It is always a good week when I get to go out dancing with this guy and a family occasion was the perfect excuse to break out this dress I had been saving. Thank you, thredUP, for a dress I’d never be able to justify if purchased retail.
Do you ever look at routines that you have been doing and realize that they aren’t bringing you joy? One of the biggest lessons, learned from a year of counseling, was looking at these routines and asking myself if they made me happy anymore. I tend to go on autopilot and do things because I think they make OTHER PEOPLE happy or I do them because I am a MARTYR (no, no, you guys have fun- I’ll do the dishes after making this meal for you- it’s MY PLEASURE!) or I do them because I like to have TERRIBLE SLEEP (grabs the wine and starts the social media scrolling).
I can give you loads of terrible ways that I had been spending my time and robbing myself of joy, but a few things really stood out to me as things that really are robbing me of something- self-worth, precious time, my mental health, my physical health, etc…
This year is about living with more intention. I can be disciplined with my spending habits, why can’t I treat my own self with the same discipline?
This month’s intention was to get off social media by 6PM and change my martyr routine in the evenings. Instead of scrolling and being bitter about dishes, we abandoned the dishes and took a walk around our neighborhood. After returning, we throw on a good podcast and do the dishes together. It has been such a better way to end the day!
What’s one routine you would like to change in your life? Feel free to comment below!
Here are 3 other things that are making me happy-
21 Day Transformation
My friend, Tammy, owns a barre studio in town (B Present) and asked if I would be interested in giving her 21 Day Transformation program a try. She knew that I had been battling some health issues and wondered if this program might be beneficial for my body.
I will be honest, I am VERY leary of programs like this because they tend to be focused on product and not on real food. I went to school for Food & Nutrition so I know how important eating well is and not relying on pills or shakes to achieve goals.
Lucky for me, this program was EXACTLY the type of program that I would recommend because it centers around clean eating. Not only do they give you a meal plan and grocery list, you also receive a guide to Dining Out and a Grocery Guide that helps navigate the store and pick the cleanest ingredients for your recipes.
ZERO product pushing.
The best part about the program is the accountability group you have with the other participants. Everyone shares pictures of their dishes and you have access to Gina Schade, a coach that can help you through the process.
Barre on Demand is also offered with the program to take online classes to keep your body moving throughout the program.
My goal was not weight loss so I didn’t take measurements and such. My goal was to see if better habits might help my body feel better.
My biggest takeaway from this program is that I don’t nourish myself enough, the importance of movement every single day, and learning to hydrate myself. I didn’t eat breakfast, ate a terrible or nonexistent lunch, never snacked, and then would eat all evening long because I had starved my body all day.
Oh, and I never drank water.
And when I say I NEVER drank water, I filled out a medical form that asked me how many glasses of water I drink daily and my response was…MEH.
With the recipes provided, I figured out great ideas for meals and snacks that are better for my body. I started eating regularly instead of my starvation routine, and I even enjoyed drinking water.
There is so much good that came out of this. I am hopeful it has changed my habits for a long time. If not, I’ll hop back in and get transformed again!
Twice I have had people come up to me this month and say…You look so much healthier or commented on how I have my glow back again. I really think it has a lot to do with this month’s program and how much better I am working on treating this body.
They are opening the program up again on Monday! Read more about it here or check out this video!
Yoga With Adriene
It is hard to juggle working out and working. I love going to the gym, but it has the tendency to eat up half a work day. I read about this YouTube channel, Yoga With Adriene, where you can do free full-length yoga classes from home.
Did someone say FREE?
The classes cater to all levels and even specific issues you might be struggling with. The variety is really incredible and Adriene is a gifted teacher that offers lots of great modifications. The classes are as challenging as you need them to be or can just focus on the basic fundamentals of yoga poses and beginner routines.
I love that the classes also have no music so I can play my own mixes on Spotify while doing the classes.
Between this and CycleCast, I feel really good about my home routines for busy days.
Five Foot Two Documentary
Lady Gaga is one of the most intriguing people to me because she is someone with a lot of layers and depth. Her Super Bowl halftime show was one of the best I have ever seen. She has the ability to surprise you in ways that you least expect it, as a performer, and wanted to share a different side of herself in the Netflix documentary, Five Foot Two.
The reason I wanted to see this though is that she has come forward about her battle with chronic pain. Few people would ever know that this bigger-than-life person is battling excruciating pain every single day. In a rare, raw, and real way, she pulls back the current on what it is like to live with chronic pain.
The documentary is at the height of a very difficult season with a brand new album and the preparations for the Super Bowl happening at the same time. You see the stress and strain of the schedule on her body.
I can’t say that the issue covered made me happy, in fact, I burst into tears while we were watching it. Perhaps, this one hit a little too close to home. I will say what makes me happy is that she is showing you what it is really like to live like this, even in a larger than life world. I hope this opens people up to talk more about these struggles and that it brings empathy to those that suffer.
Catch this one on Netflix!
Reading: I’m really enjoy this book this week. I love that it started out with the mother’s perspectives and the author definitely gives a fresh spin on a tired topic.
Playing: We are looking forward to hosting a family for a game night. This game is always an excellent ice-breaker and perfect for people with short attention spans (raises hand!).
Contemplating: This article and thankful someone has finally figured out what the heck it is to call a woman’s additional work. I hate emotional labor. I can’t wait to talk about this with my husband.
Can’t Wait: I have a movie date today and we are off to see this. Have you seen it? NO SPOILERS, but tell me if it is good!
Bought: This and I’m SO EXCITED!! I’ll let you know my thoughts once I use it!
Laughing: LANGUAGE, yo! This had me in stitches today.
Have a wonderful weekend! xo
*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!