I’m still recuperating from the fourth quarter of last year. It’s always the busiest at my job in public relations and my freelance work in photography. I wanted to slow down quite a bit this first quarter (to catch a break and because it’s safer with the COVID rise again.) Here’s a few ways I’m spending my time and/or not lose my mind:
New Year Reset #1 Purging
After buying myself presents, I find myself with too many clothes, shoes and other odds and ends around the house. I hosted a shop my closet for a few local friends, reorganized and refolded all my clothes in my closet and have a few nicer things to sell on Poshmark.
I’ve also taken this same purge mentality typically reserved my clothes and applied to my pantry. I’ve gotten rid of expired food and old bags of chips long gone stale.
New Year Reset #2 Spend Less Time on My Phone
While I’m trying to find my creativity again and do a few more things on Instagram for fun, I am spending less time on my phone, at first unintentionally but then my phone kept giving me weekly notices of my phone usage and it’s been trending downward. Woo! Naturally, I’ve become a little tired of the endless scrolling. I’ve also been working on unsubscribing to emails so I’m not inundated with shit (as much.)
New Year Reset #3 Move Everyday
This is a simple one, but I have no motivation or desire to work out everyday. It’s just not in me right now and I’m in winter hibernation mode, but I still want to take my dogs out for short walks even on cold days (James always wants a walk!) I’ve also moved my stationary bike down to the living room on occasion to watch a half hour of TV while moving my legs on the bike. I also have an elliptical that I like to use first thing in the morning while I go through my work and personal emails. I like the multi-tasking!
I’m not setting a number of steps or anything, I just want to move my body and not feel like a piece of shit for sitting on the couch or at my desk all day which is so easy for me to do.
New Year Reset #4 Try to not lose my fucking mind so easily
It’s instinctive that I overreact to just about everything and work myself up over things I can’t control. And I’m at my wits end. So I’m trying this new thing that when I’m upset about something I try to take a break from working on it or thinking about it. Maybe that’s a walk with the dogs or doing something mindless like folding laundry but taking a little break has been helpful. I also try to vent about it once, and then tell myself and whoever I’m talking to (usually my mom or Rob) that I’m going to let it go after I share my frustration and not dwell. This has been so helpful for my anxiety and the focus on not dwelling has been key, since I think that’s what has been happening–I just replay the same scenario in my head over and over or I can’t just let something go.
