Looking up!

Today was my first nicotine free day!  No patches!

It really does feel fantastic to not be smoking, so much more space in my head for actual thoughts instead of cravings!  I'm not having much trouble getting back into excerising either, at least when it comes to cardio..  The aches and pains in my muscles are another matter!

Yes, that's right, I'm exercising again!

Still no caffeine, except the odd mouthful of coke or Pepsi, which is never as nice as you think it's going to be!  I'm still having two or three Caros each day, even though it's getting ripper hot!

I've made a concerted effort to stick to actual food, at meal times, in reasonable portion sizes which is already having an effect on the scales.  I am finally under 55kg - I've been dancing around above it for a couple of weeks now.

I've also got over the 'hump' in my uni work, with a result finally coming through!  I'm so stocked!  Being super busy makes reducing calories a lot easier as well!  Over 12000 steps from work!  So I'm ditching the gym tonight!

I don't want to wear myself out!

Composting

 

 

So before I start producing my own food, I need good soil.  The best way to get good soil, add compost!

 

I'd love to try hot composting but I don't have enough space, so I've gone with the usual compost bin.  

At $40, it's cheap and easy!  By the time I get usable compost, I'll probably have my block of land, but at least it will be well practised in the art of composting...

 

And be building some muscle trying to turn it!

 

I've also got out my old Bokashi bucket and bought a huge bag of Bokashi to keep it going.  I'm thinking I can get two to rotate so I can leave each one for a couple of weeks to degrade before throwing it into the big compost bin!

I've been surprised with just how much vegetable waste we have - mostly throwing out leftovers, but also stuff that never got used.  At least now it can get back into our little ecosystem!

In the meantime, I really need to pick up some more sugar cane mulch to curb that weed growth!

It's working!

I fell asleep watching tv last night.. At about 11pm.  

That NEVER happens!

No caffeine is working for me!

Start small

Start with a seed, provide it with soil, light, and water, and watch it grow!

I am still alcohol and caffeine free!  I've had a few touch and go moments with the boys having Pepsi in the house, but a little cordial curbed the 'craving'.  My sleeping is getting much better as a result, still not quite regular, but better.  Not as many late nights and I'm waking up earlier some mornings!

I attempted an iPad free day - made it until lunch time!  

It takes time for habits to take root, and I would rather permanent change and that is what I am seeing.  When I attempt to change everything at once it is inevitable that it will fail.

I've spent a bit of time on my budget and I think adapting the same approach will work there as well.  I few small changes over time will add up.  It's all moving in the right direction!

My little garden is growing!  My corn seedlings sprouted so quickly I will need to sort out somewhere for them to be planted in the garden this weekend! It won't be long until we get to eat our first non-herb produce!

I'm thinking I might try out the Bokashi bucket again while think about larger composting options. Until then I need to think about other ways to get soil and compost for gardening!

So many thoughts and ideas running though my head.  I'm excited!

Simplicity

Everything seems to be complicated, even simplicity.

I've been looking into a minimalist lifestyle, and a bit at homesteading as well.

The couple of 'how to get started' type books that I've read have been so focused on the end result, one even suggested the first thing to do was to buy a block of land!

Way to jump in the deep end!

By taking things slowly and changing things in small steps, taking the time to build habits, and to really look at what works and what doesn't, permanent lasting change is possible.  And the best part, is you get where you want to be. 

I have learnt that where we 'think' we want to be, might not actually be what we want.  Jumping in with a 100% effort, head down, ignoring your own body and mind in a quest to get something you 'want' not only doesn't work for a lot of people (who then beat themselves up about it) but can also lead you down the wrong path, and lead to the wrong place.

I know I want something different.  I know that where I want to be entails having the time to provide healthy, unprocessed food.  I know that I want to be close to family and support.  I know I want to have less 'stuff'.  I want my kids to spend less time in front of a screen, to love and appreciate life.

A homesteading lifestyle and minimalist lifestyle both appeal to me, but I can't jump in and buy a block of land and just 'start'.  There are skills I need to learn, things I need to finish, and personal work I need to do.  I pretty much have a bit over half a year to finish my Phd, and then I have to wait the school year out.  And who knows, I might hate it when it comes to actually doing it.

So start small I shall!

Along with all the small changes I am already making, I will start introducing some habits for myself, and for my children and husband, that will move us toward that lifestyle!