I picked up some mason jars today - smaller sized ones.
Yogurt, jelly, jam, dressings, and other items I plan to make will fit nicely in these!
It's all part of my big lifestyle change! One thing at a time, small changes, and waiting until one habit is properly ingrained before moving on to the next!
But where is this change leading?
Here is a list of things I want to be easy and stress free in my life!
Money - the big one! That's the one everyone stresses about no matter what you're income. It seems to me that the more money I get, the harder it is to manage. I have so many random bills now that I never used to have. From cable tv to gym memberships, to online subscriptions and, of course, the mobile phones! I think it's time to review what I'm spending my hard-earned money on, and if it is worth it. Do I really need a meal planner to write up my shopping list? Is it really easier, or am I justifying a 'new toy' to feed my ego? All my bills need to get this level of scrutiny!
Food - surprisingly this isn't just about what I get at the grocery store. It's what I can grow in my garden, removing chemicals from my diet, do I want to go full organic? Can I fit that in my budget? What about the ethics of the food I eat? Do I buy eggs based on money, or ethics, or do I sacrifice time to get my own chickens? How much of this lifestyle could I embrace?
Health - And then there is the 'fat' issue. I will admit right here and now that I am not fat. Borderline overweight? Yes! At risk due to abdominal fat? Yes! Unhappy about how much fat I have on my body? Yes! But is fat really the issue? No! The issue is the food I eat is making me tired, sick, and unhappy - literally! It is affecting my mental health and my physical health (really, you can't affect one without affecting the other!).
Resources - I use a lot of resources. We try to recycle but I have a lazy family (that includes me, admittedly). Our power bill is shockingly high, we waste a lot of food, we waste a lot of everything! I have always thought of myself a bit of a greenie, but the reality of my life is not in any way sustainable. I even throw our green waste in the wheelie bin!
Me - Yup, I get a category all to myself. I need, for my mental health, ego, etc, to finish my PhD. I need to get my confidence back and get that agoraphobia monkey off my back. It's time to start living again, achieving my goals, and feeling good about who I am!
I've committed to a few things of late. First is the Commando program. Not going well! I have been sick, or had major work commitments the last 3 weeks. Second is my PhD - I need to get with a full-time program to finish on time. No more 'optional' box (and yet here I am at home instead of uni!). to meet this, we bought a new car so that both my husband and I can pick up the kids. And lastly, I bought a Thermomix! I don't get it for a few weeks yet, but when I do, I'm changing our food completely!
One thing that I read consistently, is that big changes mean big crash! Small changes are the way to go. But I want those changes to count! I NEED a calm, easy routine to work within. One that meets all my goals. One that is kind to me, my family, and fits my lifestyle.
