doing and writes the lists for me

[Roonerspism]

Just joining in - great idea for a thread!

I'm physically worn out after a year of night feeds and mentally run down. Sleep is still hard to come by!

But I'm taking a multivit!

I do yoga and mindfulness/relaxation is a big part of that. I really really recommend yoga to everyone

[RattieOfCatan]

I'm making up a list of apps/sites/resources, I was doing one for myself and realised that I could put it onto google docs so that anybody could have a look and help me improve it! My only issue is that I'm not sure if people would be able to see my email, does anybody know if that would happen? I can put the list elsewhere if that is the case?

[Sirona]

Hi Rooner I go to the odd yoga class sometimes, love it although the times don't fit in very well for me so don't make it very often.

Good idea but not sure about that Rattie, technology and me don't particularly mix. Took me a minute to work out what 'greedy mints' was Also have a three year, such a character. Love this age although they can be both funny and frustrating in equal measures.

Made it into bed early last night and even though I turned nothing on it was still nearly one by the time I got to sleep. Will persevere and try again tonight. Been for a run, MV done and water going well. Positivity good, the 3yo went to the shops with her granda and arrived home with a bunch of flowers for me as 'she loves me' :) Bless her. Food, well we'll see. Great so far but it's early days yet!

[quirkychick]

Rattie Headspace is a meditation app, it is initially free and if you like it you can subscribe monthly, a few pounds a month iirc. The Yoga Camp is a free You Tube yoga by Yoga with Adriene, there is a thread with it.

I use mfp to track my food/exercise, it links with my Fitbit, which was a Christmas present, which tracks steps, water and sleep.

Today was supposed to be a clear day (for lots of things to do) dd2's school phoned to say they thought she had conjunctivitis and needed drops . 1) she has ds and it gives her gunky eyes with a cold, 2) I had already taken her to the dr on Monday 3) they were actually much better than they had been all week. Cue going to chemists who won't give drops without seeing her, picking her up from school and chemist saying drops not needed and going back to school. Grrrr. I did manage some yoga, lots of steps, lots of washing and a nap to try to make up hideous sleep... I have forgotten supplements, so will do later, also Headspace.

[margaritasbythesea]

I think I may be getting more sleep than I need! I keep waking up at about 4am. I don't need anything andim not dreaming or anxious. I'm still going to bed early because I feel tired. Thoughts anyone?

[DrDiva]

margarita is something external waking you up, something you are hearing subconsciously? Eg the heating going on?

[OddSocksHighHeels]

margaritas do you go back to sleep after you wake up or are you up for the day at 4am?

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Be nice to yourself pointless, just pick up where you left off, when you can

I've been better with water, the same rubbish with activity, good sleep and food.
Lots of positivity after a lot of uncertainty

And I bought a multi-vit.

I have to confess, a lot of what you all talk about is like a foreign language to me

I think it's fab that there are so many helpful tools available.

If I tried to use most of them I would explode with so many reminders and what would feel to me like demands.

Nice to see new people joining thread.

[Sirona]

What time are you going to bed margarita? I find if I go too early, I'll be awake very early. I've always been like that and my mum's the same. Drives me mad as I hate feeling like most of the day should be over by 11am. Or it could indeed be a noise in the background waking you up but not registering. A neighbour starting up their engine to go to work or something?

[Destinysdaughter]

Rattie I think a list of useful resources in one place is a great idea. I'd love to see it!

[RattieOfCatan]

quirky Thanks! :) I'll have a look into both then!

margarita I was also wondering if something was waking you up, or are you active? If you aren't active your body may find staying asleep harder? I tend to wake up more when I'm having a slow week compared to when I'm actually exercising and whatnot.

Here is the list so far, I don't think you can see any of my details but if you can I'm not too fussed! It's not a particularly extensive list and I know I'm missing some big sites but feel free to tell me what I'm missing (with a link if it's not something that'll come up in a quick google search!) and I'll add it. I plan to add to it gradually as I'm sure that things will come up later on that are relevant to particular weeks.

[christinarossetti]

I'm doing okay at the ones that I do anyway (drink water, take multivitamin, positive outlook, being active), but it's the getting more sleep that I find difficult.

I often work in the evenings (at home) and with children staying up later than they used to, I'm often not 'finished' for the day until gone 10pm, then I feel that I need some time to read/watch Netflix/play piano, then don't get into bed until after midnight....

Food diary seems a bit too much like hard work for me, so have sat that week out.

[margaritasbythesea]

Thanks for your replies. I go to bed between 10 and 11 and need to get up by half six. I'm doing the 30 day shred plus physio so am exercising. I can't think of anything external though we do have new neighbours and I can't work out their shifts so it could be that. If it happens tonight I'll try and look. I go back into a lightish sleep. I was going to try going to bed a bit later but am under the covers now and sleeepy!

Thanks for discussion of tools... I don't go much beyond mfp and an alarm clock 😉