Somehow, I managed to NOT get sucked in by the TV last night. I got ready for bed before 10pm and allowed myself to read for a while until I was ready to go to sleep, which was around 10:45. Not 1:00 or 2:00… It wasn’t so bad. lol… I keep bitching about wanting to eat better and lose weight, but I’ve been reading more about the body and all the different hormones, chemicals, neurotransmitters, etc., that are involved in everything we do and feel and it became obvious that if I don’t correct my sleep cycle and start getting proper rest, that making healthy food choices will always be a battle.
So, first order of business – 7 – 8 hours of sleep per night.
I’ve also been reading about how having a proper wake-up routine can set the tone for the day, and that the first thing one should do is flood the ocular nerves with very bright light – sunlight is best, but if it’s winter in New England and you wake up at 6am, there isn’t any to be had. Luckily my bathroom lights are like the devil, they’re so bright… and I just turned on every other light on my way to the dining room, where I am now, drinking some water and allowing myself to ‘dawdle’ for a few minutes before launching into my workout. Apparently, flooding your eyes with light sets a whole string of things in motion in the brain to boost energy levels. If you start off in dim light, you won’t get this vital flood of energy and it will set the tone for your energy level for the rest of the day.
Okay – so bright light ASAP – CHECK.
Allowing myself to dawdle for a few minutes as my brain and body wake up – CHECK.
Physical activity within 30 minutes of waking – CHECK
The last item on the list of a proper wake-up is eating breakfast. Luckily, that’s one thing that I’m good at. Ever since I was little, I’ve woken up FAMISHED and have to eat. I can’t skip breakfast. The few times I’ve tried, or did out of time constraints [aka - waking up late], I’ve felt horrible and was a lot hungrier the rest of the day… so no problem. Breakfast before I leave for work: CHECK.
I recently got into a cleaning routine – the first time since my adult life, and I actually enjoy it. My husband is psyched – only took 14 years. lol… I’d clean when I felt I had to [like when a dust bunny was staring me down or if people were coming over], but I never had a routine. So having one on Saturdays and cleaning the whole house is a big deal for me. It’s a habit now after doing it 4 or 5 weeks in a row. I look forward to it and I’ve been enjoying a much cleaner, tidier house. I’m realizing that making changes aren’t so bad as long as I don’t try to make too many at once. Now that I have the cleaning thing down, it’s time to get the sleep thing taken care of. When going to bed by 10:00 becomes a habit I can’t live without… THEN I’ll start focusing more on food, portion sizes, eating slower, chewing better, choosing healthier foods, etc.
One thing at a time. =)
